Musical Theater University of Cincinnati

Overview

With emphases on imagination, analysis and technical skill, the Musical Theater program offered by the University of Cincinnati provides the craft to master a popular art form and to capture in sound and movement those universal emotions that have made the musical America's most visible contribution to world theatre.

At CCM, we are in the business of turning out "triple threats" -- talented young people who can sing, dance and act with equal accomplishment. Our students contribute positively to the growth of the American musical theatre. We encourage them to explore techniques beyond the spoken word to project dramatic ideas. We make the non-literal an essential part of the creative and interpretive process.

Success

Training in musical theatre at CCM is rigorous. We are preparing young people for an inordinately difficult profession. It is not the school for everyone and not everyone is the kind of student for us. Our admission standards are highly competitive -- we accept about five percent of those who audition for us annually. We keep our classes small so that each student receives a great deal of individual attention from the faculty.

We keep our eye on the future. Our aim is twofold: to meet the needs of the professional student in preparing for a career in the performing arts and to engage that student in a meaningful educational experience. We see no inconsistency in our dual role as career builders and educators. For the performer of the future, the qualities of critical, analytical and independent thinking so essential in the study of the arts and sciences also serve as a valuable foundation for creative work. As the boundaries among the performing arts become less clearly defined, a broad-based education becomes an essential tool for the performer.

We nurture aesthetic values in our students by encouraging them to examine their own ideas about quality in the arts -- in other words, by engaging their critical faculties. We focus on individual ingenuity and examine the nature of artistic communication. We want our students to find their study of the performing arts an enriching experience, one that they can sustain after graduation.

Career

Our faculty is committed to helping dedicated students find employment in an overcrowded profession. Our graduates are working on Broadway and throughout the nation in such productions as Wicked, Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia, Shrek, Chicago, Billy Elliot, Sister Act and The Book of Mormon. Students represent us in national and international touring productions, in dinner theatres and theme parks, on cruise ships, on television, in talent agencies, as producers and in many of the related entertainment fields. (A far-reaching network of CCM professionals often helps our students make the difficult transition to a career in the arts.)

Our graduates generally relocate to a city rich in cultural opportunities -- New York, Chicago or Los Angeles. Some enter graduate programs or serve as apprentices in established producing organizations; others seek careers in related areas as musical directors, choreographers, casting directors or producers. The skills acquired in our classes provide an excellent background for whatever artistic endeavors our graduates wish to pursue.

Musical theatre demands a high level of commitment from the student. At CCM, training in musical theatre is not about being famous or becoming a star. It is about learning to work in ways that contribute positively to the art of the musical theatre and about the unique interaction among the many and varied aspects that make up the musical stage. It is about freeing our own creativity and building a lasting appreciation and love for the performing arts.