Minor in Musical Theater Performance

The musical theater performance minor has as its focus the molding of a total musical theater performer. It engages in a multidisciplinary exploration of this uniquely American art form, providing a focus on the meeting place between classic musical theater and the rock musical. The coursework includes musical preparation, character development, movement, composition, and ensemble work.

The minor provides a foundation in professional musical theater that teaches the skills professional organizations seek in today’s theater market. Musical theater is constantly evolving, and it is necessary for the student to understand the roots as well as where the art form is going stylistically. The musical theater minor enables students to integrate their skills with their knowledge of the art to become a total creative contemporary musical theater performer.

The minor in musical theater performance complements concentrations in jazz, performance, music business, film scoring, education, production, composition, professional music, and songwriting. Berklee’s unique musical theater performance minor transcends traditional commercial music and performance by embracing cutting-edge advancements in order to prepare students for the musicals of tomorrow.

Contemporary musical theater integrates innovative music by educating creative, collaborative, passionate, and musically literate professionals who are globally diverse.

Entrance Requirements

There are no entrance requirements for this minor. Students must follow the regular declaration of minor procedure as outlined in the Registration Manual. This minor is managed by the Musical Theater Division at Boston Conservatory at Berklee.

What the Program Gives You

Upon completion of a minor in musical theater performance, students will be able to:

  • understand the history and trends in evolving musical theater;
  • create dramatic characterization based on a theatrical context;
  • demonstrate fluency in basic stage movement and the language of the theater;
  • understand the vocal and dramatic needs of musical theater depending on the era and genre;
  • synthesize and integrate knowledge of musical theater performance and production; and
  • develop their own personal repertoire based on their vocal identity. 
Required Courses

The minor consists of 14-16 credits of course work, including a senior seminar:

Required Core Courses (choose any combination that equals 2 credits):

or

  • ENVC-370: Musical Theater Ensemble** (2 credits)

or

  • ENVC-270: Musical Theater Workshop (2 credits)

Dance/Movement Elective (choose one, 1 credit total):

  • T-ST 0719: Beginning Ballet (1 credit)
  • T-ST 0619: Beginner Jazz (1 credit)
  • DANJ-111: Beginning Jazzdance Technique (1 credit)
  • DANJ-211: Intermediate Jazzdance Technique (1 credit)
  • DANH-111: Beginning Hip-Hop Dance (1 credit)
  • DANH-211: Intermediate Hip-Hop Dance (1 credit)
  • PSH-238: Awareness Training for Musicians 1 (1 credit)
  • PSH-250: Yoga for Musicians 1 (1 credit)
  • PSH-260: Tai Chi for Musicians 1 (1 credit)
  • PSH-240: Body Mapping for Musicians 1 (1 credit)

Theater Production Elective (choose one, 1–2 credits total):

  • T-PR 1901: Introduction to Production (1 credit)
  • T-LT 1901: Introduction to Theater (1 credit)
  • PST-385: Elements of Theater Production (2 credits)

History Elective (choose one course, 2 credits):

  • T-LT 1301: History of Musical Theater 1 (2 credits)
  • MHIS-325: History of American Musical Theater (2 credits)

 Acting Elective (choose one, 1–2 credits):

Voice Elective (choose one, 1–1.5 credits):

  • T-ST 1201: Voice and Speech 1** (1.5 credits)
  • PSH-200: Vocal Technique and Wellness (1 credit)
  • PSH-281: Somatic Breath Work for Vocalists (1 credit)

Theater Topics Elective (choose one, 1–3 credits):

  • ENVC-275: Singing Sondheim** (1 credit)
  • ENVC-471: Musical Theater Staged Reading Ensemble (1 credit)
  • ENVC-472: Musical Theater New Works Ensemble (1 credit)
  • PSVC-132: Musical Theater for Young Audiences (2 credits)
  • LENG-401: Scene Study Workshop (3 credits)
  • LENG-425: Advanced Theater Production Workshop (3 credits)
  • LENG-325: Theater Workshop (3 credits)
  • SW-345: Musical Theater Writing 1 (2 credits)
  • PSVC-171: Writing, Developing, and Performing a One-Person Show (2 credits)
  • PSVC-343: Coaching Theater Vocalists (2 credits)
  • PSVC-131: American Diction for Singers (2 credits). Note that this course is highly recommended for students who speak English as a second language. 
  • T-LT 1302: History of Musical Theater 2 (2 credits)

Required Final Course (2 credits):

  • PSVC-475: Senior Seminar in Contemporary Musical Theater Performance (2 credits)

** Course requires audition for enrollment