It is strongly advised that every student majoring in theatre, or selecting a dance option within the theatre major, participate actively in the University Theatre program in both technical and performance areas. Only in this way will it be possible for faculty members to have sufficient knowledge of a student's work to recommend him or her for employment or graduate study.

Students are urged to participate actively in the various co-curricular programs offered by the department. These programs provide excellent opportunities for theatre and dance students to extend their classroom studies through practical experience. With the approval and advice of the supervising faculty member, students may receive credit in Theatre 2050 and/or Theatre 4880 for their participation in such activities.

During the regular University Theatre season, four major plays and two full-length dance concert are open to student participation. In addition, co-curricular experience may also be obtained in the many theatre and dance productions directed by students enrolled in Theatre 4250 and Theatre 4260, Theatre 4830, and Theatre 4880.

It is the philosophy of the department that theatre and dance are complementary fields of study. It is recommended that majors in either area have experience in its complementary discipline.

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Degrees

Students electing to major in Theatre and Dance have a choice of several degree programs:

• Bachelor of Arts, or BA, with a major in Theatre and Dance.
  Certification to teach with this degree may be obtained
  through further study in the College of Education.
• Bachelor of Fine Arts, or BFA. This is a Pre-Professional degree with concentrations in performance (Acting), Lighting, Scenic Design, Playwriting, Costuming, Dance, and Dance Science.
• BFA with Theatre/English. Certification to teach with this degree may be obtained through further study in the College of Education.

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Dance Degrees
The dance degrees within the Department of Theatre and Dance are designed to provide the student with a broad foundation in the humanities and a specific emphasis in the technical, performance, and production aspects of dance. The student pursuing this course of study will have opportunities to attain technical competency in ballet and/or modern dance, to perform in yearly dance productions, and to gain experience in technical theatre as an aid to dance production.

For the BA in Dance, only 50 credit hours in the major area of theatre and dance may count toward the total of 120 credit hours required for graduation. A student who takes more than 50 hours in his/her major area may not count these hours toward graduation and must take an equivalent number of credits in some area other than the major to meet graduation requirements. Additionally, 2 hours in Health Education, 4 hours in Biology and 4 hours in Zoology (see core courses) are required for the dance option, but these are not considered part of the 50 maximum hours in the major area. The remaining academic requirements for the BA and BFA in Theatre and Dance degrees are the same as those for theatre.

Dance students who desire additional training in dance may opt to follow the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. This concentration permits a total of 60-70 credits in the major as counting towards graduation.

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Advising
Advisors are assigned to student majors by the head of the Department of Theater and Dance. Faculty members are available for advising non-majors interested in the discipline. In order to assure progress towards the degree, students are encouraged to consult with their advisors on a regular basis.
Note: Students should consult with the current University Bulletin and the Student/Advisor Checklist at the end of this handbook for the various departmental, college and University Studies degree requirements. Students are responsible for thoroughly familiarizing themselves with all requirements for graduation.

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Departmental Opportunities

Snowy Range Summer Theatre
A Summer Theatre has been in operation at the University of Wyoming since 1954. Productions are staged within a six to eight-week session in June and July. An actor or technician gains valuable practical theatre experience and receives a stipend. Company members have the option to pay up to 2 hours of academic credit if they wish.

Outstanding junior and/or senior theatre majors at UW (particularly those students seeking a professional degree) are strongly encouraged to audition for the acting company or apply for the technical company. An effort is made to select qualified students from UW to participate in the company along with students who are recruited from throughout the nation.

Auditions and interviews for the Summer Theatre Company are held at selected locations throughout the country and at UW. For further information contact:

University of Wyoming Snowy Range Summer Theatre
Department of Theatre and Dance
Department 3951
1000 E. University Avenue
Laramie, WY 82071-3951
http://www.uwyo.edu/th&d/whats_playing/SummerFestival/

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Snowy Range Summer Dance Festival
The Snowy Range Dance Festival brings professional dance artists and companies in residence to the campus of the University of Wyoming for 11 days of intensive dance study . Guest artists, together with the reputable dance program and performing arts facilities of the University of Wyoming, provide an academic as well as a professional atmosphere for the nurturing of young and promising students of dance and the teachers who instruct them. In addition to technique classes at various levels, the week's activities include special performances, concerts, lectures, and discussion groups on current topics pertaining to all areas of the dancer's special needs. Accompanists and aspiring choreographers discover a nurturing learning environment in which to observe experienced artists at work, ask questions, and participate in special workshops in these areas. The festival is open to junior high through adults, teachers and accompanists. Scholarships are available. For more information contact:

Festival Director
University of Wyoming
Department of Theatre and Dance
Department 3951
1000 E. University Avenue
PO Box 3951, Laramie, WY 82071-3951
http://outreach.uwyo.edu/conferences/dancefestival/

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Honors
Students in the Department of Theatre and Dance seeking honors must enroll in the College of Arts and Sciences Honors Program. The Department of Theatre and Dance completely endorses the concept of College Honors. Students enrolled in the College Honors Program must meet all criteria consistent with the requirements of that program including:

1. Successful completion of the elected degree program, BA or BFA, with a grade point average consistent with A & S Honors requirements.
    
2. Successful completion of a senior thesis. Senior thesis of sufficient challenge and merit, as determined by the faculty, may fulfill the requirement of an honors project. If so, this thesis must be written under the guidance of an approved thesis advisor with one additional faculty member serving as a member of the thesis committee.
    
3. Students may elect an honors project related to a production. The successful completion of an honors project does not remove the requirement of a senior thesis. Honors projects must be submitted and approved in the spring semester of the junior year.

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Centennial Singers
Students with an interest in Musical Theatre have the opportunity to receive performance credit with the Centennial Singers through the department of Theatre and Dance. The Singers perform musical theatre reviews throughout the state and region during their Fall, Spring Break and May Tours. Because of their difficult rehearsal and tour schedule, all theatre majors, and in particular, those holding scholarships from the department must work out all conflicts in advance. Participation in this group is a substantial and rigorous time commitment that can only be successful through diligent and responsible planning with your advisor.

Theatre Majors are also strongly encouraged to limit performing with the organization for just two years because they need to maintain a high level of performance in the department's regular season and to keep pace with the growth of their entire class. Although Singers provides an excellent extra curricular opportunity it does not replace or equal the technical training that you will receive in departmental productions. In order to achieve the level of expertise that you require for graduate school or professional work you must have the time and energy to do substantial main stage work. For more information contact:

Director, Centennial Singers
Alumni House, 1320 Mill Street,
Laramie WY 82071 (307) 766-3076
http://www.uwyo.edu/singers

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Student Organizations
The Associated Students of the Performing Arts (A.S.O.P.A.) is a student organization within the Department of Theatre and Dance which promotes effective communication between students and faculty, enhances the academic, performance, and social areas of student life and provides opportunities for professional exposure. A.S.O.P.A. is especially valuable to new students in acquainting them with the Department and the University as a whole. The Department of Theatre and Dance provides a close knit and cooperative environment in which to work, and A.S.O.P.A. enhances that atmosphere.
http://uwasopa.org

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Auditions
Students who wish to audition for a paid position as an actor and who wish to utilize the members of the theatre faculty as references will be permitted to do so only after they have auditioned before the acting/directing faculty at an arranged audition. It is the student's responsibility to arrange this audition in consultation with his/her advisor.

On the basis of screened auditions the department reserves the right to recommend only those students whom, in the opinion of the faculty, have sufficient experience and ability to participate competitively at a scheduled audition. Approval to compete at one level does not automatically assume approval to compete at another level.

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Departmental Awards and Scholarships
The Department of Theatre and Dance has several special awards available to recognize outstanding students in acting performance, dance performance, and technical/design performance. These awards are given once a year and presented to the students during DRAM prom. The Jack Oakie acting award is for best comic performance, contributions to the department and growth as a comic actor and is in honor of Jack Oakie one of the important comic actors in early film. The acting, dance and technical design awards are for outstanding work and growth as artists and contributions to the department. Each of the three students being recognized will receive $100.00 and their names will be inscribed on our student awards plaque.

The Department of Theatre and Dance offers scholarships ranging from partial to full tuition to outstanding students in theatre and dance. For detailed information regarding scholarship assignments, requirements and philosophy see Section titled Scholarship Application/Reference Forms.

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Department Policies

Academic Responsibility
The Department of Theatre and Dance recognizes that many of its students are heavily committed to departmental production activities. The faculty, when possible, attempts to schedule class assignments with this commitment in mind; however, students cannot assume that production commitments take precedence over academic assignments. A production assignment, cast or crew, will not be considered an acceptable excuse for late academic assignments or absences from class.

Credit Limitations/Requirements
With the exception of the Bachelor of Fine Arts (pre-Professional), no more than 60 credit hours in the major can count toward the total of 120 credit hours (not including PE) required for graduation. A student who takes more than 50 hours in the major may not count these excess credits toward graduation and must take an equivalent number of credits in some area other than Theatre/Dance to meet graduation requirements. Theatre and Dance majors must receive a grade of C or better in all Theatre and Dance courses required for their degree.

The BA degree in Theatre and Dance requires a minimum of 15 credit hours in theatre and dance courses at the 4000 level or above. Of the total credits required for graduation, a minimum of 42 credits must be completed at the 3000 level or above.

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Academic Probation Policy
It is important that when students are on academic probation that we do everything we can to assure their success at the University. Students that are on academic probation need to concentrate on grades and study skills. Production work takes time and energy away from studying. Consequently, when a student is placed on academic probation he/she will not be allowed to design, crew or act in productions the following semester. For example, if you did poorly Fall semester and were placed on academic probation at the end of that semester you will not be allowed to do production work in the Spring (even if you have already been cast in a production or asked to design one). If you receive no F's in the Spring semester and are above a 2.0 grade point average you will be allowed to work on one production the following Fall. If you continue to show academic progress in that Fall semester while doing minimal production work you will be able to return to full scale production work in the Spring.

If you are on academic probation your advisor will meet with you on a regular basis to help you improve your grades. They will do everything they can to help you get back on course and back into the creative process of doing theatre.

If you are having problems in your classes or if you are having problems with your study techniques please visit with your advisor about your difficulties before you wind up on academic probation. The University provides many special programs that deal with every aspect of learning. We can help you correct problems before you have to sacrifice production work.

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University of Wyoming
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Theatre and Dance
Scholarships

The Theatre and Dance Department administers an outstanding scholarship program. Numerous awards are available to qualified students who intend to major in Dance or Theatre. The scholarship provides resident or non-resident tuition waiver amounts ranging up to full tuition for the academic year. All interested students are encouraged to apply.

Further information on the scholarship is available from the Division of Student Financial Aids of the University of Wyoming.

Application Instructions

Scholarships are awarded for one academic year, beginning in the Fall semester. Students must therefore re-apply each year and audition in front of the Theatre and Dance faculty if they wish to be considered for a scholarship for the following year, regardless of whether or not they hold or have previously held a Theatre and Dance scholarship. While awarded for a full academic year, scholarships may be revoked at the end of the fall or spring semester for either of the following reasons:

1. Failure by the student to maintain a 2.0 GPA in all courses.
    
2. Failure by the student to fulfill his or her production responsibilities as a scholarship student as specified in the Student Handbook

In the event the student fails to fulfill obligations in numbers 1 or 2 above, the faculty reserves the right to vote, after consultation with the scholarship director, to place the student on probation for one semester for not meeting the established criteria. This probationary period is not guaranteed, and solely at the discretion of the faculty vote.

To apply for a Theatre and Dance Department scholarship, complete the attached application and return it to the address indicated. You will need three (3) letters of reference to complete your application. Send the application immediately and let the individuals who are completing the reference letters for you know they should mail them to us directly. The address is provided on the attached reference form.

If you wish, you may apply online. The information can be found on our website under scholarships. The web address is: http://www.uwyo.edu/th&d/scholarships

This form should be completed, detached, and returned to:

University of Wyoming
Department of Theatre and Dance
Department 3951, 1000 E. University Ave
Laramie, WY 82071-3951


Name: ________________________________________ Date: _________________

Permanent Address:____________________________________________________

Email Address: ____________________________________________

Telephone Social
Number: ______________________ Security Number: __________________

Birthdate: _____________________ Sex: M ____ F ____

Please check the appropriate space or spaces below:

_____ High School Graduate: Year: ____________

_____ Community College Graduate: Year: ____________

_____ Transfer student from another four-year institution:
Class: _____________

_____ UW student, changing major to Theatre and Dance:
Class: _____________

Grade point average to date at most recently attended institution: ____________

I wish to apply for a Theatre/Dance scholarship to begin Fall semester of academic year: _____________

Major area of emphasis: Acting: ________ Technical/Design: _________
Dance: ________ Playwriting: _________

Have you had Dance training and/or experience? Yes ______ No ______

How many years of Dance training have you had? _____________

(Check) Ballet ______ Tap ______ Modern ______ Jazz ______

Do you play a musical instrument? Yes ______ No ______ If Yes, specify: _____________________

Do you sing? Yes ____ No ____ If Yes, what part?____________________

List Theatre/Dance experience: technical (props, scenery, lighting, sound, costumes, makeup), acting,
dance choreography, publicity, ticket sales. Indicate the title of the production, the specific area of
work, and the extent of your major responsibility (crew head, crew member, running crews, major
role, minor role, etc.) or attach a resume.

Acting/Dance/Technical Experience: ___________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________

Tell us about yourself, your background, your experiences? What are your short and long term goals?
What do you consider you strengths as a Theatre Arts student? Why do you want to attend the
University of Wyoming? Do you plan to attend if you do not receive a scholarship?
(Continue on reverse if necessary).
________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________


List the name and address of your most recent Drama Teacher or Dance Instructor:
______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Email address of most recent Drama Teacher/Dance Teacher: ______________________________________________________________________

Please feel free to attach a resume.



IMPORTANT: Please ensure you attach a photo as requested above.

SCHOLARSHIP REFERENCE FORM

NAME OF APPLICANT: ___________________________________________________

The person named above is an applicant for a Theatre/Dance scholarship at the University of Wyoming.

Please mark with an "X" the applicable rating for each of the six areas below and provide any comments you would like. Please use the reverse for additional comments if necessary.

Above Below
Superior Average Average Average Poor

1. Performing Ability:______________________________________________
Comments:


2. Technical Ability:_______________________________________________
Comments:


3. Theatre/Dance Promise:___________________________________________
Comments:


4. Scholastic Record:_______________________________________________
Comments:


5. General Character:_______________________________________________
Comments:


6. Dependability:_______________________________________________________
Comments:



Do you believe the applicant should be granted a scholarship?
Yes ________ No _________

Signed: ______________________________________Date:___________________

Position/Title: ______________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________ Telephone:________________

Email address: __________________________________________________

Please mail this reference form directly to:
Scholarship Committee
University of Wyoming Department of Theatre & Dance
Department 3951, 1000 E. University Ave
Laramie, WY 82071-3951

SCHOLARSHIP REFERENCE FORM



NAME OF APPLICANT: ___________________________________________________

The person named above is an applicant for a Theatre/Dance scholarship at the University of Wyoming.

Please mark with an "X" the applicable rating for each of the six areas below and provide any comments you would like. Please use the reverse for additional comments if necessary.

Above Below
Superior Average Average Average Poor

1. Performing Ability:_______________________________________________
Comments:


2. Technical Ability:________________________________________________
Comments:


3. Theatre/Dance Promise:____________________________________________
Comments:


4. Scholastic Record:________________________________________________
Comments:


5. General Character:________________________________________________
Comments:


6. Dependability:________________________________________________________
Comments:


Do you believe the applicant should be granted a scholarship?
Yes ________ No _________

Signed: ______________________________________Date:___________________

Position/Title: ______________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________ Telephone:______________

Email address: __________________________________________________

Please mail this reference form directly to:
Scholarship Committee
University of Wyoming
Department of Theatre and Dance
Department 3951, 1000 E. University Ave
Laramie, WY 82071-3951

SCHOLARSHIP REFERENCE FORM



NAME OF APPLICANT:____________________________________________________

The person named above is an applicant for a Theatre/Dance scholarship at the University of Wyoming.

Please mark with an "X" the applicable rating for each of the six areas below and provide any comments you would like. Please use the reverse for additional comments if necessary.

Above Below
Superior Average Average Average Poor

1. Performing Ability:______________________________________________
Comments:


2. Technical Ability:_______________________________________________
Comments:


3. Theatre/Dance Promise:___________________________________________
Comments:


4. Scholastic Record:_______________________________________________
Comments:


5. General Character:_______________________________________________
Comments:


6. Dependability:___________________________________________________
Comments:



Do you believe the applicant should be granted a scholarship?
Yes ________ No _________

Signed: _____________________________________Date:____________________

Position/Title: ______________________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________Telephone:________________

Email address: __________________________________________________

Please mail this reference form directly to:
Scholarship Committee
University of Wyoming
Department of Theatre and Dance
Department 3951, 1000 E. University Ave
Laramie, WY 82071-3951

Scholarship Guidelines

I. PHILOSOPHY
The scholarship program is designed to financially assist the outstanding student of theatre and dance and to attract him/her for study at the University of Wyoming. Students should look upon themselves as undergraduate departmental aids who contribute to the theatre and dance program here at Wyoming.

II. REQUIREMENTS
A. Theatre/Dance major
B. Maintenance of an overall cumulative 2.0 grade point average.
C. Suitable progress toward the degree goal; student must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours per year (12 months). Scholarship may be retained for 8 semesters.
D. Satisfactory fulfillment of assigned responsibilities for departmental productions.
E. Must attend all scholarship meetings
F. To further the theatre and dance experience, scholarship students will be required to audition for all main season productions. Exceptions will be made for technical/design students and the theatre major auditioning for a dance production and vice versa; unless the choreographer or director posts audition requirements to the contrary. A role may be rejected by petitioning a fact-finding panel, which shall consist of two faculty members and three elected scholarship students.

III. SCHOLARSHIP ASSIGNMENTS
The assignments will be of a definite "job" nature. Scholarship assignments will be made for each production at the earliest possible time and, whenever possible, before actual work begins on that production. The student will be given his/her preference of job assignment whenever possible; however, the student should also be willing to accept a wide range of responsibilities so that he/she receives a variety of experiences. Every effort will be made by the department to keep demands on the time of scholarship students reasonable. Scholarship students should expect to serve in some capacity, be it running crew or actor, on a minimum of two main season productions each semester. If either of these options is impossible during the semester, the student may petition the scholarship director to complete a crew assignment by working 40 hours in a shop under the supervision of the shop administrators. The petition must be presented as near to the beginning of the affected semester as possible to facilitate any reassignments that are necessary. Petitions received after crew assignments are posted are not guaranteed consideration.

The following is a short description of specific crew positions, with information as to duties, responsibilities and time commitments for each. ALL ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDE REQUIRED ATTENDANCE AT ALL TECHNICAL REHEARSALS, PERFORMANCES AND STRIKE.
 

Stage Manager
Assist production director in all aspects of rehearsal and production. Duties would include calling the show in all performances. Other duties might include typing and posting rehearsal lists, notes and contact sheets; giving lines during rehearsals, giving and correcting blocking assignments. This position requires involvement from the very beginning of the rehearsal process.

Assistant Stage Manager
Main responsibility is to provide a communication link between the stage and the control booth.

Light Board Operator
Operate computerized or manual lighting control board as assigned by lighting designer.

Sound Board Operator
Operate soundboard and execute all assigned production sound cues.

Master Carpenter
Supervise all scenery shifts and crews assigned to shifts.

Master Electrician
Supervise all production electrical needs and crews.

Properties Master
Ensure all show props are in place and functioning. Prepare food as necessary. Operate special effects.

Shift Crew
Move scenery as required by each production.

Electrician
Operate electrical equipment as required by each production. Duties might include changing bulbs, color in lighting equipment or operating telephones.

Flyman
Operate rigging necessary to shift flown scenery.

Costume Running Crew
Duties include making minor repairs to costumes during the run of the show, assisting actors with costumes as required, maintenance of the dressing rooms, and daily laundry.

Makeup Running Crew
Duties will include make-up assistance, hair dressing, maintenance of the makeup room and the makeup cabinet, and daily maintenance of wigs (if applicable).

House Manager
The House Manager is responsible for maintaining the Box Office during the actual production. Duties include audience control, assisting in the Box Office, supervising the ushers, and working with the Stage Manager to orchestrate intermissions. House Manager's appearance when working should be professional. Time commitment may begin when the Box Office opens for ticket sales if necessary, and continue through the run of the production.

 

IV. SCHOLARSHIP/WORK-STUDY
Students awarded scholarships are not encouraged to hold Work-Study positions. If it is a financial necessity that a scholarship student supplements his/her earnings with Work-Study, scholarship requirements and responsibilities must be claimed first and Work-Study hours second. Students will not be able to fulfill scholarship commitments with Work-Study hours.

V. DANCE - SCHOLARSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES
Dance scholarship students will work on a crew or perform a role for a maximum of two non-dance productions during each year, with their remaining scholarship responsibilities being fulfilled by their participation in the dance production. The requirement will be a total of 100 units per semester.

VI. SCHOLARSHIP MEETINGS
All Scholarship students must attend all scholarship meetings unless they have made previous arrangements with the appropriate designer or technical director. Arrangements must be made at least 48 hours in advance of the scheduled meeting. Scholarship meetings are crucial to the scheduling and the organization of the student's time and to the production.

VII. REAPPLICATION
All scholarships will automatically become open at the end of each academic year. Therefore, anyone who wishes a scholarship for the following academic year must apply or reapply each spring at a time specified by the faculty. An effort will be made to fill approximately 25% of the scholarships with incoming freshmen or students transferring from other colleges.
An audition or portfolio interview will be required of all students. The audition/interview will take place in the spring semester before the entire theatre and dance faculty.

VIII. FACULTY ASSESSMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS
Due to the increased competition for scholarships, it is necessary that the faculty assess the work of scholarship students at the end of the fall semester and at the time of spring applications. This assessment will be based on the following:

A. The fulfillment by scholarship students of the requirements in parts A, B, C, D, and E
section II.

B. The assessment of students' work in fulfilling the requirements in part F, section II. This assessment, based on the recommendations of faculty members who have worked with scholarship students in production, will of necessity be fundamentally subjective.

A theatre and dance scholarship is intended to financially assist the theatre and dance student whose work is outstanding both in class and in production. Any assessment will be based on a balance of these two parts of a student's work. Outstanding work in production is usually based more strongly on the attitude of the student doing the work than on the skill that the student may have in any particular job.
Production work, whether artistically stimulating or rather dull, must be done well and on time if the production is to be successful and if all those working on the production are to gain maximum educational benefit. Therefore, a student who seeks to contribute more positively and consistently to the qualitative completion of a job will be assessed more favorably than a student who works the minimum time required or who seeks to do only certain kinds of work.

The faculty may, at the end of the fall semester, withdraw aid from any student who, in the opinion of the faculty, has not satisfactorily fulfilled all of the requirements for that scholarship. Should the scholarship administrator and/or any other member of the faculty recommend such a revocation, the student(s) involved will be notified in writing and given seven days to request a hearing and review before a departmental fact finding panel. A panel, consisting of three scholarship students and two faculty members appointed by the department head in consultation with the faculty, will seek to determine the merits of both the recommendation for revocation of the scholarship and the appeal of the student involved. The panel will present its recommendation to the entire faculty, which will then vote on the matter. The faculty vote will be final.

AUDITIONS TIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP AUDITIONS - ACTING

• You have a maximum of 5 minutes. We would prefer to see you perform two contrasting monologues, each about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes in length. By contrasting, we mean material that utilizes different sides of you as a performer. This contrast could mean one serious and one comic piece, or one contemporary/modern language piece coupled with a classical piece, (Shakespeare, Moliere, etc.). If you would like to sing, please do. A tape player will be provided, and usually 16 measures or one verse is sufficient. Please sing a song from a musical, not a top 40 hit, and remember, songs must be acted too!

• Avoid Shakespeare unless you have experience and feel comfortable with it. Without more training, we don't expect you to present this difficult material, but if you feel comfortable and confident with it, by all means go ahead!

• Do material that shows off your best and strongest skills as a performer, that's what we want to see! For example, are you funny? Do you have good comic sense/timing? A strong sense of your own physicality? Can you present honest and grounded work? Do you have a sense of vulnerability? Can you incorporate a strength or weakness in your character as called for in the text? Can you do all of these without always making the cliche choice? Are you creative? These are things we are trying to discern in your audition!

• Work with your drama teacher to put together the best audition possible. Show them these guidelines, and by all means, have them call us if they have any questions. (307-766-2198) WE WANT YOU TO DO YOUR BEST! Many times, we see students bring in Speech cuttings that have been successful at their speech meets throughout the year. While these do show off skills, we prefer to see material from plays, that have fully developed characters. Novels, stories, poems, etc., are not usually meant to be performed, but read. Acting is action, and plays provide that type of material.

• When you audition, we like to make it as relaxed as possible for you. A group of faculty can be intimidating, but please remember we want you to do your best! We like to see talent! Wear something that is flattering to you, but also comfortable. If you don't feel right in nylons and heels, don't wear them. Suits and ties are nice, but if they restrict your audition in any way, choose something else. Be sure to introduce the names of your selections at the beginning of your audition, as well as telling us your name. Don't describe the scene or setting you are about to do, just do it! Most of the time, we are familiar with the plays you choose. If not, a short description, (as we see in many speech cuttings) won't help that much anyway.

• Finally, stay around and chat with our faculty. Get to know us, and allow us to get to know you! Mature, serious, and creative students make the best candidates for scholarships, and whatever you can show us during those two days will help. Talk with our students, look at the facilities, take in a show if possible, and sit in on our classes if you can make the time for it. We want you to be happy with your choice of school! Break a leg!

AUDITION TIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP AUDITIONS - TECHNICAL/DESIGN MAJORS

For the scholarship audition you will be asked to formally present a portfolio of your work to date and to provide a resume. Begin with an introduction of yourself, where you are from, and where you are in your training. Briefly discuss your goals as a technician or designer. Then go on and present your actual materials. You have a maximum of 10 minutes.

A few general recommendations:

a. Appearance is important. Dress well, in something that is flattering to you, but comfortable. Ladies, if you don't feel right in nylons and heels, don't wear them! Suits and ties are nice for men, but if they restrict your presentation in any way, choose something else.

b. Be as neat and meticulous as possible with your visual materials for presentation. Your visual presentation is a reflection of your organizational skills.

c. Be extremely positive when discussing your work. You should exude a positive self-image and a sense of enthusiasm for your career and your work.

d. Don't just show your photographs or renderings: provide a brief explanation of why you think this project was special or significant.

e. In terms of layout, general practice is to list your best skills first. The same is true of your resume. List your most current experience (which should reflect your best work) and work backwards.

f. And finally, practice your presentation. Portfolio material is difficult to handle. You will stay much better poised if you have handled it previously.

When you audition, we like to make it as relaxed as possible for you. A group of faculty can be intimidating, but please remember we want you to do your best! We like to see talent! We also hope that after the auditions you'll stay around and chat with our faculty during an informal reception. Get to know us, and allow us to get to know you! Mature, serious, and creative students make the best candidates for scholarships, and whatever you can show us during the time you are here will help. Come a day before auditions, talk with our students, look at the facilities, take in a show if possible. Again, we want you to be happy with your choice of school!

TIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP AUDITIONS - DANCE

Students auditioning for dance scholarships should prepare one dance piece, two minutes in length, in the style of your choice (modern, ballet, or jazz). The genre chosen should consist of movement that is exemplary of your training background and should demonstrate your personal style as a performer. If you tap, we would be delighted to see an additional short (one minute or less) selection demonstrating your ability. We will provide a CD/tape player for your audition. Please come prepared with your music cued-up and ready to go.

Students are often worried about how to get audition material together and whose choreography they can use. You may choreograph your own audition material, or you might look to your dance teacher for help in this area. Be sure to introduce yourself just before you begin your audition piece, state the music and the composer's name which you have selected for accompaniment, and the choreographer of your piece.

When you audition, we like to make it as relaxed as possible for you. A group of faculty can be very intimidating, so remember we want you to do your best! Simple leotards and tights are appropriate attire for your scholarship audition.

If you are a dancer with a background in theatre, do feel free to participate in the theatre auditions. We are a theatre AND dance department, demonstrations and strength in both areas will only help you in your chances of attaining a scholarship. Refer to the separate sheet on acting/performance audition tips.

After the auditions, we may ask questions about your goals, interests and background. Mature, serious, and creative students make the best candidates for scholarships, and whatever you can show us during your time here will help. We welcome questions and conversation about our program, the university, financial aid, etc. Talk with our students, look at the facilities, and see a performance if possible. Keep in mind, prospective students are welcome to visit campus anytime and are invited to participate in or observe a class.

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