Musical Theatre

Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an integrated whole. Although musical theatre overlaps with other theatrical forms like opera and dance, it may be distinguished by the equal importance given to the music as compared with the dialogue, movement and other elements. Since the early 20th century, musical theatre stage works have generally been called, simply, musicals.

Although music has been a part of dramatic presentations since ancient times, modern Western musical theatre emerged during the 19th century, with many structural elements established by the works of Gilbert and Sullivan in Britain and those of Harrigan and Hart in America. These were followed by the numerous Edwardian musical comedies and the musical theatre works of American creators like George M. Cohan at the turn of the 20th century. The Princess Theatre musicals (1915–1918) and other smart shows like Of Thee I Sing (1931) were artistic steps forward beyond revues and other frothy entertainments of the early 20th century and led to such groundbreaking works as Show Boat (1927) and Oklahoma! (1943). Some of the most famous musicals through the decades that followed include West Side Story (1957), The Fantasticks (1960), Hair (1967), A Chorus Line (1975), Les Misérables (1985), The Phantom of the Opera (1986), Rent (1996), The Producers (2001), Wicked (2003) and Hamilton (2015).

Musicals are performed around the world. They may be presented in large venues, such as big-budget Broadway or West End productions in New York City or London. Alternatively, musicals may be staged in smaller venues, such as fringe theatre, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, regional theatre, or community theatre productions, or on tour. Musicals are often presented by amateur and school groups in churches, schools and other performance spaces. In addition to the United States and Britain, there are vibrant musical theatre scenes in continental Europe, Asia, Australasia, Canada and Latin America.

* Description and images provided by Wikipedia under CC-BY-SA 3.0 license .

Matching Musical Theatre Colleges

Berklee College of Music

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $45,468 average out-state tuition; $45,468 average in-state tuition

New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts

At least 2 but less than 4 years; Private for profit; $35,350 average out-state tuition; $35,350 average in-state tuition

Roosevelt University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $31,493 average out-state tuition; $31,493 average in-state tuition

Columbia College Chicago

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $26,610 average out-state tuition; $26,610 average in-state tuition

Pace University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $46,978 average out-state tuition; $46,978 average in-state tuition

The University of the Arts

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $48,350 average out-state tuition; $48,350 average in-state tuition

Marymount Manhattan College

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $35,680 average out-state tuition; $35,680 average in-state tuition

Scholarships for Musical Theatre Majors

Bullet name award deadline Link
 

Sub Pop Loser Scholarship

Sub Pop Records

$6,000 March 19, 2024 See Details
 

Sub Pop Loser Scholarship

Sub Pop Records

award

$6,000

deadline

March 19, 2024
See Details
 

Forever Miss America Scholarship

Miss America Pageant

$5,000 Varies See Details
 

Forever Miss America Scholarship

Miss America Pageant

award

$5,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

Dean's Academic Scholarship - Point Park University

Point Park University

Up to $8,000 Varies See Details
 

Dean's Academic Scholarship - Point Park University

Point Park University

award

Up to $8,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

Artistic Achievement Scholarship - Point Park University

Point Park University

Up to $28,000 Varies See Details
 

Artistic Achievement Scholarship - Point Park University

Point Park University

award

Up to $28,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

This is Home Fest Scholarship

This is Home Fest

Up to $5,000 April 01, 2024 See Details
 

This is Home Fest Scholarship

This is Home Fest

award

Up to $5,000

deadline

April 01, 2024
See Details
 

Theatre Scholarship - Thomas More College

Thomas More University

Up to $4,000 Varies See Details
 

Theatre Scholarship - Thomas More College

Thomas More University

award

Up to $4,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

"You Can’t Label People, But You Can Label Products" Scholarship

Sttark

$4,000 March 31, 2024 See Details
 

"You Can’t Label People, But You Can Label Products" Scholarship

Sttark

award

$4,000

deadline

March 31, 2024
See Details
 

ISF Film Scholarship

Islamic Scholarship Fund

Up to $10,000 March 21, 2024 See Details
 

ISF Film Scholarship

Islamic Scholarship Fund

award

Up to $10,000

deadline

March 21, 2024
See Details
 

Art Porter Music Education Memorial Scholarship

Art Porter Music Education, Inc.

$3,000 March 31, 2024 See Details
 

Art Porter Music Education Memorial Scholarship

Art Porter Music Education, Inc.

award

$3,000

deadline

March 31, 2024
See Details
 

Performing Arts Scholarship - Madonna University

Madonna University

$3,000 May 01, 2024 See Details
 

Performing Arts Scholarship - Madonna University

Madonna University

award

$3,000

deadline

May 01, 2024
See Details