Why Study Musical Theater at Vermont State?
- Success after graduation: Musical Theater graduates are successful on and off stage in summer theater, Off-Broadway shows, television, film, educational theater, and in graduate school.
- State-of-the-art facility: The John and Susan Casella Theater, located on the first floor of the Fine Arts Center at Vermont State University’s Castleton campus, is a 484-seat proscenium-style theater. All of our mainstage productions are performed on the Casella stage. The facility has a full complement of technical features, including a fly system, intelligent lighting, full concert sound capabilities, audiovisual and streaming functionality, and high-quality recording equipment.
- Career-focused education: You will work one-on-one with faculty to develop your portfolio, seek out internship opportunities, define career goals, and plan for your future after college.
- Hands-on experience: Every semester, including your first, you’ll perform in or produce a show for on- and off-campus audiences for course credit. You will spend time on-stage, in the musical pit or ensemble, dancing, and acting as part of your Performance Lab coursework.
- Your passion, your focus: Our Bachelor of Arts in Theater is multi-disciplinary, which means you can follow your passions and focus on acting, directing, dance, music, technical theater, and design, or theater studies.
Financial Aid for Musical Theater Students
Vermont State University is providing a high-quality, affordable degree in Musical Theater to students across Vermont and beyond. More than 80 percent of Vermont State students are awarded financial aid, including new students, transfer students, international students, out-of-state students, and first-generation students. Our financial aid team is here to help you explore all your options.
Internships & Jobs in Musical Theater
At Vermont State, you’ll gain leading-edge skills for musical theater jobs through internships, co-ops, career coaching, and more. Our internship placements will help you grow your professional network.
We offer several opportunities for you to gain practical skills in musical theater.
- Each year the Theater Arts Department takes a trip to either London or New York City to spend a week in the city and see the latest shows on the West End or Broadway.
- Participation in the Spring Musical is built directly into your coursework. You can pursue your passion in musical theater while earning credit toward your degree.
- Unlike many other theater programs, you will begin working on stage in your very first year of study.
- Musical Theater courses are experiential by nature: you will spend time on-stage, learning piano, in the musical pit or ensemble, dancing, and acting as part of your coursework.
- Each semester you’ll have the opportunity to produce a show and perform for on- and off-campus audiences. Recent productions include Guys and Dolls, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Rhinoceros, Catch Me if You Can, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
Student Stories
“After graduation, I started touring with Disney On Ice presents Frozen as a lighting electrician. I soon began working as the head of the Pyrotechnics Department, and after two years I was promoted to Production Stage Manager for the show. I toured with Disney for just under five years. In 2018, I transitioned to Cirque Du Soleil Volta where I worked as the Assistant Head of Lighting and Video. I’m currently in my final semester at The New School, pursuing a Master of Science in Media Management. In September, I was hired by Hulu as an Account Manager in the Advertising Sales department and plan to pursue a career in Media Sales. The endless support and guidance from my professors and classmates instilled a work ethic and drive to think critically and calmly while approaching any situation. I could not be more grateful for the Theater Arts Department.”
John Lucas, ’13
