Musical Theatre
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!
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
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
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
Past Productions
Every year the Musical Theatre department mounts a mainstage, Broadway style musical. These are large-scale productions with dozens of artists and crew. You will get the chance to work with professional directors, choreographers, musical directors, musicians, designers, and more.
Venues
Bandeen Hall
A concert venue with exceptional acoustics. Home to many of the Music Department’s concerts.
Turner Studio
A black box space suitable for customized performances. Home to many of the Drama Department productions.
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!
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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
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!