Minor in Musical Theater Performance

The musical theater performance minor has as its focus the molding of a total musical theater performer. It engages in a multidisciplinary exploration of this uniquely American art form, providing a focus on the meeting place between classic musical theater and the rock musical. The coursework includes musical preparation, character development, movement, composition, and ensemble work.

The minor provides a foundation in professional musical theater that teaches the skills professional organizations seek in today’s theater market. Musical theater is constantly evolving, and it is necessary for the student to understand the roots as well as where the art form is going stylistically. The musical theater minor enables students to integrate their skills with their knowledge of the art to become a total creative contemporary musical theater performer.

The minor in musical theater performance complements concentrations in jazz, performance, music business, film scoring, education, production, composition, professional music, and songwriting. Berklee’s unique musical theater performance minor transcends traditional commercial music and performance by embracing cutting-edge advancements in order to prepare students for the musicals of tomorrow.

Contemporary musical theater integrates innovative music by educating creative, collaborative, passionate, and musically literate professionals who are globally diverse.

Entrance Requirements

Minimum GPA of 2.7 required. Students must follow the regular declaration of minor procedure as outlined in the Registration Guide. This minor is managed by the college's Professional Performance Division.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of a minor in musical theater performance, students will be able to:

  • understand the history and trends in evolving musical theater;
  • create dramatic characterization based on a theatrical context;
  • demonstrate fluency in basic stage movement and the language of the theater;
  • understand the vocal and dramatic needs of musical theater depending on the era and genre;
  • synthesize and integrate knowledge of musical theater performance and production; and
  • develop their own personal repertoire based on their vocal identity. 
Curriculum and Courses

Required Core Courses (one to two courses; at least 2 credits):

  • ENVC-270 Introduction to Musical Theater (1 credit)
  • ENVC-370 New Works Musical Production Ensemble** (2 credits)
  • ENVC-470 Musical Theater Chorus (1 credit)
  • PSVC-132 Musical Theater for Young Audiences, Creation to Performance** (2 credits)
  • T-EN 73110 Musical Theater for Non-Majors (1 credit)

Dance/Movement Elective (choose one course; 1 credit):

  • D-ST 73512 Beginning Tap (1 credit)
  • DANB-111 Beginning Ballet (1 credit)
  • DANJ-111 Beginning Jazzdance Technique (1 credit)
  • DANH-111 Beginning Hip-Hop Dance (1 credit)
  • DANH-211 Intermediate Hip-Hop Dance (1 credit)
  • DANT-111 Beginning Tap Dance (1 credit)
  • DANV-111 Dance Styles for Singers (1 credit)
  • DANV-311 Musical Theater Dance Workshop (1 credit)
  • PSH-238 Awareness Training for Musicians 1 (1 credit)
  • PSH-240 Body Mapping for Musicians 1 (1 credit)
  • PSH-250 Yoga for Musicians 1 (1 credit)
  • PSH-260 Tai Chi for Musicians 1 (1 credit)

 Acting Elective (choose one course, at least 1 credit):

  • ILVC-151 Acting Skills for the Vocalist (1 credit)
  • T-ST 71010 Acting for Non-Majors (2 credits)

Voice Elective:

  • PSH-200 Vocal Technique and Wellness (1 credit)

Theater Topics Elective (choose one to three courses; at least 3 credits):

  • ENVC-270 Introduction to Musical Theater (1 credit)
  • ENVC-275 Singing Sondheim** (1 credit)
  • ENVC-471 Musical Theater Staged Reading Ensemble** (2 credits)
  • ENVC-472 New Works Development Ensemble** (2 credits)
  • ENVC-476 Theater for Young Audiences Ensemble (2 credits)
  • LENG-325 Theater Workshop (3 credits)
  • LENG-401 Scene Study Workshop (3 credits)
  • MHIS-325 History of American Musical Theater (2 credits)
  • PSVC-131 American Diction for Singers (2 credits). Note that this course is highly recommended for students who speak English as a second language. 
  • PSVC-171 Writing, Developing, and Performing a One-Person Show (2 credits)
  • PSVC-343 Coaching Theater Vocalists (2 credits)
  • T-LT 1303 History of Musical Theater (3 credits)
  • PST-385 Elements of Theater Production (2 credits)
  • SMGT-111 Intro to Stage Management (3 credits)
  • SW-345 Musical Theater Writing 1 (2 credits)

Required Final Course (2 credits):

  • PSVC-475 Advanced Seminar in Contemporary Musical Theater Performance (2 credits)

** Course requires audition for enrollment