Theatre and Dance Scholarship

Any first-year student is encouraged to apply for a theatre and dance scholarship- transfer students are not eligible to compete. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of acting, directing, playwriting, design and technology, or dance. Applicants need not be prospective Theatre and Dance majors. Applicants must complete the Theatre and Dance Scholarship Application Form and an application for admission to The College of Wooster by January 15.

In addition to filling out the application form, applicants should include a theater and/or dance resume and two letters of recommendation from their teachers or other professionals who know their abilities. These recommendations should be sent along with the audition application to the administrative coordinator of the Department of Theater and Dance, Patrice Smith.

Auditions

Auditions will take place at The College of Wooster, in Freedlander Theatre, on

Friday, February 8, from 1 - 5 p.m.
Saturday, February 9, from 1 - 4 p.m

Dancers will audition in a group on Friday, February 8, at 6:30 p.m.

Auditioners may arrange overnight accommodations on campus for Friday evening stays through the Office of Admissions and should call 800-877-9905 at least one week prior to the visit.

Audition Guidelines

Acting

You have 2 minutes total to present ALL of your material, not including your introduction. Auditionees should present two contrasting monologues (serious/comic or classical/modern) from two different published plays or musicals. The characters you choose should be under 25 years old. Performers who wish to sing must bring taped accompaniment. A pianist will not be provided. Selections must be memorized, blocked, and rehearsed. You will be timed from the first word of your piece. If you exceed your 2 minute time limit, you may be cut off. Performance pieces from forensic competitions are not appropriate. With departmental permission, acting auditions may be submitted on DVD, CD-Rom, or video tape (VHS or mini-DV format) following the guidelines noted above. Please be aware that the quality of your chosen material has a direct bearing on the success of your audition.

Directing

Those interested in directing must submit a written concept and analysis of structure, theme, style, mood, and character using Tennessee Williams’ Glass Menagerie or William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Dance

Those who audition for a dance scholarship should prepare a one to two minute dance composition in any dance genre. We are a modern dance based department and due to our dance floor your dance audition must be performed in bare feet although you may audition within any dance style. If you wish to bring accompanying music to your audition it can be played either from an mp3 player or cd. With departmental permission, dance auditions may be submitted on DVD, CD-Rom, or video tape (VHS or mini-DV format) following the guidelines noted above. The quality of your chosen material has a direct bearing on the success of your audition.

Design/Technology

Applicants will be interviewed by the faculty, including the faculty designer, and are expected to bring samples, photographs, or other examples of their past participation in the design/technology areas of theatre.

Playwriting

Two weeks before the interview date, applicants must send a sample of their work — plays, scenes, dialogues, or other significant examples of writing ability.

All Areas

In addition to filling out the application form, applicants should include a theatre and/or dance résumé and two letters of recommendation from their teachers or other professionals who know their abilities. These recommendations should be sent along with the audition application to the chairperson of the Department of Theatre and Dance, Kimberly Tritt.

For further information about theatre and dance at Wooster, please visit our web site.

Requirements

Scholars are expected to participate in a minimum of 40 hours each semester in the theatre and dance program as a condition for the maintenance and renewal of the scholarship. Those students who are selected to receive scholarships are expected to audition for college productions and/or compete for positions on design/ production crews.