Best Musical Theatre Colleges in the Country

If you are one of those who have a passion for music, then, this post is for you. In it, we will be highlighting the best musical summer programs for high school students, so as to guide you in making the right choice of program in your career.

When one looks at some of the world’s most celebrated musical artists, one finds that they attended reputed musical theatre colleges for their undergraduate degree.

Through programs offered in musical theater colleges, students will often have the right amount of time to fully develop their singing and acting techniques and how to collaborate with other performers while also learning from professionals who train seasoned musicians.

Through these programs, the story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated to students through words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an integrated whole. See Best Language Summer Programs for High School Students.

Because of all these reasons to attend a musical theater program and more, students may be wondering where to look to supplement their music education with the program.

And because of this fact, this list will break down, in no particular order, 10 of the best musical theater colleges anywhere in the country.

Here is the list of the best musical theatre colleges in the Country

• University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance (Ann Arbor, MI)
• Carnegie-Mellon University School of Drama (Pittsburgh, PA)
• New York University (New York, NY)
• University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Cincinnati, OH)
• Boston Conservatory at Berklee (Boston, MA)
• Ithaca College School of Music (Ithaca, NY)
• Oklahoma City University Bass School of Music (Oklahoma City, OK)
• Elon University (Elon, NC)
• Pennsylvania State University School of Theatre (State College, PA)
• Pace University School of Performing Arts (New York, NY)

University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance (Ann Arbor, MI)

University of Michigan has an unparalleled experience in musical theatre training. Many alumni of the school are among the most decorated stars on Broadway today.

An example of such individual is a 2019 Tony-award winner is also an alum of Michigan, Celia Keenan-Bolger. See University of Michigan Acceptance Rate.

Based in Ann Arbor, widely regarded as the best college town in America, the University of Michigan provides an intensive undergraduate study opportunity in musical theatre inside one of the nation’s most prestigious public universities.

The majority of classes for musical theatre students occur in Michigan’s North Campus. In North Campus, students take classes in the School of Music, Stamps Auditorium, the Walgreen Drama Center, the Arthur Miller Theatre, and more.

Carnegie-Mellon University School of Drama (Pittsburgh, PA)

Perhaps the most selective musical theatre program in the country, few schools are as prestigious as Carnegie Mellon University in musical theatre.

Students admitted to the program are not only skilled musicians; more often than not, they are among the most skilled high school actors in the country. See Carnegie-Mellon University Acceptance Rate.

One unique opportunity Carnegie Mellon University affords its senior-year students is the option to study internationally for a semester.

Past students have attended London’s Drama Centre, NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) in Sydney, the Moscow Art Theatre, and more.

Students at the school also take advantage of Pittsburgh’s incredible arts scene, a city home to well over 100 performing arts venues and organizations.

The most famous alum of Carnegie Mellon University Drama is Stephen Schwartz, Broadway composer who wrote the hit musicals Godspell, Wicked, and Pippin.

New York University (New York, NY)

NYU is home to two musical theatre programs – one in their Tisch school, and one in their Steinhardt school. Both are top-tier, but there are a few differences between the two.

Steinhardt awards a BMus, while Tisch offers a BFA. This means that Steinhardt’s curriculum has more music credits than acting, whereas Tisch offers more acting credits than Steinhardt.

Technically, the Steinhardt program is a Vocal Performance degree with an emphasis in musical theatre. See NYU Acceptance Rate.

Both are prestigious and very competitive for admission. Faculty in both programs are among New York’s most accomplished professionals. They have performed on Broadway, major opera halls, and throughout the entire world.

Conclusion

All the contents in this article emphasized on the best musical theatre colleges in the Country. You can share your thoughts on this article through the comment box if you find it useful.

Last Updated on September 24, 2023 by Admin