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Nebraska Wesleyan University

Lincoln, NE

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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

Theatre

Music education

Composition & music studies

Quick links

BFA Musical Theatre

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 including at least four musicals annually

Performance experience begins first semester of freshman year

Training in acting, singing, and dancing in preparation for professional musical theatre career

74-credit-hour intensive program with 8 semesters of dance and voice lessons

Notable Alumni

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

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

Professional Development

Alumni working in major markets including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and internationally

Senior Showcase, Internship, or Senior Capstone options

Facilities

Elder Theatre Center housing McDonald and Miller Theatres

School info

Snapshot

Avg GPA (W)

3.63

Admit rate

80%

school-wide

Grad rate

66%

Enrollment

1.5K

Earnings

$56K

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 27, 3:30 PM

Program Highlights

Program Recognition

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

Training

30+ productions per year including at least four musicals annually

Performance experience begins first semester of freshman year

Training in acting, singing, and dancing in preparation for professional musical theatre career

74-credit-hour intensive program with 8 semesters of dance and voice lessons

Notable Alumni

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

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

Professional Development

Alumni working in major markets including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and internationally

Senior Showcase, Internship, or Senior Capstone options

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 including at least four musicals annually

Performance experience begins first semester of freshman year

Training in acting, singing, and dancing in preparation for professional musical theatre career

74-credit-hour intensive program with 8 semesters of dance and voice lessons

Notable Alumni

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

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

Professional Development

Alumni working in major markets including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and internationally

Senior Showcase, Internship, or Senior Capstone options

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

Songs

Upload two musical-theatre selections of approximately 32 measures each

Upload each song as a separate clip

Monologues

Upload one monologue of approximately one minute from a play

The selection may be comedic, classical, or serious

Dance

Dance Video

Upload a 30–60 second dance audition clip

The dance video is excluded from the four-minute combined song-and-monologue limit

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)

Program follows the Musical Theatre Common Prescreen criteria via Acceptd

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 Musical Theatre curriculum. Transfer applicants must also complete the Musical Theatre audition and should confirm placement in the sequenced acting, voice, and dance curriculum.

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

On-campus auditions include a provided accompanist; Zoom and Chicago Unified auditions require your own accompaniment

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

Avg GPA (W)

3.63

Admit rate

80%

school-wide

Grad rate

66%

Enrollment

1.5K

Earnings

$56K

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 including at least four musicals annually

Performance experience begins first semester of freshman year

Training in acting, singing, and dancing in preparation for professional musical theatre career

74-credit-hour intensive program with 8 semesters of dance and voice lessons

Notable Alumni

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

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

Professional Development

Alumni working in major markets including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and internationally

Senior Showcase, Internship, or Senior Capstone options

Facilities

Elder Theatre Center housing McDonald and Miller Theatres

Updated Sep 27, 3:30 PM