While schedules vary year-to-year, the 2023 schedule will provide insight into the programming provided.

Eligibility

The workshop is open to current high school juniors, although applications from current sophomores of exceptional ability and experience are considered. Admission decisions are based on a student’s application (including training and experience), recommendation, transcript, and audition. Applicants must have at least a B average in high school to be considered for the workshop.

Audition Requirements

Upload each of the following required selections as separate video files (guidelines below):

1. Two voice audition pieces (two separate videos)
2. Two acting audition pieces (two separate videos)
3. Spoken personal statement (one video)
4. Additional Material – Optional (video)

Voice (two separate video files, one song per video)

• Applicants should upload two separate videos, each with a performance of a song from stage or film musical:  One song per video, for a total of two songs and two videos.
• Videos should be no longer than 90 seconds in length.
• One song should be written before 1970.
• At the beginning of each video, applicants should announce their name and the title of the song.
• You may use live accompaniment (with the pianist in the room with you), or an instrumental track.  There are many free instrumental track options available on YouTube and other online sources.  Please avoid singing a cappella.
• Applicants should not accompany themselves on piano or guitar.

Acting (two separate video files, one monologue per video)

• Upload two separate videos of short monologues:  One monologue per video, for a total of two monologues and two videos.
• The monologues should be from a full-length American play written after 1935, memorized, and in context of the full play.   Applicants should avoid dialects.
• The monologues should be no longer than one and a half minutes in length.
• At the beginning of each video, applicants should announce the title of the play, the playwright, and the character who speaks the monologue.

Personal Statement (one video file)

Record and upload a personal statement video.  Below are two questions for your personal statement.  Please answer the required question.  If time allows, you are also welcome to answer the optional question.  The personal statement video should not exceed two minutes.

Required:  What is an impactful experience in music, theatre, musical theatre or dance which helped convince you that the field of performing arts is something you want to pursue?

Optional:  How did you become interested in attending the MPulse Musical Theatre Workshop, and why would you like to participate in the program?

If you do not include the personal statement, your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed for consideration.

Additional Material (optional video files): If you would like to include recorded selections from stage performances, upload these after the required materials. If you have any dance experience, you may also include performance excerpts.

Video Guidelines: In all video submission uploads, make sure that your face is clearly visible, with your upper body fairly near the camera and the background simple, uncluttered, and not too bright (e.g., in front of a window). Announce your name and the title of each selection in each video.

Audition Document Requirements (guidelines below)

1. Resume
2. Photographs
3. Transcript
4. Letter(s) of Recommendation

Resume

• Upload a copy of your resume, giving details of your training and/or experience in music, theatre, and dance.
• Please be sure that your resume upload is in PDF file format. Any other file types will not be supported.
• On your resume, please include any choir experience you’ve had and the length of time you participated.
• Also list any instruments that you play and the length of study.

Headshot

• One close-up color headshot.  This need not be a professionally-taken headshot.  Applicants are welcome to take a headshot using their camera phone.  Do your best to find a neutral and uncluttered background with good light. Senior photos are also welcome.

Transcript (Note: Applicants must have at least a B average to be considered for the workshop.)

• Upload a copy of your unofficial transcript acquired from your high school.
• The transcript may be scanned and uploaded by the applicant.
• To obtain your transcript, please speak with your school guidance counselor, who may either provide you with the transcript to scan and upload, or they may send the transcript directly to [email protected] with the following subject line:
  • Your Name — Transcripts for MPulse Musical Theatre Workshop

Recommendation Letter(s)

Applicants must submit one teacher evaluation (artistic teacher or mentor(s) preferred), academic teacher, or non-relative who can speak directly to the student’s academic aptitude, potential, and classroom performance. Applicants will need to provide the email address for their recommender via the Acceptd application platform.  Recommenders will then privately submit their letters of recommendation via Acceptd.

Applicants may submit one additional recommendation for a total of two recommendations, but only one recommendation is required.

Please note – Your recommender will not be prompted to submit your recommendation until you hit “submit” on your application.  Please make sure your recommendation is also in by the deadline given above.

Merit Awards

A limited number of scholarships are available for extremely talented students based on Faculty discretion. Consideration for these scholarships is automatic for applications received by the priority application deadline.

Need-Based Awards

A limited number of need-based scholarships are available to families with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $100,000 or under in the previous calendar year, or with special circumstances due to the pandemic. To be considered you must upload your financial aid materials by the application deadline as part of your application.  This includes:

• Monthly Expenses
• Previous Year’s Tax Return
• Statement of Need

Watson Scholarship (For Michigan Residents Only)

In the spirit of the life of a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School (1942) and Michigan physician, the Watson A. Young Scholarship promotes academic excellence and college aspiration among students with financial need. These need-based scholarships support middle and high school students’ participation in summer opportunities at U-M that seek to develop students’ interests and abilities in academic disciplines and expose students to the experiences and possibilities provided by higher education.

Watson Scholarship Application

The American Theatre Wing is committed to fostering a future generation of theatre makers that reflects the diversity and dynamism of America as a whole. Through the Training Scholarships, the Wing is promoting diversity, equity, and access to the arts to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity. Funding will go towards covering the costs associated with summer study and after school training programs for public middle and high school students who come from populations historically underrepresented in our industry; who demonstrate economic need, exceptional talent, and an interest in participating in after school training programs or intensive summer study programs to better prepare for future training at the university level. 

The student’s area of focus can be from any aspect of theatre from performance, to design, to writing, to stage management, and others. Through the Training Scholarships, we hope to create a strong pipeline to the professional theatre for promising artists of all backgrounds.

Learn more.

• Application Resources: Coming Soon!
• MPulse Policies: Refund Policy