Arcadia University Theater Arts program

Welcome to the Theater Arts program at Arcadia University! 

We want to prepare you for a life in the arts… and for life. Our training program goes beyond a traditional conservatory-style approach—immersing you in all aspects of theatrical creation. Our program will challenge you to develop your talents, to cultivate your knowledge, and to think globally in a wider world of cultures and ideas.

At Arcadia we offer three degree programs:

BFA in Acting
BFA in Acting (Concentration in Musical Theater)
BA in Theater Arts (no audition required)

Intensive, Rigorous, Rewarding

Arcadia University Theater provides the campus community with a season of professional quality productions that showcase the talents, passions, and dedication of our student artists. Our productions are directed, designed, and choreographed by active professional artists from Philadelphia’s vibrant theater community.

The University’s intimate size provides close interaction with faculty in a liberal arts setting. Proximity to Philadelphia’s dynamic theatre community connects students with industry professionals who are regularly on campus as instructors and guest artists.

Arcadia Theater Productions provide opportunities to bring all of those skills to the stage. Our productions are directed by prestigious visiting artists and resident faculty, all of whom are active in Philadelphia’s vibrant theater community.

Students in the program can also gain performance experience through several student-run performance groups active on campus, including:

• Improv Club: stages an evening of improv comedy each semester.
• Cabaret Club: presents a musical theater variety performance each semester.

Audition Information
Our program conducts in-person auditions both on campus and around the country at the various events and locations listed below. We also accept digital audition materials online through acceptd. These will be viewed and considered in lieu of an in-person audition. 

In-Person Audition Dates on our campus:

• Saturday, October 19th, 2024: Undergraduate Open House - click here for information and to register.
• Saturday, November 16th, 2024: Undergraduate Open House - click here for information and to register.
• Saturday, December 7th, 2024 : Undergraduate Major Exploration Day - click here for information and to register.
• SPRING DATES: TBA

If those dates are not workable but you wish to audition on campus in person at another time, please email program co-Director Jonathan Shandell (shandelj@arcadia.edu) to arrange another date and time for a campus visit and audition.


Off-Campus In Person Audition Events (subject to change):

• October 23-27, 2024 (Virginia Theatre Conference - Richmond, VA)
• November 7-9, 2024 (Florida Theater Conference - Winter Park, FL) 
• November 15-16, 2024 (Mid-Atlantic Region College Auditions - MARCAs - Rowan University)
• January 2-3, 2025 (PA Thespians - West Chester University)
• January 9-11, 2025 (Virginia Theatre Festival, Mclean, VA)
• February 3-6th, 2025 (Chicago Unified Auditions - Palmer House, Chicago, IL) 

Digital Submission Deadlines

Because of our rolling acceptance approach to admission into the BFA programs, students will learn the results of their audition within approximately 4 weeks after submitting their completed application to the University.

• Final Deadline for all submissions is TBD, 2025.

After our faculty have reviewed your materials one of the following will occur:  

• You will receive an email notification with the results of your audition.
  
  OR

• You will be invited to do a call-back interview. We would like to get to know you and let you ask us questions. We may ask for additional material or to make adjustments to your original selections.

Questions? Please email program co-Director Jonathan Shandell (shandelj@arcadia.edu).