Helpful Information and Important Guidelines for Applying to Michigan Musical Theatre
Tips for Smartphone Headshots
- Be yourself! No need for an overly glamorized shot.
- Make sure the lighting is in front of you, not behind you, whether indoors or outdoors.
- Try to find a simple, uncluttered background. The outside wall of a house or building, or a wall inside your home or garage can all work well.
- Use the front-facing camera if possible, rather than the “selfie” camera.
- If you have “portrait mode” on your phone, try it as an option. It can help blur the background just a bit so your face is the focus.
Personal Statement Prompts
1. Share a time when you faced a significant challenge in your artistic journey. What did you learn from this experience, and how did it shape you as a performer?
2. Musical Theatre is an art form that often intersects with societal issues. Discuss a musical that you believe effectively addresses a current social issue and explain why it resonates with you.
3. In what ways do you believe that diversity and inclusion are important to musical theatre, and how have you advocated for or plan to advocate for these values in your artistic pursuits?
4. What would it look like if you were to create a musical that encapsulates your life story? Discuss the overall theme, musical style, and central message.
Guidelines for Filming Videos
The faculty understands that making audition videos adds an extra challenge to the application process. Please know that you will not be evaluated on the quality of the video recording itself. The main goal is simple clarity so that your work can be seen. Here are some helpful guidelines.
Song and Monologue Videos:
- We encourage you to use standard recording devices that are available to you such as smartphones or tablets, and filming in landscape (horizontally.)
- Videos should be filmed from the knees or waist up. Avoid extreme close-ups.
- Try to find a simple, uncluttered background.
- Make sure the lighting is in front of you, not behind you.
- When using pre-recorded music, it will help with balance to have the accompaniment speaker closer to you than to the device on which you are recording.
- We strongly recommend doing a test run of your set up. Watch your video back to make sure everything is OK with your camera angle and audio balance.
- Do your best to get your camera at eye level. Use a tripod, or stack of books or boxes as needed.
- Dress as you would for an in-person audition.
Dance Videos:
- No prior dance experience is necessary.
- Your movement/dance video(s) should reflect who you are as a performer. Some of you may be singer/actors who move well, and some may be competitive dancers who sing and act well.
- We will accept any movement or dance presentation that demonstrates your current abilities.
- Wear shoes and clothes that you can easily move and dance in.
Guidelines for Monologues
- Monologues should be written by a professional writer and can include:
- Published plays
- Books of monologues
- Movies
- Spoken word
- The emphasis should be on simple reality.
- Choose material that is appropriate for your age and experience.
- Avoid material with inappropriate language or situations.
- Do not choose from historic styles, such as Shakespeare, verse or poetry.
- Avoid dialects.
Guidelines for Songs
- One song should be a musical theatre song written before 1970.
- One song should be a musical theatre song written after 1970.
- Songs should be contrasting. For example: fast/slow; dramatic, comedic; head voice/belt; etc.
- Songs should be sung to music; either live accompaniment, piano track, or karaoke track.
- Free karaoke tracks to many musical theatre songs can be found on YouTube.
- Appcompanist is a reasonably priced app that has accompaniments to many musical theatre songs, and keys and tempos can be adjusted as needed.
- Focus on musicality and storytelling. (No need to sing your loudest or highest note!)
- Choose songs with which you can communicate a specific situation with a clear objective (goal.)
- Make your situation as honest and specific as possible.
- Select material that is appropriate for your age and experience.
- Choose songs which fit comfortably within your range. You are welcome to transpose your songs as needed. For a live audition, be sure to bring your song in the correct key.
- Do not use a chair or props in your vocal audition.
Guidelines for Dance Videos
- Clips can be from the following:
- A musical or dance performance in which you participated.
- Something original.
- Any style is acceptable! (ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, etc)
- Dance music may be live or recorded.
- OPTIONAL for applicants with dance training:
- Execute a set of plies, tendues, grand battements, and pirouettes.
- Straightforward, simple exercises are preferred.
- Side view is best.
Video Response Prompts
Please choose one of the following prompts to answer in a 60-90 second video. Your responses will help us gain a deeper understanding of you as a performer and a multifaceted individual, which will enrich our department and support your success as a student.
1. Discuss a character from a musical that you find difficult to relate to. Tell us how you would approach this character to bring truthfulness and empathy to your portrayal.
2. Tell us about three musical theatre songs that you would include in the soundtrack of your life so far. Please explain the significance of each choice.
3. Tell us about a piece of feedback or advice you received regarding your performance that was difficult to hear at the time. How did you respond to this critique in the moment, and how did it change you moving forward?