Audition & Apply for Theatre & Film
Information about the competitive entry process
Step Into the Spotlight: Your Theatre Journey Starts Here!
Are you ready to take center stage in your college experience? The University of Mississippi’s Department of Theatre & Film invites you to:
- Audition for entry into the B.F.A. emphasis in Acting for Stage & Screen
- Interview for the B.F.A. emphasis in Design & Theatre Production
- Apply to the B.F.A. in Film Production
Open House
Students interested in auditioning or interviewing are strongly encouraged to attend our Annual Open House—two days to experience what it means to be a student in the Department of Theatre & Film at the University of Mississippi. Sit in on real college classes, connect with our faculty and students, attend a departmental performance of Ride the Cyclone in Meek Hall, and audition or interview for entry into the B.F.A. program.
Applications, Auditions, & Interviews
Read below for additional information if you are a high school senior or transfer student who would like to apply (film), audition (performance), or interview (design and theatre production/management) for entry into either our B.F.A. in Film Production, B.F.A. in Acting for Stage & Screen, or our B.F.A. in Design & Theatre Production.
Audition for entry into the B.F.A. in Theatre Arts, emphasis in Acting for Stage & Screen
We will hold in-person auditions during our Fall Open House in Oxford, MS on Saturday, November 16th, 2024*. For the audition process, we ask that you choose one of the following options:
- Acting Only - Two contrasting monologues, no longer than 90 seconds each.
- Acting & Singing - One monologue no longer than 90 seconds and one song no longer than 32 bars.
Monologues should be from a published play or film, and should contrast each other (e.g., one comedic and one dramatic). Songs should be chosen from a Broadway musical. If you plan to sing, please bring your backing track on your phone. Following the audition there will be a brief interview portion with the faculty.
*Students unable to attend the Fall Open House may audition virtually and must notify the department of this in advance. Virtual auditions should follow the same guidelines as the in-person auditions. If you plan to sing, you will need to play the backing track yourself in your auditioning space. Virtual auditioners will receive further details during the week of the auditions. Need help or accommodations? Reach out and we can assist you through the process!
Interview for the B.F.A. in Theatre Arts, emphasis in Design & Theatre Production
Please note: In lieu of practical experience, theoretical design work is accepted.
Stage Management
Candidates will be asked to present at least one prompt book, with any corresponding paperwork (rehearsal/production reports, fitting sheets, prop lists, cue sheets, blocking annotation) that is available. Please be prepared to discuss your approach to stage management specifically as it relates to your relationship with the director, the cast and the designers, how you organize and manage the backstage space during a performance and how you deal with various challenging situations.
Designers/Stage Managers
Designers and theatre technicians should be prepared to present their portfolio, explaining concepts and design approaches where appropriate. You should also be prepared to answer questions about techniques employed and processes followed.
Lighting Design
Candidates are encouraged to present a complete light plot with corresponding paperwork, research, renderings, and production photos (where available). Please be prepared to discuss your conceptual approach as well as instrumentation and color choices.
Costume Design
Candidates are encouraged to present research, renderings, fabric samples, costume plots and production/construction photos (where available). Please be prepared to discuss your conceptual approach as well as how your research influenced your finalized design.
Scenic Design
Candidates are encouraged to present a groundplan, section and elevation drawings along with any corresponding research, renderings, scale models, and production/construction photos (where available). Please be prepared to discuss your conceptual approach as well as specific choices you made in materials both in the design and the model.
Sound Design
Candidates are encouraged to present sound samples, cue sheets, sound plots, system diagrams, research and production photos (where available). Please be prepared to discuss your conceptual approach, your process in creating the sound/music utilized for the production and any equipment/software used in the creation of the design.
Apply to the B.F.A. in Film Production
The Right Place, The Right People
“I auditioned and applied for a few other schools around the country, but when I came for my audition weekend at the University of Mississippi, I instantly knew this was where I was supposed to be. The atmosphere was so welcoming, everyone seemed to really be friends, and all the professors were so kind. I had a voice teacher give me this advice: do you want to go somewhere where people will steal your tap shoes before a big audition or do you want to go somewhere where you’ll make some of your best friends? I think I definitely made the right choice.”
Claire Porter
B.F.A. in Theatre Arts (Acting for Stage and Screen) ’23
Open House Schedule & Registration
The University of Mississippi Department of Theatre & Film is thrilled to invite students and parents from all years of high school and beyond to our 2025–2026 Open Houses. An Open House is held in each the Fall and Spring semester. Dates for these are to be announced soon.
Space is limited, so if you are interested in being part of this wonderful day, please fill out the registration form below.
- 9:00am Meet with Chair & Professor, Michael Barnett
- 10:00am Attend a class within your area of interest with current faculty and students
- 11:00am Attend a class within your area of interest with current faculty and students
- 12:00pm Pizza Lunch Hosted by the Department
- 1:00pm Attend a class within your area of interest with current faculty and students
- 2:30pm Tour of Campus Conducted by Theatre & Film Students
- 4:00pm Conversation with Current Theatre & Film Students
- 7:30pm Performance of Ride the Cyclone
- 9:00am Audition/Interview for Entry Into BFA in Theatre Arts Programs and Theatre Merit Scholarships
Inside Open House
Ride the Cyclone Show That Prospective Students Attend After Tour
Faculty Giving Out Tickets To Ride the Cyclone Show
Faculty Giving A Tour Of The Lighting/Green Screen Room
Faculty Speaking About The Costume Show
Students Touring The Costume Shop
A Student Giving A Workshop About How Costumes Are Made
Faculty Giving A Workshop About Screenwriting
Faculty Noble Giving A Workshop About Acting
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Student Success Resources and Scholarships
The department awards up to twenty-five Theatre Merit Scholarships each year. These scholarships are rewarded based on auditions (for performers) and portfolio reviews (for designers, stage managers, and students interested in production). Auditions and portfolio reviews are conducted two times a year on campus during our departmental Open Houses.
Resources & Scholarships
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, anyone can audition for shows and be cast, as long as they are in good academic standing.
We have had Freshmen perform leads in our Mainstage season.
Students audition for entrance into the B.F.A. Acting for Stage & Screen program the spring prior to their first-year or the weekend prior to their first fall semester.
Those wishing to pursue the B.F.A. Design and Theatre Production degree can enter the program immediately following a portfolio review.
Complete details on applying for the B.F.A. emphasis in Film Production are available here.
Theatre Merit Scholarships are offered on an annual basis. The number of scholarships offered varies by year.
The Patricia Tarr Leavitt Scholarship
Established by two Ole Miss Theatre alumni, this scholarship is awarded yearly to full-time undergraduate students from Mississippi pursuing a BA or a BFA in Theatre & Film.
The Upton-Cantú Scholarship for Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting
The Upton-Cantú Scholarship is a merit-based award given every year to a BFA Acting student. Students are invited into the BFA Acting program after auditioning at the end of their sophomore year.
The Wallace Hamilton Scholarship
Any full-time theatre student is eligible for this annual scholarship, which was established by the friends and family of Wallace Hamilton.
The Susan Colbert Davis Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded yearly to theatre students from Mississippi, preferably from either from Chickasaw or Alcorn counties, who demonstrates financial need and academic achievement and who are in at least their junior year of study.
Admission requirements differ for Residents and Non-residents and vary by year. For more information, please see the Office of Admissions: http://admissions.olemiss.edu/
The residential colleges at the University of Mississippi offer contemporary housing for undergraduate students with faculty living in the building. Students take classes together in the building, and there is a fully staffed kitchen providing eating options throughout the day. Students are selected through an application process. For more information, please see the student Housing website: http://studenthousing.olemiss.edu/facilities/residential-colleges/
Yes. Sometimes Greek activities interfere with Theatre Activities, but we have theatre majors who actively participate in Fraternities and Sororities.
Tuition rates vary by year. Please see the Office of Financial Aid’s “Cost of Attendance” webpage for more information: http://finaid.olemiss.edu/cost-of-attendance/
No. The faculty are excited to devote our time, attention, and resources to our undergraduate students.
Those who wish to double major are encouraged to pursue the BA. It is rare for a student in a BFA program to pursue a 2nd degree. If a student intends to double major, we encourage them to contact an advisor in the College of Liberal Arts upon admission. For more information, please see Future Undergraduate Students.
Yes! We partner with 2-3 other schools to offer a showcase every January in New York City for casting directors and agents.
You can visit Ole Miss any time during the year and receive a tour of the campus and information about programs and the Ole Miss experience through the Admissions office. However, we encourage prospective theatre students to visit campus during one of our “Theatre Merit Scholarship Weekends”. These weekends are held twice during the Spring semester and include opportunities to attend theatre classes, to meet current theatre students, to see an Ole Miss Theatre production, to tour campus, to meet with an Admissions counselor, and to audition for one of our Theatre Merit Scholarships.
The Department produces 5 shows a year and also provides support for numerous student productions. On any given year, between department shows and student-produced work, there are over 20 films, shows & opportunities to perform (Through Ghostlight Repertory Theatre, Mississippi: The Dance Company, Opera Theatre, Ole Miss Student Dance, student produced films, etc). Throughout your 4 years here, the season rotation will provide opportunities to do productions in a variety of styles and in multiple venues. There is a musical produced by the department every year and every four years, there are two musicals in the season.
Yes, we offer a variety of courses that provide you with hands-on experience with cinema production, including screenwriting, acting, directing, producing, cinematography, and editing.
Yes, you’ll receive as many as two design assignments each year, ranging from straight plays and musicals, to dance, opera, and cinema, creating an impressive portfolio.
Yes, we offer classes in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, musical theatre dance, and choreography.
Yes, voice lessons are offered in a group class style and there are opportunities to take private voice lessons in both the theatre and music departments.
Yes, Freshman are required to live in a residence hall their 1st year. Yes, you can bring your personal vehicle but must pay for a residential parking pass. Please see Student Housing for more information: http://studenthousing.olemiss.edu/
We are not affiliated with a professional theatre, but we have direct connections to theatres in the region and across the nation through our faculty & alumni.