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Audition Requirements

Audition Requirements

Two-Year Acting Conservatory

Professional certificate program for acting for stage, film and television

Two two-minute contrasting monologues (contemporary or classical). The audition performance should not exceed four minutes in total. Monologues should be from published plays. Original materials should not be used. The use of props during your audition is not permitted.

Acting Tips Monologue Tips

Two-Year Music Theatre Conservatory

Professional certificate program for training in acting, singing and dance

One two-minute monologue (contemporary or classical), and either two minutes or 32 bars of a song from the musical theatre or classical repertoire. You are required to bring sheet music in your key to your audition in a binder. Your sheet music should be double sided.

AMDA will provide a professional accompanist for you. Tapes may not be used as accompaniment. Your performance should not exceed four minutes in total. Monologues should be from published plays. Original materials should not be used. The use of props during your audition is not permitted.

Music Theatre Tips

Two-Year Dance Theatre Conservatory

Professional certificate program for training in classical ballet, modern dance and the Broadway repertoire

Applicants will be asked to present a primary solo dance piece (60-90 seconds in length). The primary solo piece should be in one of the following styles: Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and/or Contemporary.

Applicants who wish to show an intermediate or advanced level of proficiency in Hip-hop, Tap, Ballroom or cultural dance styles may prepare a secondary solo.

Applicants may also be asked to demonstrate ballet vocabulary as part of the audition. To be fully prepared, please bring all appropriate dance shoes and attire. Applicants must provide music on an MP3 player (phones may be used, but must be placed in “do not disturb" or “airplane” mode). Speakers will be provided by AMDA.

Note: AMDA’s Dance Theatre Conservatory program is an interdisciplinary program. Dance Theatre applicants are encouraged to prepare a song or monologue in addition to their dance pieces. This will also allow dance theatre applicants to be considered for admission to other AMDA programs. We ask all Dance Theatre applicants to prepare one of the following:

1) one 60-90 second monologue (contemporary or classical). Monologues should be sourced from published plays.

OR

2) 32 bars of a song from the musical theatre or classical repertoire. Please bring sheet music in your key to your audition. AMDA will provide a professional accompanist for you.

Dance Tips

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Acting

Undergraduate degree in acting for stage, film and television

Two two-minute contrasting monologues (contemporary or classical). The audition performance should not exceed four minutes in total. Monologues should be from published plays. Original materials should not be used. The use of props during your audition is not permitted.

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Music Theatre

Undergraduate degree for training in acting, singing and dance

One two-minute monologue (contemporary or classical), and either two minutes or 32 bars of a song from the musical theatre or classical repertoire. You are required to bring sheet music in your key to your audition in a binder. Your sheet music should be double sided. AMDA will provide a professional accompanist for you. Tapes may not be used as accompaniment. Your performance should not exceed four minutes in total. Monologues should be from published plays. Original materials should not be used. The use of props during your audition is not permitted.

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance Theatre

Undergraduate degree for training in classical ballet, modern dance and the Broadway repertoire

Applicants will be asked to present a primary solo dance piece (60-90 seconds in length). The primary solo piece should be in one of the following styles: Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and/or Contemporary.

Applicants who wish to show an intermediate or advanced level of proficiency in Hip-hop, Tap, Ballroom or cultural dance styles may prepare a secondary solo.

Applicants may also be asked to demonstrate ballet vocabulary or perform a piece of choreography as part of the audition. To be fully prepared, please bring all appropriate dance shoes and attire. Applicants must provide music on an MP3 player (phones may be used, but must be placed in “do not disturb" or “airplane” mode). Speakers will be provided by AMDA.

Note: AMDA’s Dance Theatre BFA program is an interdisciplinary program. AMDA's Dance Theatre BFA program is an interdisciplinary program. Dance Theatre applicants are encouraged to prepare a song or monologue in addition to their dance pieces. This will also allow dance theatre applicants to be considered for admission to other AMDA programs. We ask all Dance Theatre applicants to prepare one of the following:

1) one 60-90 second monologue (contemporary or classical). Monologues should be sourced from published plays.

OR

2) 32 bars of a song from the musical theatre or classical repertoire. Please bring sheet music in your key to your audition. AMDA will provide a professional accompanist for you.

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Performing Arts

Undergraduate degree for training across all performing arts disciplines, allowing the student increased flexibility in coursework choices. Students must select a preferred focus of study within the Performing Arts program (Acting, Music Theatre or Dance Theatre).

Acting: Follow the requirements above for Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Acting

Music Theatre: Follow the requirements above for Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Music Theatre

Dance Theatre: Follow the requirements above for Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance Theatre

We strongly encourage all students residing in the 48 contiguous United States to audition in person, as it's the best way for adjudicators and admissions advisors to get to know prospective students. Due to travel and financial constraints, AMDA recognizes that some students will not be able to audition in person. For international and U.S. students who are unable to find a suitable audition location, we welcome a VIDEO SUBMISSION.

Please use the highest quality recording equipment available to you. For best results, place your recording device on a stationary object, such as a tripod or table. Do not tape a close-up; have your entire body (from head to toe) in the frame. Prior to recording, test that you are in focus and well lit, and that your video is free from distracting background noise.

Note: Video submissions are reviewed for BOTH admission and scholarship consideration.

What to include:

  • Start your recording device and state:
    • The date you are recording your audition
    • Your full name
    • The city and country where you live
    • The program for which you are applying (Acting, Dance Theatre, Music Theatre or Performing Arts)
    • The titles of the pieces you will perform

  • Performance requirements
    • BFA Acting and Studio Program (NY & LA):

      Prepare two (2) two-minute contrasting monologues (contemporary or classical).

      You are allowed a maximum audition time of four minutes. Monologues must come from published plays. Students may not use original (self-written) monologues or props.

    • BFA Dance Theatre and Dance Theatre Conservatory Program (NY & LA):

      Prepare two contrasting pieces of solo dance, each no longer than 90 seconds. Ground your first solo piece in classical ballet, jazz or modern technique—demonstrating basic turns, jumps and technical dance vocabulary. Your second solo is "free choice" and may include specialty styles (e.g., hip-hop, ballroom, tap, cultural) or any contrasting dance movement.

      Option: We encourage all Dance Theatre applicants to prepare a song or monologue selection in addition to the required 60-90 second dance solo.

      • One 60-90 second monologue (contemporary or classical). Monologues must come from published plays.
        • OR
      • Thirty-two bars of a song from the musical theatre or classical repertoire.
    • BFA Music Theatre and Integrated Program (NY & LA):

      One (1) two-minute monologue (contemporary or classical), and either two minutes or 32 bars of a song from the musical theatre or classical repertoire.

      Do not sing a cappella. Please use a live or taped accompaniment. You are allowed a maximum audition time of four minutes. Monologues must come from published plays. Students may not use original (self-written) monologues or props.

    • BFA Performing Arts (LA):

      Depending on your preferred focus of study (acting, dance or music theatre), follow the corresponding directions above.


  • When you are finished with your audition performance, please announce that you have reached the end of the submission, restate your name, and stop your recording device.

  • When your video audition is complete, upload it to an UNLISTED YouTube link (click here for instructions) and email this link directly to auditionvideo@amda.edu with "AMDA Admissions Video: Your Name, Campus and Program" in the subject line. For example: "AMDA Audition Video: Sally Smith, Los Angeles, Dance Theatre."

How to upload your audition video to an UNLISTED* YouTube link:

If you do not already have a YouTube account:

  1. Go to youtube.com.
  2. Click Sign In on the top right > Add account > Create an account.
  3. Fill in all the information.
  4. Click Next Step.
  5. Verify your email address by checking the email account that you entered and following the instructions.
  6. If you do not receive a confirmation email within a few minutes, check your bulk or spam folders.
  7. On the "How you'll appear" screen loaded from your verification email, click Next step.
  8. Click Back to YouTube.

Once you have your account:

  1. Click on the grey Upload button located on the top of your screen.
  2. Click OK to upload with your account or the account you just set up.
  3. If you recorded the video from an external source and have the video file, you can click "Select files to upload" in the center of the screen or simply drag your video file into the box.
  4. If you have a built-in camera, click Webcam capture on the right of your screen to begin recording.
  5. In either case (Webcam or uploaded file), make SURE you select "Unlisted" from the privacy settings drop-down menu.
  6. Change the Title of the video to "AMDA Audition Video: Your Name, Campus and Program" in the subject line. For example: "AMDA Audition Video: Sally Smith, Los Angeles, Dance Theatre."
  7. Click Save Changes.
  8. Click the left pointing arrow near the top of the screen - "Back to Video Manager."
  9. Click Edit next to your audition video and select Info and Settings from the drop-down menu.
  10. Select and copy the "Video URL" toward the right of the screen.
  11. Double-check that the Privacy settings reads "Unlisted".
  12. Paste the entire Video URL link into the body of an email addressed to auditionvideo@amda.edu. Please include AMDA Audition Video: Your Name, Campus and Program" in the subject line. For example: "AMDA Audition Video: Sally Smith, Los Angeles, Dance Theatre."
  13. Please test the link before you send it. You can log out of YouTube and send the link to a second email address you may have or to a family member.

If you have problems uploading your Unlisted video to YouTube, please contact YouTube for help, or contact AMDA's Office of Admissions at auditionvideo@amda.edu.

* Unlisted videos

"Making a video unlisted means that only people who have the link to the video can view it. To share an unlisted video, just share the link with the people who you'd like to have access to it, and they'll then be able to see it. Unlike private videos, the people you share the video with do not need to have a Google account to see the video, and they can share with more people simply by forwarding the link to them.

Unlisted videos won't appear in any of YouTube's public spaces, like your channel page or search results" (https://support.google.com).