Should I Major In Musical Theatre?

Deciding what you will study for four (or more) years post-high school can be daunting. It can feel like you're being asked to predict a future you very much don't know anything about yet.

This feeling of uncertainty is natural, no matter what path you're envisioning for yourself for your college experience. It's unfortunately the rite of passage for high schoolers anticipating graduation.

However, we are here to provide you with a guiding compass for making the decision to pursue a musical theatre degree. 

Let's first dive into the pro's of a degree in musical theatre: 

1. The Expert Training

If you're in a BFA program, it will be a rigorous, structured four-year degree program, and you'll emerge from that with specialized singing, acting, and dance training. These programs are designed for a four-year trajectory, so you'll build your skills year after year and hopefully be set up for professional success when you get out of school. 

Plus, a lot of BFA's now include what's called a "Senior Showcase", which is an introduction to the industry when you get out of school. You get to sing and maybe do a monologue for industry casting directors, agents, and managers, and it's a great way to be introduced to the business.

2. Interpersonal Life Skills

A degree in musical theater helps build confidence, self-awareness, collaboration, public speaking, organization, critical thinking, and discipline. It's not just about singing and dancing. Well, it is, but through those avenues, you learn how to conduct yourself in a way that makes you really well-equipped to speak professionally and handle yourself well in all sorts of situations.

3. Diverse Career Options

With a degree in musical theater, obviously, you will be able to do things like act, sing, and dance. But there are so many other things you can do, which most people wish they had realized sooner rather than later. I've gone on to become an educator and small business owner alongside performing! Or you can become a producer. Or a performing arts teacher in many different areas, different ages, and different venues. You could become a designer or a casting director. You could go into work backstage, directing, music directing, choreographing, composing, writing, company management, public speaking, or digital media.

And that's just within our business. When you get out of this business, there are so many other avenues you would qualify for with your huge array of new skills.

4. The Opportunity For Discourse And Dialogue

Theater demands that we see perspectives beyond our own and consider the humanity, psychology, and motivations of others. As theater professionals, we get better at discussing difficult topics with empathy, and we learn how to manage conflict.

The conversations you'll have in your classes about characters and understanding why they do what they do, what types of people they are, how they interact, and how they resolve conflict play out in real life as well. 

5. The Relationships

Studying musical theater in college allows you to develop relationships in ways that you never know how it'll benefit you in the future. They could become someone who recommends you for an amazing role, or may produce a production you want to become involved with or become part of your team (Like Julie & Joe, who not only were in the same class at CCM but auditioned for the program right after eachother!)

It's also an easy way to find "your people". Especially if you're coming from a high school environment where you're the only kid in your town who loves musical theater. 😉

Remember: There’s no one right path

If you’re considering a different path to a career in musical theatre, one that doesn’t include a performance degree, that’s fine too! Plenty of professional performers went to college and received a degree completely outside the arts. And there are plenty of Broadway actors who didn’t go to college at all. A BFA degree, or any degree, is not a prerequisite to becoming a professional actor.

We would say the only prerequisite (or at least in your best interest!) is investing in top-level training and building strong relationships. Because that's what it all boils down to: training and relationships. You need both of these things to make a go of it in the professional theatre industry.

College BFA programs are simply the most efficient, pre-packaged route to get tons of necessary training in all disciplines and develop relationships with fellow actors, future directors, and lifelong friends.

How Aspire can help

At Aspire, we offer a comprehensive, all-inclusive approach to college audition prep—live coaching, personalized repertoire selection, and one-on-one support every step of the way.

From the moment you sign up until you receive results — and beyond — we're here to guide you every step of the way.

Want to learn more about the college audition process but unsure where to begin? We are hosting a free live Q&A all about the college audition process on Monday, November 30th. Click here to register to join live or get the replay!

📆 Monday, November 30th 8pm EST

📍 Zoom (replay available)

📋 Register: www.aspirecollegeauditions.com

And if you want even more info about Aspire Click here to learn more or email hello@aspirecollegeauditions.com to get on the priority list for upcoming program information and for FREE consult availability when consults reopen in late November/early December!