Program: Theatre - Musical Theatre Concentration, (B.F.A.) - University of Memphis - Modern Campus Catalog™

Jun 23, 2025

2025-2026 UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is a program specifically designed for students whose certain interests and abilities strongly suggest the potential for pursuing careers as artists in the resident, professional, community, or academic theatre.

To expand the student’s creative powers and deepen the commitment to a vocation in the theatre, the B.F.A. program offers the student (1) a basic probing of all the arts and crafts of the theatre and dance; (2) an exploration in depth of one area of special interest; (3) the opportunity to participate creatively as a theatre or dance artist through extensive production experience.

Five concentrations are offered: (1) Performance, (2) Musical Theatre, (3) Dance, (4) Dance Science, (5) Design and Technical Production. Students entering the B.F.A. program will elect one of these concentrations. The University of Memphis is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST).

University General Education Program (41 hours)

See Graduation from the University for the University General Education Program requirements. Note that DANC 1151 or THEA 1030 and THEA 4548 or THEA 4549 will satisfy the General Education Humanities requirement. However, a minimum grade of “C-” is required in all departmental courses applicable to the major. Dance majors are required to take MUS 1030 as a second Humanities/Fine Arts requirement.

The Major (79 hours)

Major Core (9 hours)

THEA 2511 - Intro Theatre Production Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3412 - Directing Experiments Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 4541 - Internship Credit Hours: (1-3)

Concentration (70 hours)

Dance (14 hours)

DANC 1825 - Ballet I Credit Hours: 2
DANC 1827 - Jazz I Credit Hours: 2
DANC 1831 - Tap I Credit Hours: 2
DANC 2825 - Ballet II Credit Hours: 2
or repeat DANC 1825 - Ballet I
DANC 2827 - Jazz II Credit Hours: 2
or repeat DANC 1827 - Jazz I
DANC 3826 - Musical Theatre Dance I Credit Hours: (2)
DANC 3827 - Musical Theatre Dance II Credit Hours: (2)

Music (20 hours)

THEA 1223 - Music Skills for Musical Theatre I Credit Hours: 3
THEA 1224 - Music Skills for Musical Theatre II Credit Hours: 3
Eight credit hours of:
THEA 3200 - Musical Theatre Applied Voice Credit Hours: (1-2)
THEA 4220 - Acting through Song l Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 4223 - Acting through Song ll Credit Hours: (3)

Theatre (27 hours)

THEA 1030 - Intro to Theatre** Credit Hours: (3) (hours counted in General Education)
THEA 1530 - Fundamentals of Performance Credit Hours: 3
THEA 2515 - Stage Makeup Credit Hours: (2)
THEA 2532 - Acting I Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3531 - Acting II Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3532 - Acting III Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3551 - Audition Prep Performance Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 4548 - Musical Theatre History Credit Hours: (3) (hours counted in General Education)
THEA 4582 - Script Interpretation Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 4591 - Professional Theatre Practice Credit Hours: (3)
Choose four (4) “lab” hours (must include at least two different areas) from among:
THEA 3601 - Management/Publicity Production Lab Credit Hours: 1
THEA 3602 - Costumes Production Lab Credit Hours: 1
THEA 3603 - Lighting and Sound Production Lab Credit Hours: 1
THEA 3605 - Scenery Production Lab Credit Hours: 1
THEA 3606 - Props Production Lab Credit Hours: 1
THEA 3608 - Dance/Dance Science Production Lab Credit Hours: 1
THEA 3609 - Stage Management Lab Credit Hours: 1

Theatre Elective (3 hours)

Choose one course from among:

THEA 2501 - Stage Movement Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3212 - Vocal Prod & Articulation l Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3213 - Vocal Prod & Articulation ll Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3506 - Stage Combat Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3511 - Stagecraft Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3515 - Costume Construction Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3561 - Principles Scene Design Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3562 - Principles Costume Dsgn Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3563 - Principles of Light & Sound Design Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3620 - Stage Management Skills Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 4221 - Stage Dialects Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 4222 - Asian Theatre Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 4455 - Directing Narrative Theatre Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 4457 - Vocal Style/Performance Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 4503 - Theatre Teaching Methods Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 4521 - Principles of Stage Direction Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 4531 - Acting Styles Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 4532 - Mask Performance Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 4539 - Contemporary Theatre History Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 4544 - Gay and Lesbian Dramatic Lit Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 4549 - Theatre History Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 4559 - Thea/African Diaspora Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 4571 - Playwriting Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 4631 - Acting for Film and TV Credit Hours: (3)

General Electives (6 hours)

Remaining hours (6) are Musical Theatre courses, other department courses, or non-department electives approved by the student’s advisor.

Typical 4-Year Musical Theatre Concentration Sequence

Freshman Year

Fall

ENGL 1010 - English Composition** Credit Hours: (3)
DANC 1825 - Ballet I Credit Hours: 2
THEA 1030 - Intro to Theatre** Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 1223 - Music Skills for Musical Theatre I Credit Hours: 3
THEA 1530 - Fundamentals of Performance Credit Hours: 3
THEA 3200 - Musical Theatre Applied Voice Credit Hours: (1-2)

Spring

DANC 1827 - Jazz I Credit Hours: 2
THEA 1224 - Music Skills for Musical Theatre II Credit Hours: 3
THEA 2511 - Intro Theatre Production Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 2532 - Acting I Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3200 - Musical Theatre Applied Voice Credit Hours: (1-2)
THEA 3412 - Directing Experiments Credit Hours: (3)

Semester Totals 30 hours

Sophomore Year

Fall

ENGL 1020 - English Comp/Analysis** Credit Hours: (3)
MATH * Credits / Units: 3
DANC 2825 - Ballet II Credit Hours: 2
THEA 3200 - Musical Theatre Applied Voice Credit Hours: (1-2)
THEA 3531 - Acting II Credit Hours: (3)
Theatre Lab Course Credits / Units: 1
Elective Credits / Units: 3

Spring

COMM 2381 - Oral Communication Credit Hours: (3)
History * Credits / Units: 3
DANC 1831 - Tap I Credit Hours: 2
THEA 2515 - Stage Makeup Credit Hours: (2)
THEA 3200 - Musical Theatre Applied Voice Credit Hours: (1-2)
THEA 3532 - Acting III Credit Hours: (3)
Theatre Lab Course Credits / Units: 1

Semester Totals 31 hours

Junior Year

Fall

ENGL 2201 - Literary Heritage ** Credit Hours: (3)
or
ENGL 2202 - Lit Heritage: African-American ** Credit Hours: (3)
History *
DANC 3826 - Musical Theatre Dance I Credit Hours: (2)
THEA 3200 - Musical Theatre Applied Voice Credit Hours: (1-2)
THEA 3551 - Audition Prep Performance Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 4220 - Acting through Song l Credit Hours: (3) (odd years)
or Elective (even years)

Spring

DANC 3827 - Musical Theatre Dance II Credit Hours: (2) (odd years)
THEA 3200 - Musical Theatre Applied Voice Credit Hours: (1-2)
THEA 4223 - Acting through Song ll Credit Hours: (3) (even years)
or Elective (odd years)
THEA 4548 - Musical Theatre History Credit Hours: (3) (even years)
or THEA 4582 - Script Interpretation Credit Hours: (3) (odd years)
THEA 4591 - Professional Theatre Practice Credit Hours: (3)
Social / Behavioral Science *
Theatre Lab Course Credits / Units: 1

Semester Totals 29/31 hours

Senior Year

Fall

DANC 2827 - Jazz II Credit Hours: 2
THEA 3200 - Musical Theatre Applied Voice Credit Hours: (1-2)
THEA 4220 - Acting through Song l Credit Hours: (3) (odd years)
or Elective (even years)
THEA 4541 - Internship Credit Hours: (1-3)
Natural Science / Lab *
Theatre Lab Course Credits / Units: 1

Spring

DANC 3827 - Musical Theatre Dance II Credit Hours: (2) (odd years)
THEA 3200 - Musical Theatre Applied Voice Credit Hours: (1-2)
THEA 4223 - Acting through Song ll Credit Hours: (3) (even years)
or Elective (odd years)
THEA 4548 - Musical Theatre History Credit Hours: (3) (even years)
or THEA 4582 - Script Interpretation Credit Hours: (3) (odd years)
Natural Science / Lab *
Social / Behavioral Science *

Semester Totals 28/30 hours

Total Hours: 120

Total Hours Required for Graduation: 120

*Must satisfy University General Education Program Requirement