Associate of Fine Arts In Musical Theatre American College Dublin

Overview

The AFA major in musical theatre provides a comprehensive education in the practical and academic aspects of musical theatre. Each semester is based on the development of skills and competencies in the central areas of musical theatre performance: acting and voice, dance and singing. The degree offers a broad and holistic approach to the musical theatre, one that not only concentrates on performance from a participatory perspective (that is to say, on being a performer) but also prepares the student for the wide and exciting range of careers available in the performing arts industry. While musical theatre performance remains a central aspect of the programme, students are also prepared for the vast array of work that supports and produces performance, such as directing and staging, creating written material for performance, production, management, marketing and funding of the performing arts. The programme concentrates on live musical, theatrical performance (with elements of recording used for diagnostic and development purposes), but at the same time, a graduate is prepared for further study in the cognate specialisms in the performing arts, as well as for direct entry into a professional career. This is because the degree produces a wide spectrum of transferable skills such as effective presentational technique, expertise in using the voice and the body as communicative instruments, interpretational and compositional competency with written texts, management, marketing and fundraising abilities, and organizational skills. These are applicable not only in the context of the many career paths within performing arts but also in a wide variety of social, cultural and business vocations.

Course Schedule

The AFA takes two years (four semesters) to complete. The student must complete a total of 60 credits, according to the following requirements (note that all classes are worth 3 credits unless indicated otherwise):

36 credits minimum from the musical theatre major

• MT102 Music 1
• MT103 Acting 1*
• MT104 Dance 1*
• MT107 Music 1
• MT108 Acting 1*
• MT109 Dance 1*
• MT202 Music 2
• MT203 Acting 2
• MT204 Dance 2
• MT207 Music 2
• MT208 Acting 2
• MT209 Dance 2

*Denotes general education module

24 credits minimum of general education classes

• The 100-level musical theatre classes, with the exception of the music modules, are rated as general education courses; however, they count towards the major requirement and so the 24 credits taken must be added to the MT 100-level modules that are rated as general education courses.

Sample programme schedule

Year 1

Semester 1

• MT102 Music 1
• MT103 Acting 1
• MT104 Dance 1
• LIB200 Academic communication
• IB200 Introduction to management

Semester 2

• MT107 Music 1
• MT108 Acting 1
• MT109 Dance 1
• PA205 Principles of marketing
• PA300 Dramatic writing 1

Year 2

Semester 1

• MT202 Music 2
• MT203 Acting 2
• MT204 Dance 2
• PA302 Event management for the performing arts
• PA400 Dramatic writing 2

Semester 2

• MT207 Music 2
• MT208 Acting 2
• MT209 Dance 2
• PA309 Event design and experience for the performing arts
• CW220 Writing for the screen

Course Requirements

Entry requirements

• The programme has one intake per year: September.
• Applicants should furnish evidence of graduation from high school (secondary school), with final-year subjects to include completion of English.
• A prospective student should submit an application for the course directly to the Admissions Office at American College Dublin.
• Applicants whose first language is not English should have an IELTS score of 6.5 (or equivalent).
• An interview and audition are required for entry to the BFA in Musical Theatre course. For the audition you should prepare two spoken monologues, one classic, one modern; two contrasting musical theatre songs, one pre 1965; and partake in a dance assessment. Students should contact the Admissions Office at American College Dublin for details on the interview and audition process.

Further education students

The College accepts students from further education colleges to all of its courses. Students must have gained three distinctions in a cognate area of the programme that they wish to study. Students must have a full level 5 or level 6 award, and this award may have been taken over a number of years. Students with a FETAC qualification can gain access to both American College Dublin and American College Delaware.

Mature student application

Mature applicants can apply directly to the Admissions office. An interview and audition are required for entry to the BFA in Musical Theatre course. For the audition, you must prepare one spoken monologue, one a capella singing piece, and one dance piece (if you wish to have a backing track for the dance, please bring a CD). Each piece should be no more than two minutes in length. Mature applicants should contact the Admissions Office at American College Dublin for details on the interview and audition process.

Other EU applications

Every student who has taken examinations in an EU member state is expected to have completed English in his or her final year. The only exception to this is students who have completed the A-Levels. These students must have taken mathematics and English for their O-Levels.

For overseas students, Skype auditions can be arranged. More information is available in the Admissions menu or by contacting the Admissions Office.

Career Skills

Along with academic knowledge that students receive throughout the duration of their chosen subject, students will also acquire and develop transferable career skills from their degree discipline. These skills along with potential career paths are provided below to give you a well-rounded view of what the course has to offer.

These skills include:

• Communication
• Writing skills
• Creativity
• Effective presentation techniques
• Management, marketing and fundraising abilities
• Interpretational and compositional competency with written texts
• Organisational skills
• Research skills
• Time management

The BFA in Musical Theatre is designed to prepare students for a number of future careers in following:

• Musical theatre
• Theatre
• Arts and event management
• Local and community broadcasting
• Teaching
• Research
• Cultural and business vocations

The programme also serves as preparation for students to matriculate onto the third year of ACD’s BFA in Musical Theatre or Performing Arts, or onto other baccalaureate programmes in the performing or liberal arts and related areas.