Musical Theatre
The Musical Theatre Program offers students the opportunity to study the individual art
forms of Theatre, Music, and Dance, along with the core of the program which is the study of
how the three relate and synergize to form the unique art of Musical Theatre. The program takes
an intensive hands-on approach with emphasis on an organic process leading to a truthful and
energized performance. General education courses also assist students as they make choices
concerning their future. Musical Theatre is a demanding field often requiring more than four years
of study. Based upon the individual student’s career objectives, the student may choose between the
five-semester Associate of Fine Arts Degree and the four-semester Associate of Arts degree.
Program for A.F.A. Degree in Musical Theatre Four Semester Plan
The AFA degree is offered for students considering careers as professional performing
artists. The course work will prepare a student for professional work, but additional education
is highly recommended. The AFA degree is an intensive study in the application of the art form
and prepares students to transfer into Bachelor of Fine Arts or Bachelor of Arts programs at a
four-year university. The AFA is a well-rounded degree in the performing arts and is also ideal
for preparing a student for the diverse demands teachers face in the performing arts.
The degree is designed to give the student an essential core of classes in Music, Dance,
Theatre and Musical Theatre. All of the following courses must be taken.
Musical Theatre Core (22 credits) |
Dance Core (7 credits) |
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Acting for Mus Theatre I (THEA 1110)...................... |
3 |
Modern Dance I/I (THEA 1430)................................ |
1 |
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Acting for Mus Theatre II (THEA 2110)..................... |
3 |
Modern Dance I/II (THEA 1430).............................. |
1 |
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Mus Thea His. & Lit (THEA 1120)............................. |
3 |
Modern Dance I/II (THEA 1440).............................. |
1 |
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Singing for the Actor II (MUSC 1374)....................... |
1 |
Ballet I/I (THEA 1410)............................................... |
1 |
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12 |
Ballet I/II (THEA 1420)............................................... |
1 |
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Jazz I (THEA 1480)..................................................... |
1 |
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Jazz II (*THEA 2480).................................................. |
1 |
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Tap I (THEA 1450)..................................................... |
1 |
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Theatre Core (12 credits) |
Music Core (8 credits) |
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Beg. Acting I (THEA 1100)......................................... |
3 |
Written Theory I (THEA 1030).................................. |
3 |
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Intro to Theatre (THEA 1000)..................................... |
3 |
Aural Theory I (THEA 1035)..................................... |
1 |
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Theatre Ethics (THEA 1025)...................................... |
1 |
Class Piano (MUSC 1290) or |
1 |
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Stage Makeup (THEA 2160)...................................... |
2 |
Singing for the Actor I (THEA 1373).......................... |
1 |
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Stagecraft (THEA 2220).............................................. |
3 |
Vocal Ensemble (THEA 1460)................................... |
1 |
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Vocal Ensemble (THEA 1460)................................... |
1 |
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General Education Requirements (21-24 credits) |
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English Composition I (ENGL 1010)....................... |
3 |
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English Composition II (ENGL 1020)...................... |
3 |
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Science/Math................................................................ |
3-4 |
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Social Science............................................................. |
3-4 |
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Social Science............................................................. |
3-4 |
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US Government............................................................ |
3 |
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**Computer Info Systems (COSC 1200)................ |
3 |
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Musical Theatre Electives (15 credits) |
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The student will be required to build upon this core foundation by taking courses from the following list of major
electives. The student may wish to choose electives that strengthen a weakness or help prepare them for a specialized
career within the musical theatre industry. At least fifteen (15) credits from the following must be selected.
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Acting II (THEA 2100).................................................. |
3 |
Applied Music IV (Piano)............................................... |
1 |
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Beginning Directing I (THEA 2165).......................... |
3 |
Symphonic Band (MUSC 1375).................................. |
1 |
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Theatre Portfolio (THEA 2500).................................. |
1 |
Jazz Ensemble I (MUSC 1390)................................... |
1 |
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Special Topics in Theatre (THEA 2490).................. |
1-4 |
Collegiate Chorale (MUSC 1400).............................. |
1 |
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*Modern Dance II/I (THEA 2430)............................... |
1 |
Vocal Ensemble (MUSC 1450)................................... |
1 |
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*Modern Dance II/II (THEA 2440).............................. |
1 |
Instrumental Ensemble (MUSC 1485)...................... |
1 |
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*Ballet II/I (THEA 2410)............................................... |
1 |
Piano Ensemble (MUSC 1490).................................. |
1 |
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*Ballet II/II (THEA 2420).............................................. |
1 |
Recording Arts I (MUSC 2415)................................... |
2 |
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*Tap II (THEA 2450)..................................................... |
1 |
Recording Arts II (MUSC 2425).................................. |
2 |
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Beginning Choreography (THEA 2215)................... |
2 |
Stage Management (THEA 2150).............................. |
3 |
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Dance Performance I (THEA 1500).......................... |
2 |
Computer Aided Draft for Th. (THEA 2250).............. |
3 |
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Dance Performance II (THEA 1501)........................ |
2 |
Stage Lighting (THEA 2230)....................................... |
3 |
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Dance Performance III (THEA 1502)....................... |
2 |
Costume Construction (THEA 2145)........................ |
2 |
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Dance Performance IV (THEA 1503)....................... |
2 |
Sound Reinforcement I (THEA 2610)........................ |
2 |
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Dance Performance V (THEA 1504)........................ |
2 |
Sound Reinforcement II (MUSC 2420)...................... |
2 |
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Dance Performance VI (THEA 1505)....................... |
2 |
Intro to Stage Design (THEA 1200)............................ |
3 |
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Written Theory II (MUSC 1040).................................. |
3 |
Beg. Scenic Design (THEA 2125).............................. |
3 |
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Aural Theory II (MUSC 1045)..................................... |
1 |
Beg. Lighting Design (THEA 2270)............................ |
3 |
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Written Theory III (MUSC 2030)................................. |
3 |
Beg. Costume Design (THEA 2175)......................... |
3 |
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Aural Theory III (MUSC 2035).................................... |
1 |
Sound Design (THEA 2615)........................................ |
2 |
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Written Theory IV (MUSC 2040)................................ |
3 |
Theatre Practice I (THEA 2050)................................... |
1 |
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Aural Theory IV (MUSC 2045)................................... |
1 |
Theatre Practice II (THEA 2051)................................. |
2 |
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Applied Music I (Voice)............................................... |
1 |
Technical Theatre Internship (THEA 2971).............. |
1-4 |
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Applied Music III (Voice)............................................. |
1 |
Theatre Management Internship (THEA 2972)........ |
1-4 |
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Applied Music IV (Voice)............................................. |
1 |
Rehearsal Accompanist Intern (THEA 2973)........... |
1-6 |
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Applied Music I (Piano).............................................. |
1 |
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Applied Music II (Piano).............................................. |
1 |
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Applied Music III (Piano)............................................. |
1 |
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The student may choose from any of these electives to create their own emphasis, but three emphasis options have been formed by concentrating on specific groupings of the electives. We suggest the students choose one of these following groupings for their fifteen (15) electives. 
Recommended semester by semester schedules for each of these emphases are available from your advisor |
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The total credit requirements for the AFA in Musical Theatre are between 85-88 credits. Please be advised
that this is an intensive course of study well beyond the scope of most associate degree programs (which are around
64 credits). Students planning to transfer to a four-year university should consult the catalog of the school of their choice for comparison and for the number of credits accepted in the transferring process. A student may choose to
spread their course work over a three year period depending on their personal abilities or the need to take developmental
course work (pre-college level classes) in reading, writing, or mathematics.
** Students with computer proficiency may be able to test out of this course.
Program for A.A. Degree with emphasis in Musical Theatre
Freshman Year |
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The AA degree is offered for those looking at a more traditional course of study and can usually be completed in four semesters. The AA degree prepares a student to transfer to a Bachelor of Arts program at a four year institution. All AA degrees at Western have the same general education and elective requirements. The following program of study is suggested for students who want to meet the requirements for an AA degree by emphasizing Musical Theatre as their major. |
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| Fall Semester | Credit | Spring Semester | Credit | |
English Composition I (ENGL 1010) |
3 |
English Composition II (ENGL 1020) |
3 |
|
*Comp. Info. Systems (COSC 1200) |
3 |
3 |
||
Beginning Acting (THEA 1100) |
3 |
Introduction to Theatre (THEA 1000) |
3 |
|
Modern Dance I/I (THEA 1430) |
1 |
Modern Dance I/II (THEA 1440) |
1 |
|
Theatre Ethics (THEA 1025) |
1 |
Tap Dance I (THEA 1450) |
1 |
|
Stage Makeup (THEA 2160) |
2 |
Jazz Dance I (THEA 1480) |
1 |
|
Theatre Practice III (THEA 2052) |
3 |
Theatre Practice III (THEA 2052) |
3 |
|
Singing for Actor I (THEA 1373) |
1 |
Singing for Actor II (THEA 1374) |
1 |
|
| Total | 17 | Total | 16 | |
Sophomore Year |
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| Fall Semester | Credit | Spring Semester | Credit | |
3 |
College Level Math |
3 |
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Acting for Mus. Th. (THEA 1110) |
3 |
4 |
||
Ballet I/I (THEA 1410) |
1 |
3 |
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Jazz Dance II (THEA 2481) |
1 |
Ballet I/II (THEA 1420) |
1 |
|
Theatre Practice III (THEA 2052) |
3 |
Am Mus Th Hist & Lit (THEA 1120) |
3 |
|
Written Theory I (THEA 1030) |
3 |
3 |
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Aural Theory I (THEA 1035) |
1 |
Theatre Practice III (THEA 2052) |
3 |
|
Class Piano I (MUSC 1290) |
1 |
Assessment Requirement |
0-1 | |
| Total | 16 |
Total | 20-21 |
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Level II dance techniques courses may be repeated up to three times for credit and may replace Level I courses in the curriculum.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at: webmaster@wwcc.wy.edu.
