Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre
Dublin, Ireland
Bachelor of Fine Arts
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2027
TUITION FEES
EUR 7,500 *
STUDY FORMAT
* EU students
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Key Summary
About: The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre at American College Dublin is a four-year US-accredited (MSCHE) conservatory programme in acting, singing and dance. It trains performers in directing, writing, production, management and marketing. Years 1–2 teach core technique and weekly productions; year 3 develops filmed projects, auditioning and internships; year 4 showcases students to industry professionals and readies them for professional work or an MFA.
Career Outcomes: Career opportunities include performer, actor-singer-dancer, choreographer, director, stage manager, arts administrator and teacher. Graduates can pursue agent representation, auditions and roles in production or arts management, or continue to postgraduate study.
The four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre has US accreditation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). This program offers a conservatory and holistic approach to musical theatre training, one that not only concentrates on a participatory performance perspective but also prepares students for a wide and exciting range of careers available in the performing arts industry.
While performance remains an integral component of the program, students are also prepared for the vast array of work that supports and produces performance, such as directing and staging, creating written material for performance, production, management, marketing and funding of the performing arts. The program is based around live theatrical performance, whilst also preparing graduates for further study in all cognate specialisms in musical theatre, as well as the required preparation skills for the professional industry.
Students are required to demonstrate an understanding of the integration and interdependence of the activities and to provide mutual support and encouragement for the group as a whole. The program lays great stress on the development of an ensemble ethic; alongside the development of the individual’s creative impulses and abilities, the degree seeks to imbue students with an awareness of the paramount importance of responsibility to the collective in musical theatre practice.
In the first and second years of the program, students are introduced to the fundamental concepts of Acting, Music and Dance techniques, along with two general education classes per semester. Students are given the opportunity to put together techniques they have learned in weekly production classes which are showcased to the public at the end of the academic calendar.
In the third year, the focus shifts increasingly towards the application and development of the skills encountered in the first two years, through the presentation of individual filmed projects and through an auditioning process of being cast appropriately for a contemporary and Shakespearian play. These projects are aimed at providing suitable material for individual show reeling purposes. On successful completion of the third year, students are invited to discuss the option of an internship and/or final performance projects for the final year.
When students reach the fourth year, they are suitably equipped to be formally presented to managers, agents and casting directors alike through a musical production, play and showcase respectively. The college provides professional platforms and invites members from the industry, giving students every opportunity to showcase their talents with the aim of getting signed or continuing their educational journey on a suitable master’s program.
The program also serves as preparation for students to apply for our MFA in Performance program.
The program’s structure combines conservatory training and academic classroom modules. Approximately two-thirds of total weekly contact hours consist of modules devoted to practical aspects of performance. Students are tutored in the required musical theatre modules -Music, Dance and Acting respectively, including private weekly tuition in vocal technique and vocal repertory. Student’s progress involves the development and accumulation of material for a portfolio which provides evidence of their achievement of the program’s required learning outcomes and functions as a basis for individual assessment. The remaining one-third of weekly contact hours concentrates on class-based academic instruction that supports and contextualises the ascending levels of practical training and includes such subjects as theatre history, performance theory, drama and politics, creative writing, management and marketing.
Throughout the four years of this program, students are introduced to the fundamental concepts of Acting, Music and Dance techniques.
Please note that the full details of courses are available in the Course Catalogue:
Acting
Acting modules explore technical perspectives and development through the study of the Stanislavski, Laban and Meisner techniques. The practical actor training module of this unique program is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to emerge as a successful professionally trained actor for the stage and screen. The program is a comprehensive cross-methodology program that supplies the practitioner with the tools to apply the craft of acting physically, vocally and intellectually. The current musical theatre industry is competitive, with “triple threat” demands on the artist auditioning for roles. American College Dublin’s musical theatre program ensures that each student receives the necessary training, skills and techniques to reach professional standards, whilst ensuring that their training in acting is not diminished or compromised.
Music
In the Music modules, there is a strong emphasis on acquiring a Legitimate Vocal technique and learning about the overall Health and Care of the Voice in the first year, which feeds into respective modules in Vocal Repertoire, Vocal Technique, Voice and Phonetics and Acting through Song. Each student’s talent is nurtured with a strong emphasis on maintaining individual vocal qualities and characteristics while extending range, accuracy in pitch, developing resonance, good breath control, support and stamina. Confidence building is a strong ethos which runs throughout the respective modules, creating a safe environment to make mistakes and in turn develop as a person and performer. Continuous assessment, performance projects, Master Classes and workshops with guest international tutors are some of the many tools used as part of the conservatory training throughout this program.
Dancing
In year one, students are introduced to fundamental concepts of dance and movement. Dance foundational skills include a broad introduction to Musical Theatre dance styles; the development of Classical Ballet, Jazz ballet, Ensemble Improvisation and Body.
- Awareness-Classical Ballet foundation (Cecchetti method – Italian style),
- Jazz Ballet Foundation (Jack Cole method, Gillian Lynn method, Bob Fosse style),
- Musical Theatre Dance Styles (Legit) Foundation,
- Movement Ensemble Improvisation/Spatial Awareness,
- Movement Vocabulary/Theory of Dance,
- Body Conditioning/Pilates
All are taught through the parallel system (MMD Method).
In year two, the focus shifts increasingly towards application development of the skills learnt in the first year, with the addition of tap dance/rhythm and contemporary dance – Classical Ballet continuation (Cecchetti method – Italian style), Jazz Ballet continuation (Jack Cole method, Gillian Lynn method, Bob Fosse style), Musical Theatre dance styles (Legit) continuation, Movement Ensemble Improvisation, Movement Vocabulary/Theory of Dance, Body Conditioning/Pilates, Tap Dance/Rhythm introduction, Contemporary Dance (Martha Graham method) introduction, Commercial Dance style, and an understanding of Dance History.
In year three, the program concentrates on transferring the practice into the performance, with the addition of double work/partnering work – Classical Ballet continuation (Cecchetti method – Italian style), Jazz Ballet continuation (Jack Cole method, Gillian Lynn method, Bob Fosse style), Musical Theatre dance styles (Legit) continuation, Movement Ensemble Improvisation, Movement Vocabulary/Theory of Dance, Body Conditioning/Pilates, Tap Dance/Rhythm introduction, Contemporary Dance (Martha Graham method) introduction, Commercial Dance style, Double Work.
Along with the academic knowledge students receive throughout their program, they will also acquire and develop transferable career skills from their degree discipline.
These skills include:
- Communication
- Writing skills
- Creativity
- Effective presentation techniques
- Management, marketing and fundraising abilities
- Interpretational and compositional competency with written texts
- Organisational skills
- Research skills
- Time management
These are applicable not only in the context of the many career paths within performing arts but also in a wide variety of social, cultural and business vocations.