Musical Theatre

Be Musical. Be Purple. BU.

Bishop’s University is proud to offer the only English language Musical Theatre concentration in the province of Quebec. Our students typically major in Drama and/or Music while pursuing this concentration, which allows them to explore musical theatre in depth on professional stages. If you are ready to explore your passion in a safe, supportive, bilingual and diverse environment, Bishop’s is the place for you.

Musical Theatre Mainstage 2023/24

Spring Awakening

Spring Awakening

March 14-17, 2024
Centennial Theatre
Directed by Art Babayants

Book and lyrics by Steven Sater
Music by Duncan Sheik
Based on a play by Frank Wedekind

Courses & Programs

Concentration in Musical Theatre

At Bishop’s we offer a Musical Theatre training unlike any other in the country. We produce a new musical every year and play to full houses in our Centennial Theatre or Turner Studio.

Whether you are majoring in Music, Drama, Psychology, Business, Education, or other, if you have what it takes to bring characters to life through song, we want you!

Musical Theatre Courses

Courses

MTH 100 – Intro. to Dance & Movement I : 3 credits

Plus 2 of:

MTH 200 – Dance II: Ballet : 3 credits
MTH 201 – Dance III: Tap : 3 credits
MTH 202 – Dance IV: Contemporary : 3 credits
MTH 203 – Dance V: Jazz : 3 credits

Other required courses:

MTH 110 – Intro. to Acting with Song I : 3 credits
MTH 210 – Acting with Song II: Operetta : 3 credits
MTH 211 – Acting with Song III: The Golden Age : 3 credits
MTH 212 – Acting with Song IV: Modern : 3 credits
MTH 151 – Hist. of Musical Theatre to 1975 : 3 credits
MTH 152 – Hist. of Musical Theatre 1975 – Present : 3 credits
MTH 300 – Musical Production I : 3 credits OR
MTH 301 – Musical Production II : 3 credits

Total: 30 credits

Drama and Music Students

In an effort to balance the skill sets between Music and Drama, Drama Majors in the concentration must complete the following Music courses:

MUS 172/173/270 – Voice Lessons : 2+2+1 = 5 credits
MUS 181/281 – Choral Ensemble (2nd term pop show only) : 1+1 = 2 credits
MUS 120 – Musicianship I : 2 credits
MUS 130 – Rudiments of Music Theory : 3 credits

Total: 12 credits

Similarly, Music Majors in the concentration must complete the following Drama courses:

DRA 102 or DRA 110 – Int. Theatre I & II : 3 credits
DRA 131 – Acting I : 3 credits
DRA 132 – Acting II : 3 credits
DRA 101 – Int. To Tech. Theatre : 3 credits

Total: 12 credits

Mainstage Musical Production

Every year the Musical Theatre department mounts a mainstage, Broadway style musical. Auditions are open to all students at Bishop’s University, regardless of your area of study. If you have limited experience, we encourage you to:

  • Take some foundational acting classes
  • Audition for MTH300 or 301 Musical Theatre Production
  • Rehearse for 5-7 weeks
  • Show Run
  • Enjoy the fame that comes with being in a musical
  • Get up to 6 credits for the participation in a musical

Venues

Bandeen Hall
Exceptional acoustics

Bandeen Hall

A concert venue with exceptional acoustics. Home to many of the Music Department’s concerts.

Turner Studio
A blank canvas

Turner Studio

A black box space suitable for customized performances. Home to many of the Drama Department productions.

Centennial Theatre
All the World’s a Stage

Centennial Theatre

A 550 seat Broadway style amphitheatre with a fly tower and orchestra pit. Home to many of the musical theatre’s performances.

About your professors

In the Musical Theatre concentration, you will work with
seasoned professionals across many fields, including
acting with song, acting, voice, dance, movement, music theory, and more! 

The Musical Theatre concentration is led by Art Babayants. Dr. Babayants/Արտ Բաբայանց is a multilingual artist-scholar who lives and works in what is now called Canada. His directing credits include musicals, contemporary Canadian drama, opera, and collectively devised performances. He holds a PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of Toronto and publishes on the issues of stage multilingualism, diasporic/immigrant theatre, queer dramaturgy, applied theatre and contemporary musical theatre.

Fannie Gaudette holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours, Music) from Bishop’s University and a Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance from Université Laval. Her teachers have included Mark Widner, Richard Raymond and Arturo Nieto-Dorantes. Accompanist for the Bishop’s University Singers since 1999, she also works as co-musical director for many Bishop’s musical productions, serves as staff accompanist for the music department and teaches classes in Musical Skills and Music History. Her album, L’invention humaine, was released in February of 2022.

Wade Lynch

Wade Lynch teaches and directs in the drama, musical theatre, and arts administrations program. He has a 40+ year history as a performer, writer, and director in Canadian theatre, as well as experience in broadcasting and teaching. In addition to his many directing projects in commercial theatre, Wade has directed several plays at Bishop’s, is the co-host of the popular arts and culture program, TEATIME AT UPLANDS on MA-TV and manages the Bishop’s University Lifelong Learning Academy (BULLA). 

Music & Drama

If you are thinking of majoring in either Music and/or Drama
while pursuing the Musical Theatre Concentration, read
more on these dynamic programs!

Music and choir show

Music Department

The Music Department is constantly redesigning and expanding its programs, allowing students to help realize their full potential as musicians or perhaps discover music’s power for the first time in an ever-changing, ever-shrinking artistic world.

Students acting on stage

Drama Department

The department of Drama offers a program balanced between practical theatre and academic study of dramatic literature and theatre history. Our aim is to permit undergraduates to explore the subject as a liberal arts discipline and prepare them for graduate, professional, and conservatory schools.

Where can this lead you?

Career Possibilities

Our research coupled with alumni feedback suggests that this concentration will give an edge to graduates in the areas of:

  • employment in the field of professional Musical Theatre;
  • employment in an arts administration organization;
  • employment as an educator in primary or secondary institutions;
  • continued studies in a MA, MFA and Music Therapy programs.
Scholarships, Awards, and Bursaries at Bishop's
Money matters

Scholarships, Awards and Bursaries

Through the help of government, alumni, current students, faculty and staff, the Bishop’s Foundation, corporations and private donors, over 53% of our students receive financial assistance through scholarships, awards, grants, bursaries and loans. You may be eligible!

Questions?

Want to know more about studying Musical Theatre?

Contact the Program Director