At Sam Houston State University, we pride ourselves on training triple threat performers. We place equal importance in our students' ability to dance, sing and act. We recognize the importance the industry places on dance and acting, therefore have built strong dance and acting components into the degree plan for musical theatre majors. We emphasize ballet and offer courses in jazz, modern and tap. Additionally, our music and theatre courses are designed to meet the specific needs of musical theatre performers in the industry.
Currently, there are sixty musical theatre majors in the program. We schedule two musicals each season, one to be performed during the Fall semester and one to be done in the Spring. Our most recent productions include South Pacific, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sweet Charity, Ragtime,Smokey Joe's Café, 42nd Street, The Full Monty, and The Screat Garden. We will often have additional musical productions scheduled as part of our summer season or as an independent student production as was the case with Songs for a New World, New Brain, Godspell and The Last Five Years and most recently a collaboration with Theatre Under the Stars premiering Like You Like It, a 1980's style rock musical based on Shakespeare's As You Like It.
We have, for many years, enjoyed a strong relationship with Broadway Theatre Project. SHSU students are given the opportunity to audition for placement in the Broadway Theatre Project summer training program in a private BTP audition. Many of our students have been invited to attend and receive training from professionals working in the industry. We have also had the great fortune of having New York vocal coach Robert Marks, Theatre Under the Stars Associate Artistic Director Roy Hamlin, former Artistic Director of Stages Repertory Theatre Rob Bundy, and Associate Producer, Ford's Theatre Washington D.C. Mark Ramont conduct master classes for our students. Renowned British actor Michael York worked with many of our musical theatre majors during his three day lecture series here in the fall of 2006. Additionally, Dave Clemmons of Dave Clemmons Casting conducts audition workshops and auditions SHSU musical theatre majors in conjunction with BTP.
We have a dynamic and versatile faculty. Our students participate in acting, directing, design, speech and auditioning classes with theatre majors receiving the same education as a straight theatre major alongside the specialized musical theatre classes such as History of the American Musical, Musical Theatre Workshop, Voice, and Musicianship.
Thanks to our ongoing fundraising efforts and generous donations to the department, we are able to offer a significant amount of scholarships each semester for new and returning students. Departmental scholarships are awarded through application. Recipients are determined by department faculty and staff based on abilities, scholarship, citizenship, grades, potential and need.
Musical Theatre Workshop
Each musical theatre major at Sam Houston participates in Musical Theatre Workshop every semester. This course is designed to be a business practicum. The topics covered are meant to inform students of the business aspects of being a professional performer, develop the necessary materials used in the business and solidify the skills required for a successful career in the performing arts.
Freshman and sophomores cover the nuts and bolts and the business such as resumes, head shots, auditions, dance combinations, monologues, etc. while Juniors and Seniors spend time exploring new repertoire, designing business materials, researching roles, conducting mock interviews and polishing their audition materials.
Internships /Apprenticeships
We have relationships with many of the Houston area theatres and our students have the opportunity to enjoy working in Houston theatre while attending school. Currently, we have an apprenticeship with Theatre Under the Stars and an internship with Stages Repertory Theatre. Our students are able to audition for and secure these positions adding valuable credits to their resumes and experiencing hands on training in the business.
Voice Study
Each musical theatre major is enrolled in private voice study. Students are given a private lesson every week by one of our outstanding voice faculty. Our teachers specialize in the training of Contemporary Commercial Music styles. Our goal is to equip our students with a palate of vocal choices appropriate for the various styles of singing found on Broadway today. We want our students to be marketable in today's industry and therefore recognize the need for belt training.
The members of our voice faculty are educated in classical methods of singing and are able to offer sound vocal technique in all singing styles. We strive to help our students compile audition repertoire that will bring them success. In addition to private study, students have the opportunity to perform in front of their peers weekly in their own respective studio classes, in audition class and in Musical Theatre Workshop. These opportunities not only allow our students a chance to sing for each other and the faculty, but very often afford them the opportunity to sing for guest lecturers, casting directors, artistic directors and vocal coaches.
For further information contact Dr. Laura Avery 936.294.3404