Musical Theatre at Arts Academy
Why Study Musical Theatre
To excel at singing, dancing, and acting is a feat. Master them all and you are prepared for a career in musical theatre. For those who want to take center stage as stand-out performers, we offer an ideal training ground at our boarding arts high school to explore your passion and push your talents as a versatile, well-rounded actor.
What You'll Learn
In the Musical Theatre program, you'll take a combination of voice, dance, and acting classes while performing in fully staged musicals and plays.
You'll learn from accomplished instructors with decades of performance and teaching experience. With personalized attention, they'll work with you to develop a range of technical skills while expanding your versatility. As mentors, they'll guide you to think about your future, helping you determine the right college or university program to continue your training after Interlochen Arts Academy.
As a student at our boarding school for musical theatre, you will:
- Develop the acting, dance, and singing skills needed to become a versatile performer
- Establish a consistent and reliable acting process that can adapt to a particular script and/or style
- Nurture a clear, healthy, and resonant speaking and singing voice
- Develop a physicality in optimal conditions to do whatever is required in a rehearsal or performance
- Conceptualize a wide range of possibilities within the world of performance
- Integrate classroom concepts from a wide range of material through performance practice
- Develop a sense of professionalism and resilience
For information on graduation requirements and academic curriculum, please visit Academy Academics.
Meet Bill Church
Learn more about our Director Theatre and the Theatre Division at Interlochen Center for the Arts.
Get to know Ashley
"Since coming to Arts Academy, I've become more responsible. I've learned to balance my education with my art." - Ashley, Musical Theatre
Guest Artists
Theatre Arts students have learned from and collaborated with the following artists:
-
Jill Abramovitz
-
Jayne Atkinson-Gill
-
Katherine Carter
-
Lauren Chapman
-
Kat Coiro
-
Rhys Coiro
-
Michael Dansicker
-
Maria Del Mar Fernandez
-
Michel Gill
-
Sydney James Harcourt
-
Ricky Hinds
-
Emily Koch
-
Geoffrey Owens
-
Sue Pak
-
Parallel 45 Theatre
-
Q Brothers
-
Noah Ricketts
-
Alexandra Silber
-
Rachel Sussman
-
Phil Darius Wallace
-
Courtney Young
Program Highlights
Performance Opportunities
In any given year, there are up to nine productions where Acting majors can showcase their talents and gain performance experience. The plays and musicals range from classic comedies to contemporary dramas, from large-scale musicals to experimental shows. Productions have included The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Everybody, Violet, The Children's Hour, Tartuffe, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Theatre Venues & Facilities
Our campus boasts several state-of-the-art performance venues and facilities. The Harvey Theatre Complex contains classrooms, rehearsal spaces, and a 173-seat theatre. We also have two additional performance spaces, the 952-seat Corson Auditorium and the 170-seat black box Phoenix Theatre. The Mallory Costume Shop and our professional scene shop are state-of-the-art spaces also dedicated to our theatre program. Learn more about all of our facilities and venues.
Awards & Honors
Our Theatre Arts students receive yearly recognition from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts YoungArts competition. Theatre majors have also received recognition from the Art Schools Network student talent competition, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and the August Wilson Monologue Competition.
Agent Showcases
At the end of the Academy year, we invite professional agents and casting directors to campus to offer feedback to students on their audition material. The showcase gives you a chance to experience what it's like to demonstrate your talents in front of industry professionals.
Instagram Takeover: Matilda the Musical
Student Olivia G. takes you backstage on opening night of Matilda the Musical.
Five Pieces of Advice with Hamilton's Sydney James Harcourt
Interlochen alumnus Sydney James Harcourt (IAA 94-97, AS 94, 97) did not throw away his shot at Broadway stardom when he originated the roles of James Reynolds, Philip Schuyler, and the Doctor in the smash hit, Hamilton! He shares his five pieces of advice for young artists that helped him to be where he is today.
College Matriculation
Theatre students regularly enroll in top acting programs and conservatories, as well as prestigious undergraduate institutions including:
-
Boston Conservatory at Berklee
-
Boston University
-
California Institute of the Arts
-
Carnegie Mellon University
-
Colorado State University
-
Cornell University
-
DePaul University
-
Florida State University
-
Fordham University
-
George Washington University
-
Harvard University
-
Howard University
-
Indiana University
-
The Juilliard School
-
Kent State University
-
Kenyon College
-
Manhattan School of Music
-
The New School
-
New York University
-
Pace University
-
Purchase College State University of New York
-
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
-
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
-
Rutgers University
-
Smith College
-
Syracuse University
-
University of Arizona
-
University of the Arts
-
University of Hartford
-
University of Illinois
-
University of Miami
-
University of Michigan
-
University of Minnesota
-
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
-
Webster University
-
Wright State University
Dive deeper into Interlochen Arts Academy with a free digital viewbook
In our free informational booklet, you'll learn more about:
- Each of our seven arts areas
- Renowned faculty
- College-preparatory academics
- Student resources
- How to apply and financial aid information
- And more