Bachelor’s in Musical Theatre | BFA Degree Program

Train Like a Professional in a Conservatory-Style Musical Theatre Program

Viterbo University’s BFA in Musical Theatre prepares students for the realities of a competitive, creative career. In our rigorous, performance-driven musical theatre degree program, you’ll work closely with experienced faculty, perform onstage early and often, and receive personalized training in acting, singing, and dance.

Offered through Viterbo’s Conservatory for the Performing Arts, the program is designed for students who want real-world, career-focused training in a supportive liberal arts environment. You’ll benefit from extensive stage time, small class sizes, and individualized coaching—all while gaining the skills, experience, and connections to land your first job on or behind the stage.

Viterbo offers one of the best environments for personalized musical theatre training, early performance opportunities, and one-on-one mentorship in a conservatory-style setting. As a musical theatre major, you’ll develop skills in:

Acting techniques, vocal performance, and movement for the stage
Ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and musical theatre dance
Vocal health, audition preparation, and repertoire techniques
Collaboration, leadership, and creative versatility

Musical Theatre Major (BFA)

Viterbo’s BFA in Musical Theatre is a conservatory-style program designed for students with the talent, commitment, and drive to pursue careers as professional musical theatre artists. The program combines intensive training in acting, singing, and dancing with a strong foundation in theatre studies and a liberal arts curriculum. With small class sizes, personalized mentorship, and frequent performance opportunities, students gain the skills and experience to succeed in the industry.

Theatre-Related Minors

Students interested in expanding their theatre training can choose from several minors complementing performance, production, and arts leadership. These minors allow you to specialize, explore creative interests, or build skills in additional areas of the industry:

Theatre: Develop foundational skills in acting, voice, stagecraft, and dramatic literature.
Dance: Train in ballet, jazz, tap, and musical theatre dance, with placement for all experience levels.
Arts Management: Learn the business, leadership, and organizational side of arts administration.
Playwriting: Strengthen your craft through dramatic storytelling, character development, and collaborative script workshops.
Stage Management: Gain hands-on experience managing productions, schedules, and crews.
Technical Theatre and Design: Explore the creative and technical aspects of set construction, sound, lighting, costumes, and makeup for live stage productions.

Musical Theatre Degree Highlights

Viterbo gives musical theatre students frequent opportunities to shine. From your first year, you’ll train with dedicated faculty, perform on professional-grade stages, and gain valuable experience both on campus and beyond. Our musical theatre major blends conservatory-style intensity with collaborative creativity, providing a strong foundation for a successful career in the theatre industry.

Highlights of our BFA in Musical Theatre program include:

Extensive performance opportunities: Step into the spotlight from your very first semester with opportunities to audition for roles in five professionally staged mainstage productions each year. Additional opportunities include student-directed shows, fully staged operas, and local community theatre productions.
London Theatre Experience: Every two years, musical theatre majors have the opportunity to study abroad in London, attending 12-15 professional performances, taking backstage tours, and participating in workshops with British theatre professionals.
Industry exposure and professional connections: Gain insight, feedback, and career-building connections through masterclasses and workshops with Broadway actors, choreographers, casting directors, and alumni.
Dedicated faculty and personalized training: With a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio, you’ll receive one-on-one voice lessons, dance instruction, and acting coaching from full-time faculty with extensive professional experience.
Exceptional facilities and performance spaces: Train and perform in three professional venues, including the 1,100-seat Main Stage and LaCroix Black Box Theatre at Viterbo’s Fine Arts Center and the Weber Center for the Performing Arts in downtown La Crosse.

What Can You Do with a Musical Theatre Degree?

Graduates of Viterbo University’s musical theatre BFA program are prepared for a wide range of exciting job opportunities, both on stage and behind the scenes. You’ll graduate with the artistic skill, professional experience, and industry connections to land meaningful roles and creative positions in a competitive field.

Over the last five years, 90-95% of our musical theatre graduates have found careers in the industry. Viterbo alumni are currently working on Broadway, national tours, cruise lines, regional theatres, and for major entertainment companies like Disney.

Possible Musical Theatre Career Paths

Arts administrator
Musical theatre performer
Stage or production manager
Theatre director or choreographer
Theatre educator
Theme park or cruise ship entertainer
Touring company performer
Voice or acting coach

Financial Aid for Musical Theatre Majors

Viterbo is committed to making a professional-quality musical theatre education affordable. In addition to general financial aid, incoming music theatre majors are eligible for scholarship opportunities, including:

Academic merit scholarships up to $20,000
Talent scholarships up to $4,000 for first-year students
Program-specific and named scholarships available

"The university as a whole and the city of La Crosse are huge supporters of the arts, which gives our program incredible opportunities to connect with the community, perform in professional settings, and grow as artists both on and off the stage. The program celebrates what makes each student unique, helping us develop into well-rounded artists."

—Connor Martin, BFA in Musical Theatre, Class of 2026

Examples of Musical Theatre Courses

Viterbo’s BFA in Musical Theatre blends conservatory-style training with liberal arts study, preparing students to succeed as confident, versatile performers. Courses are led by faculty with professional experience and focus on acting, voice, movement, musicianship, and industry readiness. Highlights include:

Musical Theatre Studio: Performance techniques for the singing-dancing actor, culminating in a cabaret performance
Applied Voice Lessons: Twice-weekly one-on-one instruction with voice faculty, plus private vocal coaching every two weeks
Dance Technique: Progressive training in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and musical theatre dance
Senior Showcase: Final-year capstone performance for industry professionals

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Related Programs at Viterbo University

Interested in performance, music, or arts education? Explore these related majors at Viterbo.