FAQs

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHERE WILL AUDITION NOTICES BE POSTED

At various locations throughout the Nazarian Center and Roberts Hall, including the main door of the Music, Theatre, and Dance office.  There is an online callboard as well.

WHEN ARE AUDITIONS FOR THE THEATRE PROGRAM AND WHAT IS REQUIRED?

Auditions for incoming freshmen are held on campus in February and March of their senior year in high school.  Another audition will be held in September for students already enrolled at Rhode Island College. The General Theatre track does not require an audition.  ALL THEATRE MAJORS IN THE PERFORMANCE, MUSICAL THEATRE, AND TECHNICAL THEATRE SPECIALIZATION WILL AUDITION EACH SEPTEMBER, FOR FOUR YEARS.

MAY I DOUBLE MAJOR?

Yes, you are encouraged to double major.  After completing your general education requirements and your General Education courses, you will have accrued approximately 80 credit hours.  You will need 120 credit hours to graduate, so a second major is entirely possible.

HOW DO I CHANGE MY MAJOR/ADD A 2^ND MAJOR/ADD A MINOR

See you advisor, who will fill out a change of major form and submit it on your behalf.

MAY I BE A MEMBER OF THE RIC DANCE COMPANY AND A THEATRE PERFORMANCE/MUSICAL THEATRE MAJOR?

Yes, however, the RIC Dance Company requires an audition.  For information regarding the RIC Dance Company, contact the Director of Dance in Roberts Hall 220 or call 456-9791.  Theatre students who are also members of the dance company are not able to audition for all RIC Mainstage Theatrical Productions.  Usually, the second play of the season conflicts with dance company performances.  Communication between the Directors of Dance and Theatre/Musical Theatre, and the student are essential.

WHAT CLASSES SHOULD I TAKE DURING THE FIRST SEMESTER OF MY FRESHMAN YEAR?

PERFORMANCE MAJORS

THTR 120
THTR 105
THTR 110
THTR 091

MUSICAL THEATRE MAJORS

THTR 120 (formerly THTR 222) Acting I: Improvisation
THTR 105: Intro to Theatre
THTR 091: Portfolio Review
DANC 112: Intro to Jazz

DESIGN/TECH MAJORS

THTR 105:  Introduction to Theatre

THTR 110:  Fundamentals of Design

FYS 100:  First Year Seminar

GENERAL THEATRE MAJORS

THTR 105:  Introduction to Theatre

THTR 110:  Fundamentals of Design

THTR 222:  The Actor’s Self

FYS 100:  First Year Seminar

WHEN CAN I MEET WITH MY ACADEMIC ADVISOR?

At any time during the semester during regularly scheduled office hours or by appointment.  You MUST meet with your academic advisor when registering for classes.  Your advisor is the only one who can remove the block that is placed on every RIC student’s account before registration.

WHAT IS THTR 178, 278, 378 AND 478?

These courses are designed to give you credit for working on OR being in a production.  They do not meet at a weekly, regularly scheduled time.  If you play a role in a production, build scenery, sew costumes, run a soundboard etc… you will receive credit. 

MAY I TAKE MORE THAN ONE DANCE COURSE PER SEMESTER?

Yes.  Taking dance every semester is encouraged.  You may also repeat dance classes for credit.

HOW DO I GET A VOICE TEACHER?

Enroll in MUS 174:  Applied Voice (a private one-half hour voice lesson)

OR

MUS 274:  Applied Voice (a private one hour voice lesson)

AND

Email Dr. Teresa Coffman, Professor of Music at tcoffman@ric.edu

Tell Dr. Coffman in your email that you are a musical theatre major who is enrolled in MUS 174 or MUS 274 and you would like her to assign you to a voice teacher.

MAY I TAKE VOICE LESSONS ALL 8 SEMESTERS OF MY COLLEGE CAREER?

Yes, although only six(6) semesters are required.  Most Musical Theatre students begin voice lessons in the Fall semester of their sophomore year OR in the spring semester of their freshman year.

MAY I TAKE ONE HOUR LONG VOICE LESSONS TO FULFILL MY APPLIED VOICE REQUIREMENT?

Yes, you may take six(6) semesters of MUS 274 to fulfill your six(6) semester voice requirement.  In other words, you do not have to take MUS 174 at all.  During your senior year, course substitution paperwork will need to be completed by the Director of Musical Theatre substituting 2 semesters of MUS 274 for two semesters of MUS 174.

MAY I TAKE MUS 174 ALL SIX(6) SEMESTERS OF MY UNDERGRADUATE CAREER?

No.  Four semesters of MUS 174 are required AND two(2) semesters of MUS 274 are required.  You may take MUS 274 all 6 semesters.

WHAT IS THTR 091?    THTR 091 is a zero(0) credit class that must be taken by Design/Technical majors every semester of your college career.  As a class, it meets only twice per semester, but culminates in a one-on-one meeting with the Design/Technical faculty to evaluate your resume and portfolio. The goal is to prepare you for entering the job market by ensuring you have the resume, portfolio, and interview skills needed to succeed. By the end of your senior year, this meeting will be treated like a professional job interview and should showcase all the skills you've learned at RIC.

WHAT IS MUS 091?

MUSIC 091 is a zero(0) credit class that must be taken six(6) times in the course of your college career.  As a class, it meets once a week on Tuesdays from 12:00-1:00 PM.  If you are enrolled in MUS 091, you must attend weekly class and you must attend a specified number of pre-approved concerts throughout the semester.  It is your responsibility to complete the paperwork associated with your attendance at each event. 

AS A FRESHMAN, MAY I AUDITION AND BE CAST IN ANY SHOW?

Yes, Rhode Island College Undergraduate students carrying six(6) credits or more can audition and be cast in any production, HOWEVER,  The first production of the academic year is traditionally cast in April of the previous academic year.

DO I NEED TO MAINTAIN A MINIMUM GRADE POINT AVERAGE?

Yes, Theatre students are required to maintain a 2.0 GPA.  Actors in RIC productions are required to maintain a 2.0 GPA as well.

MAY RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE STUDENTS AUDITION FOR PRODUCTIONS OFF CAMPUS.

As a Rhode Island College student, we expect that your first priority will be the productions at RIC.  It is required that you will audition for all 4 RIC Mainstage productions.  If you do, and are not cast, you may notify the Managing Director of Theatre (in writing) for permission to audition for off-campus an production.

DO YOU ENCOURAGE RIC STUDENTS TO AUDITION FOR SUMMER WORK?

Yes.  RIC students are encouraged to audition for the following organizations in the winter and early spring:

Straw Hat Auditions, New York

New England Theatre Conference

RIC students are also encouraged to travel to New York City and audition for summer work there.  New York City auditions will be listed in the online publication BACKSTAGE.

SHOULD I EARN MY EQUITY CARD WHILE AT RIC?

It is not recommended since being a member of the union will prevent you from appearing in non-union productions.  You may earn points toward equity membership without becoming a member of the union.

WHERE IS THE MUSIC, THEATRE, AND DANCE DEPARTMENT OFFICE?

It’s on the second floor of Roberts Hall in Room 220.   Take the stairs near the Little Theatre (Room 128).  At the top of the stairs turn right.  The office is behind the glass doors.  To call the office, dial 456-9883.

WHERE IS THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF MUSICAL THEATRE?

It’s on the first floor of Roberts Hall in Suite 135.  The office number is Roberts 138.  It’s in the back, left hand corner of Roberts Hall, near the entrance to the Forman Theatre.  To call the Director, dial 456-8814.

HOW CAN I GET TICKETS TO PERFORMANCES AT RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE?

Go to the Roberts Hall Box Office in the front lobby of Roberts Hall during business hours, or call 456-8144.   Tickets for any arts event on campus, and for arts organizations who are members of the Performing and Fine Arts commission are $5 for RIC students with a valid ID.  RIC students who are performing in a production or working on a production will be issued a voucher for one free ticket to that production.  These vouchers are issued by the Managing Director of Theatre.

WHAT IS A “REP BOOK”?

It is a three ring binder containing all of the repertoire that you are able to perform at that moment in time for an audition.  It is made up of material that showcases who you are as a person, and as a singing actor.  Material in your Rep Book should NOT include pieces that are “in progress”.  Your Rep Book should contain ONLY those pieces that are ready for performance.

WHAT SONGS SHOULD I PUT IN MY REP BOOK?

This handbook contains another section which details the pieces that should be included in your book.

HOW DO I COMPILE A RESUME?

This handbook contains another section which provides a resume template

HOW DO I APPLY FOR GRADUATION?

At the beginning of your senior year, with the help of your advisor, follow the instructions for graduation on the RIC website:  www.ric.edu

IF MY GRADUATION AUDIT INDICATES THAT I HAVE NOT FULFILLED THE REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY FOR MY DEGREE PROGRAM, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Please see your advisor.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS NOT ADDRESSED IN THIS HANDBOOK?

Please see your advisor.