Performing Arts
Performing Arts Admission Requirements
Prospective students applying for programs in the Performing Arts at NYFA, (Musical Theatre and Acting for Film), will submit an audition. Please review each discipline below to see the audition requirements at NYFA. Auditions may be in-person, virtual, or sent digitally as a self-tape.
Acting for Film
To audition for the acting for film certificate or degree programs at NYFA, prospective students must submit an application. Applications can be completed online or brought to the audition. There is a $75 application fee required.
Audition Requirements (Degree and 1 & 2 Year Programs)
For our acting for film degree and 1 & 2 year programs, please prepare two contemporary monologues from either a play or screenplay. Monologues should be contrasting, one dramatic, one comedic Monologues and must be approximately 60-90 seconds in length.
Auditions may be in-person, virtual, or sent digitally as a self-tape.
- Virtual & In Person Live Auditions – To set up a virtual or in-person live audition, please see our audition requirements below and/or contact roger@nyfa.edu.
- Video Submissions – Applicants may submit their audition digitally. Please see our requirements below and/or contact roger@nyfa.edu if you have any questions.
*An audition is not required for Acting for Film workshops.
Choosing a Monologue
Read through different selections of material until you find something that feels like material that you can relate to and makes you feel something emotional as you read. Please do not choose monologues that are overly sexual, profane, violent or suicidal in nature.
Select monologues that are age-appropriate and allow you to express the uniqueness of who you are and speak to your strengths.
Helpful Monologue Resources
How To Prepare Your Monologue
Now that you’ve chosen your monologues, you have to make them your own. You should read the entire play or screenplay, as it will help you make specific choices. Your monologue must be memorized.
When choosing a piece from a film you may also transcribe the piece and then work from the written text, rather than re-watching the original actor’s performance. Please do not imitate, as we are looking for your unique interpretation of the material.
If you are not able to audition in person you can record and submit digitally.
Filming Your Audition and Monologue
Start with an Introduction. Please state your name and the title of the piece you are performing. Deliver this part to the camera. When you film the monologue, you want to shoot horizontally and capture your whole body or 3⁄4 of your body, not just your face.
Please see below for additional filming recommendations.
- Eye line: Find the place off-camera where you can direct your piece. Do not look into, above or below the camera.
- Framing: Should be a three-quarter length (or approximately waist up) – and recorded Horizontally.
- Sound and lighting: Make sure we can hear you (good sound) and see you (good lighting) clearly.
- Background: Do not have distractions in the background (posters, activity, etc.)
- Wardrobe: Wear clothes that do not distract from your performance. This includes shirts with large logos or statements, hats, or anything that hides your face from the camera.
- Props: The general rule of using props for auditions is NO, unless it absolutely enhances your performance and does not take our focus away from you. If you feel it helps you, simple everyday items like a cell phone, purse, sweater or jacket would be fine.
Do not: smoke, use prop weapons, or mime anything in your performance.
Important Note: Enjoy your performance! It will show us your passion and commitment to acting, and allow the true you to come through.
Uploading Your Material
Upload your monologues, separately, using one of the following:
- Unlisted YouTube Links
- Vimeo links with password
- Google Drive with “share-able” link
Musical Theatre
To audition for the musical theatre certificate or degree programs at NYFA, prospective students must submit an application. Applications can be completed online before the audition. There is a $75 application fee required.
Auditions may be in-person, virtual, or sent digitally as a self-tape.
- Virtual & In Person Live Auditions – To set up a virtual or in-person live audition, please see our audition requirements below and/or contact joey@nyfa.edu.
- Video Submissions – Applicants may submit their audition digitally. Please see our requirements below and/or contact joey@nyfa.edu if you have any questions.
BFA in Musical Theatre Audition Requirements
Please Prepare:
- Two (2) contrasting musical theatre songs; and
- One (1) contemporary monologue from a Published American Play; and
- At least one (1) dance video; and
- Wild Card (optional)
Two Contrasting Musical Theatre Songs
- Each song should be approximately 60-90 seconds.
- Students must sing to live or recorded accompaniment. No “a cappella” singing.
- An accompanist will be provided if auditioning live at NY Campus (only).
Monologue
One Contemporary Monologue from a published American play.
- Monologues cannot be from a musical, television show, or film.
- The monologue should be approximately 60-90 seconds in length.
Dance Video Submission
All Students must submit one or both of the following options as a shareable link video submission. Dance Audition will not be performed live for an adjudicator unless specified.
All media should be filmed with the student’s entire body in the frame and should be a solo video. All choreography must be performed to music; no “a cappella” dance media. Please consider including a few technical skills (turns, balances, leg extensions, etc.). Advancement is not based on technical level alone. We are interested in how you connect to the music, point of view, storytelling ability, how you communicate through movement, and performance quality.
DANCE OPTION A
- Tutorial Theatre Dance (beginner level) Video provided by NYFA for the applicant to execute and record as their video submission.
- All media should be filmed with the student’s entire body in the frame and should be a solo video of the applicant.
DANCE OPTION B
- 30-60 seconds of the dance discipline you are most comfortable with: jazz, theatre dance, modern, lyrical or contemporary, or ballet (solo only/no barre).
- No tap or hip hop.
Prospective students can use the audio below for their audition.
Additional dance skills may be requested after your initial media has been viewed.
Wild Card (Optional)
- This Video can be anything of your choice: a pop/rock song, another style of dance, gymnastics, a special skill, an instrument that you play, etc. “What do you want us to know about you?” and “What makes you unique?”.
- A Video Submission is required and should be no more than 60-90 seconds.
- Wild Card will not be performed live for an adjudicator, unless specified or approved.
1 & 2-Year Audition Requirements
Please Prepare:
- Two (2) contrasting musical theatre songs; and
- One (1) contemporary monologue from a Published American Play
OPTIONAL: If you are a DANCER, please feel free to send a video submission to share with the reviewing committee (see BFA Musical Theatre Dance Requirements, should you be interested).
Two Contrasting Musical Theatre Songs
- Each song should be approximately 60-90 seconds.
- Students must sing to live or recorded accompaniment. No “a cappella” singing.
- An accompanist will be provided if auditioning live at NY Campus (only).
Monologue
One Contemporary Monologue from a published American play.
- Monologues cannot be from a musical, television show, or film
- The monologue should be approximately 60-90 seconds in length.
Workshop Audition Requirements
Please Prepare One Musical Theatre Song:
- The musical theatre song should be sung in its entirety.
- Students must sing to a live or recorded accompaniment. No a cappella singing.
- Songs should be recorded horizontally and filmed in a 3/4 shot, which means approximately from the knees to the top of the head, and submitted as a shareable link.
- The musical theatre department may request an additional song from the applicant after reviewing the initial audition material.
Please do not choreograph your audition, use props, or perform into a microphone. We ask that you choose material that is age- and type-appropriate. It is important to remember that you must act your songs, so find pieces that excite you and that you have a personal connection to. The more connected you are to the character’s circumstances, the more we are able to see your talent and personality.
*An Audition is Not Required for Online Workshops.
Submitting a Digital Audition Video
When filming your audition for a musical theatre program, please include a Brief Introduction Video (Slate) with the following:
- Name
- Pronouns (optional)
- Current location
- Highest Level of Education
- Previous training / experience
- Introduce each piece: title, show, playwright, and/or composer
Additional Notes:
- Please treat this as a professional audition.
- Wardrobe should be professional and should not distract from your performance.
- Each piece must be acted and fully memorized.
- Backing Tracks are mandatory. No a cappella.
- If possible, please find a separate device to play your backing track on.
- Please find a quiet spot in your home with a blank wall to stand in front of with good lighting.
- Framing – should be a three-quarter length (or approximately waist up) – and recorded Horizontally.
- Eye line – do not perform directly into the camera but we must see your face as you perform.
- Please find a quiet spot in your home with a blank wall to stand in front of with good lighting.
- Framing – should be a three-quarter length (or approximately waist up) – and recorded Horizontally.
- Eye line – do not perform directly into the camera but we must see your face as you perform.
How to Submit Your Video Submission
- You may use one video or multiple links.
- You must use a hyperlink (YouTube, Vimeo, GoogleDrive, etc), please make your video UNLISTED / SHARABLE so that only those with the link can review.
- Please note that we will need to share your link with multiple people at NYFA, so we ask that you do not mark “private”.
- Please do not delete the link, as we may to reference at a later date.
- Please copy and paste a link into the audition / creative portfolio in your applicant portal.
Auditioning in Person
- NYC Campus: A pianist will be provided for our musical theatre auditions. Please bring sheet music in a three-ring binder and in the correct key.
- All Other Locations: Please bring an accompaniment backing track with you on a digital or mobile device (instrumental only, no vocals).
- No a capella auditions (singing without music).
- Dance Auditions and Wild Card Selections will NOT be performed, unless otherwise stated (video submissions will be required before or after the audition)