Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre
Houston’s Only BFA in Musical Theatre
About the Department
Act. Sing. Dance. Become a Complete Musical Theatre Artist.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre at the University of St. Thomas in Houston provides intensive, professional training for students pursuing careers in musical theatre and the performing arts. Through the lens of both the liberal arts and the Catholic intellectual tradition, students gain expertise in musical theatre and performance.
Our Courses
Train Like a Pro
Students train across the three essential disciplines of musical theatre: acting, singing, and dance, while developing the versatility, discipline, and collaborative skills expected of today’s professional performer.
With small class sizes, individualized mentorship, and training from internationally recognized faculty and working professionals, students receive focused attention throughout their development as artists. From their first year, students have opportunities to take what they learn in the studio and apply it in rehearsal and performance.
Through Stoic Theatre at the University of St. Thomas, students participate in an active production program that connects their musical theatre training directly to the professional world.
BFA in Musical Theatre Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the UST BFA in Musical Theatre different?
The UST BFA in Musical Theatre combines the intensity of professional performance training with the individualized attention of a small university.
Students train with internationally recognized faculty and working professional artists who bring real-world experience into the classroom, studio, and rehearsal room. Small class sizes allow faculty to work closely with each student, identifying individual strengths while developing the skills necessary to become a complete and competitive performer.
As a Catholic, liberal arts university, UST offers musical theatre students more than professional performance training. Students develop the intellectual curiosity, communication skills, discipline, and perspective to become versatile, thoughtful, and market-ready musical theatre artists prepared to enter the profession.
Why study musical theatre in Houston?
UST’s location in Houston, one of the country’s largest and most diverse arts communities, gives musical theatre students access to a major professional theatre market while they receive the individualized attention of a small university.
Through Stoic Theatre at UST, students have opportunities to work alongside professional actors, directors, choreographers, music directors, designers, musicians, and other theatre artists. Students experience professional expectations while they are still in training and begin building relationships and professional credits before graduation.
Beyond the production season, students may participate in master classes and workshops with guest artists, develop audition and performance material, attend professional productions, and connect with artists throughout Houston’s theatre community.
The combination of intensive training, individualized mentorship, professional collaboration, and access to Houston’s theatre arts scene helps students begin transitioning from student to working artist before they leave UST.
What do you learn in a BFA in Musical Theatre?
Musical theatre students spend their undergraduate careers acting, singing, dancing, rehearsing, and performing.
Training includes acting, private and ensemble voice, music, dance, movement, musical theatre performance, and hands-on production experience. Students develop the skills to approach musical theatre as actors first, using voice, music, and movement in service of character and storytelling.
Each Stoic Theatre season provides opportunities to apply that training in fully realized productions. Students may find themselves performing alongside professional actors, working with professional directors and choreographers, singing with professional musicians, and performing in Houston theatre venues.
At UST, students learn by doing—developing the technical skills, artistic voice, professional relationships, and practical experience needed to pursue a career in musical theatre.
How does UST’s Catholic, liberal arts education make its musical theatre program different?
At UST, musical theatre education is grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts. Students receive intensive performance training while exploring questions of meaning, truth, beauty, human dignity, and vocation.
This education gives students a deeper understanding of the characters and stories they bring to life onstage. The goal is to develop versatile, thoughtful, disciplined, and market-ready musical theatre artists prepared to enter the profession.
UST’s Catholic, liberal arts education helps students approach musical theatre as an art form that explores the human experience and connects people through story.
How does UST prepare musical theatre students for professional careers?
UST musical theatre students begin developing professional expectations, relationships, credits, and experience while they are still earning their degree.
The BFA in Musical Theatre culminates in a student-created professional showcase capstone. Students take an active role in developing a showcase that represents who they are as individual artists and prepares them to market themselves to the professional world.
The process brings together their performance training with practical career preparation, helping students develop audition material, professional presentation skills, marketing tools, and the confidence to enter the industry as working artists.
Through Stoic Theatre productions, professional collaborations, master classes, workshops, Houston theatre venues, and connections throughout Houston’s theatre community, students gain experience in a professional environment before graduation.
At UST, Stoic Theatre becomes the bridge between professional training and the professional stage.
Why choose UST for Musical Theatre?
Professional Training. Personal Attention. Houston Opportunities.
At the University of St. Thomas, musical theatre students develop their skills in acting, singing, and dance with the individual attention of a small university. Faculty mentorship and opportunities to rehearse and perform through Stoic Theatre help students put their training into practice.
Studying musical theatre in Houston also places students in a vibrant theatre community. Grounded in UST’s Catholic intellectual tradition and liberal arts education, the BFA program helps students grow as performers, collaborators, and storytellers as they prepare for professional careers.
Performing Study
Drama Leadership
Eric Dormuret
The UST Drama and Dance departments operate under the leadership of Eric Domuret. In partnership with professional entities like Stoic Theatre, our program gives young performers a great start in their professional careers.