Musical Theatre

Perform your way to a degree.

Complete this important step in your theatrical career and leave with a musical theatre degree and lots of experience.

Introduction

The Musical Theatre degree program offers training in the creative processes, history and theory of theatre as well as arts management and stagecraft. If you’re interested in acting, dancing and singing, and are committed to professional musical theatre careers — this program is for you!

Russell Sage College provides a hands-on, multi-faceted theatre learning experience enhanced by long runs (usually two weeks) of theatrical productions. This allows students to not just develop in rehearsal, but develop over a longer performance schedule. This is a valuable experience, whether you are on or off stage. We strive to create a community of caring and interested theatrical professionals who can respond to the world around them in a thoughtful and artistic manner.

Performing Arts Faculty

Our faculty are dedicated teachers and talented artists. Their experience and dedication has inspired the work of many Sage students and working professionals.

Program Distinctions

Part of the larger Theatre Institute at Sage, this program offers you countless opportunities. Students are constantly active as performers, technicians, teachers and administrators. Our programs provide a spectrum of learning opportunities that will help you develop into a theatre professional with career options.

Theatre Institute at Sage

Established in 2011, the Theatre Institute at Sage is dedicated to providing quality live theatre and arts-in-education programming in the Albany/Troy Capital Region for youth, educators and residents. It also allows Russell Sage College students opportunities as performers, technicians and teachers.

Russell Sage College also offers a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre for students interested in using the arts to bring stories to life.

Spotlights

Read more from students, faculty and alumni.

Student

2023

Tyler Cardona

Coming from the Bronx, it seems only natural to expect that Tyler Cardona might have found his new life in …

Student

“I’ve never once felt like a number in my classes. I already know my professors here better than I knew my high school teachers after four years.”

– Tyler Cardona

Alumni

Musical Theatre 2009

Elivia Bovenzi

She hasn’t taken a class with her former professor for more than a decade, but Elivia Bovenzi will be following …

This program will prepare you well for whatever comes next.

Internships

All students are required to do an intensive internship and work alongside local, regional and international companies. Graduates of the program have interned at local theatres (Proctors, Capital Repertory Theatre, Berkshire Theaters, etc.), educational institutions and local media outlets.

Careers

Students pursue graduate degrees in theatre or other areas. Others have moved to New York City to continue their theatre career and audition for roles.

SEE CATALOG FOR REQUIREMENTS

Learning Experience

The program combines practical artistic experience with a solid liberal arts foundation so that when you act, sing and dance, you will have the knowledge of other disciplines to deepen your personal expression. Our degree programs provide training in the creative process as well as theory and history.

Perform with Confidence.

Students will leave the program with the knowledge and confidence to participate in educational, professional or semi-professional productions with competence and skill. Performance opportunities include main-stage productions, voice recitals and participating in student-directed productions and workshops.

Course Objectives

The Bachelor of Science in Musical Theatre provides comprehensive training in musical theatre while maintaining a firm grounding in the liberal arts. The goal is to foster flexibility and versatility in students to enable them to participate in musical theatre on a number of levels.

Auditions

Students applying for admission into the Musical Theatre or Theatre programs must perform an entrance audition.

Please prepare the following materials:

Two memorized contrasting two-minute monologues from standard classical and contemporary dramatic literature.
Two songs — one uptempo and one ballad (accompanist provided; please bring sheet music).