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Nebraska Wesleyan University

Lincoln, NE

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Program

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenAudition RequiredInterview RequiredUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program profile

Transfer In Friendly

Program

Quick links

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenAudition RequiredInterview RequiredUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program profile

Transfer In Friendly

Browse programs

Quick links

BFA Acting

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenAudition RequiredInterview RequiredUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program profile

Transfer In Friendly

Program Recognition

Recipient of the Mayor's Arts Award for Artistic Achievement in the Performing Arts

Training

30+ productions per year providing extensive performance opportunities

Performance experience begins first semester of freshman year

Training in Acting, Voice for the Stage, Stage Combat, Movement, Playing Shakespeare, and Acting for the Camera

Work alongside guest professional artists

Notable Alumni

Sandy Dennis — Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, 1966), Tony Award winner (Any Wednesday)

Emily Kinney — Beth Greene on AMC's The Walking Dead, Broadway debut in Spring Awakening, appeared in Masters of Sex, The Flash, and Arrow

Professional Development

Alumni working in Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix, New York, and internationally

Senior Showcase capstone connects students with industry professionals

69-credit-hour intensive program

Facilities

Elder Theatre Center housing McDonald and Miller Theatres

School Info

Snapshot

3.63

Avg GPA (W)

80%

Admit Rate

school-wide

66%

Grad Rate

1.5K

Enrollment

$56K

Earnings

10yr after

Costs & Aid

Tuition & Fees

$47,632

Before aid

Cost of Attendance

$65,784

Before aid

Average Net Price

$18,327

After aid

Tuition And Fees · nebrwesleyan.edu College Scorecard

Program info updated Sep 3, 8:07 PM

Program Highlights

Program Recognition

Recipient of the Mayor's Arts Award for Artistic Achievement in the Performing Arts

Training

30+ productions per year providing extensive performance opportunities

Performance experience begins first semester of freshman year

Training in Acting, Voice for the Stage, Stage Combat, Movement, Playing Shakespeare, and Acting for the Camera

Work alongside guest professional artists

Notable Alumni

Sandy Dennis — Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, 1966), Tony Award winner (Any Wednesday)

Emily Kinney — Beth Greene on AMC's The Walking Dead, Broadway debut in Spring Awakening, appeared in Masters of Sex, The Flash, and Arrow

Professional Development

Alumni working in Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix, New York, and internationally

Senior Showcase capstone connects students with industry professionals

69-credit-hour intensive program

Facilities

Elder Theatre Center housing McDonald and Miller Theatres

Program Highlights

Program Recognition

Recipient of the Mayor's Arts Award for Artistic Achievement in the Performing Arts

Training

30+ productions per year providing extensive performance opportunities

Performance experience begins first semester of freshman year

Training in Acting, Voice for the Stage, Stage Combat, Movement, Playing Shakespeare, and Acting for the Camera

Work alongside guest professional artists

Notable Alumni

Sandy Dennis — Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, 1966), Tony Award winner (Any Wednesday)

Emily Kinney — Beth Greene on AMC's The Walking Dead, Broadway debut in Spring Awakening, appeared in Masters of Sex, The Flash, and Arrow

Professional Development

Alumni working in Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix, New York, and internationally

Senior Showcase capstone connects students with industry professionals

69-credit-hour intensive program

Facilities

Elder Theatre Center housing McDonald and Miller Theatres

Key Info

Enrollment Term

Fall 2027

University AppApplication

Apply

Common App School Website

Deadline

Regular DecisionRolling

Undergraduate Admissions · nebrwesleyan.edu

Program AppApplication

Apply

Acceptd

Deadline

Acceptd deadlineJul 1, 2027

Application portal · Acceptd

Audition Requirements

Monologues

Upload two contrasting contemporary monologues, one comedic and one serious, approximately 1–1.5 minutes each

An optional third Shakespeare/classical monologue may be approximately one minute

All monologues must come from plays

All monologue clips together must not exceed four minutes; the slate is excluded

Additional Materials

Resume

Upload a theatre resume as a PDF

Headshot (Required)

Transcript (Required)

Send the official transcript directly to NWU Admissions

Letters of Recommendation (Optional)

Application portal · Acceptd

Verified for Fall 2027 entry

Good to Know

Application Logistics

Apply to NWU using the free online application

Upload audition materials via Acceptd (optional if auditioning on campus)

Follow up with Prof. Ryan Kathman to schedule campus visit or ask questions

Must be accepted by Admissions and complete audition/interview by June 1 to be considered for talent scholarship

Transfer Pathway

NWU Pathways partner agreements and published course equivalencies support transfer into the BFA Acting curriculum. Transfer applicants must also complete the Acting audition and should confirm how accepted theatre credits fit the intensive sequence.

Transfer Student · nebrwesleyan.edu

What's The Process

Audition Process

On-campus BFA auditions offered free between September and April; plan your visit at least two weeks in advance

Zoom auditions available on request

Chicago Unified Auditions: schedule with an NWU faculty member at Palmer House Hilton in downtown Chicago (bring your own musical accompaniment)

High School Thespian Festival auditions are treated as prescreens and are not sufficient on their own for BFA Talent Scholarship consideration

Audition Expectations

On-campus auditions individually scheduled September through April

May also include improvisation and movement if conducted in person

Decisions

NWU Theatre distributes scholarship offers by June 1

Admission and scholarship decisions are released on a rolling basis

Contact

Ryan Kathman, Director of Recruitment: rkathman@nebrwesleyan.edu | (402) 465-2128

Theatre Department: theatre@nebrwesleyan.edu | (402) 465-2395

Scholarship Info

Talent Scholarships

Based on talent, academic record, and leadership potential

Must complete audition/interview by June 1 to be considered

Financial Aid

Need-based grants and loans also available

Financial aid packages awarded after formal admission and audition completion

School Info

Snapshot

3.63

Avg GPA (W)

80%

Admit Rate

school-wide

66%

Grad Rate

1.5K

Enrollment

$56K

Earnings

10yr after

Costs & Aid

Tuition & Fees

$47,632

Before aid

Cost of Attendance

$65,784

Before aid

Average Net Price

$18,327

After aid

Tuition And Fees · nebrwesleyan.edu College Scorecard

Program Recognition

Recipient of the Mayor's Arts Award for Artistic Achievement in the Performing Arts

Training

30+ productions per year providing extensive performance opportunities

Performance experience begins first semester of freshman year

Training in Acting, Voice for the Stage, Stage Combat, Movement, Playing Shakespeare, and Acting for the Camera

Work alongside guest professional artists

Notable Alumni

Sandy Dennis — Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, 1966), Tony Award winner (Any Wednesday)

Emily Kinney — Beth Greene on AMC's The Walking Dead, Broadway debut in Spring Awakening, appeared in Masters of Sex, The Flash, and Arrow

Professional Development

Alumni working in Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix, New York, and internationally

Senior Showcase capstone connects students with industry professionals

69-credit-hour intensive program

Facilities

Elder Theatre Center housing McDonald and Miller Theatres

Updated Sep 3, 8:07 PM