Program
No PrescreenAudition RequiredScholarship InterviewIn-Person or VirtualModerately Selective12-24 StudentsUniversity App Required
Program Characteristics
No Prescreen
Audition Required
Scholarship Interview
Moderately Selective
12-24 Students
University App Required
Program Highlights
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
•Audition required for admission to the Musical Theatre concentration
•Auditions also serve as consideration for all available theatre scholarships
CURRICULUM
•Musical Theatre concentration includes coursework in music theory, ear training, keyboard skills, voice, acting, and dance
•Dance training includes Dance Styles for the Musical Theatre and Advanced Dance Styles/Musical Theatre
ACCREDITATION & FACILITIES
•NAST-accredited theatre program
•Housed in the Ferguson Center for the Arts, featuring rehearsal and dance studios, design labs, and scene and costume shops
•Two performance venues: the 440-seat proscenium Peebles Theatre and the 200-seat flexible Studio Theatre
PRODUCTIONS & TRAINING
•Four mainstage productions per year, plus student-directed work and an annual dance concert
•Students performed at 54 Below in NYC as part of the New Musicals Lab collaboration
•Faculty are professional educators and artists who continue active careers in professional venues
NOTABLE ALUMNI
•Lisa Helmi Johanson '07 — Broadway (POTUS), Off-Broadway (Avenue Q), National Tour of Avenue Q
•Kylee Bates '27 — recipient of the ASCAP Jerry Herman Legacy Prize, performed with Broadway veterans at Diamonstein Concert Hall
Key Info
University AppApplication
Apply atCommon App
Deadlines
Early DecisionNov 15, 2025
Early ActionDec 1, 2025
Regular DecisionFeb 1, 2026
Fee
$65Waiver
Program AppApplication
Apply atSlideRoom
Deadline
Priority DeadlineFeb 21, 2026
Auditions
In-Person Audition (CNU Campus)Nov 8, 2025
In-Person Audition (CNU Campus)Jan 31, 2026
In-Person Audition (CNU Campus)Feb 21, 2026
SlideRoom Fee
$6
Audition Requirements
Songs
TWO SONGS, 16–32 bars each, with accompaniment
-One up-tempo song from musical theatre or popular/commercial music repertoire
-One ballad from musical theatre or popular/commercial music repertoire
•If at all possible, songs should have recorded or live piano accompaniment only
•Sheet music marked for your audition cut (accompanist provided at in-person auditions)
Monologues
ONE MONOLOGUE, 60–90 seconds from first word of dialogue
Dance
•Dance call held at noon on in-person audition days (attendance required for in-person MT candidates)
•Optional dance video for video submissions: 45–60 seconds of any dance style(s), musical theatre preferred
-Some scholarships have a dance component as an element of consideration
-If including a dance video, combine headshot and resume into one .pdf document (SlideRoom has a 5-file upload limit)
Additional Materials
DOCUMENTS:
•Performance RESUME (.pdf)
•Current moderate-to-high-quality photo/HEADSHOT (.jpg or .pdf)
FILE LIMITS:
•If including optional dance video: combine headshot and resume into one .pdf (SlideRoom has a 5-file upload limit)
•Total files: 5–6 (monologue video, up-tempo song video, ballad video, resume, headshot, and optional dance video)
Good to Know
APPLICATION PORTAL
•Submit audition materials via SlideRoom (extension of Common App)
•Must apply to CNU via Common App first and select the appropriate academic area
IMPORTANT
•All audition materials must be uploaded simultaneously with the Common App submission — be prepared before starting
•Admission to CNU does not guarantee a place in the performance program — a separate notice will be sent
What's The Process
AUDITION FORMAT:
•Auditions accepted two ways: (1) in-person appointment on a scheduled audition day, or (2) self-recorded video submission via SlideRoom
•In-person auditions include a dance call at noon
•Accompanist provided at in-person auditions
SUBMISSION PROCESS:
•All materials submitted via SlideRoom, which is an extension of the Common App
•Must apply to CNU via Common App and select the appropriate academic area before submitting audition materials
•All audition/portfolio materials must be uploaded at the same time as completing the Common App
TIMELINE:
•Review of candidates begins February 1, 2026 and continues through February 21, 2026
•Submissions accepted after February 21, but for full consideration for acceptance and scholarships, meeting the deadline is strongly advised
IMPORTANT:
•Admission to Christopher Newport does not guarantee a place in the performance program — a separate notice of that decision will be sent
Scholarship Info
•Theatre scholarships available through the audition process
•Audition serves as consideration for all available theatre scholarships
•Some scholarships have a dance component — submitting the optional dance video is recommended
Program info updated Mar 28, 3:18 PM
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
•Audition required for admission to the Musical Theatre concentration
•Auditions also serve as consideration for all available theatre scholarships
CURRICULUM
•Musical Theatre concentration includes coursework in music theory, ear training, keyboard skills, voice, acting, and dance
•Dance training includes Dance Styles for the Musical Theatre and Advanced Dance Styles/Musical Theatre
ACCREDITATION & FACILITIES
•NAST-accredited theatre program
•Housed in the Ferguson Center for the Arts, featuring rehearsal and dance studios, design labs, and scene and costume shops
•Two performance venues: the 440-seat proscenium Peebles Theatre and the 200-seat flexible Studio Theatre
PRODUCTIONS & TRAINING
•Four mainstage productions per year, plus student-directed work and an annual dance concert
•Students performed at 54 Below in NYC as part of the New Musicals Lab collaboration
•Faculty are professional educators and artists who continue active careers in professional venues
NOTABLE ALUMNI
•Lisa Helmi Johanson '07 — Broadway (POTUS), Off-Broadway (Avenue Q), National Tour of Avenue Q
•Kylee Bates '27 — recipient of the ASCAP Jerry Herman Legacy Prize, performed with Broadway veterans at Diamonstein Concert Hall
Updated Mar 28, 3:18 PM
Academic School Information
3.80
Avg GPA (W)
86%
Admit Rate
73%
Grad Rate
4,365
Enrollment
$60,509
Earnings
10yr after
In-State Tuition
$16,828
before aid
Out-of-State Tuition
$31,178
before aid
Average Annual Cost
$23,015
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$12,461
Family Income $30k - $48k$12,752
Family Income $48k - $75k$14,163
Family Income $75k - $110k$22,776
Family Income $110k+$30,584
