Department of Theatre and Dance
Photo of student production of West Side Story

BFA – Musical Theatre

In Montclair State University’s Musical Theatre program — consistently ranked among the nation’s top BFA programs — we turn today’s hopeful into tomorrow’s next big triple threat. Our close proximity to New York City means you’ll train under top voice coaches, directors, choreographers and conductors. Plus, we mount 7-10 fully staged, professionally designed productions every year, which gives you plenty of opportunities to be seen by industry VIPs. Thanks to these showcases, our alumni have gone on to book Broadway shows and national tours like Les Misérables, Here Lies Love, Mean Girls, West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, & Juliet and Frozen.

Our program is a joint venture of the Department of Theatre and Dance and the John J. Cali School of Music. Working together, we have created a fluid curriculum that responds to this changing art form through an intensive course of study and performance. We believe these are of equal importance in developing your individuality and potential as an artist.

Our curriculum and our teachers offer challenging pre-professional training aimed at real work in the field. Professional musical theatre is a business as well as an art – our dedicated majors are fully prepared for both. Our students and alumni are working throughout the industry in a wide array of venues. Many are currently represented on Broadway, in national and international tours, in film and television, and at leading regional theatres. 

We are continually rewarded by the talent and spirit of our students. They are the best proof of our goals as teachers and mentors. Please look into our curriculum, productions, facilities, and opportunities online where you can also find detailed information about auditions and applications. If you wish to visit, we welcome you. We hope you’ll consider Montclair an inclusive place to explore, succeed, and thrive.