Musical Theatre

Check out some of our more recent musicals!

The Mad Ones

Hello Dolly!

As You Like It

9 to 5

Ride the Cyclone

Addams Family

42nd Street

ONU’s musical theatre program is designed to teach you the tools to become creative, well-rounded artists. We may be small, but our opportunities are big. The Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre provides pre-professional training within a liberal arts education. The program is enhanced by the integration of nationally recognized guest artists, which affords our students a variety of approaches to the work and opportunities to develop networks within the profession.

Here, you won’t be just another talented student trying to stand out from the rest. You’ll be part of a family. You’ll enjoy small class sizes and amazing friendships. Our distinguished professors will bring out the best in you from the moment you arrive on campus until you graduate. They will become personally invested in your success.

Our curriculum and performance opportunities will prepare you for careers in musical theatre and advanced training at the graduate level. And you’ll love our facilities. The Freed Center for the Performing Arts includes a 550-seat proscenium theatre, a 132-seat studio theatre, rehearsal rooms, scenic and costume shops, smart classrooms, a computer lab, and more.

An artist’s journey is specific and unique. There is no magic formula to become a triple threat. However, our students leave Ohio Northern University with rich experiences and skills that will aid their journey as artists and compassionate global citizens. At ONU, we provide you with intensive support, and we open doors. As countless graduates of our program will testify, we’ll take you where you want to go.

MUSICAL THEATRE COURSES, CURRICULUM & PROGRAM RESOURCES

Take liberal arts courses and become proficient in voice, dance and acting. Courses include Movement for the Actor: Business of Theatre; Musical Theatre Audition Techniques: Musical Theatre History and Literature; and Acting Styles.

Audition & Talent Awards

Show us what you’ve got! To be accepted into the program, musical theatre majors must participate in an audition/interview. You may also qualify for a talent award!

Space to grow your talent

Very few small universities can rival our impressive performance venues. They combine beauty, function and technical capabilities, bringing joy to audience and performers alike!

Freed Center for the Performing Arts—a modern, fully-equipped theatre complex.

550-seat Biggs Theatre in the Freed Center offers excellent views from every seat.

132-seat Stambaugh Theatre in the Freed Center is ideal for intimate theatre.

The dance studio is large, airy space that’s equipped with ballet barres, mirrors and high ceilings.

Encounter the theatre world’s most famed professionals

Every year we bring 30-40 guest artists—directors, playwrights, choreographers, actors, scenic and light designers and more—to campus to work one-on-one with students.

Receive conservatory-style training

Receive individual attention and outstanding opportunities to participate in productions, study and travel internationally, and learn from the best in the theatre world.

You won’t compete against graduate students for stage roles or classes, our program is solely undergraduates

11:1 is our student to professor ratio

Collaborate with other musical theatre students to create amazing stage productions.

musical theatre students perform on stage for spring awakening.

Audition for productions in your freshman year.

Study abroad or take advantage of our international opportunities.

Learn from nationally and internationally recognized guest artists

Shine on stage with fellow classmates during productions.

musical theatre students perform on stage during their spring awakening production.

From Toledo to Chicago, New York City to Manchester, England, embark on trips and tours to expand your understanding of the arts. You’ll have a chance to attend national conferences in major U.S. cities, attend professional theatre productions and Shakespeare Festivals, visit local elementary schools to perform skits, and prepare and travel to auditions for summer theatre positions.
We partner with the University of Salford located in Manchester, England, the country’s second largest city and home to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). You could spend a semester studying at the University of Salford; collaborate with Salford students on artistic productions; intern at the BBC; or participate in workshops and seminars at ONU given by visiting Salford professors. We also partner with Rakvere Theatre, a professional repertoire theatre located in a small town in northeastern Estonia. Established in 1940, the Rakvere Theatre has an ensemble of 18 actors and is known for both classical and avant-garde productions. Estonia is bordered by the countries of Finland, Sweden and Latvia. Opportunities include providing technical support for Rakvere Theatre production in Canada, learning from Estonia directors, actors and technical crew who provide master classes at ONU; and interning at Rakvere.
Help produce, direct, translate and star in an international play on campus. Taking place every other year, the International Play Festival has featured works from Germany, Cuba, Canada, Japan, the Native American tradition and more. We either commission a new work by an international playwright or create the first English-language translation of an existing work. Professional international theatre artists visit campus and work directly with students on the production, teaching them about their country’s history, culture, people and traditions as they connect to the world of theatre.
Fearless Shenanygans is about having fun and the freedom to create. The improv group rehearses once a week and produces one show a month on campus. Every year, one or two guest improv artists come to campus to interact with the group. Join Fearless Shenanygans and you’ll learn to use tools and games to hone your improv skills. You’ll also develop skills that are useful in any profession – including creativity, listening skills and the ability to think on your feet. And most importantly, you’ll forge new friendships while having a blast!
Why not spend the summer doing what you love? Summer break brings the chance to participate in theatre in the outside world. We provide one-on-one support to help you find an awesome experience for the summer. We can seek out a behind-the-scenes internships, or help you prepare an audition and land a role in a theatrical production.
Do you want to live and study in a different country? We can make it happen. Our professors have extensive connections with theatres and universities in many different countries. If we don’t have an existing connection where you want to travel, we’ll forge one just for you. We truly go above and beyond to find you a study abroad opportunity that matches your interest. Our students have studied or interned in Scotland, Australia, France, South Africa, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Finland and more.
If you achieve a high level of quality in theatre study and production, you’ll be invited to join our Ohio Epsilon Chapter of Theta Alpha Phi, the oldest nationwide educational theatre honor society in the world. Theta Alpha Phi is dedicated to making theatre a fulfilling experience for all students. Past activities of our campus chapter have included a performance and silent auction to benefit the Broadway Cares, Equity Fights AIDS organization and the funding of a student trip to Chicago.

Photo of Andrew Lippa speaking to our students

We had the honor to welcome the one and only, Andrew Lippa on to campus to teach a masterclass.

Six students had the honor to sing for him, and he then attended our production of The Addams Family. After the show, Lippa participated in our talkback with the principles. No better man to ask questions about the show, than the man himself!!

End game: a fulfilling musical theatre career

Our alumni are working on- and off-Broadway, on national tours, and in regional theatres. They’re on television, films, music videos and commercials; tour internationally on cruise ships; and perform in theme parks like Disney World.

Careers in Musical Theatre:
- Actor
- Singer
- Musician
- Dancer
- Choreographer
- Directory
- Producer
- Artistic director
- Production assistant
- Drama instructor

Take the first step toward living the Polar Bear life

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