Program
Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredScholarship InterviewIn-Person or VirtualModerately Selective12-24 StudentsUniversity App Required
Program Characteristics
Prescreen Required
Audition Required
Scholarship Interview
Moderately Selective
12-24 Students
University App Required
Program Highlights
TRAINING
•Interdisciplinary BFA combining acting, singing, and dance with formal vocal instruction, music theory, and keyboard skills
•Coursework spans both the Theatre Arts and Music departments — students take Musical Theatre Performance, Dance for the Musical Stage, and acting courses alongside theory and aural skills
PERFORMANCE & PRODUCTIONS
•Cast in mainstage musicals and plays produced in the Florence Busby Corriher Theatre and Keppel Auditorium
•Compete at Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) Region IV
NOTABLE ALUMNI
•Fred Inkley '88 — Broadway lead as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables; original casts of The Addams Family and A Tale of Two Cities; national tour of Beauty and the Beast (the Beast)
•Canaan Cox '12 — BFA Musical Theatre grad turned country-pop recording artist
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
•Internships at Williamstown Theatre Festival, American Shakespeare Center, and Interlochen
•CataLST partnership with Lee Street Theatre for semester-long professional internships in Salisbury
STUDY ABROAD
•Theatre residencies and programs in the U.K., Italy, Costa Rica, Greece, Germany, Japan, and Estonia
VALUE
•Hobgood Theatre Arts Scholarship — competitive full-tuition award by invitation
•Additional audition-based scholarships renewable for four years with a 2.7 GPA
Key Info
University AppApplication
Apply atSchool Website
Deadlines
Early ActionNov 15, 2025
Regular DecisionFeb 1, 2026
Rolling
Program AppApplication
Apply atAcceptd
Deadlines
Scholarship PriorityFeb 1, 2026
Prescreen DeadlineMay 1, 2026
Auditions
MARCAS (Glassboro, NJ) — Day 1Nov 14, 2025
MARCAS (Glassboro, NJ) — Day 2Nov 15, 2025
NCTC College Day (Greensboro, NC) — Day 1Nov 20, 2025
NCTC College Day (Greensboro, NC) — Day 2Nov 21, 2025
Prescreen Requirements
Songs
ONE SONG no longer than 90 seconds
•May be a repertory piece or original song in any style
Monologues
ONE MONOLOGUE no longer than 90 seconds
•The program recommends that monologues be objective-driven with characters near your age range. Applicants should be familiar with the full play and ready to discuss it. Your selection should reflect your own theatrical interests and values and help the faculty get to know you
Dance
Not Required
•Applicants with dance experience should include that information on their resume; however, a separate dance video is not required
Additional Materials
•Current HEADSHOT
•A resume outlining the breadth and depth of the applicant's theatre experience. All theatrical experiences are considered, not only a specific area of focus
Good to Know
FESTIVALS
•May also audition at Mid-Atlantic Regional College Auditions (MARCAS), NCTC College Day, and Virginia Thespian Festival
SCHOLARSHIPS
•Submit by FEBRUARY 1 to be eligible for scholarships, including the Hobgood Theatre Arts full-tuition scholarship
What's The Process
REVIEW PROCESS
•Theatre Arts faculty review all digital prescreening materials
•Applicants are notified via Acceptd regarding acceptance into a degree track, pending admission to the college
•Eligible applicants receive information about scholarship competitions
CAMPUS VISIT
•Applicants planning to visit receive details regarding visit arrangements
•Students must attend one of the MASTERCLASS SATURDAYS on campus for BFA programs
Scholarship Info
•All students who submit an audition or portfolio through Acceptd are eligible for Theatre Arts scholarship*, including the full-tuition scholarship. Your application will automatically be reviewed for invitation if you have submitted your materials prior to FEBRUARY 1
•You will be notified of any scholarships awarded after being accepted to Catawba College
*If you were seen at a festival during this academic year and you received a callback, this can take the place of your audition. The faculty still asks that you submit an application through Acceptd so that all of the faculty has a chance to get to know you! Please ask if you need assistance
Program info updated Mar 27, 1:27 PM
TRAINING
•Interdisciplinary BFA combining acting, singing, and dance with formal vocal instruction, music theory, and keyboard skills
•Coursework spans both the Theatre Arts and Music departments — students take Musical Theatre Performance, Dance for the Musical Stage, and acting courses alongside theory and aural skills
PERFORMANCE & PRODUCTIONS
•Cast in mainstage musicals and plays produced in the Florence Busby Corriher Theatre and Keppel Auditorium
•Compete at Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) Region IV
NOTABLE ALUMNI
•Fred Inkley '88 — Broadway lead as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables; original casts of The Addams Family and A Tale of Two Cities; national tour of Beauty and the Beast (the Beast)
•Canaan Cox '12 — BFA Musical Theatre grad turned country-pop recording artist
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
•Internships at Williamstown Theatre Festival, American Shakespeare Center, and Interlochen
•CataLST partnership with Lee Street Theatre for semester-long professional internships in Salisbury
STUDY ABROAD
•Theatre residencies and programs in the U.K., Italy, Costa Rica, Greece, Germany, Japan, and Estonia
VALUE
•Hobgood Theatre Arts Scholarship — competitive full-tuition award by invitation
•Additional audition-based scholarships renewable for four years with a 2.7 GPA
Updated Mar 27, 1:27 PM
Academic School Information
3.79
Avg GPA (W)
75%
Admit Rate
50%
Grad Rate
1,235
Enrollment
$48,793
Earnings
10yr after
Tuition & Fees
$34,300
before aid
Average Annual Cost
$17,879
after typical aid
Average annual cost is often lower than tuition because it accounts for grants and scholarships most students receive. It includes tuition, room & board, books, and supplies.
Family Income $0 - $30k$13,618
Family Income $30k - $48k$17,495
Family Income $48k - $75k$15,412
Family Income $75k - $110k$17,440
Family Income $110k+$24,420
