College | Theater | New World School of the Arts (NWSA)

College Program

Curriculum

The BFA theatre performance curriculum, with its emphases in acting and musical theatre, is designed to enable students to meet the demands and rigors of professional theatre.

The Acting emphasis focuses on the fundamentals of physical and emotional preparation and on the achievement of truthfulness and expressive power in performance. Additionally, students develop a broader range of skills and knowledge through training in multiple methodologies, including Stanislavski-based acting techniques, improvisation, neutral mask work, movement, voice and speech, period styles, and Shakespeare. The acting students develop and apply their performance skills in studio and mainstage productions.

The Musical Theatre program is integrated into the acting training with additional coursework in music theory, singing, dance for the theatre, musical theatre history and musical theatre styles. Specifically, the musical theatre students have dance classes in ballet, jazz, and tap, private applied voice lessons, vocal ensemble (music theory), musical theatre workshops, musical theatre history and musical interpretation for performance. The program prepares the aspiring professional performer to deal comfortably with an ambitious musical theatre repertory centered on twentieth and twenty-first century material. From Berlin to Sondheim, Gershwin to Bernstein, Weill to Porter and Webber to Kitt and LaChiusa, the students hone their skills in classes, workshops, and on stage in studio and mainstage productions.

A visiting artists series constitutes an important part of both the acting and musical theatre programs. Guest artists, designers, composers, voice teachers, choreographers, playwrights, directors, acting coaches, casting agents and artistic directors expose our students to current and new trends in theatre, film, and television.

Senior Showcase

Graduating seniors launch their careers in the profession with a comprehensive senior showcase program, an unrivalled artistic experience that has the potential to jump-start their careers as professional artists. All seniors are eligible to perform in showcases in Miami and New York City, as well as a virtual regional showcase for other markets of interest (such as Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles). The showcase performances offer the first step for Acting and Musical Theatre majors to meet, interact and network with agents, casting directors, and regional theatre representatives in each market. This is an opportunity for students to experience, the professional auditioning process for Broadway and Off-Broadway casting. Historically, the majority of NWSA students who embark in this New York City adventure receive positive feedback from industry agents who specifically attend the showcase in search of their next artistic discovery. Many students can end up meeting with more than just one or a couple of agents, sometimes fast tracking their artistic careers into high gear. Additionally, the NWSA Theater Division showcases their graduating BFA students virtually at nwsatheater.org.

APPLY TO NWSA

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance

Sample Degree Path: Acting

First Year - First Semester

First Year - First Semester
Course	Course Name	Credits
TPP 1100	Acting 1	3
TPP 1120	Improvisation Ensemble	3
TPP 1160	Voice & Movement 1	3
TPA 1200	Stagecraft	3
MGF 1130	Gen Ed: Mathematics – State Core – Mathematical Thinking	3
		15

First Year - Second Semester

First Year - Second Semester
Course	Course Name	Credits
THE 2000	Theatre Appreciation	3
TPP 1110	Acting 1/2	3
TPP 1161	Voice & Movement 1/2	3
TPA 2600	Introduction to Stage Management	3
ENC 1101	Gen Ed: English Composition 1	3
		15

First Year – Summer

First Year - Summer
Course	Course Name	Credits
ENC 1102	Gen Ed: English Composition 2	3
MGF 1131	Gen Ed: Mathematics – MDC Core – Mathematics in Context	3
Gen Ed	Gen Ed: Foreign Language Competency
		6+

Sophomore Year - First Semester

Sophomore Year - First Semester
Course	Course Name	Credits
TPP 2111	Acting 2	3
TPP 2162	Voice & Movement 2	3
TPA 2233	Main stage Production - Costumes & Makeup	1
SPC 1017	Gen Ed: Oral Communications – Introduction to Communication	3
HUM 1020	Gen Ed: Humanities – Introduction to Humanities	3
		13

Sophomore Year - Second Semester

Sophomore Year - Second Semester
Course	Course Name	Credits
TPP 2112	Acting 2/2	3
TPP 2163	Voice & Movement 2/2	3
Gen Ed	Gen Ed: Natural Sciences – State Core	3
Gen Ed	Gen Ed: Social Science – State Core	3
CGS 1060C	Gen Ed: Computer Competency – Introduction to Computer Technology and Applications	4
		16

Sophomore Year – Summer

Sophomore Year - Summer
Course	Course Name	Credits
Gen Ed	Gen Ed: Natural Sciences – MDC Core	3
AMH 2020 or POS 2014	Gen Ed: Social Science – MDC Core/Civic Literacy	3
FLCE	Florida Civic Literacy Exam
		6

Junior Year - First Semester

Junior Year - First Semester
Course	Course Name	Credits
TPP 3113	Acting 3	3
TPP 3164	Voice and Movement 3	3
TPP 4920	Actor's Workshop 3	3
THE 4110	History of Theatre on Stage 1	3
TPP 4930	Special Topics: Production (Design)	3
TPA 4946	Production Practicum	3
		18

Junior Year - Second Semester

Junior Year - Second Semester
Course	Course Name	Credits
TPP 3142	Acting 3/2	3
TPP 3165	Voice and Movement 3/2	3
TPP 4921	Actor's Workshop 2	3
THE 4111	History of Theatre on Stage 2	3
TPP 4600	Playwriting Workshop	3
TPA 4946	Production Practicum	1
		16

Senior Year - Fist Semester

Senior Year - Fist Semester
Course	Course Name	Credits
TPP 4114	Acting 4	3
TPP 4952	Repertory Company (Dialects, Movement, Production)	5
THE 4916	Theatre Research 3	1
THE 4959	Senior Project (One Person Show)	3
TPP 3311	Directing	3
		15

Senior Year - Second Semester

Senior Year - Second Semester
Course	Course Name	Credits
TPP 4117	Acting 4/2	3
TPP 4953	Repertory Company 2 (Stage Combat, Senior Showcase, Production)	7
TPP 4265	Acting for the Camera	3
		13

Students must take 33 hours of General Education courses.

General Education courses may be taken during the major terms or during the summer terms.
Students must earn a minimum of 12 credits hours in General Education during the academic year.
Students must complete their AA requirements by the end of the 3rd year.

Lower Division Credit Total: 40

Upper Division Credit Total: 60

Academics: 33

Total Credits: 133

Sample Degree Path: Musical Theater