Theatre Admissions
Our Philosophy
Applying to college can be stressful for students and the families who support them, so we want our process to feel welcoming, not intimidating.
Every student's path to theatre is different. Some have had significant access to training and performance opportunities, while others may have had to create their own projects to pursue their passion for theatre. Preparation is valuable, but we believe that in theatre, hard work is the most important ingredient for success.
We are looking for students who are ready to engage deeply with the craft of theatre, challenge themselves with creative ventures, and evolve significantly over their time with us.
Why don't we hold admission auditions?
An audition is a single snapshot in time, and can only suggest the potential you bring. Rather than turn someone away based on that one snapshot, we would prefer to invest in your growth through rigorous and caring training.
We proudly hold open the door for all of our prospective students, and we set the bar high once you're inside. You'll audition for productions, take on significant roles and responsibilities, and be held to professional standards from your very first semester.
In Virginia Tech’s Theatre Program, your background does not define your potential. That's why the additional materials submission is optional, and why we review it with those differences in mind. It's an opportunity to share your work and get meaningful feedback, not a test you need to pass. We aren't looking for a finished performer. Instead, we value students who:
- Bring a genuine curiosity about people, stories, and the craft of theatre.
- Show the resilience to take risks, fail forward, and try again.
- Demonstrate motivation to grow as artists and ensemble members.
Our faculty will view your optional additional materials submissions, provide constructive critique, and reach out to discuss your goals. We are excited to see what you have already accomplished, and are looking forward to discussing how Virginia Tech can support you in realizing your aspirations.
If you have questions about whether to submit additional materials or what to include, please reach out to any of our faculty or review our optional additional materials guidelines. We are glad to help you navigate this process and make sure you have the best possible opportunity to share your work.
Apply to be a theatre major
- Submit a Virginia Tech Application via the Common App.
- If you wish to submit optional supplemental materials, go to the Theatre Supplementals portal.
- This is where you indicate the Theatre Arts degree option you are interested in and tell us about yourself. You can choose from three options:
- Optional materials may include monologues or performance videos (theatre or musical theatre) of 3 minutes or less, or examples of behind-the-scenes work such as photos, renderings, design documents, or stage management materials. Please submit by the optional admissions materials deadline for your decision plan. Admission to Theatre is by university application, with an optional additional materials review; auditions are not part of the process. If you have questions about what to include, please reach out to a faculty member or TheatreAdmissions@vt.edu.
Apply to be a theatre minor
Virginia Tech offers a Theatre Arts minor, open to students in any major. No audition or materials are required.
- Review the check sheet to see required courses.
- Fill out the minor declaration form.
- Sign up for the classes required for your minor.
Minors are also welcome to get involved in our productions. Auditions and crew assignments for our season are open to all Virginia Tech students.
If you have any questions about the minor, please contact our theatre advisor, Dee Hopkins.
Why study theatre at Virginia Tech?
At Virginia Tech, you learn theatre by making it. We produce numerous theatre pieces every year and our undergraduates are involved in all of them, whether they're onstage, in the booth, in the shop, or working many of the other jobs that are crucial to the success of a production. Some students work on many shows before they graduate. Many direct their own work or design for the mainstage, and some do it while carrying a second major.
You don't have to arrive knowing exactly what you want to do. One acting student got curious about wig design, so he and his costume professor built independent study courses around wigs and makeup. By the time he graduated, he had designed for mainstage shows and worked professional summer stock.
Our graduates have supervised video productions at leading performing arts conservatories, cast television and film projects, designed wigs and makeup for regional theatres, and turned senior-year internships into full-time jobs at professional lighting design firms. One alum now works in supply chain management, where her employer values the collaboration skills she built in theatre.
If you want to graduate with a résumé full of real production work and a clear sense of what you want to pursue, VT’s Theatre Program is for you.
Is an audition or interview required to apply?
We do not require an audition or interview to enter the theatre program. We care more about who you can become with real training, and training is what we do. We proudly hold open the door for all of our prospective students, and we set the bar high once you're inside. You'll audition for productions, take on real responsibility, and be held to professional standards from your first semester.
If you choose to, you can share optional additional materials that show us your work; we would love to know more about you and your journey in theatre.
If I choose to submit optional additional materials, what should I include?
Check our optional additional materials guidelines or reach out to our faculty. We are glad to help.
Do I have to be an actor to be a theatre student?
No. If you are interested in working backstage or in capacities other than as a performer, you can check out the Design degree or General Studies.
Can I be in shows if I'm not a theatre major or not on a performance track?
Auditions for VT Theatre shows and participation behind the scenes have always been open to the entire VT community. If you are interested in participating in a VT production, keep an eye on our Theatre Production Auditions page.
May I get feedback or a coaching session after I submit my optional additional materials?
A written critique of your materials will be sent to you, but our faculty are always happy to meet with students in person or via Zoom. Please contact TheatreAdmissions@vt.edu, and we will find a time to meet with you.
What areas of study are offered?
For more information, visit Areas of Study.
Do you offer musical theatre?
We don't offer a separate musical theatre degree, but musical theatre represents a significant part of our history. Our stages have hosted musicals from Spring Awakening and Once Upon a Mattress to a rare revival of Maltby and Shire's The Sap of Life. Theatre students can build their singing and movement skills through participation in Class Applied Voice, Choir, Dance classes, and many other dramatic and musical courses offered in the School of Performing Arts. Performance students are welcome to include musical theatre in their optional materials submission, and our faculty are happy to talk with you about how to shape your training around your goals.
When will I receive my VT application decision?
Students typically receive notification of admission in late February for Early Action, and mid-to-late March for Regular Decision.
How do I apply for a scholarship?
Scholarship auditions are separate from admission and completely optional; you don't need to audition to be accepted into the program. Scholarship auditions are currently held in the Spring. For the past several years, they have been held online for convenience, but check back in this space after January 1st for more information.
I'm already enrolled at Virginia Tech. How do I change my major or add a theatre minor?
Contact our Theatre advisor, Dee Hopkins.