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Willamette University

Salem, OR

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ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenScholarship AuditionScholarship InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

Virtual Only

Program

Concentration

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ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenScholarship AuditionScholarship InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

Virtual Only

Browse programs

Quick links

BA Theatre

Acting Emphasis

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenScholarship AuditionScholarship InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

Virtual Only

Training

Advanced acting sequence: Acting I, Acting II, Acting Studio I, Acting Studio II

Meisner Technique training with certified master teacher Susan Coromel (65+ professional roles, Actors' Equity)

Voice and Speech, Dialect for the Stage coursework

Performance & Productions

4-5 productions per year including musicals, operas, and contemporary plays

Performance opportunities without competing against graduate students

Gender-blind casting approach

Professional Development

Guest artist residencies featuring Broadway performers

Theatre 33, an NEA-recognized new play development company

Alumni working at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Broadway, Hudson Valley Shakespeare, Seattle Shakespeare

Alumni accepted to Brown, Columbia, DePaul, NYU, University of Washington, and Yale

School info

Snapshot

Avg GPA (W)

3.90

Admit rate

77%

school-wide

Grad rate

71%

Enrollment

1.6K

Earnings

$57K

10yr after

Costs & aid

Tuition & fees

$56,932

Before aid

Average net price

$25,121

After aid

Tuition · willamette.edu College Scorecard

Program info updated Jul 20, 2:04 AM

Program Highlights

Training

Advanced acting sequence: Acting I, Acting II, Acting Studio I, Acting Studio II

Meisner Technique training with certified master teacher Susan Coromel (65+ professional roles, Actors' Equity)

Voice and Speech, Dialect for the Stage coursework

Performance & Productions

4-5 productions per year including musicals, operas, and contemporary plays

Performance opportunities without competing against graduate students

Gender-blind casting approach

Professional Development

Guest artist residencies featuring Broadway performers

Theatre 33, an NEA-recognized new play development company

Alumni working at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Broadway, Hudson Valley Shakespeare, Seattle Shakespeare

Alumni accepted to Brown, Columbia, DePaul, NYU, University of Washington, and Yale

Program Highlights

Training

Advanced acting sequence: Acting I, Acting II, Acting Studio I, Acting Studio II

Meisner Technique training with certified master teacher Susan Coromel (65+ professional roles, Actors' Equity)

Voice and Speech, Dialect for the Stage coursework

Performance & Productions

4-5 productions per year including musicals, operas, and contemporary plays

Performance opportunities without competing against graduate students

Gender-blind casting approach

Professional Development

Guest artist residencies featuring Broadway performers

Theatre 33, an NEA-recognized new play development company

Alumni working at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Broadway, Hudson Valley Shakespeare, Seattle Shakespeare

Alumni accepted to Brown, Columbia, DePaul, NYU, University of Washington, and Yale

Key Info

Enrollment Term

Fall 2027

University AppApplication

Apply

Common App Coalition App

Deadline

Early application deadlineNov 1, 2026

Regular DecisionJan 15, 2027

Undergrad · willamette.edu

Program AppApplication

Order

The university application must be submitted before the audition.

Auditions

Competitive scholarship applications openOct 1, 2026

Theatre scholarship priority deadline (EA/ED)Nov 15, 2026

Theatre scholarship final priority deadlineJan 18, 2027

Competitive Scholarship · willamette.edu

Scholarship Audition and Interview Requirements

Optional audition and interview for scholarship consideration only; they are not required for program admission.

Songs

Scholarship Audition Song (Optional)

One song of your choice, two minutes maximum

Monologues

Scholarship Audition Monologues

One Shakespearean monologue, 20-30 lines in length

One contemporary monologue, one minute maximum

Additional Materials

Headshot (Required for Scholarship)

Resume (Required for Scholarship)

Essay (Required for Scholarship)

500 words maximum; prompt: What do you think 21st Century theatre will look like in the next 20 years and what do you hope your role will be in creating that new theatre?

Recommendation Contact (Required for Scholarship)

Recommendation contact: most recent drama teacher or director

Competitive Scholarship · willamette.edu

Verified for Fall 2027 entry

Good to Know

Application Logistics

Apply to Willamette via Common App or Coalition with SCOIR

No university application fee

Scholarship applications open October 1, 2026 in the Willamette Applicant Portal after the admission application is submitted

Priority scholarship deadline for EA/ED candidates: November 15, 2026

Final priority scholarship deadline: January 18, 2027

Scholarship notification: December 11, 2026 for EA/ED applicants and February 5, 2027 for Regular Decision applicants

Program Requirements

9 production practicum roles required for graduation, with 5 at leadership level

Scholarship recipients must audition for all main stage shows

What's The Process

Audition Process

No audition is required for admission to the BA Theatre Acting Emphasis

Students are admitted through the standard university application

Optional competitive scholarship audition, with awards up to $12,000/year

Submit digital audition materials through the Willamette Applicant Portal

Finalists are invited to interview with department faculty

Scholarship priority deadlines: November 15, 2026 for EA/ED applicants; January 18, 2027 final priority

Audition Expectations

Shakespearean monologue, 20-30 lines in length

One-minute contemporary monologue

Optional two-minute song

Scholarship application also requires the essay, headshot, theatre resume, and drama teacher/director contact

Scholarship Info

Theatre Scholarship

Competitive scholarship up to $12,000 annually

Added on top of merit scholarships awarded at admission, which start at $28,000/year

Requires a separate application in the Willamette Applicant Portal after submitting the admission application

Recipients must declare a major in theatre or musical theatre

Renewal is based on an annual faculty evaluation

Recipients must enroll in at least one theatre class per semester and fully participate in every production

Recipients work three hours per week, take Acting I and Voice for the Stage in the first year, and maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA

School info

Snapshot

Avg GPA (W)

3.90

Admit rate

77%

school-wide

Grad rate

71%

Enrollment

1.6K

Earnings

$57K

10yr after

Costs & aid

Tuition & fees

$56,932

Before aid

Average net price

$25,121

After aid

Tuition · willamette.edu College Scorecard

Training

Advanced acting sequence: Acting I, Acting II, Acting Studio I, Acting Studio II

Meisner Technique training with certified master teacher Susan Coromel (65+ professional roles, Actors' Equity)

Voice and Speech, Dialect for the Stage coursework

Performance & Productions

4-5 productions per year including musicals, operas, and contemporary plays

Performance opportunities without competing against graduate students

Gender-blind casting approach

Professional Development

Guest artist residencies featuring Broadway performers

Theatre 33, an NEA-recognized new play development company

Alumni working at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Broadway, Hudson Valley Shakespeare, Seattle Shakespeare

Alumni accepted to Brown, Columbia, DePaul, NYU, University of Washington, and Yale

Updated Jul 20, 2:04 AM