The first step of your audition or interview process, is to submit your Academic Application. Please select your specific major below to view individual requirements.
View Requirements for
Application Timeline
- Apply to Rider University via the Common Application or Rider Application.
- Receive Access to your Be A Bronc Applicant dashboard via Email: This will take at least 2 to 3 Business Days.
- Log in to your Be A Bronc Applicant account to Register for an Audition.
- Review Audition Requirements:
- Prepare two contrasting contemporary monologues
- One should be comedic and the other dramatic
- Monologues should be no more than 60 seconds
- Be sure to choose an age appropriate monologue
- No Dialects
- Prepare and submit a one minute video recording of you telling a story prior to your audition. It may be about you or someone else. The goal of the story is to demonstrate for the auditioners, your ability to be authentic, dynamic and honest.
- For live virtual auditions, please upload your artistic resume and headshot to your Be A Bronc Applicant Dashboard. For all other auditions, please bring a physical copy.
- Prepare two contrasting contemporary monologues
- You will not receive academic acceptance prior to your audition. Students will be notified on whether or not they have been accepted after all of our auditions have been completed. Students should hear back either late February or early March in regards to their academic and artistic decision.
Application Deadline: November 15
Your Academic Application & PreScreen Submission must be submitted by November 15. You will not be able to upload your prescreens until 2 to 3 business days after your Academic Application has been received.
Application Timeline:
- Apply to Rider University via the Common Application or Rider Application
- Film your Prescreen Submissions (refer to the Prescreen Requirements below). Rider is a part of the Common Prescreen Requirements.
- Receive access to your Be A Bronc Applicant dashboard via email. This will take at least 2 to 3 Business Days.
- Log in to your Be A Bronc Applicant account.
- It is recommended for students to submit their application to the B.F.A. Musical Theatre program and upload required materials to their Be a Bronc Applicant Dashboard before November 15th. NOTE, there is a grace period for applicants to upload their prescreen materials to their Be a Bronc Applicant Dashboard until November 20th. A student will not be able to be considered for the B.F.A. Musical Theatre if prescreen materials are not uploaded to the Be a Bronc Applicant Dashboard by November 20th.
- Your prescreen results will be available within 3 to 4 weeks after complete submission.
- *If you pass your prescreen:
- Register for your Audition via your Be A Bronc Applicant Dashboard. You must attend a live audition for the BFA in Musical Theatre.
- *If you do not pass your prescreen:
- You will be contacted by the Office of Admission via email to discuss further options. You are still eligible for non artistic review.
- *If you are asked to audition for a major other than Musical Theatre:
- You may be asked to join us for an audition for a different major, if this is the case please Register for a Live Audition via your Be A Bronc Applicant dashboard.
- *If you pass your prescreen:
- Review the Audition Requirements.
- You may sing the same songs from your prescreen video or choose a different song entirely. Sing what you sing best. You may be asked to sing only one of your songs. You also may be asked to sing something pop or contemporary, so please be prepared if asked.
- Please prepare your same monologue from your prescreen video.
- For off campus and virtual auditions, you’ll need to provide a recorded track/accompaniment for your selections. Further information will be provided once you have registered for your audition.
- For live virtual auditions, please upload your artistic resume and headshot to your Be A Bronc Applicant Dashboard. For all other auditions, please bring a physical copy.
Prescreen Requirements:
Rider University is a participant in the Musical Theater Common Prescreen for the 2023-2024 cycle. Need some help getting started? Here you can access a list of helpful prescreen hints. We strongly encourage that you take advantage of these guidelines which have been thoughtfully and intentionally crafted by the expertise of multiple programs nationwide to support the excellence of the audition for your benefit.
Overall
Each piece should be filmed/uploaded as a separate piece of media. No continuous videos. Students are encouraged to use standard technology/recording devices that are available to them (i.e. smartphones, tablets, etc.).
Introduction ("Slate")
There should not be a separate introduction or “slate” video. Instead, “slates” are to appear at the beginning of each piece and included as part of the time allotment. (Read through the resources page for examples of each of the three slates described below).
- The proper slate for a song is to share your name, the song title, and show in which it appears.
- The proper slate for a monologue is to share your name, the title of the play, and the playwright.
- The proper slate for a piece of dance is to share your name, the title of the song you are dancing to, and the name of the choreographer. If the piece is “self-choreographed” you should share your own name as choreographer.
Songs
Students should prepare two contrasting pieces.
- Style: one song should be a ballad (where the piece has longer, sustained vocal lines) and one song should be an uptempo (where the vocal line moves at a conversational pace) so as to contrast style.
- Length: Each song file should be 60-90 seconds (This time limit includes the slate at the beginning of the piece and is strictly adhered to; please do not upload media files longer than 90 seconds).
- Accompaniment: Students must sing to musical accompaniment, which could include live or pre -recorded accompaniment. No “a cappella” singing (meaning singing without music).
- One song should be written before 1970. This song can be either the “uptempo” or the “ballad” (student’s choice).
- One song should be written after 1970 and contrast the style of the first.
- One of the two songs (student’s choice) should be filmed in a full frame shot to see your full range of expression, and the other one in a close-up shot (top of the head to the chest should be visible in the frame).
Monologues
Students may be asked to prepare either one or two pieces. Each institution is responsible for indicating which options are accepted.
- Monologues must be from a published play.
- Monologues cannot be from musicals.
- Each monologue file should be 60-90 seconds (this time limit includes the slate at the beginning of the piece and is strictly adhered to; please do not upload media files longer than 90 seconds).
- 1 contemporary monologue (typically written after 1950), 60-90 seconds in length
- The contemporary monologue should be filmed in a “close-up” shot which means the top of the head to the chest should be visible in the frame.
Dance
Students may be asked to execute one or both of the following options. Each institution is responsible for indicating which options are accepted.
- Framing: All dance media should be filmed in a “full frame” shot taking care to keep the student’s entire person in the frame at all times (this time limit includes the slate at the beginning of the piece and is strictly adhered to; please do not upload media files longer than 60 seconds).
- Style: Regardless of which style of dance you execute, the choreography and the movement should be connected to the music where the applicant is dancing with a sense of purpose.
- All choreography must be performed to music; please no “a cappella” dance media.
DANCE REQUIREMENT
- 30-60 seconds of dance in whatever dance discipline you feel most confident. This may include, but is not limited to jazz, ballet, tap, modern, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, or dance styles beyond American and Euro-western styles.
- Please do not submit “barre work”. Instead, check to see if the auditioning program offers the optional “Ballet Submission” which is listed below.
- Please use steps, movement, and physical vocabulary that you are familiar with and can execute well. To the best of your ability, move your body fully. Please include at least one turn, one jump and one kick (or other suitable rotation, elevation, and extension that works for your body).
- Dance media can be “self-choreographed”, but it must be a solo video of you. This can include a show, competition, or other performance so long as you are clearly featured on your own.
BALLET (OPTIONAL)
- Ballet Media should be no more than 60 seconds.
- Execute a brief series of plié, tendu, and grande battement;
- Execute pirouette en déhors (to both sides)
- Execute one or more grand jeté across the floor.
WILD CARD (OPTIONAL)
Students may be asked to execute a “Wild Card” submission. Each institution is responsible for indicating whether the “Wild Card” is accepted.
- Submissions should be no more than 60 seconds.
- Applicants do not need to slate in any wild card media.
- This media can be ANYTHING you want - a special skill, an interesting story about yourself, a passion speech, an instrument you play, etc. “What do you want us to know about you?” and “What makes you unique?” (See the resources page for ideas on Wild Card submissions).
Application Timeline
- Apply to Rider University via the Common Application or Rider Application
- Receive Access to your Be A Bronc Applicant dashboard via email: This will take at least 2 to 3 business days
- Log in to your Be A Bronc Applicant account to Register for an Interview.
- On Your Be A Bronc Applicant dashboard, via Portfolio, please submit a current resume, your portfolio and/or a short video with you speaking a bit about your production experiences. Your Portfolio may contain pictures, photos, drawings, drafting, programs or sketches used to execute and/or document your work. Include work in progress or finished products. It can also include other types of work that shows skills using tools, drawing, sketching, drafting, or image editing. For stage managers, please include samples of paperwork used to organize and run rehearsals or productions.
- You will not receive academic acceptance prior to your interview. Admission decisions will be provided 1 to 2 weeks after your completed audition.
Application Timeline
- Apply to Rider University via the Common Application or Rider Application
- Receive Access to your Be A Bronc Applicant dashboard via email: This will take at least 2 to 3 Business Days
- Log in to your Be A Bronc Applicant account to register for an interview.
- On Your Be A Bronc Applicant dashboard, via Portfolio, please submit a current resume, your portfolio and/or a short video with you speaking a bit about your production experiences.
- Review Interview Requirements:
- Please upload a current resume of your recent theatrical activities and/or an artistic portfolio
- You will not receive academic acceptance prior to your interview. Admission decisions will be provided 1 to 2 weeks after your completed audition.
Application Timeline
- Apply to Rider University via the Common Application or Rider Application
- Receive access to your Be A Bronc Applicant dashboard via email: This will take at least 2 to 3 Business Days
- Log in to your Be A Bronc Applicant account to register for an audition.
- Prepare two piano pieces from the classical piano literature
- One overture or a piece of dance music from the Musical Theatre literature
- Sight reading of an accompaniment, the adjudicator will provide the song and vocalist (if audition format allows)
- Upload a current artistic resume
- You will not receive academic acceptance prior to your Audition. Admission decisions will be provided 1 to 2 weeks after your completed audition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, for more details please visit our Early Action page.
Please visit our Auditions and Interviews page for the most up-to-date audition information.
Audition schedules are sent to students two weeks before their scheduled audition. Audition schedules will have all the information students will need such as what they prepare for their audition, what to bring, their group number, etc.
Prescreen decisions are released 3-4 weeks after the student has submitted their videos to us. Due to the high volume of applications we receive for Musical Theatre it may take longer than 3-4 weeks to receive a prescreen decision. We hope to have a decision for the student in a couple of weeks and to check back in if they do not have an update.
For updates and to register for your audition/interview , visit your Be-A-Bronc Applicant Dashboard. There is a non-refundable audition/interview fee of $50 to register for your audition/interview. The fee is collected at time of registration and must be paid in order for the registration form to be submitted.
In order for a student to be considered for both their intended Major (ie: Musical Theatre) and Trustee they must attend our December audition day. Please visit our Trustee Scholarship page for more information.
Students will be notified on whether or not they have been accepted after all of our auditions have been completed. Students should hear back from us either late February or early March in regards to their academic and artistic decision.
We can certainly change any student who wants to audition for Musical Theatre if it is before the November 15th deadline to upload their prescreens, please email [email protected] to make that change.
Students can upload their prescreens in the portfolio of their Be a Bronc Applicant Dashboard.
Please refer to the above list for the requirements by major.
Students should be able to refer to their Be a Bronc Applicant Dashboard and it should be listed there. They can also refer to the Audition Schedule sent to them two weeks prior to their audition for audition times, groups, dance calls, etc.