The Musical Theatre program at UNH offers a comprehensive education in performance, movement, and voice, while also covering the history of theatre and musical theatre. Students gain hands-on experience through required practicums in areas like sets, lighting, and marketing, and opportunities to perform in 25 annual performances. The program features award-winning faculty, independent study options, and financial aid for internships through R.E.A.C.H. Additionally, the Cultural Stages program brings global theatre artists to campus, and a 10-day January Term study-abroad program explores London theatre.
What is musical theatre?
From Broadway to cabaret, musical theatre is a genre that continues to captivate generations by combining acting, song and dance. In this theatre degree program at UNH, you’ll develop and refine your talents in performance, movement and voice while studying the history of theatre and musical theatre. You’ll have the opportunity to perform in faculty- and student-directed productions, while also gaining hands-on experience through required practicums, working in areas such as sets, lighting, box office and marketing. Our program gives you a well-rounded experience for future work in theatre.
Why study musical theatre at UNH?
In addition to our award-winning faculty, the UNH Department of Theatre and Dance offers more than 25 performance opportunities every year in musicals, plays or dance concerts, including student productions. You’ll be able to pursue independent studies and you’ll be eligible to apply for R.E.A.C.H., financial assistance provided to students who participate in internships with professional theatre or dance organizations. Our Cultural Stages program brings acclaimed playwrights, choreographers and other theatre artists from around the world to campus. Our January Term study-abroad program offers a 10-day experience of London theatre.
Potential careers
- Actor
- Arts administrator
- Choreographer
- Singer
- Stage director
- Teaching artist
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Theatre Major | Music Director, Winter Park Playhouse (Winter Park, FL)What are you currently doing for work and what was the path you took to get here? Resident music director at Winter Park Playhouse, a full-time professional Musical Theatre located in the Orlando, FL area. I was introduced to the founders on holiday back in 2007 and was hired to Music Direct their…Learn More
Curriculum & Requirements
The musical theatre option is designed to cultivate and nurture the creative artistry of those highly motivated students who wish to develop their combined talent as singers, actors and dancers. Students in the musical theatre option are trained as actors who sing and dance and will thrive in this intense and dynamic program of coursework, practical application, performance-based projects, departmental productions, and special workshops with guest artists and instructors. Students will be expected to fully integrate their rigorous training as actors, dancers and singers with the outstanding liberal arts education they will receive at UNH to become well-rounded and marketable musical theatre artists.
Contact Tom Alsip, Paul Creative Arts Center, (603) 862-3288.
Degree Requirements
All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.
Major Requirements
In the freshman and sophomore years, students should enroll for at least two major and two Discovery courses per semester. The minimum grade requirement for major courses is C- per course. Any grade lower than C- will not count toward the major. Under department policy, students who complete both COMM 401 American Sign Language I and COMM 502 American Sign Language II satisfy the bachelor of arts language proficiency requirement. All majors must take courses in the following areas: performance, design/theatre technology and theory/history as well as fulfill between four and eight practicums and complete a capstone course. Although timing will vary with each option, it is strongly suggested that all introductory courses be taken prior to the end of the student's sophomore year. Students must also complete a digital portfolio that demonstrates fulfillment of student learning outcomes related to their area of study.
The required minimum overall GPA in major coursework is 2.0.
Candidates for a degree must satisfy all of the University Discovery Program requirements in addition to satisfying the requirements of each individual major program. Bachelor of arts candidates must also satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement.
Theatre department majors may use one major-required course to satisfy one Discovery category requirement.
All UNH B.A. degrees require a minimum of 128 credit hours.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| THDA 436 | History of Theatre I | 4 |
| or THDA 438 | History of Theatre II | |
| THDA 450 | History of Musical Theatre in America | 4 |
| THDA 455 | Musicianship and Beginning Vocal Techniques for Musical Theatre | 2 |
| THDA 459 | Stagecraft | 4 |
| THDA 460 | Elements of Design | 4 |
| THDA 462 | Ballet I | 2-4 |
| or THDA 562 | Ballet II | |
| THDA 463 | Theatre Dance I | 4 |
| THDA 500 | Musical Theatre Voice I | 1 |
| THDA 551 | Acting I | 4 |
| THDA 555 | Acting The Song | 4 |
| THDA 563 | Theatre Dance II | 2 |
| THDA 570 | Movement & Vocal Production | 4 |
| THDA 589 | Practicum (A - D) 1 | 1 |
| THDA 600 | Musical Theatre Voice II | 1 |
| THDA 655 | Musical Theatre Scene Study | 4 |
| THDA 700 | Musical Theatre Voice III (repeatable) | 1 |
| THDA 755 | Musical Theatre Repertoire | 4 |
| THDA 799 | Capstone Project | 2 |
| 2 Additional Credits From Dance | 2 | |
THDA 562 | Ballet II | |
THDA 565 | Aerial Dance I | |
THDA 576 | Pointe | |
THDA 662 | Ballet III | |
THDA 663 | Theatre Dance III | |
THDA 665 | Aerial DanceII | |
| Total Credits | 54-56 | |
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The practicum ensures a breadth of experience in the major, including sets, costumes, lighting, props, box office, marketing, and performing. Students must register for practicum every semester. They are notified of their practicum assignment at the beginning of each semester.
Core Student Learning Outcomes for the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre major: On completion of the B.A. in Theatre, students will:
- Recognize and distinguish between various styles and forms of theatre or dance that have shaped the evolution of these disciplines.
- Effectively communicate artistic ideas and/or critical analysis of theatre or dance works through appropriate oral, written or practical means.
- Demonstrate knowledge and fundamental skill level of the basic areas of theatre or dance production in areas related to performance, design, technology or management.
- Create and demonstrate informed and personal artistic choices in coursework and productions (i.e., design, dance, directing, acting).
Additional Student Learning Outcomes for Option in Musical Theatre: In addition to the shared department learning outcomes for all THDA students, upon completion of the major with an Option in Musical Theatre, students will:
- Utilize a healthy vocal technique and demonstrate the ability to read music.
- Effectively analyze a dramatic script.
- Apply knowledge of theatre to write critically about both musical and non-musical theatre.
- Demonstrate the ability to perform dance choreography.
- Apply acting techniques both in writing and in practice.
- Utilize knowledge of musical theatre history and styles to select appropriate repertoire for class and auditions.
- Demonstrate the skills and create the elements necessary to compete in the professional theatrical world, including a professional resume and audition book.
