Musical Theatre Artistic Review

MONOLOGUES

Two contrasting monologues — both contemporary — presented in English

• We define “contemporary” as anything written from around 1900 to now.
• Each monologue must be under 90 seconds in length.
• All monologues must be from published plays (no musicals; no film/TV scripts; no original material).
• Each monologue should be written as such, not a dialogue pieced and edited together to make a monologue.
• Please choose material that is within your age range (roles you would be cast in now).
• The gender of the character need not be a determining factor when choosing a monologue.
• Props and costumes are not permitted.
• We want to hear your natural voice. Please do not add an accent to your monologues.

In our musical theatre program, we are training actors who sing and dance. The acting evaluation portion of your musical theatre artistic review lets us see your potential as an actor. Therefore, we encourage you to explore the great depth and breadth of material in the field of theater to find engaging and challenging material.

Please know that you may be asked to perform one or two monologues during your artistic review. 

CONVERSATION

You will have an opportunity to converse with your evaluator before or after presenting your monologues. This is a chance for us to get to know you a little bit more; in addition to watching your work as an artist, we want to learn about who you are as a person.

In order to support our applicants doing their best work, for Regular Decision–Musical Theatre Artistic Reviews we conduct a focused two-phase artistic review process: Phase 1: Video Submission and Phase 2: Live Artistic Review (in-person or digital). Each phase allows the applicant to be seen by several members of the Drama faculty.

For the first phase, you will submit a video that will be reviewed by Department faculty members who will determine whether or not you will continue to the second, live phase of the artistic review process (either in-person or digitally). For the second phase, the applicant will meet with a member of the Drama faculty to present their prepared material and participate in a conversation.

PHASE 1–Video Submission

Please review the following information carefully, as submissions which do not adhere to these guidelines will be disqualified for consideration by the department. We recommend you watch your video to ensure it follows all requirements and you are satisfied with it before you upload it to your Drama Artistic Review Portal. 

HOW TO RECORD

• Your video must be no longer than 2 minutes (120 seconds) in total length. Videos which exceed 2 minutes cannot be considered.

• Your video must be one continuous, stationary shot, without editing or splicing.

• Record yourself so that you can be seen from the waist up.

• Record in front of a simple, non-distracting background as much as possible.

• Make sure we can hear you clearly and there are no distracting sounds or background noise.

• Students are encouraged to use standard technology and recording devices that are readily available to them (i.e. smartphones, tablets, etc). No need for an elaborate technical set-up or background–simple is better!

WHAT TO RECORD

Your Phase 1 video submission will include three components:

• Introduction

• Story

• Response 

For the Introduction, quickly and clearly speak your name, pronouns, and where you’re geographically submitting from.

Example: “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. My pronouns are they/them, and I’m in the fictional country of Florin.”

For the second component, tell us a Story. We’ll be evaluating your clarity, honesty and ability to connect to your feelings in real time. Do this in whatever way best showcases your strengths and creativity!

You can:

• Share part of a monologue or song

• Share a personal story from your life

• Share a series of sounds and movements

  or whatever you would like to share with us!

However you connect confidently with your most authentic self is the appropriate choice for which story to tell and how to tell it! You have one minute. 

The third and final component of the Phase 1 video submission is your candid Response to the following prompt:

How do you imagine your college education will enhance your ability to make theater?

No need for formalities! Use your remaining time to respond comfortably and as yourself. 

Remember your video must be no longer than 2 minutes in total length.

Make sure you can be seen, heard, and clearly understood, and that your video does not exceed the time limit. Please visit this video here for further assistance!

PHASE 2–Live Artistic Review (In-person or Digital)

After your Phase 1 video submission has been reviewed, you may be invited to schedule a live artistic review, either in-person or digitally. Invitations will be sent on a rolling basis, starting October 5, 2025. If invited, you will receive an email by January 15, 2026 asking you to schedule your live artistic review there. If you do not receive an email by January 15, 2026, you have not been invited to schedule an artistic review. If invited, please make sure to schedule your artistic review by the posted deadlines!

Only applicants who are being invited for a Phase 2 artistic review will receive a notification if our evaluators require more information. Those who are not invited for a Phase 2 artistic review will not receive notification. Being invited—or not—is not an indication of a final admissions decision to Tisch Drama and NYU. If you do not receive an invitation by January 15, 2026, the next response will be in April 2026 from NYU Admissions regarding your admission decision.

The artistic review guidelines for the Phase 2 artistic review will follow the requirements as listed above in ACTING EVALUATION – EARLY DECISION I & II. Please note that these guidelines are different from those of Phase 1.

For applicants participating in a Phase 2 digital Musical Theatre Artistic Review (if invited): Please review what additional material is required for a digital submission in the drop down menus below and please upload this material by the posted deadlines. You will receive an email directing you to DropBox with further upload instructions.

Two contrasting 32-bar song selections    

• One 32-bar cut (approx. 90 seconds) must be from the published musical theatre canon
 
      Standard Broadway repertoire would include: Rodgers and Hammerstein, Rodgers and Hart, Kern and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Kurt Weill, Cy Coleman, Jules Styne, Bock and Harnick, Kander and Ebb, George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Stephen Schwartz, Jonathan Larson, Jason Robert Brown, Michael John LaChiusa, Andrew Lippa, Adam Guettel, Noel Coward, Rupert Holmes, Jeanine Tesori, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Yip Harburg, Harold Arlen, Marvin Hamlisch, Alan Menken, Galt MacDermot, etc.   
• One 32-bar cut (approx. 90 seconds) from either musical theatre or a published contemporary piece
      Pieces may be from rock, pop, hip-hop, jazz, gospel, country, opera, classical, etc. 

• An accompianist will be provided for the singing evaluation
• Please bring sheet music for the accompianist
• Each 32-bar cut must be clearly marked
• Sheet music must be double-sided and placed in a three-ring binder
• Evaluator may test your vocal range
• Please be prepared to sing an additional selection, if requested

Candidates submitting digital artistic reviews will be required to submit two song videos, as well as perform them live during your Zoom session. Please prepare and provide your own accompaniment. See more details below.

FOR DIGITAL SUBMISSION CANDIDATES: 

As a back-up, you will upload videos performing both your song selections to the Drama Artistic Review portal, as well as perform them live during your Zoom session. Please prepare and provide your own accompaniment. You will find specific instructions on how to create your singing videos, as well as prepare for your Zoom session in the Digital Submission Guidelines.

* A note on song videos: These videos are being uploaded for back-up purposes only. These videos are not for a pre-screening process. Every Musical Theatre applicant will be required to sing their song selection(s) live via Zoom. Only in cases of technical difficulties will the evaluators be asked to consult the videos provided by the applicant. Uploading videos is not a replacement for completing the live singing portion of the Artistic Review.

All musical theatre candidates must participate in a dance evaluation. The purpose of this evaluation is for us to learn where you are in your own dance/movement life. Are you a serious dancer with years of experience and training? Have you never taken a dance class but like to groove to your favorite song when it comes on the radio? Are you somewhere in between — perhaps you learned some choreography for a musical at school? We just want to know where you are right now.  

Incoming musical theatre candidates attending in-person artistic reviews will participate in a dance call where they will be taught a combination incorporating elements of Ballet, Jazz, and contemporary dance.

• In small groups, candidates will be taught one combination
• You will have the opportunity to rehearse the combination several times
• You will perform the combination several times in smaller groups for the evaluator
• Please where comfortable, fitted clothes that provide ease of movement
• Ballet slippers, jazz shoes or barefoot is fine–but no high-heeled character shoes
• You will have time to change into another outfit for your acting and singing evaluations

Candidates submitting digital artistic reviews will be required to submit a dance video. See more details below.

FOR DIGITAL SUBMISSION CANDIDATES:

You will upload a video of you performing a combination to the Drama Artistic Review portal. You will find specific instructions on how to create your dance video in the Digital Submission Guidelines.

You are required to bring THREE copies of your résumé to the artistic review, in additon to uploading one digitally to the artistic review portal. Please use the industry standard for a performing arts résumé (example here). Please do not include a photo on your résumé, and a personal photo or headshot is not required. Your evaluator will not accept additional material.

For your acting and singing evaluations, please wear clothing and shoes that allow you to move comfortably in your audition. For those inclined to wear heels, please keep them at a resonable height. You are welcome to perform barefoot.

For dance attire, please wear comfortable, fitted clothing that provides ease of movement. Ballet slippers, jazz shoes or barefeet is fine–however, high-heeled character shoes are not permitted. Please refer to the Dance Evaluation description above.

You will reserve either a morning or afternoon session for your artistic review. You should expect to be with us for the entire session. Sessions are approximately 3.5 hours. All candidates arrive at the same time to check in. For the most part, check-in for morning sessions begins at 9:00 and afternoon sessions at 2:00.