Private school2.2K

Otterbein University

Westerville, OH

Test-Optional

Program

Concentration

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredInterview RequiredUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or VirtualMTCP Participant

Program profile

Highly SelectiveUnder 12 Students

Program

Concentration

Quick links

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredInterview RequiredUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or VirtualMTCP Participant

Program profile

Highly SelectiveUnder 12 Students

Browse programs

Concentrations

Quick Links

BFA Musical Theatre

General

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredInterview RequiredUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or VirtualMTCP Participant

Program profile

Highly SelectiveUnder 12 Students

Quick Links

BFA Acting

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredInterview RequiredUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program profile

Highly Selective12-24 Students

Quick Links

BFA Musical Theatre

General

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredInterview RequiredUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or VirtualMTCP Participant

Program profile

Highly SelectiveUnder 12 Students

Quick Links

BFA Musical Theatre

Integrated Dance Minor

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredInterview RequiredUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or VirtualMTCP Participant

Program profile

Highly SelectiveUnder 12 Students

Quick Links

BA Theatre

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenNo AuditionScholarship InterviewUniversity App Required

Quick Links

BFA Theatre Design and Technology

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredNo AuditionInterview RequiredUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program profile

Moderately Selective12-24 Students

PROGRAM RECOGNITION

•NAST accredited (National Association of Schools of Theatre)

TRAINING

•Triple-threat training: music theory, keyboard, private voice, extensive dance (jazz, tap, modern, ballet, MT dance)

•Also take courses with BFA Acting majors (diction, dialects, movement, voice for stage, scenework, acting for TV/film, Shakespeare)

•Annual evaluation — must meet professional standards to continue

PERFORMANCE & PRODUCTIONS

•Audition for ALL mainstage productions, not just musicals

•Additional opportunities: directing workshops, vocal ensembles

NOTABLE ALUMNI

•Jordan Donica — Broadway's Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady, Camelot (Tony nom for Best Featured Actor)

•Dee Hoty — three-time Tony nominee (The Will Rogers Follies, Footloose, Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public)

•Aaron Ramey — six Broadway shows including Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Bridges of Madison County, The Visit

•Lindsay Nicole Chambers — Broadway's Hairspray, Legally Blonde, Lysistrata Jones

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

•Senior Showcase produced in NYC for agents and casting directors

•Potential 10-week internship in American professional theatre

Academic info

Snapshot

3.63

Avg GPA

85%

Admit Rate

school-wide

68%

Grad Rate

2.2K

Enrollment

$53K

Earnings

10yr after

Costs & Aid

Average Annual Cost

$19,237

after typical aid

Tuition & Fees

$35,548

before aid

Average annual cost reflects the grants and scholarships most students receive.

$0-30k$12,458

$30-48k$12,659

$48-75k$16,478

$75-110k$23,061

$110k+$24,620

View full data on College Scorecard

Program info updated 1d ago

Program Highlights

PROGRAM RECOGNITION

•NAST accredited (National Association of Schools of Theatre)

TRAINING

•Triple-threat training: music theory, keyboard, private voice, extensive dance (jazz, tap, modern, ballet, MT dance)

•Also take courses with BFA Acting majors (diction, dialects, movement, voice for stage, scenework, acting for TV/film, Shakespeare)

•Annual evaluation — must meet professional standards to continue

PERFORMANCE & PRODUCTIONS

•Audition for ALL mainstage productions, not just musicals

•Additional opportunities: directing workshops, vocal ensembles

NOTABLE ALUMNI

•Jordan Donica — Broadway's Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady, Camelot (Tony nom for Best Featured Actor)

•Dee Hoty — three-time Tony nominee (The Will Rogers Follies, Footloose, Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public)

•Aaron Ramey — six Broadway shows including Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Bridges of Madison County, The Visit

•Lindsay Nicole Chambers — Broadway's Hairspray, Legally Blonde, Lysistrata Jones

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

•Senior Showcase produced in NYC for agents and casting directors

•Potential 10-week internship in American professional theatre

Program Highlights

PROGRAM RECOGNITION

•NAST accredited (National Association of Schools of Theatre)

TRAINING

•Triple-threat training: music theory, keyboard, private voice, extensive dance (jazz, tap, modern, ballet, MT dance)

•Also take courses with BFA Acting majors (diction, dialects, movement, voice for stage, scenework, acting for TV/film, Shakespeare)

•Annual evaluation — must meet professional standards to continue

PERFORMANCE & PRODUCTIONS

•Audition for ALL mainstage productions, not just musicals

•Additional opportunities: directing workshops, vocal ensembles

NOTABLE ALUMNI

•Jordan Donica — Broadway's Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady, Camelot (Tony nom for Best Featured Actor)

•Dee Hoty — three-time Tony nominee (The Will Rogers Follies, Footloose, Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public)

•Aaron Ramey — six Broadway shows including Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Bridges of Madison County, The Visit

•Lindsay Nicole Chambers — Broadway's Hairspray, Legally Blonde, Lysistrata Jones

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

•Senior Showcase produced in NYC for agents and casting directors

•Potential 10-week internship in American professional theatre

Expert Tips

Applicants are not required to submit the Common App until they have passed the prescreen. Money saved!

Key Info

University AppApplication

Apply

Common App

Deadline

Early ActionDec 15, 2025

Regular DecisionRolling

Program AppApplication

Apply

Acceptd

Deadline

PrescreenDec 1, 2025

Auditions

On-CampusJan 17, 2026

Unified Auditions (New York, NY)Jan 24, 2026

Unified Auditions (Chicago, IL)Feb 2, 2026

Unified Auditions (Los Angeles, CA)Feb 7, 2026

On-CampusFeb 21, 2026

Fee

Acceptd Fee

$60

Prescreen Requirements

Songs

• MTCP Song Option A

-One song written BEFORE 1970

-One song written AFTER 1970

-Contrasting styles

-60-90 seconds each

Monologues

• MTCP Monologue Option B

-One contemporary monologue (written after 1950)

-One classical monologue (written before 1950, heightened language)

-60-90 seconds each

Dance

• MTCP Dance Option A

-Dance/movement video required

-Must include at least one turn, one jump, and one kick

-Or suitable rotation, elevation, and extension

-60-90 seconds

Ballet

• MTCP Ballet Option A

-Ballet video required

-Include: plié, tendu, grand battement series, pirouettes en dehors (both sides), grand jeté

Wildcard / Special Skill (Optional)

•Submissions should be no more than 60 seconds

•This media can be ANYTHING you want: a special skill, an interesting story about yourself, a passion speech, an instrument that you play, etc.

•Prompt: "What do you want us to know about you?" and "What makes you unique?"

Additional Materials

•SLATE VIDEO

-Name and pronouns, if you would like

•RESUME

•PHOTO/HEADSHOT

Official Source

Callback Requirements

Songs

CALLBACK SONG

•Total audition time is 3 MINUTES (shared across all elements)

•One song should be in classical MT style (Rodgers & Hammerstein, Lerner & Loewe era, or contemporary shows in that style)

•Bring sheet music in your key

•Accompanist provided

Monologues

CALLBACK MONOLOGUE

•Within your 3-minute total audition time

•May be asked to perform monologue

•Brief interview included

Dance

CALLBACK DANCE

•May be asked to do basic dance and technique

Official Source

Good to Know

APPLICATION LOGISTICS

•Opens September 1, 2025

•Submit at least 30 days before preferred audition date

•December 1, 2025 is the final prescreen deadline; late prescreens may not be processed

•Prescreens are reviewed as received and audition slots are limited

•Program participates in Musical Theater Common Prescreen

•BFA Musical Theatre and the Integrated Dance Minor option share the same Otterbein Acceptd listing

ADMISSION PATHWAY

•Do not apply for university admission until you have passed the prescreen and been invited to audition

•If you already applied through Common App, that is fine

•After passing prescreen, immediately complete university admission application

What's The Process

AUDITION EXPECTATIONS

•On-campus: Full day 8am–5pm, plan to stay entire day

•Unified: Select specific 10-minute audition time

•Equal consideration whether on-campus or Unified

•NOT a business interview (no suits)

•NOT a picnic/party (no torn jeans, cargo pants, t-shirts with logos)

•NOT a prom (no cocktail/prom dresses)

•Avoid: military boots, long hair across eyes, too much exposed skin, flip-flops, sandals, athletic shoes

•Time your selections before you come

•Remainder includes brief interview and possibly basic dance/technique

•"We need students who want to use their acting, singing and dancing skills to tell stories to audiences hungry to hear them."

CONTACT

•theatre@otterbein.edu

Scholarship Info

•BFA students eligible for university scholarships

•Must apply for university admission for scholarship consideration

•University admission decisions made at same time as BFA offers

Academic info

Snapshot

3.63

Avg GPA

85%

Admit Rate

school-wide

68%

Grad Rate

2.2K

Enrollment

$53K

Earnings

10yr after

Costs & Aid

Average Annual Cost

$19,237

after typical aid

Tuition & Fees

$35,548

before aid

Average annual cost reflects the grants and scholarships most students receive.

$0-30k$12,458

$30-48k$12,659

$48-75k$16,478

$75-110k$23,061

$110k+$24,620

View full data on College Scorecard

PROGRAM RECOGNITION

•NAST accredited (National Association of Schools of Theatre)

TRAINING

•Triple-threat training: music theory, keyboard, private voice, extensive dance (jazz, tap, modern, ballet, MT dance)

•Also take courses with BFA Acting majors (diction, dialects, movement, voice for stage, scenework, acting for TV/film, Shakespeare)

•Annual evaluation — must meet professional standards to continue

PERFORMANCE & PRODUCTIONS

•Audition for ALL mainstage productions, not just musicals

•Additional opportunities: directing workshops, vocal ensembles

NOTABLE ALUMNI

•Jordan Donica — Broadway's Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady, Camelot (Tony nom for Best Featured Actor)

•Dee Hoty — three-time Tony nominee (The Will Rogers Follies, Footloose, Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public)

•Aaron Ramey — six Broadway shows including Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Bridges of Madison County, The Visit

•Lindsay Nicole Chambers — Broadway's Hairspray, Legally Blonde, Lysistrata Jones

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

•Senior Showcase produced in NYC for agents and casting directors

•Potential 10-week internship in American professional theatre

Updated 1d ago

Otterbein University

Browse programs

Program Highlights

Expert Tips

Key Info

Prescreen Requirements

Callback Requirements

Good to Know

What's The Process

Scholarship Info

Academic info

Program Highlights

Program Highlights

Expert Tips

Key Info

Prescreen Requirements

Callback Requirements

Good to Know

What's The Process

Scholarship Info

School Info