Undergraduate Admissions – Performance
Our School of Theatre auditions between 1000 and 1300 applicants yearly. After reviewing each one, we invite 35-40 individuals to join our first year Performance Core.
Students applying to the undergraduate Performance Core (BFA Acting or BFA Theatre Arts – Performance) may be interested in submitting as an Early Decision applicant, a Regular Decision applicant, or a Transfer Student applicant, and this choice usually aligns with your BU Application. Please see your selection below for appropriate dates and details.
BFA Performance Core Application Instructions
Early Decision 1
Early Decision 1 applicants upload their materials to Acceptd here. They then participate in a live audition.
Application Deadline: November 1, 2022
Live Audition Dates: November 12 & 13, 2022
Please upload the following:
- Your Headshot
- Your Resume (information you feel comfortable sharing: experience in theatre, film, television, or related media; specific training in these fields; academic or performance achievements; community service or activism; work experience)
Optional Supplemental Materials:
- Recommendation Letter • Please upload directly, do not email.
- Excerpt of your choice; for example, an excerpt from a directing portfolio, a scene from a play you’ve written, or 16 bars of any song (voice or instrument).
- Writing Prompt • If you could invite an audience to watch your work, who would it be and why? Please write no more than 300-500 words.
Please prepare the following:
- Two 1-minute monologues for your Audition. Please choose material that is contrasting in some way. We encourage you to find material that resonates with your reason for being a storyteller.
- Please have watched the BU School of Theatre information video, and feel free to ask any questions you may have on the day of your audition.
For more information about the BFA Performance Core, please visit here or email dayna@bu.edu.
Early Decision 2
Early Decision 2 applicants upload their materials to Acceptd here. They then participate in a live audition.
Application Deadline: January 4, 2023
Live Audition Dates: January 7 & 8, 2023
Please upload the following:
- Your Headshot
- Your Resume (information you feel comfortable sharing: experience in theatre, film, television, or related media; specific training in these fields; academic or performance achievements; community service or activism; work experience)
Optional Supplemental Materials:
- Recommendation Letter • Please upload directly, do not email.
- Excerpt of your choice; for example, an excerpt from a directing portfolio, a scene from a play you’ve written, or 16 bars of any song (voice or instrument).
- Writing Prompt • If you could invite an audience to watch your work, who would it be and why? Please write no more than 300-500 words.
Please prepare the following:
- Two 1-minute monologues for your Audition. Please choose material that is contrasting in some way. We encourage you to find material that resonates with your reason for being a storyteller.
- Please have watched the BU School of Theatre information video, and feel free to ask any questions you may have on the day of your audition.
For more information about the BFA Performance Core, please visit here or email dayna@bu.edu.
Regular Decision
Regular Decision applicants upload pre-screen (or self-tape) materials to Acceptd here. Some applicants are then invited to participate in a live audition. If you are being requested to schedule a live audition, you will be notified on or before January 17, 2023. Please know, if you do not receive an invitation, we may simply not need to see additional material.
Application Deadline: January 4, 2023
Live Audition Dates • Invited Callbacks
- Boston – January 20 – January 22, 2023
- New York City – January 27 – January 29, 2023
- Chicago – February 6 – February 8, 2023
- Los Angeles – February 10 & February 11, 2023
Please upload the following:
- Your Headshot
- Your Resume • information you feel comfortable sharing: experience in theatre, film, television, or related media; specific training in these fields; academic or performance achievements; community service or activism; work experience
- Your Pre-Screen (or self-tape) materials:
- Your Slate should include your BU ID. Simply print that number on a single sheet of paper, and hold the paper up in front of you, so that it is visible to the camera. After three seconds, place the paper down and then introduce your NAME, the NAME OF YOUR PIECE, and the AUTHOR OF YOUR PIECE. Please do this at the top of each monologue.
- Two 1-minute monologues. Please choose material that is contrasting in some way. We encourage you to find material that resonates with your reason for being a storyteller.
- Plan to film one piece with framing from your mid-torso to the top of your head. This is called a ‘medium shot’. Please stand against a plain wall or background and use clear, directed lighting so that it illuminates your face and eyes. You may sit or stand, and place your scene partner just off to the side of the camera lens or above it.
- Plan to film another piece as ‘site specific’. You can be inside or outside of your home environment, and you should engage in an activity while performing your monologue. This location and activity do not need to be based in the given circumstances of the piece. This is your opportunity to have fun, take risks, and try something new. You may have someone else hold your camera and follow you around as you move. However, please film this in one continuous shot (no editing). You should use the camera lens as your imaginary scene partner and look directly into it. Please prioritize your version of expression. There is no wrong way to do this!
Optional Supplemental Materials:
- Recommendation Letter • Please upload directly, do not email.
- Excerpt of your choice; for example, an excerpt from a directing portfolio, a scene from a play you’ve written, or 16 bars of any song (voice or instrument).
- Writing Prompt • If you could invite an audience to watch your work, who would it be and why? Please write no more than 300-500 words.
For more information about the BFA Performance Core, please visit here or email dayna@bu.edu.
Transfer Students
Transfer Student applicants upload pre-screen (or self-tape) materials to Acceptd here. Some applicants are then invited to participate in a live audition. If you are being requested to schedule a live audition, you will be notified on or before March 20, 2023. Please know, if you do not receive an invitation, we may simply not need to see additional material.
Application Deadline: March 15, 2023
Live Audition Date • invited callbacks: Boston, March 25 & March 26, 2023
Please upload the following:
- Your Headshot
- Your Resume • information you feel comfortable sharing: experience in theatre, film, television, or related media; specific training in these fields; academic or performance achievements; community service or activism; work experience
- Your Pre-Screen • or self-tape materials:
- Your Slate should include your BU ID. Simply print that number on a single sheet of paper, and hold the paper up in front of you, so that it is visible to the camera. After three seconds, place the paper down and then introduce your NAME, the NAME OF YOUR PIECE, and the AUTHOR OF YOUR PIECE. Please do this at the top of each monologue.
- Two 1-minute monologues. Please choose material that is contrasting in some way. We encourage you to find material that resonates with your reason for being a storyteller.
- Plan to film one piece with framing from your mid-torso to the top of your head. This is called a ‘medium shot.’ Please stand against a plain wall or background and use clear, directed lighting so that it illuminates your face and eyes. You may sit or stand, and place your scene partner just off to the side of the camera lens or above it.
- Plan to film another piece as ‘site specific.’ You can be inside or outside of your home environment, and you should engage in an activity while performing your monologue. This location and activity do not need to be based in the given circumstances of the piece. This is your opportunity to have fun, take risks, and try something new. You may have someone else hold your camera and follow you around as you move. However, please film this in one continuous shot (no editing). You should use the camera lens as your imaginary scene partner and look directly into it. Please prioritize your version of expression. There is no wrong way to do this!
Optional Supplemental Materials:
- Recommendation Letter • Please upload directly, do not email.
- Excerpt of your choice; for example, an excerpt from a directing portfolio, a scene from a play you’ve written, or 16 bars of any song (voice or instrument).
- Writing Prompt • If you could invite an audience to watch your work, who would it be and why? Please write no more than 300-500 words.
Find more information about the BFA Performance Core or email dayna@bu.edu.