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Theatre and Media Arts

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting

MISSION

The BFA Acting program embraces a grounding in classical training to give student actors power with text, voice, body, and action while also giving them an enduring vision of future equality, abundance, and infinite creative potential.

PROGRAM DETAILS

This major is a limited enrollment program designed to prepare students to become professional artists and/or to pursue post-graduate degrees in the field. It is a highly competitive major; admission is by audition. Additionally, admitted students are required to meet progressively higher proficiency expectations each semester. If students do not meet proficiency expectations, they will be placed on program probation. Students placed on probation 3 times may be dismissed from the degree program.

APPLYING TO THE PROGRAM

DECLARE YOUR MAJOR

Log into your MyMAP and fill out the “Change Major Request.” If you are an incoming student or have under 30 earned BYU credit hours (excluding language exam credits), this will declare your major as Pre-Acting Major. If your credit hours are 30 to 59.5 hours, you will need to meet with an academic advisor before the major can be declared. If you have over 60 earned BYU credit hours (excluding language exam credits), then you cannot declare a Pre-Acting Major.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Requirement 1 – Complete 1 course and successfully pass a preliminary audition

  • TMA 128 – Acting 1 or if there is no room in TMA 128, take TMA 123
  • Preliminary auditions are held at the end of each Fall and Winter semester

Requirement 2 – Complete 2 courses and successfully pass an acceptance audition

  • TMA 228 – Acting 2
  • TMA 122 - Voice Production and Phonetics 1
  • Acceptance auditions are held at the end of each Fall and Winter semester

Note – The following are strongly recommended prior to application for acceptance

  • TMA 102 - Introduction to Film
  • TMA 125 – Yoga & Alexander Technique
  • TMA 115 – Intro to Performance Studies
  • TMA 160 – Theatre Production 1
  • TMA 222 – Voice Production and Phonetics 2
  • DANCE 140 – Contemporary Modern Dance, Beginning
  • or DANCE 240R – Contemporary Modern Dance, Technique and Theory 1

AUDITION DETAILS

You will need to successfully pass 2 auditions to be accepted to the Acting (BFA) Program. Being enrolled in TMA 123 or 128, and TMA 228 will help you prepare for the auditions. Preliminary and final acceptance auditions for current BYU students are held at the end of every Fall and Winter semester. Each audition consists of two contrasting monologues (three minutes combined length) from established scripts to show your range of acting ability.

Your performance will be rated by three faculty adjudicators on a scale from 1-5 in five different areas: clarity of interpretation, vulnerability/immediacy, body, voice, and professional attitude. The scores are averaged and you must have an overall score of 4 or above to be accepted to the Acting program.

FIRST TWO SEMESTERS ENROLLMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

In your first semester take these classes and perform a preliminary audition:

  • TMA 122 – Voice Production and Phonetics 1
  • TMA 128 – Acting 1 or if there is no room in TMA 128, take TMA 123
  • TMA 125 – Yoga & Alexander Technique
  • TMA 140 – Script Analysis
  • TMA 160 – Theatre Production 1
  • Preliminary auditions are held at the end of each Fall and Winter semester

In your second semester take these classes and perform an acceptance audition:

  • DANCE 140 or 240R – Contemporary Modern Dance
  • TMA 115 – Introduction to Performance Studies
  • TMA 222 - Voice Production and Phonetics 2
  • TMA 228 – Acting 2
  • Acceptance auditions are held at the end of each Fall and Winter semester

QUESTIONS

For information on talent award submission for incoming freshmen or transfer students, the proficiency audition process, or the acting program generally, please contact the Acting Program Area Head, at 801-422-6645.