Why Major in Musical Theatre?
Belmont’s award winning, nationally ranked musical theatre performance major is designed for students who exhibit exceptional potential and desire to pursue a performance career in musical theatre. Belmont Musical Theatre offers a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Fine Arts which provide concentrated study in voice, theatre and dance as well as advanced audition techniques and career preparation. The Bachelor of Music is ranked in the top 10 in the nation.
Multiple productions of Belmont University's Musical Theatre program have been recognized as winners of The American Prize in Musical Theatre Performance, having been chosen from among the nation's finest ensembles.
Belmont’s Musical Theatre faculty are highly trained professionals who are devoted to excellence in musical theatre training and performance. Each faculty member continues to maintain a working presence in the industry.
Nancy Allen is the coordinator of the program. Contact her with program specific questions after exploring this web page.
Musical Theatre Celebrates 25 Years of Excellence
The celebration kick-off has already begun with a series of events designed to honor the program's legacy, showcase alumni success and raise funds for future generations of performers.
Alumni Spotlights
Josh Jordan
Josh Jordan began making waves in the industry even before his December graduation. Currently starring in the national tour of "& Juliet," Jordan credits his Belmont education for preparing him to balance professional work with his studies.
"Belmont doesn't just make musicians. They make well-rounded humans," he stated. "I also appreciate that Belmont is very focused on musicianship. A lot of theatre programs around the nation are more focused on acting or dance, and they don't get as much music training."
This musical foundation has proven invaluable in his professional career. "I go into rooms where I'm one of few people who can read music, and it just makes the process so much easier and makes auditioning easier," he explained.
Caroline Eiseman
A 2022 graduate of Belmont's musical theatre program, Caroline Eiseman recently wrapped up her role as Tracy Turnblad in the national tour of "Hairspray."
"I really do think that's what Belmont, and specifically my musical theater program, gave me - a place where I could learn the hard way and then fall back on people who loved me and said, 'Alright, it's time to get back up and try again,'" Eiseman elaborated.
"That's what a lot of this industry and being a working actor is - trying, failing and doing it again. I really needed that from a school, and Belmont gave me that."
Michel Vasquez
As a student, Michel Vasquez (‘22) was highly engaged in all that Belmont had to offer – from sorority meetings to the Belmont Dance Company, to leading girls through Delight Ministries and incoming freshmen through Towering Traditions. Today, as a professional performer with her B.F.A. in musical theatre and minor in dance, Michel is highly engaged with all that the world of the performing arts has to offer.
Currently living in Europe, Michel is on the international tour of “West Side Story” as Rosalia, Maria understudy and the “Somewhere” soloist.
What You'll Learn
- Vocal Cross-training in all styles required for a career in musical theatre
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Intensive dance training and mock dance auditions in all styles
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Masterclasses with Broadway Professionals and Mock auditions every semester
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Intensive Acting Training (7 semesters of class style and one-on one instruction)
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Business of the Business masterclasses on how to navigate the industry
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4 musicals per year, Freshman Showcase and an NYC Industry Senior Showcase
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Conservatory style intensive training in theory, sight reading, piano proficiency and voice
Career Possibilities
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Broadway and Off-Broadway and Regional Productions
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National Tours
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Cruise Ships and Theme Parks, such as Disney and Norwegian
- Voice Over such as cast recordings for MTI (Musical Theatre International) in Nashville and commercials
Program Details
Curriculum
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre majors complete 129 hours of coursework over the course of their undergraduate career. This includes an array of courses that gives our students the necessary training for industry success.
- BELL Core Requirements: 38 Hours (minimum)
- Music Requirements: 49 Hours
- Theatre Requirements: 21 Hours
- Dance Requirements: 13 Hours
- General Electives: 8 Hours
Learn more about the degree requirements.
Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre majors complete 135 hours of coursework over the course of their undergraduate career. This includes an array of courses that gives our students the necessary training for industry success.
- BELL Core Requirements: 38 Hours (minimum)
- Music Core: 36 Hours
- Common Music Core: 30-33 Hours
- Special Music Core: 4 Hours
- Theatre Requirements: 18 Hours
- Dance Requirements: 10 Hours
- Major Area: 28 Hours
- Support Courses: 3 Hours
- Additional Required Coursework: 5 Hours
- General Electives: 5 Hours (minimum)
Explore the variety of opportunities our students have to engage with the musical theatre community and advance their artistry.
Opportunities in New York City (Belmont USA)
Masterclasses and Workshops
Masterclasses feature relevant industry personnel from casting directors, agents, choreographers, composers, music directors, and performers. Past clinicians include:
Scott Alan, Jay Binder, John Bucchino, Tituss Burgess, Michael Demby Cain, Tiffany Little Canfield, Tina Marie Casamento, Patrick Cassidy, Dave Clemmons, Bob Cline, Parker Esse, Gordon Greenberg, Rachel Hoffman, Kevin Kennison, Stephen Kopel, Levi Kreis, Katie Ladner, Norm Lewis, Douglas Lyons, Kevin Munhall, Laura Oldham, Jillian Paige, Pasek and Paul, Rachelle Rak, Rob Rockiki, Michael Rodriguez, Ellery Sandhu, Rommy Sandhu, Gayle Seay, John Schuck, Matthew Scott, Merri Sugarman, Jen Waldman, Jeff Whiting, Benton Whitley, Scott Wojcik, Eric Woodall, Hugh Wooldridge, and Rance Wright
Local Theatre Opportunities
Local Professional Companies
- The Nashville Repertory Theatre
- Studio Tenn Theatre Company
- The Nashville Opera
- Street Theatre Company
- The Nashville Shakespeare Festival
- The Nashville Children’s Theatre
Local Community Theaters
The Belmont University School of Music is a fully accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
All programs in the School of Music require an audition. The audition determines admission into the School of Music, which is separate from the University's admission decision.
After submitting the Application for Undergraduate Admission, applicants to the School of Music will receive an email prompting them to complete the Undergraduate School of Music Audition Registration Form in their BU4U account. They will choose their intended in-person audition date or the video audition option.
The School of Music does not prescreen for any of its programs.
Requirements:
These audition requirements are for students auditioning for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or Bachelor of Music (BM) Musical Theatre major:
Audition Requirements
Musical Theatre auditions have 3 portions/sections:
- Vocal (three songs)
- Monologue
- Dance
Vocal Portion of the Audition
- One Golden Age Musical Theatre song, cut to one minute (or less) in duration
- One Contemporary Musical Theatre song, cut to one minute (or less) in duration
- One pop/rock or commercial song not from a musical, cut to one minute (or less) in duration
- Auditioners perform the three songs with a live piano accompanist provided by Belmont. Auditioners must bring well-marked, legible sheet music in the correct (no lead sheets or chord charts please)
- Please try to show “legit" or classical style in one of the musical theatre songs including head voice for females and using vibrato when possible
Monologue Portion of the Audition
- Perform a one minute or less, memorized, age-appropriate monologue from a play or musical
Dance Portion of the Audition
- Participate in a group dance class during which you’ll be learning several short dance combinations
- The group dance class will be approximately 75 minutes
- NOTE: If you are auditioning via video, you must submit a video of a live solo one minute or less dance (not a video of a previous performance) which can be choreographed by the student or by an outside teacher or You may use recorded music.
Provide a hard copy 8x10 headshot and performance resume at your audition.
**Performance resume must be uploaded under Audition Activities List/Resume in your BU4U account.
- The audition activities list is a résumé of all musical theatre roles the student has performed in staged productions or in concert and any additional music activities like choir or band, awards, honors, solo performances, Please include any instruments you play and at what level.
Belmont Musical Theatre is looking for the nation's most talented students to train to become triple threats for successful careers in Musical Theatre. Auditioners should show a knowledge of styles in their contrasting selections as well as range and vocal health and good pitch. Most importantly, students should show they connect with their chosen material and that they can communicate the story and character's journey in their selections. Young auditioners should choose material which is age appropriate and refrain from overly profane selections.
FALL
- 98 Sweeney Todd
- ‘99 The Wizard of Oz
- ‘00 The Wizard of Oz
- ‘01 Bye, Bye, Birdie
- ‘02 Singin’ in the Rain
- ‘03 Pippin
- ‘04 Smokey Joe’s Cafe
- ‘05 Children of Eden
- ‘06 Suessical
- ‘07 Swing!
- ‘08 Ragtime
- ‘09 Urinetown
- ‘10 Anything Goes
- ‘11 The Secret Garden
- ‘12 Footloose
- ‘13 Into the Woods
- ‘14 Oklahoma!
- ‘15 White Christmas
- ‘16 Parade
- ‘17 Fiddler on the Roof
- ‘18 Side Show
- ‘19 Little Women
- ‘20 Hamlet Remx, Songs for a New World
- ‘21 The Lightening Thief, Urinetown
- ‘22 Sondheim on Sondheim, Into the Woods
- ‘23 Working, Hello Dolly!
- ‘24 No Man’s Land, Twelfth Night (Shaina Taub)
SPRING
- ‘99 Blame it on the Movies
- ‘00 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
- Into the Woods
- Oklahoma!
- Hello, Dolly!
- Crazy for You
- 42nd Street
- CATS
- Guys and Dolls
- Thoroughly Modern Millie
- On the Town
- Grease
- The Drowsy Chaperone
- Hairspray
- Les Miserables
- Singin’ in the Rain
- All Shook Up
- The Addams Family
- 9 to 5
- On the Town
- Thoroughly Modern Millie
- The Pajama Game
- Bright Star
- Godspell, 42nd Street
- World Goes Round, Beauty and the Beast
- Starting Here Starting Now, Legally Blonde
- Swing!, All Shook Up
Outcomes and Alumni Successes
More Notable Alumni
Lissa DeGuzzman
Broadway Wicked (Elphaba), King Kong, Aladdin National Tours Aladdin, Wicked; World Premier Bliss
Wesley Carpenter
Broadway debut in SIX The Musical.
Sierra Fermin
Broadway debut in SIX The Musical.
Chris Lee
Broadway Hamilton (Jefferson/Lafayette), Hell’s Kitchen (Knock), Hamilton in Chicago (Jefferson/Lafayette); Off-Broadway Hell’s Kitchen; Television The Chi, Legacies, Empire, Whose Line is it Anyway?
Mathew De Guzman
Broadway A Christmas Story, Follies, Aladdin National Tours Swing, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Pippin, Aladdin
Ben Laxton
Broadway Book of Mormon National Tours: Catch Me if You Can, Ghost
Maggie McDowell
Broadway Disaster, Kinky Boots; Off-Broadway A Sign of the Times, Kinky Boots, Disaster, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Love Quirks
Deonté Warren
Broadway Aladdin National Tours Dream Girls, Sister Act
Belmont Alumni Working in the Industry
Chris D’Sean Lee | The Chi, Empire, Legacies on the CW,Whose Line Is It Anyway? |
Kate Calloway | ABC’s Nashville |
Bobby Hogan | Animated Spiderman Series, 9-1-1 Lonestar, American Horror Story |
Laura Baronet Chowenhill | Co-Moms, C.R.E., Scene Study |
Makayla Robinson | Shredded, Mâdar, Cul-de-sac, Step in Time Featured Dancer Disney Channel |
Rebecca Covington Webber | Motown: The Musical, Beautiful: the Carol King Musical |
Mathew DeGuzman | A Christmas Story, Follies, Aladdin |
Levi Krauss | Million Dollar Quartet (Tony Award) |
Katie Ladner | Almost Famous, Sunset Blvd, Wicked |
Ben Laxton | Book of Mormon |
Maggie Stallings | Disaster! On Broadway, Kinky Boots |
Deonte L. Warren | Aladdin (u/s Genie) |
Gabe Violet | Spring Awakening |
Kara Farmer Fowler | School of Rock (dance captain) |
Lissa DeGuzman | King Kong (u/s lead), Aladdin, Wicked (Elphaba) |
Welsey Carpenter | Six the Musical (alternate, universal alternate) |
Sierra Fermin |
Six the Musical (alternate) |
Levi Kreis | Hadestown |
Delaney Gold | Tootsie |
Rebecca Covington Webber | Motown: the Musical, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Hamilton (And Peggy Company) |
Kyle Caress | Cinderella, Aladdin |
Neal Buckley | Legally Blonde (China Company) |
Jenna Burns | Les Miserables, West Side Story (Centennial World Tour) |
Katie Davis | Annie, Escape to Margaritaville |
Lissa DeGuzman | Aladdin, Wicked (Elphaba) |
Mathew DeGuzman | Swing, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Cats, Pippin, Aladdin |
Kara Farmer | School of Rock, Beauty and the Beast |
Andrea Laxton | Ghost, Beauty and the Beast (International Tour) |
Ben Laxton | Catch Me if You Can, Book of Mormon, Ghost |
Chris D’Sean Lee | Hamilton Chicago, Hamilton First National Tour |
Jordan Long | Rent, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat |
Carlina Parker | Mamma Mia!, Rock of Ages, Rent 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour, Six the Musical |
Candace Quarrels | Book of Mormon, Hamilton Chicago |
Makayla McIntosh | A Chorus Line, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Disney Entertainment swing |
Maggie Stallings | Kinky Boots |
Lauren Turner | Grease |
Deonte L. Warren | Dreamgirls, Sister Act, The Lion King |
Meghan Glogower Wasserman | Mamma Mia!, Elf the Musical |
Lauren Wright | Mamma Mia! Cirque Musical, Rockin’ Road |
Zach Waters | Paw Patrol |
Bobby Hogan | Escape to Margaritaville |
Michel Vasquez | West Side Story (International Tour) |
Caroline Eiseman | Hairspray (Tracy) |
Julian Malone | Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Kinky Boots |
Ethan Pugh | The Sound of Music (Global Tour) |
Josh Jordan | & Juliet (Richard, u/s Rome, u/s Shakespeare) |
Katie Ladner | Heathers, Freaky Friday, We are Tigers, Fat Camp, Gigantic, Be More Chill, Almost Famous |
Meghan Glogower Wasserman | Nutty Professor, Ever After |
Maggie McDowell | Disaster!, Pinkalicious the Musical, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Love Quirks, A Sign of the Times |
Douglas Waterbury Tieman | The Robber Bridegroom (Roundabout Theatre), Johnny & the Devil’s Box Workshop (Goodspeed), Seawife |
Andrea Rouch Laxton | Chasing Rainbows (Goodspeed) |
Lissa DeGuzman | Chasing Rainbows (Goodspeed), Bliss World Premier (u/s Princess Piper) |
Whitney Meyer | Voices of Liberty (Disney World) |
Nathan Meyer | Voices of Liberty (Disney World) |
Chase Tucker | Beauty and the Beast (Disney World, “Gaston”) |
Lauren Metzinger Hawk | Disney Cruise Line “Wish”, “Magic” |
Katie Grogg | Disney Cruise Line “Wish”, “Fantasty” and “Magic” |
Jamie Dee Bradley | Beauty and the Beast (Disney Paris, “Belle”) |
Karis Avisa |
Rhythm of the Pride Lands (Disney Paris, “Nala”) |
Wesley Carpenter | Norwegian Bliss Cruise Lines in Six |
Ariel Gray | Norwegian Cruise Lines |
Katie Grogg | Disney “Wish”, “Magic”, “Fantasy” and Norwegian Cruise Lines |
Shannon Hegarty | Norwegian Cruise Lines |
Claire Kapustka | Oceania Riviera (Norwegian Cruise Entertainment) |
Julian Malone | Celebrity Millennium Cruise Lines |
Lauren Metzinger | Disney “Wish” and “Magic” Cruise Lines |
Lexie McEntire | Norwegian Bliss Cruise Lines |
Liam Searcy | Norwegian Cruise Lines |
Brooke Searcy | Norwegian Cruise Lines |
Ginny Swanson | Norwegian Cruise Lines |
Imari Thompson | Norwegian Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines in Hairspray (Seaweed) |
Melissa Tormene | Norwegian Cruise Lines |
Austin Querns | Regent Seven Seas (Norwegian Cruise Entertainment) |
Katie Yeomans | Oceana Cruise Line |
Rachel Zimmerman | Holland America |
Request Information
Contact Us
College of Music & Performing Arts
Alex Routen
Admissions Coordinator
(615) 460.8116
Email Alex