Bachelor of Fine Arts
Theatre
Get your career off to a fast start at one of the Midwest’s best musical theatre colleges.
Talent agents and casting directors regard Oakland as one of the best musical theatre colleges in the region. Graduates of our musical theatre program are routinely cast in national tours, regional theatre, the TV/film industry, and Broadway. You’ll get exceptional, personalized training in our musical theatre program, learning from musical theatre veterans in a professional setting that enables your unique talent to shine. With a professional equity theatre company in residence and strong connections to New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and other performance hubs, our musical theatre degree lets you showcase your ability and gain a competitive edge that promotes your career.
Talent agents and casting directors regard Oakland as one of the best musical theatre colleges in the region. Graduates of our musical theatre program are routinely cast in national tours, regional theatre, the TV/film industry, and Broadway. You’ll get exceptional, personalized training in our musical theatre program, learning from musical theatre veterans in a professional setting that enables your unique talent to shine. With a professional equity theatre company in residence and strong connections to New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and other performance hubs, our musical theatre degree lets you showcase your ability and gain a competitive edge that promotes your career.
Musical Theatre Degree: The Oakland University Advantage
Oakland is one of three Michigan universities that’s accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST). And we offer two unique opportunities that no other Michigan musical theatre college can match: a partnership with the state’s largest professional theatre company, Meadow Brook Theatre (which resides on Oakland’s campus), and the only Designated Linklater Voice Teacher (DTL) in Michigan. Oakland University also holds membership in the Musical Theatre Educators Alliance (MTEA).
In addition, our musical theatre program excels for its:
- First-rate faculty. You’ll learn from musical theatre veterans who have decades of professional experience and extensive industry connections. In addition to helping you maximize your talent, our musical theatre faculty teach you the practical career skills you need to market yourself successfully and develop a career in the musical theatre industry.
- Individual coaching. Oakland’s musical theatre program emphasizes personal, one-on-one faculty attention. You’ll develop strong mentoring relationships that help you identify and cultivate the unique talents you bring to the table.
- High-visibility performance opportunities. You’ll have the opportunity to audition for meaningful roles all four years in our musical theatre program. We mount three to four musical theatre productions a year on our main stage, with additional shows in smaller on-campus venues. And in your senior year, you’ll have the chance to jump-start your professional career in a performance showcase and week-long intensive, making valuable connections in the musical theatre industry.
- Career development. At Oakland, you’ll acquire practical skills that equip you to make a living in the musical theatre industry. You’ll learn how to market yourself, network effectively, and create opportunities to advance professionally.
What Can You Do With a Musical Theatre Degree?
Directors, composers, talent agents, and casting directors recognize Oakland University as one of the best musical theatre colleges in the Midwest. In the most recent hiring cycle before COVID, our musical theatre program achieved a 90% job placement rate in an extremely competitive industry.
Graduates of our musical theatre program work in all aspects of the entertainment industry, including on-stage performance, TV and film, voiceover, commercials, directing, design, technical theatre, house management, and organizational leadership. You may start your musical theatre career with employers such as:
- Broadway
- National and international Broadway touring companies
- Leading regional theatres
- Theatre for young audiences
- Repertory theatre companies
- Theme park and cruise ship employment
Top Courses for the Musical Theatre Degree
Admission to the musical theatre program requires an entrance audition prior to enrollment. Consult the departmental website for full information.
The musical theatre degree itself consists of 74 to 80 credits of required coursework in theatre, music, and dance. Courses in musical theatre vary widely and cover subject areas that include:
- Acting
- Stagecraft
- Makeup and costumes
- Vocal techniques
- Musicianship
- Dance techniques
The musical theatre degree concludes with at least one capstone project in the area(s) of:
- Directing
- Performance
- Design and theatre technology
- Classical theatre study abroad in Greece
- Theatre company
Musical Theatre Program Resources
Programs Related to the Musical Theatre Program
Not sure if the Musical Theatre degree is right for you? Check out these other undergraduate programs at Oakland, and contact our admissions team to discuss your options.