Musical Theatre Scholarship Auditions – 2022 Festival

The Musical Theatre Scholarship Audition program is open to those students who received a nomination from their work in a produced show as well as any student who wishes to submit an Independent Entry to the program.

All interested students – both nominated and independent – must submit the intent form by December 15, 2021!


***Submissions for the January 2022 Festival are now closed. ***

STEP ONE: One-Minute Audition Cut video submissions are due by December 22, 2021. This deadline is to allow time for selectors to review all materials and make selections by December 29, 2021.

Be sure to review all of the guidelines before submitting your work

Guidelines: 

  • You can choose any song from any published musical that you feel best showcases your voice. The song may not exceed one minute from the first note played. This may or may not be one of your song choices for the January 7 submission, that is up to you. Our selectors will be looking for appropriate vocal technique and dynamic acting choices that support the creation of unified characters.
  • One video that contains your song and slate will be uploaded onto YouTube as an unlisted link. (TIPS)
  • Recording instructions and guidelines:
    • Have your pre-recorded accompaniment ready to go on a separate device from the one you are recording with.
    • Record on your phone or tablet in “portrait” mode so that your torso and head can clearly be seen as you are standing in the frame. Be sure that your phone or tablet is recording you at head-level, so that you are not looking down or up into the camera.
    • Try to have a neutral background, and good lighting facing you. Don’t record with a window or light behind you! You don’t want to film yourself in or as a shadow.
    • Slate as follows: “Hello! My name is ____<first and last name>____. Today I will be performing “Song Title” from “Musical Title” Do not mention the name of your school! Start the accompaniment track immediately after your finish your slate.
    • The performance recording must be presented in one continuous take with NO internal or post-production editing (this includes no adding of graphics such as candidate name or song selection).
  • Complete your Submission form by December 22, 2021, including your unlisted YouTube link. Use the link below to submit your work. Please remember that it must be submitted no later than 11:59pm on December 22, 2021!
  • 36 selected participants will be notified by December 29, 2021.


STEP TWO: The following information is for the 36 selected participants who will be notified by December 29, 2021

These participants must submit their material no later than 11:59 pm ET on January 7, 2022 to allow for necessary time for editing and respondent review.

Choosing Your Material

  • Your submission must include the following:
    1. One “full” song*, and
    2. One 16-32 bar audition cut.
  • The entire package may not exceed 3’30” (3 minutes and 30 seconds), from the first note played or sung. The pieces should be from a published piece written for the musical theatre stage, and contrasting in style (it is your choice which is the full song and which is the cut). 
  • Selections must be from selections written for the musical theatre stage; however, we encourage the creative re-imagining of classic repertoire. Questions regarding appropriateness of selections may be directed to the MT Chair or Vice-Chair.*Your “full” song may be cut to fit the allotted time

Submitting Your Vocal Material

  • For the 36 selected participants – the 2-song package will be due on January 7, 2022:
    • This includes the entire 3’30” package (with both the full song and the 16-32 bar cut)
    • Submit materials via the link that will be sent out via Slack.  
    • All submissions are due no later than 11:59pm on January 7, 2022. Please note that this is a hard deadline, so we recommend submitting early!
  • Each MTSA Singing video submission must adhere to the following guidelines:
    • One video that contains both songs will be uploaded onto YouTube. You will include this link on your Submission Form (the form will be sent to you via Slack).
    • Recording instructions and guidelines:
      • Have your pre-recorded accompaniments ready to go on a separate device from the one you are recording with.
      • Have BOTH of your pre-recorded accompaniments on one track, with a 5-7 second silence between the two so that you can record one song after the other in one take, without having to stop and find a new track.
      • Record on your phone or tablet in “portrait” mode so that your torso and head can clearly be seen as you are standing in the frame. Be sure that your phone or tablet is recording you at head-level, so that you are not looking down or up into the camera.
      • Try to have a neutral background, and good lighting facing you. Don’t record with a window or light behind you! You don’t want to film yourself in or as a shadow.
      • Slate as follows: “Hello! My name is ________ and I am candidate number ____. Today I will be performing “Song Title” from “Musical Title”, followed by “Song Title” from “Musical Title.” Do not mention the name of your school! Numbers will be sent via Slack.
      • Start the accompaniment track immediately after your finish your slate.
      • The performances/recordings must be presented in one continuous take with NO internal or post-production editing (this includes adding graphics of any kind, including candidate name, or the name of song selections).

Other things to note! 

We will be recording an opening number, and will be sending out the details after Jan 1, 2022. In the meantime, here are some more dates to be aware of:

  • Jan142022 – all vocal recordings of opening number are due
  • Jan. 18, 2022, 7-8pm – mandatory MTSA candidate meeting on Zoom. If you have a conflict with this meeting date, please contact Jessica or Liz as soon as possible
  • Jan 19, 2022 – all video recordings of opening number are due
  • During Festival Week:
    • All 36 candidates will participate in Masterclasses, with attendance mandatory on January 25 and 26 (times TBA, and conflicts will be worked around as best as we can!)
    • After the candidates participate in the Masterclasses, 12 finalists will be announced at or around 10pm on January 26.
    • These Finalists will then have 24-36 hours to resubmit all material, which will be streamed at the MTSA Showcase.

All guidelines above must be adhered to in order to participate in the program. We appreciate your cooperation!

If you have any questions please email Liz Gerbi at [email protected] or Jessica Corbin at [email protected].