Auditions & Scholarships

An audition is required for admission into the Musical Theatre Program and for consideration for Carthage artistic scholarships. Students who wish to major or minor in musical theatre at Carthage must audition.

Step 1: Apply to Carthage

All students who wish to audition for the Musical Theatre Program are asked to first submit an application to the �ǿմ�ý Office of Admissions. Students may use the Common App or the Carthage application. Once you have submitted your application, you may go ahead and request an audition date. The music theatre application is a separate process and has questions not on the Common App.

Learn more and apply For Admission now

Step 2: Schedule Your Audition and Interview

Carthage offers multiple in-person audition dates and a virtual option. Auditions will consist of vocal warm-ups, a dance call, an audition work session, and an interview. All communication regarding your audition will be done through email, so please add vpascholarships@carthage.edu to your email contacts.

In-Person Auditions

The 2025-26 scholarship season has concluded. The 2026-27 information will be updated over the summer.

In-person auditions for musical theatre majors take place on the Carthage campus. We prefer to see majors in person, so we can spend more time getting to know you. Musical theatre minors must audition virtually. This year’s in-person audition dates for majors are:

Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 (major intended only)
Saturday, January 31, 2026 (Filled - no longer available)
Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 (Filled - no longer available)
Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 (major intended only)
Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026 (Filled - no longer available)

Students unable to attend the scheduled audition dates may contact the Visual & Performing Arts Scholarship Coordinator, Heidi Baehr, at vpascholarships@carthage.edu about alternate audition dates.

We strongly recommend that students participating in the February Presidential Scholarships should schedule their musical theatre audition on a separate date.

Virtual Audition Option

While we prefer to see students in person, we understand that not every student may be able to travel to campus. If you are a major intended, and need to schedule a virtual audition, please select “Virtual Audition” when you complete your Audition Request Form, and we will contact you by email with information and requirements. If you are a musical theatre minor intended, you must audition virtually. Please select “Virtual Audition” when you complete your Audition Request Form.

Review the audition requirements below before filling out the audition form.

Audition Requirements

IN-PERSON AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Your in-person audition will consist of vocal warm-ups, a dance call, an audition work session, and an interview. The full audition time will be approximately four hours.

Carthage is a participating institution in .

Performance Requirements

Perform two memorized song cuts (solos) of contrasting nature (any style, genre, or tempo), each approximately no more than 60 seconds.
Perform one memorized monologue, no longer than two minutes. Your piece must come from a published play. Do not use your own writing, movies, TV, forensics or speech tournament pieces, or undocumented internet sources.
Attend a group assembly and jazz class in addition to the main audition. No experience is required for the jazz class, but attendance and participation are required. Please bring clothes you can easily move in for the jazz class.

Note: All students will be placed in Keyboard I, Music Theory I, and Aural Skills I, unless a placement test is requested. Students can learn more about how to request a placement test by talking to faculty on their audition day, or reaching out once they are accepted into the program.

Please bring the following items to your audition:

A resume noting both your musical and academic accomplishments.
A copy of your music in a three-ring binder with the cuts clearly marked for the accompanist.
A headshot photograph.
A change of clothes you can easily move in for the jazz class.

Suggestions for your In-Person Audition and Interview

Pick pieces that show off your vocal and dramatic abilities. Remember, we don’t want to hear just big and/or loud notes.
Wear appropriate audition attire. This means that you should be dressed in clothing that is comfortable, shows you at your best, and reflects who you are.
Be yourself and show us who you are!

VIRTUAL AUDITION REQUIREMENTS - Minor intended

In-person auditions are recommended for the best scholarship consideration. However, if you are a minor intended (or a major intended and your circumstances require a virtual audition) please check “Virtual Audition” on the Audition Request Form and we will contact you via email with information and requirements. Add vpascholarships@carthage.edu to your email contacts so that our message is not blocked by spam filters.

Questions?

Contact Visual and Performing Arts at Carthage at vpascholarships@carthage.edu or call 262-551-5859.

to receive more information about Carthage scholarship programs.

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