Musical Theatre

We teach and inspire our musical theatre students by sharing rigorous scholarship, unique studio process, and transformative live performance in music, dance and theatre. Our primary focus in the classroom, in rehearsal, and in live performance is to give student artists opportunities and support to succeed. Join us and find your light!

• Perform powerful roles in a unique environment
• Enjoy small class sizes and a dedication to personal mentorship
• Study the Michael Chekhov Acting Technique with certified teacher, Professor Melissa Owens
• Take cutting-edge courses in devised theatre and dramaturgy
• Create a collaborative senior capstone project by writing a play, researching a dead diva or directing a musical

Productions

Through Theatre Converse’s rich production season including mainstage and studio series productions, you will be given opportunities to shine onstage, backstage and off the stage in all aspects of theatre arts, technical production, production design, arts management or playwriting.

Previous productions include:

• Heathers the Musical
• 1776
• Godspell
• As You Like It
• Cabaret

Internships

• Stage Management Team, Spartanburg Little Theatre’s The Mystery of Irma Vep
• Actor, Spartanburg Youth Theatre’s The Fantastic Mr. Fox
• Assistant Director, Spartanburg Little Theatre’s Cat On A Hot Tin Roof
• Drama Teacher, Woodland Heights Elementary After School Program
• Dance/Theatre Instructor, Fine Arts Day Camp

Musical Theatre Mentoring Project

As part of the interdisciplinary Psychology of Musical Theatre class, students and faculty team up to lead an “acting the song” month-long workshop with local high school students. Together they create a collaborative musical performance, exploring major themes such as “To Dream” and “To Fight.”

Study-Travel

Theatre & Dance students have the opportunity to study and experience live international theatre through travel-study courses.

During a Jan term study-travel trip, students studied literature and theatre in England with Dr. Templeton & Professor Owens. They spent 12 days visiting Shakespeare’s Stratford-Upon-Avon, the Cotswolds, the University of Oxford, and London. These tangible experiences brought new life and meaning to the works they studied. Visits to key sites – Big Ben, the British Museum, Westminster Abbey- as well as multiple theatre experiences in the West End, at the Barbican, the Globe and the National, engaged, entertained and inspired students and faculty.

The study of musical theatre includes instruction in major works of dramatic literature, dramatic styles and types, and understanding the principles of organizing and producing full productions. As a musical theatre student, you will have a wide variety of roles in productions: from stage management, to directing, acting, movement, stage lighting, costuming, set design, and script writing. In addition to hands-on learning, you will understand the evolution of Theatre by exploring the history and theory of Theatre, with an emphasis on musicals.

Sample Courses

• Acting the Song
• Theatre History
• Voice
• Technical Production
• Musical Theatre History
• Musical Theatre Dance
• Ballet
• Musical Theatre Ensemble

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Musical Theatre

Our Musical Theatre degree involves intensive study and research in acting, voice and dance, along with the histories and theories of music and performance. You will develop skills in analyzing, anticipating, and executing performances rooted in music.

From voice to stage production to dance, you will find a wide variety of challenges and means of expression in Musical Theatre at Converse. We want you to grow as an artist and a future professional in our program.

BA in Musical Theatre Major Worksheet

For full course requirements, see the academic catalog.

What are common careers in Musical Theatre?

• Actor
• Director
• Choreographer
• Costume, Scenic or Sound Designer
• Theatre Management
• Monologue Coach
• Dance Instructor
• Educator