Theatre Studies
The B.A. theatre studies program is a limited admissions program.  Students will come to the campus for an interview with the Theatre Arts faculty.  At the interview the student will need to provide a current resume, headshot, and three letters of reference that indicate the scope and degree of the applicant’s theatrical proficiency and attest to a strong academic record.  Students will also be asked to complete a comprehensive questionnaire relating their various skills in theatre.  The interview will focus on student commitment to the art of theatre as expressed through their interest in directing, performance, storytelling, stage management, dramaturgy, and/or playwriting.

Students interested in the Theatre Arts Program should contact Dr. Patricia Ridge, 815.753.8074.

Dance
Auditions are not required for initial acceptance to the B.F.A. dance emphasis, though a proficiency review is conducted before the completion of 18 semester hours within the proposed major. Majors are required to take between 10-17 technique classes per week .

Acting
If you are interested in the B.F.A acting emphasis, you must present two contrasting monologues that best represent your skill as an actor. Each monologue should be no longer than one and one half minutes in length. The pieces should be selected from different plays and each should be a speech by one character only, not several characters speaking to each other. If you wish to sing, you may present a song in addition to the monologues, but no more than one minute in length. For this song, you should bring a cassette tape accompaniment and your own tape player, or you may sing a capella.

Try to choose monologues that represent who you are and situations that you can relate to. Characters close to your age, without significant accents or dialects, and with actions that display your full range of talent are usually best. If you feel comfortable presenting material from Shakespeare or another classical playwright, you are welcome to do so. The second selection should be from a contemporary text.

Students interested in the B.F.A. Acting Program should contact Professor Deborah Robertson, 815.753.8287.

Design/Technology
If you are applying to the B.F.A. design and technology emphasis you should bring a portfolio for the faculty to review during your interview, but you do not need to have made a decision about which specific design or technology area is your primary interest. The portfolio might include such evidence of your theatre work as sketches, drawings, or drafting; photos of costumes, scenery or properties you have built or helped to prepare; publicity material; art projects or photography. Related information such as forms, schedules, or drawings made on a computer are also helpful. The faculty recognizes that many students have not been able to document extensively their experience and encourages students with strong interest in this area to come to the interview with the material they have available and discuss their background and goals with the faculty. Educational background, special skills, hobbies, employment history, and awards are also of interest. Passion, commitment, intelligence, and imagination can be as important as extensive experience.

Students interested in the B.F.A. Design/Technology Program should contact Professor Melanie Parks, 815.753.1339.

1. Apply as early as possible to Northern Illinois University. For an application call or write:

Office of Admissions
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL 60115
815-753-0446

or visit the following website to apply online:
www.admissions.niu.edu/

2.When you apply, select one of the following study options offered by the department:

(a) B.A. Theatre Studies ( training in directing, performance, storytelling, stage management, dramaturgy, and/or playwriting.)

(b) B.F.A. Acting Emphasis

(c) B.F.A. Dance Emphasis

(d) B.F.A. Design and Technology Emphasis

3. Contact the School of Theatre and Dance to make an appointment to attend an audition, interview and/or portfolio review. Please note that an appointment is not required for those applying to the BFA program in Dance. This website will provide further contact information for each program. For admission to the Dance Program, no appointment is necessary.

Auditons are also available on select dates which are listed below. There is a $40.00 audition fee payable in cash or check before or at the time of the audition except for those held on the NIU Campus or at the Illinois High School Theatre Association meeting. The dates for auditions/interviews for Fall 2007 admissions are:

On the NIU Campus
March 28, 2008 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
April 18, 2008 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
and By Appointment
NIU School of Theatre and Dance
The Stevens Building
Dekalb, IL:

On Campus Audition and Scholarship Interview Day.

March 21, 2008 (Please note that if a scholarship application is NOT being sumbitted, interviews and auditions can be scheduled at any of the other dates listed or by appointment.

Dance

An Appointment is Not Necessary.
10:00 am Orientation in Gabel Hall, Room 119
11:00 am Audition Class in Gabel Hall, Room 113
The audition consists of an intermediate Ballet class with Modern Dance combinations.
Proper Dance Attire is Required.

Information about the Dance interviews are available by contacting Projessor Judy Chitwood, 815-753-5503.

Theatre

Appointments are required for auditions or Portfolio Reviews. Please call 815-753-1334 to reserve a time.

Check in for for the scheduled BFA Acting or Design Technology emphases appointments will take place in Stevens Building room 226 beginning 9:00 am and continue until 5:00 pm.

OFF Campus Auditions for the B.F.A. Program in Theatre.

10-12 January 2008
ITA Auditions-Illinois High School Theatre Festival
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

2 February 2008
Unified Auditions- New York:
American Management Association
1601 Broadway
New York, NY

4-6 February 2008
Unified Auditions-Chicago:
Palmer House Hilton,
17 E Monroe
Chicago, IL

9 February 2008
Unified Auditions-Los Angeles
LAX Hilton
5711 W. Century Blvd
Los Angeles, CA

4. For applicants to BFA Performance or Design and Technology programs, the School will notify you of its decision after the faculty reviews your audition and/or interview and checks the status of your application to the University.

The dance program is an open admission program. No special audition is required for entrance into the program.

5. If you are accepted, contact the School of Theatre and Dance to reserve your place in
the entering class. If students accepted to the BFA Performance or Design and Technology majors do not contact the department by May 1, they will not be guaranteed a place.

The BFA program in Dance is an open enrollment program. Once accepted to the University, declare a Major in the BFA Dance program and meet with a Dance advisor.

For General information about the Undergraduate Degree Programs, Click Here.