Build Your Audition Book at NYFA
At NYFA’s Musical Theatre School, aspiring performers complete a variety of projects, exercises, and performances for their reel and musical theatre audition books.
Designed to mirror the real-life work done in a Broadway or off-Broadway theatre environment, the projects that students work on at NYFA are aimed to prepare them for the entertainment industry. Students are challenged to build upon and strengthen their existing skill set, receiving one-on-one mentorship from our experienced faculty.
Depending on the length of the program, students may also receive feedback from outside industry professionals. The projects listed below are examples of the type of work that students will complete at NYFA, and not an all-encompassing list. To learn more, please see our course catalog.
Musical Theatre
Degree Projects
Broadway in the Battery
NYFA’s Broadway in the Battery event is an ongoing series of Open Mic Nights that occur on our mainstage theatre. During this exclusive on-campus event, musical theatre students and musical theatre alumni are invited to perform live. At Broadway in the Battery, students are welcomed to perform songs they are working on in class, new material, solos or duets, play instruments, workshop and perform pieces that they have written themselves, using the vocal and acting skills they have learned inside of the classroom. At every event, a panel of faculty and guests select a winner of the night. The winner of Broadway in the Battery gets a “spotlight” interview and video created for their social media. The entire night is recorded.
Scene Presentations
At the end of year one, students have a chance to present scene work they have been working on in Acting class. In front of an audience, students share their work with others outside of the classroom.
Main Stage Musicals
The Main Stage Musicals are fully realized productions presented in the NYFA theatre. These productions include a custom-built set created specifically for the show with full lights, sounds, costumes and live musicians. Students work with Directors, Musical Directors, and Choreographers, which aims to prepare them for the expectations of an industry production. By working in a production setting that closely mirrors the musical theatre industry, students are given the opportunity to learn how to navigate within this type of performance setting.
New Works Series
In the New Works Series, NYFA invites emerging writers and composers to work on their outside projects with our students. The New Works mirror what the industry calls a “29-Hour Reading”, where writers, directors and composers work with performers for 29 hours to workshop their material, ending in a book-in-hand style presentation. Following the same concept in a lengthier time frame, the goal of the New Works are to help the creative team develop the new work. The other goal is to help NYFA students connect with industry professionals in a fast-paced setting. The New Works tend to be a very collaborative environment where students are asked to create characters using the skills they have learned in the classroom.
Advanced Audition Prep
During the Advanced Audition Tech course, students learn how to choose material for auditions, analyze audition breakdowns, as well as selecting the proper attire for auditions. Throughout the course, students build their audition book, create their own website, and finalize their resume.
Voiceover Reel
Students learn how to analyze commercial copy for voiceover auditions and use high-quality studio equipment. Students also learn about the voiceover industry, which may include the proper voiceover production etiquette, as well as how to find auditions and representation. This class culminates in a fully produced voiceover demo.
Audition Videos
Two audition cuts of songs are chosen, coached, filmed, and edited by our in-house Editors. This provides students with digital content as needed.
Musical Theatre Performance on Film
This course will focus on the world of movie musicals and explore storytelling through cinematography, direction, production design, editing, and actor interpretation. As a final project, the course will combine the skills learned in Singing for the Camera and the theoretical knowledge acquired in this course to shoot a musical theatre song interpreted and reimagined for the screen. Vocals and music for this project are recorded and mixed in a professional studio so that students can lip-sync to their own voices on camera. Selections are then directed and filmed on location and edited by our in-house Editors.
Industry Panel Showcase
In an Industry Panel Showcase consisting of songs and scenes, graduating students perform for and receive feedback from casting directors or agents.
Graduation Showcase
At the conclusion of each year of our certificate programs, students present a Graduation Showcase to demonstrate the full range of their skills. During the showcase, students perform solos, duets, group numbers and dances for faculty, as well as invited friends and family. This program is filmed by our staff and edited by our in-house Editors, and students will receive a digital copy.
Graduation Package
The final Graduation Package includes a masterclass experience with outside industry professionals, comprehensive audition book, voiceover demo, two filmed audition musical theatre videos, a resume, as well as a professional, personal website. Students will also be asked to take professional headshots for their graduation package, which are not provided by NYFA.
Broadway in the Battery
NYFA’s Broadway in the Battery event is an ongoing series of Open Mic Nights that occur on our mainstage theatre. During this exclusive on-campus event, musical theatre students and musical theatre alumni are invited to perform live. At Broadway in the Battery, students are welcomed to perform songs they are working on in class, new material, solos or duets, play instruments, workshop and perform pieces that they have written themselves, using the vocal and acting skills they have learned inside of the classroom. At every event, a panel of faculty and guests select a winner of the night. The winner of Broadway in the Battery gets a “spotlight” interview and video created for their social media. The entire night is recorded.
Scene Presentations
At the end of year one, students have a chance to present scene work they have been working on in Acting class. In front of an audience, students share their work with others outside of the classroom.
Main Stage Musicals
The Main Stage Musicals are fully realized productions presented in the NYFA theatre. These productions include a custom-built set created specifically for the show with full lights, sounds, costumes and live musicians. Students work with Directors, Musical Directors, and Choreographers, which aims to prepare them for the expectations of an industry production. By working in a production setting that closely mirrors the musical theatre industry, students are given the opportunity to learn how to navigate within this type of performance setting.
New Works Series
In the New Works Series, NYFA invites emerging writers and composers to work on their outside projects with our students. The New Works mirror what the industry calls a “29-Hour Reading”, where writers, directors and composers work with performers for 29 hours to workshop their material, ending in a book-in-hand style presentation. Following the same concept in a lengthier time frame, the goal of the New Works are to help the creative team develop the new work. The other goal is to help NYFA students connect with industry professionals in a fast-paced setting. The New Works tend to be a very collaborative environment where students are asked to create characters using the skills they have learned in the classroom.
Graduation Showcase
At the conclusion of each year of our certificate programs, students present a Graduation Showcase to demonstrate the full range of their skills. During the showcase, students perform solos, duets, group numbers and dances for faculty, as well as invited friends and family. This program is filmed by our staff and edited by our in-house Editors, and students will receive a digital copy.
Musical Theatre
Certificate Projects
Broadway in the Battery
NYFA’s Broadway in the Battery event is an ongoing series of Open Mic Nights that occur on our mainstage theatre. During this exclusive on-campus event, musical theatre students and musical theatre alumni are invited to perform live. At Broadway in the Battery, students are welcomed to perform songs they are working on in class, new material, solos or duets, play instruments, workshop and perform pieces that they have written themselves, using the vocal and acting skills they have learned inside of the classroom. At every event, a panel of faculty and guests select a winner of the night. The winner of Broadway in the Battery gets a “spotlight” interview and video created for their social media. The entire night is recorded.
Scene Presentations
At the end of year one, students have a chance to present scene work they have been working on in Acting class. In front of an audience, students share their work with others outside of the classroom.
Main Stage Musicals
The Main Stage Musicals are fully realized productions presented in the NYFA theatre. These productions include a custom-built set created specifically for the show with full lights, sounds, costumes and live musicians. Students work with Directors, Musical Directors, and Choreographers, which aims to prepare them for the expectations of an industry production. By working in a production setting that closely mirrors the musical theatre industry, students are given the opportunity to learn how to navigate within this type of performance setting.
New Works Series
In the New Works Series, NYFA invites emerging writers and composers to work on their outside projects with our students. The New Works mirror what the industry calls a “29-Hour Reading”, where writers, directors and composers work with performers for 29 hours to workshop their material, ending in a book-in-hand style presentation. Following the same concept in a lengthier time frame, the goal of the New Works are to help the creative team develop the new work. The other goal is to help NYFA students connect with industry professionals in a fast-paced setting. The New Works tend to be a very collaborative environment where students are asked to create characters using the skills they have learned in the classroom.
Advanced Audition Prep
During the Advanced Audition Tech course, students learn how to choose material for auditions, analyze audition breakdowns, as well as selecting the proper attire for auditions. Throughout the course, students build their audition book, create their own website, and finalize their resume.
Voiceover Reel
Students learn how to analyze commercial copy for voiceover auditions and use high-quality studio equipment. Students also learn about the voiceover industry, which may include the proper voiceover production etiquette, as well as how to find auditions and representation. This class culminates in a fully produced voiceover demo.
Audition Videos
Two audition cuts of songs are chosen, coached, filmed, and edited by our in-house Editors. This provides students with digital content as needed.
Musical Theatre Performance on Film
This course will focus on the world of movie musicals and explore storytelling through cinematography, direction, production design, editing, and actor interpretation. As a final project, the course will combine the skills learned in Singing for the Camera and the theoretical knowledge acquired in this course to shoot a musical theatre song interpreted and reimagined for the screen. Vocals and music for this project are recorded and mixed in a professional studio so that students can lip-sync to their own voices on camera. Selections are then directed and filmed on location and edited by our in-house Editors.
Industry Panel Showcase
In an Industry Panel Showcase consisting of songs and scenes, graduating students perform for and receive feedback from casting directors or agents.
Graduation Showcase
At the conclusion of each year of our certificate programs, students present a Graduation Showcase to demonstrate the full range of their skills. During the showcase, students perform solos, duets, group numbers and dances for faculty, as well as invited friends and family. This program is filmed by our staff and edited by our in-house Editors, and students will receive a digital copy.
Graduation Package
The final Graduation Package includes a masterclass experience with outside industry professionals, comprehensive audition book, voiceover demo, two filmed audition musical theatre videos, a resume, as well as a professional, personal website. Students will also be asked to take professional headshots for their graduation package, which are not provided by NYFA.
Broadway in the Battery
NYFA’s Broadway in the Battery event is an ongoing series of Open Mic Nights that occur on our mainstage theatre. During this exclusive on-campus event, musical theatre students and musical theatre alumni are invited to perform live. At Broadway in the Battery, students are welcomed to perform songs they are working on in class, new material, solos or duets, play instruments, workshop and perform pieces that they have written themselves, using the vocal and acting skills they have learned inside of the classroom. At every event, a panel of faculty and guests select a winner of the night. The winner of Broadway in the Battery gets a “spotlight” interview and video created for their social media. The entire night is recorded.
Scene Presentations
At the end of year one, students have a chance to present scene work they have been working on in Acting class. In front of an audience, students share their work with others outside of the classroom.
Main Stage Musicals
The Main Stage Musicals are fully realized productions presented in the NYFA theatre. These productions include a custom-built set created specifically for the show with full lights, sounds, costumes and live musicians. Students work with Directors, Musical Directors, and Choreographers, which aims to prepare them for the expectations of an industry production. By working in a production setting that closely mirrors the musical theatre industry, students are given the opportunity to learn how to navigate within this type of performance setting.
New Works Series
In the New Works Series, NYFA invites emerging writers and composers to work on their outside projects with our students. The New Works mirror what the industry calls a “29-Hour Reading”, where writers, directors and composers work with performers for 29 hours to workshop their material, ending in a book-in-hand style presentation. Following the same concept in a lengthier time frame, the goal of the New Works are to help the creative team develop the new work. The other goal is to help NYFA students connect with industry professionals in a fast-paced setting. The New Works tend to be a very collaborative environment where students are asked to create characters using the skills they have learned in the classroom.
Graduation Showcase
At the conclusion of each year of our certificate programs, students present a Graduation Showcase to demonstrate the full range of their skills. During the showcase, students perform solos, duets, group numbers and dances for faculty, as well as invited friends and family. This program is filmed by our staff and edited by our in-house Editors, and students will receive a digital copy.
Musical Theatre
Workshop Projects
End of Program Presentation
At the conclusion of the 4-Week Workshop, family and friends are invited to an informal presentation to showcase what each student has worked on over the course of the program. This program is filmed by our staff and edited by our in-house Editors, and students will receive a digital copy.
Open Class Presentation
On the last day of the 1-Week Workshop, family and friends are invited to an informal, open class presentation. Each student will perform a solo piece. The solos are filmed by our staff and edited by our in-house Editors, and students will receive a digital copy.
Please note: Equipment, curriculum, and projects are subject to change and may vary depending on location. Students should consult the most recently published campus catalog for the most up-to-date curriculum.