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 Guide. This minor is managed by the college's Professional Performance Division.

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

Required Core Courses (one to two courses; at least 2 credits):

  • T-EN 1301 Musical Theater 1** (1 credit) and T-EN 1302: Musical Theater 2** (1 credit)
  • ENVC-370 Musical Theater Ensemble** (2 credits)
  • PSVC-132 Musical Theater for Young Audiences, Creation to Performance (2 credits)
  • ENVC-270 Musical Theater Workshop (1 credits)
  • ENVC-470 Musical Theater Chorus (1 credit)

Dance/Movement Elective (choose one course; 1 credit):

  • T-ST 0719 Beginning Ballet (1 credit)
  • T-ST 0619 Beginner Jazz (1 credit)
  • DANJ-111 Beginning Jazzdance Technique (1 credit)
  • DANH-111 Beginning Hip-Hop Dance (1 credit)
  • DANH-211 Intermediate Hip-Hop Dance (1 credit)
  • DANT-111 Beginning Tap Dance (1 credit)
  • DANV-111 Dance Styles for Singers (1 credit)
  • DANV-311 Musical Theater Dance Workshop (1 credit)
  • PSH-238 Awareness Training for Musicians 1 (1 credit)
  • PSH-240 Body Mapping for Musicians 1 (1 credit)
  • PSH-250 Yoga for Musicians 1 (1 credit)
  • PSH-260 Tai Chi for Musicians 1 (1 credit)

 Acting Elective (choose one course, at least 1 credit):

  • ILVC-151 Acting Skills for the Vocalist (1 credit)
  • T-ST 71010 Acting for Non-Majors (2 credits)

Voice Elective (choose one course; at least 1 credit):

  • T-ST 1201 Voice and Speech 1** (1.5 credits)
  • PSH-200 Vocal Technique and Wellness (1 credit)

Theater Topics Elective (choose one to three courses; at least 3 credits):

  • ENVC-275 Singing Sondheim** (1 credit)
  • ENVC-270 Musical Theater Workshop (1 credit)
  • ENVC-471 Musical Theater Staged Reading Ensemble (1 credit)
  • ENVC-472 Musical Theater New Works Ensemble (1 credit)
  • LENG-325 Theater Workshop (3 credits)
  • LENG-401 Scene Study Workshop (3 credits)
  • SW-345 Musical Theater Writing 1 (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. 
  • PSVC-171 Writing, Developing, and Performing a One-Person Show (2 credits)
  • PSVC-343 Coaching Theater Vocalists (2 credits)
  • T-LT 1303 History of Musical Theater (3 credits)
  • T-LT 799XX Topics in Theater Academics (3 credits)
  • T-PR 1903 Theater Process and Production 1 (1 credit)
  • T-PR 1904 Theater Process and Production 2 (1 credit)
  • MHIS-325 History of American Musical Theater (2 credits)
  • PST-385 Elements of Theater Production (2 credits)

Required Final Course (2 credits):

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

** Course requires audition for enrollment

Request Information