Private school39

Circle in the Square Theatre School

New York, NY

Test-FreeLGBTQ+

Start free

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredInterview RequiredUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or VirtualMTCP Participant

Program profile

Transfer In Friendly

Program

Quick links

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredInterview RequiredUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or VirtualMTCP Participant

Program profile

Transfer In Friendly

Browse programs

Quick links

BFA Theatre

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredInterview RequiredUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or VirtualMTCP Participant

Program profile

Transfer In Friendly

Training

The BFA Theatre pathway combines two years of liberal-arts study at Eckerd College with two years of professional conservatory training at Circle in the Square

Eckerd theatre study includes acting, directing, stagecraft, design basics, lighting and sound design, and acting for the camera

Performance & Productions

Eckerd mounts two to three faculty-directed productions each year alongside student-led work

Students may propose a play to direct, develop staged readings of original scripts, and perform in student films

Professional Development

Eckerd Theatre maintains an internship relationship with Norwegian Cruise Lines and identifies professional companies in St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Sarasota as off-campus opportunities

Degree Flexibility

Students may begin at either partner institution; one successful year at Circle transfers as 31.5 semester hours and two years as 63 semester hours toward the Eckerd-granted BFA Theatre

School info

Snapshot

Admit rate

school-wide

Grad rate

100%

Enrollment

Earnings

$40K

10yr after

Costs & aid

Tuition & fees

$26,050

Before aid

Cost of attendance

$54,980

Before aid

Average net price

$28,089

After aid

Tuition · circlesquare.org College Scorecard

Program info updated Sep 3, 8:59 PM

Program Highlights

Training

The BFA Theatre pathway combines two years of liberal-arts study at Eckerd College with two years of professional conservatory training at Circle in the Square

Eckerd theatre study includes acting, directing, stagecraft, design basics, lighting and sound design, and acting for the camera

Performance & Productions

Eckerd mounts two to three faculty-directed productions each year alongside student-led work

Students may propose a play to direct, develop staged readings of original scripts, and perform in student films

Professional Development

Eckerd Theatre maintains an internship relationship with Norwegian Cruise Lines and identifies professional companies in St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Sarasota as off-campus opportunities

Degree Flexibility

Students may begin at either partner institution; one successful year at Circle transfers as 31.5 semester hours and two years as 63 semester hours toward the Eckerd-granted BFA Theatre

Program Highlights

Training

The BFA Theatre pathway combines two years of liberal-arts study at Eckerd College with two years of professional conservatory training at Circle in the Square

Eckerd theatre study includes acting, directing, stagecraft, design basics, lighting and sound design, and acting for the camera

Performance & Productions

Eckerd mounts two to three faculty-directed productions each year alongside student-led work

Students may propose a play to direct, develop staged readings of original scripts, and perform in student films

Professional Development

Eckerd Theatre maintains an internship relationship with Norwegian Cruise Lines and identifies professional companies in St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Sarasota as off-campus opportunities

Degree Flexibility

Students may begin at either partner institution; one successful year at Circle transfers as 31.5 semester hours and two years as 63 semester hours toward the Eckerd-granted BFA Theatre

Key Info

Enrollment Term

Fall 2027

University AppApplication

Apply

Common App School Website

Fee

Application Fee

$50

Opens

Aug 1, 2026

Deadline

Early ActionNov 15, 2026

Rolling Admission

Counselor Info · eckerd.edu First Year · eckerd.edu

Program AppApplication

Apply

Acceptd

Fee

Acceptd Fee

$60

Deadline

Early Action prescreen and Eckerd applicationNov 15, 2026

Auditions

Circle Zoom audition, 7:00-10:00 p.m. ET

Nov 16 & 30, 2026Dec 7 & 14, 2026Jan 12 & 25–26, 2027Feb 9, 16 & 22–23, 2027Mar 8–9 & 15–16, 2027Apr 19 & 26, 2027May 10 & 17, 2027Jun 1, 2027Jul 12, 2027

First Year · eckerd.edu Audition Dates · circlesquare.org

Prescreen Requirements

Monologues

MTCP Monologue Option B

Two Monologues

One contemporary monologue from a published play, preferably written after 1990

A professional writer is defined by the MTCP as someone whose plays have been produced but may not have been professionally published

One classical monologue

Shakespeare is strongly preferred

Additional Materials

Headshot (Required)

Recent headshot

Resume (Required)

Performance resume

Letters of Recommendation (Required)

Two recommendation letters from instructors or directors familiar with the applicant's acting abilities

Slate Video (Required)

Record one separate introduction stating your name; pronouns if desired

Maximum 10 seconds

How To Apply · circlesquare.org

Verified for Fall 2027 entry

Good to Know

Application Logistics

Submit separate applications to Circle through Acceptd and to Eckerd through either Eckerd's direct application or Common App

Admission to the joint BFA requires separate acceptance by both institutions

Circle's Acceptd prescreen is not currently open; Circle publishes an October-to-July window but no day-level opening date

Eckerd's application opens August 1, and Early Action materials are due November 15; later applications are reviewed on a rolling basis

Program Requirements

Circle directs Acting applicants to its requirements page and the 2026–27 Musical Theater Common Prescreen criteria without the singing component

The linked participating-institutions spreadsheet is no longer accessible (archived link), so confirm Circle's institution-specific option labels in Acceptd when the portal opens

Important Notes

Circle application: $60

Eckerd application: $50, waived for applications submitted before December 1

Transfer Pathway

Students may begin in Circle's Acting Track and transfer successful conservatory study into Eckerd's BFA Theatre: one full year counts as 31.5 semester hours, and the two-year certificate counts as 63 semester hours.

Circle Eckerd BFA · circlesquare.org

What's The Process

Audition Process

Submit the Circle prescreen before advancing to the audition and interview stage

Admission requires both an audition and interview with Circle

Audition Expectations

Published day-level Circle audition sessions for the 2026–27 season are held on Zoom from 7:00–10:00 p.m. ET

Eckerd states that applicants may audition in person at Circle or virtually, and Circle's current schedule also lists audition conferences without day-level dates

Circle notes that dates may be changed or added

Scholarship Info

Scholarships and financial aid awarded by each school separately (Circle in the Square and Eckerd College)

Awards are non-transferable between institutions

School info

Snapshot

Admit rate

school-wide

Grad rate

100%

Enrollment

Earnings

$40K

10yr after

Costs & aid

Tuition & fees

$26,050

Before aid

Cost of attendance

$54,980

Before aid

Average net price

$28,089

After aid

Tuition · circlesquare.org College Scorecard

Training

The BFA Theatre pathway combines two years of liberal-arts study at Eckerd College with two years of professional conservatory training at Circle in the Square

Eckerd theatre study includes acting, directing, stagecraft, design basics, lighting and sound design, and acting for the camera

Performance & Productions

Eckerd mounts two to three faculty-directed productions each year alongside student-led work

Students may propose a play to direct, develop staged readings of original scripts, and perform in student films

Professional Development

Eckerd Theatre maintains an internship relationship with Norwegian Cruise Lines and identifies professional companies in St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Sarasota as off-campus opportunities

Degree Flexibility

Students may begin at either partner institution; one successful year at Circle transfers as 31.5 semester hours and two years as 63 semester hours toward the Eckerd-granted BFA Theatre

Updated Sep 3, 8:59 PM