Performance (Acting) BFA
1. All students should apply to the University of Memphis. Admission to the Department of Theatre & Dance is contingent upon successful admission to the University and generally we do not make a final decision on a student's application until they have been accepted to the University. Therefore, we encourage students to apply as early as possible. The online application can be found HERE.
2. Apply to the Department of Theatre & Dance. As part of the application you will be asked to provide information about yourself and your history as a theatrical artist. In order to successfully complete the application you should be ready to:
Provide biographical information about yourself and your family
Provide information about your academic background include GPA and test scores
Provide contact information including email for at least one reference who will be
willing to submit a recommendation on your behalf
Upload a resume including any past work in theatre
Upload a short essay on your general background, theatrical interests and hopes, and
why you are interest in study within the Department of Theatre & Dance.
The application is due no later than one week before your chosen audition date.
3. Entrance to the performance program is by audition only. As part of the department application, you will have to make an appointment for one of our on-campus audition dates.
Students are automatically considered for all scholarship opportunities as part of
their application and audition/interview provided they complete the in-person or recorded
audition/interview by the last scholarship date (March 16, 2024 for students beginning
Fall 2024).
For student's interested in admission to the 2024 SPRING semester for performance:
Auditions will be held in person Friday, November 11, 2023. Please submit your online application no later than November 1, 2023.
The 2023 on-campus audition/interview dates for admission and full scholarship consideration for the 2023 Fall semester are:
Saturday, February 24, 2024
Saturday, March 16, 2024
The 2023 on-campus audition/interview date for entrance consideration ONLY for the 2023 Fall semester,
no scholarship consideration is:
Monday, April 15, 2024
On your audition day, you will participate in group improvisation exercises as well as present a monologue. In person auditions are required for all students who live within a 150 mile radius of Memphis. Students who are unable to travel to campus should apply online and will receive instructions about how to submit their electronic audition after they submit the departmental application. Auditions must be received no later than March 16, 2024 for scholarship consideration.
At this time we anticipate participation (either in-person or virtually) in the following regional auditions:
Florida Thespian Festival
South Eastern Theatre Conference (SETC)
Tennessee Thespian Festival
Students wishing to audition at one of these sites should complete the departmental application and indicate their audition preference on the form. They will then need to register separately for the event with the event's organization directly.
Those auditioning on campus need only present one monologue of at least 45 seconds in length. If you'd like, you can also present contrasting monologues of no longer than two minutes in total length between the two pieces. Generally students who are successful in receiving scholarships from Theatre & Dance present two contrasting pieces.
You will also be given a tour of our department's facilities (various theatre spaces, rehearsal halls, etc.) and will have an opportunity to take a campus tour. Additionally, you will meet with current students and professors, who will lead the tours and answer any questions about our program and the university.
4. Students can expect to hear about their application status approximately two weeks after their audition has been completed. Scholarship decisions are generally made during the first week of April. All students are automatically considered for scholarships provided they complete their in-person (or online) audition by March 16, 2024.