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School of Theatre Arts

Applying to SoTA

School of Theatre Arts Tour

Applications to the School of Theatre Arts open on August 1 each year. 

Because ours is a highly selective program, IWU students experience close, personal instruction from an outstanding faculty/staff who lead them through rigorous theatrical training.

The School of Theatre Arts sees thousands of candidates from across the country each year and mindfully accepts only a handful. Faculty/Staff regularly attend International Thespian Festival, Southeastern Theatre Conference, United States Institute for Theatre Technology, College Audition Project, Illinois High School Theatre Festival, and Missouri State Thespian Conference. 

2024-2025 Audition/Interview Dates:
November 23, 2024 you are welcome to attend our production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood
January 25, 2025 you are welcome to attend our Music Theatre Society performance
February 8, 2025
February 22, 2025 you are welcome to attend our production of All My Sons

Check out our Production Season! If you want to attend a performance when visiting campus, please contact Mena Williams at mwillia8@iwu.edu. 

 

Application & Audition Requirements by Program

  1. All students applying for the BA in Theatre Arts program must first submit a FREE application to Illinois Wesleyan University.
  2. Admission to the BA in Theatre Arts program is an open enrollment process. Audition and/or design portfolio submissions are required only if you are applying for a talent scholarship. To apply for a talent scholarship, students may present auditions in the area of acting, vocal performance, or directing. Applicants are also welcome to submit portfolios in the areas of design, scholarship, or creative writing. These materials can be presented in person by selecting one of the talent scholarship interview dates below or uploaded via IWU student status portal. To submit auditions or portfolios via your IWU student status portal, click on the edit portfolio link at the bottom of the page. Please include your audition or portfolio materials, headshot, and resume.

2024-2025 BA Interview dates

For assistance with the application process, contact theatre@iwu.edu or (309) 556-3944.

  1. All students applying for the BFA - Theatre Design & Technology program must first submit a FREE application to Illinois Wesleyan University.
  2. After your IWU application has been submitted, you will be able to upload your resume of theatre work, recent headshot and portfolio* via your student status portal (this is where your application checklist is located). Clicking the edit portfolio link at the bottom of the page will take you to instructions for uploading your materials.

    *Examples of Artistry or portfolio should present examples of your work in the form of design drawings or sketches (hand or computer), light and sound plots, paint elevations, scenic models, costume renderings and prompt books from theatrical productions. Other examples include photographs of process work or productions, schedules, paper work, programs/posters, sewing projects, craft and properties projects, design boards, research or other evidence of your artistic abilities such as drawing, painting, sculpture, pottery, graphic design, art photography, metal or jewelry making.
  3. Once these materials have been uploaded, schedule and complete a faculty interview by selecting one of the options below.

2024-25 Theatre Design & Technology Interview options:

For assistance with the application process, contact theatre@iwu.edu or (309) 556-3944.

  1. All students applying for the BFA - Acting program must first submit a FREE application to Illinois Wesleyan University.
  2. After your IWU application has been submitted, you will be able to upload your pre-screen materials via your student status portal (this is where your application checklist is located). Clicking the edit portfolio link at the bottom of the page will take you to instructions for uploading your pre-screen materials which should include your resume of theatre work, recent headshot and prescreen audition.
  3. Once your application is screened by our faculty, you may be invited to a call-back audition and/or interview on one of the following days:

    2024-2025 BFA Acting Audition/Interview dates:
If you live out of state and would like to prescreen prior to traveling to Illinois, you may upload a pre-screen audition. Please contact theatre@iwu.edu to request an Acting pre-screen.

Note: Faculty attend the International Thespian Festival, Southeastern Theatre Conference, College Audition Project and the Illinois High School Theatre Festival annually. Students called back at any of these events must still complete the full application process. 

For assistance with the application process, contact theatre@iwu.edu or (309) 556-3944.

  1. Apply to Illinois Wesleyan University.
  2. Submit your Pre-Screen materials via our Acceptd page - including resume and headshot.  Pre-Screen deadline: 1/1/2025
  3. If selected for a callback, you will be notified by the Theatre Recruitment Office to sign up for a callback date.

    2024-2025 Callback Dates:
    November 23, 2024
    January 25, 2025
    February 8, 2025
    February 22, 2025

Note: Faculty attend the International Thespian Festival, Southeastern Theatre Conference, College Audition Project, and the Illinois High School Theatre Festival annually. 

** IWU participates in the Musical Theatre Common Prescreen, which includes the following materials:

 

Song Requirements: Option A

  • One song written before 1970 (musical theater, Golden Age, pop, hip-hop, folk, rock, rap, soul, country, punk, etc.).
  • One song written after 1970 (musical theater, pop, hip-hop, folk, rock, rap, soul, country, punk, etc.). This song should contrast the style of the first selection.

Monologue Requirements: Option A

  • One monologue from a published play or written by a professional writer.
  • A professional writer is someone whose plays have been produced, but may not have been professionally published.

Dance Requirements: Option A

  • Show us your best version of dancing or moving. Please include at least one turn, one jump and one kick (or other suitable rotation, elevation, and extension that works for your body).

Ballet Requirements: Option C

  • No ballet required.

**Please follow all guidelines and tips for the Musical Theatre Common Prescreen.

For questions about the pre-screen process, please contact Anna Corvera.

Laura Dolan - Fine Arts Admissions Coordinator

Department - Admissions

(309) 556-3063