Theatre

Theatre Scholarships at Carthage

Admitted students intending to major or minor in theatre, performance, or technical theatre production and design are strongly encouraged to audition for a Theatre Scholarship. Scholarships range from $2,500-$10,000 per year and are renewable based on maintaining satisfactory academic progress and 50 hours of theatre service work each semester.

Students are nominated for Theatre Scholarships by members of our Theatre Department faculty upon completion of the audition and interview process. Students will receive notification regarding their Theatre Scholarship status in mid to late March from the Theatre Department directly.

Theatre Scholarships complement most other merit-based scholarships up to full tuition value. Total Carthage scholarship awards do not exceed full tuition.

Theatre Department Audition Dates

Theatre Scholarship auditions must be completed by Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012. We will begin accepting reservations for auditions after Nov. 1, 2011.

  • Saturday, Feb. 4 — 1 to 4 p.m.
  • Saturday, Feb. 18 — 1 to 4 p.m.
  • Saturday, Feb. 25 — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

When considering which option is best for you, keep in mind that space is limited and is only available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Advance notice is appreciated in scheduling auditions.

To schedule your audition, please contact:
Herschel Kruger
Chair, Theatre Department; Associate Professor of Theatre
hkruger@carthage.edu
(262) 551-2133 or (800) 351-4058, ext. 2133

If you are unable to audition on these particular dates, individual audition appointments may be arranged in advance. Please contact the Theatre Department directly to schedule your audition and discuss alternative arrangements if necessary.

Audition Day: Where to Go

Auditions will be held in the David Straz Building on the North end of Campus Drive. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your audition/interview to fill out a registration form. Registration will take place just outside of the Wartburg Auditorium, and students will be led to the Studio Theatre for the audition/interview.

Audition Requirements

Theatre Performance Major/Minor:

  • Students are required to perform at least two contrasting monologues. Each monologue should be timed no less than one minute and no more than two minutes.
  • Complete interview process with Theatre Department.
  • Provide a copy of your theatre-related resume and two letters of recommendation.

Technical Theatre Production & Design Major:

  • Students are required to display works indicating their accomplishments. Examples are: portfolio samples, prompt books, photographs/videos, renderings/models/drawings.
  • Complete interview process with Theatre Department.
  • Provide a copy of your theatre-related resume and two letters of recommendation.

Suggestions/Recommendations for Audition

  • Give a clear introduction limiting it to your name, the name of the character, the name of the play, and the author.
  • Perform facing straight ahead and just over the heads of your audience or at a slight angle facing the audience.
  • Select pieces that are close to your age range and come from published plays, not movies, your own writing, or unnamed internet sources.
  • Avoid dialects, pantomime, and props.

Theatre Major Admission Policy

An audition and interview, or a portfolio presentation and interview, before members of the theatre faculty is required for entrance into any of the theatre majors. At the end of their sophomore year, all theatre majors are evaluated for junior standing. Students must have a GPA of 2.5 or better within their major, demonstrate participation and commitment to the co-curricular elements of the theatre program, and have fulfilled the necessary service requirements to the department. If the junior standing jury is insufficient in any area the faculty may admit the student provisionally to junior standing in the major or advise the student to discontinue their theatre major.

 Music Theatre Auditions

Students who wish to audition for the Music Theatre Program and a Music Theatre Scholarship are required to attend a comprehensive Music Theatre scholarship audition on Saturday January 21, 2012 or Saturday February 11, 2012. Students are asked to prepare two memorized pieces of contrasting nature (either style/genre or tempo) not to exceed two minutes each. Students are required to perform at least two contrasting monologues. Each monologue should be timed no less than one minute and no more than two minutes.

Additionally, students will be asked to demonstrate sight-reading and aural skills, schedule a music literacy exam on the same day, and attend the dance call. Dance call times will be 1:00 p.m. on Saturday January 21, 2012 and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday February 11, 2012.Please contact Karen Peters at kpeters@carthage.edu or call her at (262) 551-5859. 

Music Theatre Auditions are held in the Johnson Art Center. Please arrive fifteen minutes prior to your scheduled time.