Your audition/interview plays a primary role in your admission decision. It gives us the opportunity to evaluate your talent and potential, and determine if you would be compatible with our program.
BFA Theatre (Acting)
Please prepare two 1-3 minute contrasting monologues from two contemporary plays (1950-present). You may not be required to perform both monologues, but be prepared to do so. Choose pieces that are important to you; we are looking for honesty and a strong commitment to what you are doing. At the audition itself, you may be asked to work on your pieces improvisationally, so be sure to have memorized your monologues through exploration rather than by rote.
BFA Theatre (Design/Tech)
Your interview plays a primary role in your admission decision. It gives us the opportunity to discuss your portfolio with you, evaluate your talent and potential, and determine if you would be compatible with our program.
Applicants are required to book themselves into a 30–minute interview using the Application Portal. Interviews are conducted on-campus and when time permits at our off-campus audition locations. Please arrive 15 to 20 minutes prior to the interview start time so that the interview staff can confirm your arrival and take a photo of you. This photo will only be used internally at in connection with your application.
Although our expectation is that you will interview in-person, telephone interviews are available for applicants who live outside of Arkansas and for whom the travel is impossible.
Your portfolio should consist of up to 20 samples of creative work. These examples of your creative work should document your work in the theater, but may also include:
- Art sketches
- Paintings
- Video or audio tapes
- Photos of scale models, ceramics, or sculptures
- Evidence of fashion design and construction techniques
- Evidence of fashion hair and make-up techniques
- Jewelry designs
- Computer graphics
- Graphic designs
- Evidence of special engineering or mechanical skills
- Photography
- Evidence of puppetry design and construction techniques
Your portfolio will be returned to you at the end of your in-person interview.
BFA Musical Theatre
Applicants are required to complete an in-person audition (or video, see below) comprised of two separate components: monologue and voice/music.
- Monologue: Please prepare one 1-3 minute monologue from a contemporary play (1950-present). Choose pieces that are important to you; we are looking for honesty and a strong commitment to what you are doing. At the audition itself, you may be asked to work on your pieces improvisationally, so be sure to have memorized your monologues through exploration rather than by rote.
- Voice/Music: Please prepare two 1-minute-or-less (at least 32 bars of music) vocal selections. The first must be from the Broadway canon, pre-1965. The second should be Broadway canon, post-1965. We will provide an accompanist at every audition in every location, so please provide easy-to-read, easy-to-handle sheet music in the proper key. Make sure all markings and navigation of the song on the sheet music are clear for the accompanist. No taped accompaniment or a capella singing will be accepted at the in-person audition.
Video Auditions
Although we strongly recommend scheduling a live audition if possible, the Department of Theatre does accept video auditions in lieu of live auditions from applicants living outside of the contiguous 48 United States. Please email bmbara@saumag.edu for video instructions.
