Musical Theater Workshop

Each day, students will participate in several core classes in voice, acting, dance, and audition techniques.

Students will attend three electives as well and will rank their topic preferences before starting the program. Though electives for 2021 are not yet available, the following list of electives offered in 2019 will give you a sense of what to expect:

• Acting through Song
• Healthy Belting Workshop
• Contemporary Musical Theater
• Choreography Workshop
• A Director Prepares
• Hamilton Deconstructed
• Performing Hip-Hop in Musical Theater, or How to Survive as an Actor in a Post-Hamilton World
• Hip-Hop Dance Foundations
• Beginner Hip-Hop Dance for the Musical Theater Performer
• Advanced Hip-Hop Dance for the Musical Theater Performer
• Moves and Grooves for the Performer
• Monologue Workshop
• Stage Combat
• Tap Dancing, Level 1
• Tap Dancing, Level 2
• Writing an Original Musical

Schedules also include nightly ensemble rehearsals, which will be performed at the final showcase. Students are asked to rank their preference in ensemble choice before starting the program. Though ensembles for 2021 are not yet available, the following list of ensembles offered in 2019 will give you a sense of what to expect:

• Pasek and Paul Movie Musicals Ensemble: Selections from The Greatest Showman and La La Land
• Hamilton Ensemble: Selections from Hamilton, offering non-traditional gender casting opportunities
• “Bring It on, Hamilton!” Ensemble: Songs from both Hamilton and Bring It On, featuring non-traditional gender casting opportunities
• Khiyon Hursey Ensemble: Contemporary theater songs written and directed by composer/lyricist Khiyon Hursey
• Late Ensemble: Excerpts from Late, a contemporary musical in progress set before and after a school shooting
• Original Student-Written Musical Ensemble: A collaboration with other students to cowrite and perform a 10-minute musical from scratch

Below is a sample of a typical day in the program. 

Schedule subject to change

The program culminates in a final showcase of student ensembles. Each student will take the stage and participate in at least one ensemble.

Students also have the opportunity to perform in an open mic on the first evening of the program. 

All performances are free and open to friends and family. 

All students 15 and older with some background in musical theater are welcome to attend.

After completing your registration, you will be prompted to submit a video link of a vocal solo. These links are reviewed by the faculty to place students into the appropriate level classes, help assign roles in ensembles, and recommend participants for master classes with visiting artsits. Professional video quality is not required, but your performance should demonstrate your personal best.

As a student in the Musical Theater Intensive, you are expected to wear appropriate attire, bring necessary supplies, and prepare two musical excerpts. 

• For classes: Please wear dance or active wear with socks. Bring tennis shoes, Toms, jazz shoes, or any dance shoes—including character heels—that you already own. If you are choosing a tap elective, you must also bring tap shoes. Pack any hair accessories needed to keep your hair secure and away from your face. Consider a towel and deodorant. You will also need a refillable water bottle, notebook, pencil, black sharpie, highlighter, and tape recorder or phone recording app. 
• For performances: Bring a variety of black clothing and black socks, tights, and shoes. 
• For a practice audition: Pack clothes without rips, holes, or visible logos. Your outfit could be as dressed down as jeans and a nicely fitting tee-shirt with sneakers or boots, or more dressed up with a button-down shirt, dress shoes, or heels. Select two pieces of music demonstrating your ability to act and sing. We ask that you have clearly marked sheet music ready to supply an accompanist, typically 16 bars, but no longer than 32 bars in length. If you are inexperienced in preparing vocal selections, we recommend “Happy Birthday” as a great solution in a pinch. Headshots and résumés are welcome, but not required.

If you intend to stay in the Berklee residence halls while participating in the program, please also review what to bring for your room on the housing page.