Theatre & Dance Audition Requirements
Theatre & Dance Audition Requirements
Theatre & Dance Audition Information
Rowan's Department of Theatre & Dance is a cutting-edge program that encourages innovative, creative, and independent artists. We promote intensive cross-disciplinary studies among performance forms. Therefore, we will be looking at your openness towards collaboration and your willingness to work outside your comfort zone during the admission, audition and interview process.
Theatre & Dance Audition Dates
- MARCA, November 14-15, 2025
- Saturday, December 6, 2025
- Sunday, January 24, 2026
- Saturday, March 7, 2026 (Theatre Only)
- Saturday, April 18, 2026
Applicants will be able to schedule their audition directly within their applicant portal once their application has been submitted.
Video submissions are also accepted for both Spring 2026 and Fall 2026 entry. Please review the requirements here.
On-Campus Audition Requirements
What to Expect
The Theatre & Dance faculty aim to create a welcoming, engaging, and informative experience. The day begins with a Q&A session, followed by a collaborative group activity with fellow applicants, while family members and guests attend an informational session. The day concludes with Theatre applicants presenting their prepared audition materials and meeting with Theatre faculty, and Dance applicants taking part in a dance workshop and connecting with Dance faculty.
All Theatre auditionees will participate in a collaborative devising exercise explained to the group on audition day. Be prepared to work with a small ensemble made of other prospective students and members of the Theatre & Dance Department.
Come dressed in clothes you can move in and ready to create and collaborate!
Digital Submission (Portfolio)
What to upload to Digital Submission Section:
- All applicants are asked to upload a current resume detailing their theatre and/or dance experience, along with a recent photo or headshot to their applicant status portal.
- Applicants interested in Directing and Design/Tech should also be prepared to present a portfolio of their work.
- All current students are to email materials to theatredance@rowan.edu
Dance
- Students are not requred to prepare any material in advance.
- All Dance applicants will participate in a dance workshop with Dance faculty and staff. The workshop begins with an improvisation warm-up and exploration of spontaneous composition and performance, along with a series of codified dance technique sequences with opportunities for creating short dance compositions. The dance workshop will have musical accompaniment.
- Prospective students should wear appropriate dance attire (leotard and footless tights or leggings). No specific footwear required.
- At the conclusion of the workshop, each student will speak with Dance faculty. Students should be prepared to speak about why they want to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Dance at Rowan.
Acting Concentration
- Students should prepare two contrasting monologues from published plays. Pieces may contrast in style, tone, emotional range or character and should exhibit your range of skills and ability.
- The total time for introduction and both pieces shoulld not exceed 3 minutes
Design & Tech Concentration
Students should:
- Create an online portfolio that includes:
- A current resume
- Images and a brief description of examples of your work;
- Examples could include images of sets you helped create, renderings & drafting, videos and or sound clips,selections from a prompt book. Anything that supports your story
- Upload portfolio to Digital Submission section found on Application Checklist for incoming students or link provided
- Prepare for an interview with Faculty
- Discuss why you are interested in continuing your training in Design Tech. What do you wish to accomplish while in the Bachelor of Art program at Rowan
- Interview with the Faculty from the Design Technology Program
- Be prepared to review your portfolio
- Discuss why you are interested in continuing your training in Design Tech.
- What do you wish to accomplish while in the B.A. program at Rowan.
For questions specific to this concentration or tips on creating the portfolio, email Tom Fusco at Fusco@rowan.edu or click here for a video with tips.
Directing Concentration
Students should:
- Complete all requirements listed under "Theatre (Acting Concentration)"
- IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE: Prepare for the "Tabletop Directing Scene" where the student is the manipulator of a theatrical event
- Use a 5-minute max table-top to share some aspect of yourself that is better expressed through movement than language.
- Applicants will be provided with a one (1) standard tabletop (6ft long).
- On top of the table only, you may have any objects you desire. You can move them during lights up or lights out.
- There will be an option of a maximum of 6 "blackouts" (faculty close their eyes) and 6 "lights up"
- No text is allowed just movement of the objects
- The challenge of this assignment is to keep the performance "off balance" in terms of space and time esp. in terms of "Viewpionts": Spatial dynamics, tempo, stage patterns, kineasthetic energy, duration, repetition, scale, architecture
REMEMBER: Directing is an art used to express things that words cannot.
Musical Theatre Concentration
Students should:
- Prepare 16 bars max of singing from a pre-1960 classic musical*
- Prepare 16 bars max of singing from a post-1960 musical or popular song
- Prepare A one (1) minute dramatic monologue
- Bring their sheet music hole punched in a binder. A live pianist is provided. Recorded music is not permitted.
- Limit their introduction to name, music and play titles and authors.
- Choose material that fits their range
*Pieces may contrast in style, tone, or character and should exhibit your range of skills and ability.
Theatre Education
Students should:
- Follow instructions from any of the discipline-specific audition requirements (Acting, Musical Theatre, Design Tech)
- Be prepared to meet with faculty to discuss your commitment to theater education