Drama Foundation – Musical Theatre
A three-term Musical Theatre training program, designed for students determined to succeed in the performing arts.
Success in the competitive world of Musical Theatre requires focus and determination, as well as refined work across several disciplines. The Foundation program at CSVPA offers students the wonderful opportunity to specialise before starting university; to begin the process of undergraduate skill development while preparing their drama school and university auditions.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The Musical Theatre program at CSVPA provides students with the opportunity to grow and thrive within a genre that was crafted and shaped in the hands of some of the most creative minds and gifted performers the stage has ever known. Musical Theatre is the opportunity to find a connection between words, music and movement; to discover all the ways a story can be told and combine them into one performance. The process of discovery for a Musical Theatre performer is that of understanding that song, voice, body and mind all contribute to the communication of one character within one context. The opportunity to transport an audience into a different world for the brief time a story is told.
At CSVPA, we offer our Musical Theatre students classes in Dance, Singing, and Acting, while encouraging them to understand that dramatic context within any monologue, song, or dance will be the most important element. Technique within all three disciplines is addressed across group classes and one-to-one tutorials. It is a challenging program that expects students to demand the absolute best of themselves.
This programme offers weekly dance classes in the following styles:
- Jazz
- Ballet
- Commercial Dance
- Contemporary Dance
- A programme is modelled on Conservatoire-style training
- You will enjoy up to 25 hours a week contact time with teaching staff.
- Every week you will receive one-to-one sessions with acting and singing tutors, to develop your knowledge of repertoire, style, and audition pieces.
- Weekly group classes will further challenge you in subjects like Acting, Movement, Dance, Physical Theatre, Text, Voice, and Scene Study.
- Class groups are small, allowing for intensive work that can be adapted to meet your needs and allow for personalised feedback and guidance.
- Our teaching staff are highly trained with experience in professional theatre.
- The teaching team is dedicated to helping you discover your full creative potential as unique performers.
- We are a community of developing artists who support each other, encouraging all to take risks, push boundaries, and grow as performers.
- Performing Arts programs offer opportunities for performance throughout the academic year.
THE AWARD
At the end of the year upon successful completion, you will be awarded the UAL Level 4 Professional Diploma in Performance.
“Whilst studying at CSVPA, what inspired me the most was how hard people really worked. That definitely helped me when I moved onto the professional field in Los Angeles.”
Tiana – Musical Theatre student
VIDEO
HIGHLIGHTS
OVERVIEW
Course Location
Cambridge
Course Length
1 year (3 terms)
Course Start
September
Tutor Support
Up to 25 hours per week
Studio Access
Students have access to our studios 7 days a week, from 8:00 am to 8.00 pm, Monday to Friday and from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm at weekends.
Awarding Body
University of the Arts London Awarding Body
How your Work is Assessed
Performed and written assignments and projects following the specification set by UAL, the awarding body
English Language
Up to 5 hours per week if required
Progression
Drama School, Conservatoire or University
ENTRY
Age
17 years +
Educational Level
Completion of High School is needed or a minimum of 1 x Level 3 qualification, preferably in a relevant creative subject (i.e. A level) and 3 x GCSEs at grade 4 or grade C, including Maths and English and at least one of which should be in a creative arts subject.
Students who do not meet these entry requirements will still be considered on their own individual potential to succeed. Please refer to the Audition Process tab for more information.
English Level for International Students
IELTS 5.5+ (no element under 4.0)
Audition
An audition piece is required for entry to this course. Please refer to” What We Look for in an Audition” for more information.
STRUCTURE
SUBJECTS
ACTING
In these classes be prepared to challenge your thinking, what does it mean to act, and what is the role of the actor? There will be a mix of acting theory, drawing on several critical perspectives, and practical work involving movement, voice and all the tools of self-expression. We will workshop a variety of material with tutors, peers, and guest lecturers all in support of your application process for university or drama school.
VOICE
A stalwart of all actors training is working with speech. Develop a healthy and robust speaking voice that can tackle the most challenging of situations with precision and clarity.
TEXT
Establish a process for working with words as a starting point. The practice of finding the drama and making sense of any text. Particular attention will be paid to Shakespeare along with prose and a healthy dose of sight reading!
MOVEMENT
Discover your body’s expressive potential and have at your disposal the techniques which will allow you to achieve the physical and imaginative transformations required as an actor. The classes explore key movement influences, including Laban, Lecoq and Anne Bogart’s Viewpoints training. The focus of the classes is to embody movement with imagination at its heart, working on body awareness, improvisation and developing original performance and choreography that allows you to clearly express ideas, emotions and enrich storytelling.
BALLET
The ballet course provides students with strong technique and understanding of the basic requirements for ballet. Through a structured programme of floor work, barre and centre practice the students learn how to maintain correct posture and how to correctly use their turnout, while also developing a knowledge of the French vocabulary and common dance patterns. By the end of the year they will be confident in dancing short sequences and responding to a variety of music, leaving them well prepared for college auditions.
COMMERCIAL DANCE
In Commercial Dance classes, we aim to introduce everyone to the foundational steps of a multitude of styles. We do this to expand student knowledge within the style of Street dance. We will also look at freestyle and choreography in class as these skills are essential within the professional dance industry.
JAZZ DANCE
Jazz is one of the main building blocks of Musical Theatre choreography. Students will work on developing the foundations of Jazz technique through a variety of exercises focused on improving strength, flexibility, and performance skills. Students will be challenged by working on a range of jazz styles and contrasting routines in preparation for their dance auditions.
GROUP SINGING
Improve your overall singing technique while learning key skills for working within an ensemble, such as listening, tuning, timing, and holding a harmony. Surround yourself with the powerful sounds of an ensemble in song!
PLAY
Join all Drama and Dance courses in a practical session exploring improvisation through play and games.
HISTORY OF MUSICAL THEATRE
Examine the development of musical theatre across the 20th century to the present day, from Gilbert and Sullivan through to Broadway’s newest composers. The story of Musical Theatre is one of growth and connection; adding music and dance to a beautifully crafted story to embed it into the hearts of audiences. Of pushing boundaries and challenging people to connect with a heightened version of life’s ups and downs.
1:1 TUITION
Weekly 1:1 sessions in acting and singing will give each student the opportunity to explore new repertoire and develop audition material.
AUDITIONS
HOW TO APPLY
Students can attend an audition in person by contacting the college to arrange an appropriate date. If an in-person audition is not possible, please submit a video audition in which the full length of your body is visible.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Students should deliver:
- 1 x monologue (classical or contemporary), lasting two minutes, delivered in English and from memory. Examples of appropriate playwrights include William Shakespeare, John Webster, Lope de Vega, Anton Chekhov, Tennessee Williams, Caryl Churchill, David Hare, David Mamet, Martin Crimp, Sue Arnold, Clare Mcintyre.
- 2 x songs taken from the musical theatre repertoire (one traditional and one contemporary). Examples of traditional composers include George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Leonard Bernstein. Examples of contemporary composers include Stephen Schwartz, Jason Robert Brown, Tom Kitt, Stephen Sondheim, Lin Manuel Miranda.
Candidates should deliver monologues appropriate to their age and should deliver them in their own accent. Candidate should be sure to wear loose and comfortable clothing. If you attend an audition at CSVPA, an accompanist will be provided for your audition. Please bring sheet music for your songs in the keys in which you perform them.
AUDITION GUIDE
What We Look for in an Audition guide, to prepare fully for your audition at CSVPA.
RELATED COURSES
TALK TO US
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