School of the Arts applicants
Performing arts
Applicants to programs in dance and choreography and in music must contact the department to schedule an audition after submitting all required documentation and materials. The Department of Theatre does not schedule auditions or interviews by phone. Theatre applicants will receive a letter of reservation to schedule appointments by mail.
Dance and choreography
Music
Theatre
Dance and choreography applicants
Dance and choreography applicants are required to audition for the Department of Dance and Choreography faculty at the VCU Dance Center. The audition includes a ballet barre, modern center and improvisation. To schedule your audition, call the Department of Dance and Choreography at (804) 828-1711 or e-mail dance@vcu.edu.
Applicants are invited to observe a class, attend an orientation and take a campus tour on their scheduled audition date.
2007-08 dance and choreography audition dates
Friday, Nov. 16, 2007
Friday, Jan. 25, 2008
Friday, Feb. 22, 2008
Music applicants
Music applicants are required to audition for the Department of Music faculty. Applicants should prepare two compositions or movements in contrasting styles from the standard repertoire for their instrument. The combined pieces should total no more than 10 minutes in length.
Applicants must bring original sheet music to their audition. Sight reading, a short music theory test, a keyboard skills assessment and an interview will also be part of the audition. For more information and to schedule an audition, contact the Department of Music at (804) 828-1166.
Vocal auditions: Excerpts from choral selections, rock, jazz and popular songs as well as a cappella auditions are not acceptable. If you would like VCU to provide an accompanist, send a copy of your music at least two weeks before the audition date to the VCU Department of Music, P.O. Box 842004, Richmond, VA 23284-2004. Prerecorded accompaniment is not permitted.
Jazz studies auditions: Audition pieces may be played solo or with accompaniment provided by a VCU faculty member or playalong CD. For jazz drum set auditions, students are required to bring their own cymbals, hi-hat clutch, sticks and brushes, and will be asked to perform various jazz grooves (swing, bossa nova, Afro-Cuban, etc.) rather than perform any prepared pieces.
2007-08 music audition dates
Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008
Saturday, Feb. 16 2008
Friday, March 7, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Theatre applicants
Faculty members will interview applicants in all areas of the theatre major (design/technical and stage management, theatre education and theatre performance). The purpose of the interview is to get to know the applicants — their interests, commitment and communication skills. Applicants should be prepared to discuss their recent theatre activities and career goals.
Design/technical and stage management: Design/technical and stage management applicants are required to complete the 10 drawing exercises listed in this application, but are not required to audition. Applicants should complete and submit the 10 drawing exercises with their application materials. On the day of their portfolio review, they should bring samples of previous work, such as photographs, renderings, floor plans and other pertinent material. Art and design work will be appropriate for review. Stage management applicants also should bring a production promptbook.
Theatre education: Theatre education majors are required to interview with faculty members. Interviews are conducted the same day of auditions and portfolio reviews.
Theatre performance: Theatre performance majors are required to have an audition and interview with the faculty. The Department of Theatre will send an audition reservation form after having received all necessary application materials, including transcripts and test scores, from undergraduate admissions. Prepare two contrasting (one comedy and one dramatic) one-minute monologues (for a total of two minutes) from published play scripts.
Use the following guidelines in preparing for the audition:
- Choose something in the appropriate age range that does not contain a dialect.
- Secure assistance in the preparation of the audition material.
- Introduce the audition pieces by stating only the play’s title and the character’s name. (Background information on the scene or plot is not necessary.)
- Maintain a positive attitude, dress comfortably and, most importantly, have fun. For more information about theatre programs, contact the Department of Theatre at (804) 828-1514.
2007-08 theatre audition and portfolio review dates
Friday, Nov. 30, 2007
Friday, Feb. 15, 2008
Friday, Feb. 22, 2008
Friday, Feb. 29, 2008
Special note for auditions: To increase their competitive edge, applicants should avoid auditioning with major characters from the following plays: “Getting Out,” “Glass Menagerie,” “Hamlet,” “Macbeth,” “’night, Mother” and “Spoon River Anthology.” Also, the following playwrights are generally overdone or are more difficult to deliver successfully: Mamet, O’Neill, Pinter, Shakespeare, Shepard and Williams.
