The undergraduate programs of the School of Theatre and Dance adhere to the UM Priorities for Action including student success; “mission first, people always;” and partnership with place.
Thank you for choosing the School of Theatre and Dance at the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥. We can't wait to meet you!
We do not require an audition for admission. Visit the Admissions website to learn more about applying to UM. Please declare a major in Theatre or Dance (or both!) in order to access advising and course registration required for the major. Prospective Theatre Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ may also select an interest area in Acting, Musical Theatre, or Design and Technology. Prospective Dance Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ may select a general dance degree or add an option in Pre-Dance Therapy.
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The application period for 2025-2026 awards is now closed. Please reach out to umtheatredance@umontana.edu if you have questions.
School of Theatre and Dance scholarship opportunities exist for all Ñý¼§Ö±²¥—new and returning, undergraduate and graduate. Awards are administered through the .
Returning Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ should check their UM email for messaging about applying for funding through the Portal. You are considered a returning student if you are enrolled as a major/minor/certificate seeker in Fall Term 2024 and/or Spring Term 2025.
Once you are accepted to UM as a new student, you can log into the Portal using your NetID and password for one centralized scholarship application. You will be matched to scholarship opportunities campus-wide and scholarships specifically in the School of Theatre and Dance. If you wish to be considered for funding as a new student (one who has not yet studied with us at all), please complete the following steps:
- Complete the scholarship application through the
- Upload letter of intent that outlines your goals and aspirations
- Upload your performance or production resume: where you’ve studied, what training you’ve acquired (styles), and a list of roles/production assignments
- Upload an unofficial transcript from your current high school or college/university
- Submit an email address for an current or past instructor or collaborator: the system will ask them to provide a letter of recommendation
- Upload a link to or attachment to an audition or portfolio that demonstrate your current abilities (see "Auditions and Portfolios" below)
If you intend to major in more than one area, please complete letters that are specific to each area and upload them as a single multi-page document (you’ll still only need one transcript). Also upload all the additional resumes/information for each pertinent area as outlined above.
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First-year and transfer Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ are all admitted to the BA programs in Theatre or Dance. Theatre applicants may also choose a concentration in Acting, Musical Theatre, or Design/Technology. Dance applicants may also choose a concentration in Pre-Dance Therapy. Auditions and portfolio reviews for these specializations take place at the end of the first year of coursework.
All interested Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ are encouraged to submit an audition or portfolio for review by the faculty. Transfer Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ should indicate they are interested advanced placement in technique and studio courses. Musical Theatre Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ will be considered for placement in private voice lessons.
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Auditions and Portfolios for consideration in Scholarship Awards and advanced placement should contain one or more of the following:
- DANCE - a video of your dancing (in class or performance)
- ACTING - a single 60-second monologue: the character must be close to your actual age and the monologue must be from a non-musical play written in the last 10 years
- MUSICAL THEATRE - a monologue as outlined above for ACTING, as well as 32 bars of a song, in the musical-theatre genre of your choice, with accompaniment (a dance audition is also strongly encouraged)
- DESIGN and TECHNOLOGY - 3-5 pictures of your theatre or related work with an explanation of what you did. Pictures could be production photos, showing something you built or designed; they could be of an art project/cosplay costume or prop/carpentry project/drafting/sculpture or anything that will show us how you work with your hands; a full design/technology portfolio or personal website is also acceptable.
Large files can be sent as links to shared folders or streaming content. If you intend to major in more than one area, please submit materials specific to each area. You may also upload additional resumes/information for each pertinent area as outlined above.
Please label your files using the following following naming convention: Lastname_Major_SubmissionType
