A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a specialized degree reflecting a more extensive study of Theatre than one would experience in a Bachelor of Arts (BA). For this reason, faculty in the Department of Theatre conduct auditions as part of the admissions process.
All students interested in pursuing a BFA will be considered “pre-BFA” until they have successfully auditioned for the program.
For more information or to schedule an audition, please contact Christie Maturo (cmaturo@ccsu.edu) and Nick Roesler (nroesler@ccsu.edu).
You will present your material to at least two full-time, theatre performance focused faculty from Central.
Application Process:
- Apply to Central anytime and state your intention is to major in theatre.
- Declare yourself pre-BFA – meaning you intend to audition for the BFA program.
Audition Process:
Any student (new or existing) can audition during the semester. These auditions coincide with our season show auditions.
Audition Preparation:
- 2 Contrasting Pieces:
- The pieces must be from published/produced plays.
- The need to be fully memorized.
- Both pieces should be approx. a minute each (totaling approx. 2 minutes)
- One piece should be from a contemporary play (written in the last 20 years). The other should be from a Shakespeare play or a plays that uses heightened text.
- 16-24 bars of a song, sung acapella (musical talent is not necessary, just a willingness to try)
- If you have a headshot and resume, please bring them with you, however, they are not required.
Audition Scoring Criteria:
To successfully complete the audition requirement for admittance into the BFA Program, a student must attain “Yes”-es for at least five of following eight criteria:
- Did the applicant follow the audition instructions?
- Was the material memorized and has the appearance of being prepared and worked on?
- Was the applicant able to appear (either the first time or with adjustment/direction) as if they were speaking to someone in their pieces?
- Was the applicant audible and able to be heard by auditors? (Audibility is irrelevant to the language spoken).
- Did it appear as if the applicant had a strong understanding of the material they prepared, demonstrated by choices made with the piece or by being able to answer questions about it?
- When given adjustments, was the applicant able to receive the feedback as a professional, “play,” and implement the notes, exercises, or adjustments given.
- Did the applicant appear to have an emotional connection to the material presented, either the first time or with direction?
- Was the applicant able to articulately answer questions regarding their intentions to enroll in a pre-professional, BFA program and why they intend to study theatre?
Additional Information:
- Students can audition up to two times. After the first audition, students can request feedback. Because of this, some people feel comfortable declaring themselves pre-BFA and auditioning once they are on campus.
- Because of how the classes are structured, all incoming freshman students take the same core courses regardless of being BA, BFA, or pre-BFA; with this, no time is lost or wasted if you select to audition once the school year has begun.