Conservatory Auditions and Interviews

To Schedule, Please Complete Audition Request Form

You must submit your application to the University prior to requesting an audition. You will log into your application account, and then use the drop-down menu to choose the Conservatory form to complete. Auditions are scheduled through the Office of Admission.

Auditions for Performance Programs

Auditions for our performance programs (Acting, Directing, Musical Theatre) can only be scheduled on the designated dates, outlined below. Individual appointments are not available.

Important Notes

• Students must apply and be academically accepted to Webster University before we can release audition results for the Conservatory.
• Students seeking an audition do not need to upload materials to Acceptd. However, if students do submit through the Acceptd system, our faculty will review their materials and follow up as needed. Acceptd submissions are not considered final auditions for our programs.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts or the audition process, please contact audition coordinator Patti Baygents at 314-246-4216 and 1-800-753-6765, or at pbaygents80@webster.edu

Monologues

As a prospective Acting major, you must prepare two monologues of no more than three minutes total. The selections should be of a contrasting nature. Choose characters close to yourself in age from scripts written after 1930. You must memorize and fully prepare your monologues.

Do not plan a long and involved introduction to your scene. Simply announce the name of the play and character and begin. Do not select Shakespeare or classical pieces. Do not do extreme characterizations of body, voice or speech to alter your own age, physical abilities or mental health. The characters should be as natural, authentic, and close to you in real life as you can imagine. Do not alter your dialect or accent. Use your own speech, even if the character would normally speak with an accent that is different from yours.

Props and Costumes

Feel free to use a chair if you need it. Keep the number of props and costume pieces down to one or two at the most.

Clothing

Please dress in clothing comfortable enough to allow you to do your best work, while still maintaining a professional look. No gym clothes, nothing too tight or revealing, and no heels above 3 inches tall.

For on-campus auditions, please come dressed in comfortable clothes for a movement exercise at the beginning of the auditions. You will have ample time to change into the clothes you want to wear for your audition.

Questions: Contact Andrew Laue, Associate Director of Fine Arts, 314-246-7712 or lauear@webster.edu

To Schedule, Please Complete Audition and Interview Request Form

You must submit your application to the University prior to requesting an audition and interview. You will log into your application account, and then use the drop-down menu to choose the Conservatory form to complete. Auditions and interviews are scheduled through the Office of Admission.

Auditions for Performance Programs

Auditions for our performance programs (Acting, Directing, Musical Theatre) can only be scheduled on the designated dates, outlined below. Individual appointments are not available.

Important Notes

• Students must apply and be academically accepted to Webster University before we can release audition results for the Conservatory.
• Students seeking an audition do not need to upload materials to Acceptd. However, if students do submit through the Acceptd system, our faculty will review their materials and follow up as needed. Acceptd submissions are not considered final auditions for our programs.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts or the audition process, please contact audition coordinator Patti Baygents at 314-246-4216 and 1-800-753-6765, or at pbaygents80@webster.edu

Monologues

As a prospective Directing major, you must prepare two monologues of no more than three minutes total. The selections should be of a contrasting nature. Choose characters close to yourself in age from scripts written after 1930. You must memorize and fully prepare your monologues.

Do not plan a long and involved introduction to your scene. Simply announce the name of the play and character and begin. Do not select Shakespeare or classical pieces. Do not do extreme characterizations of body, voice or speech to alter your own age, physical abilities or mental health. The characters should be as natural, authentic and close to you in real life as you can imagine. Do not alter your dialect or accent. Use your own speech, even if the character would normally speak with an accent that is different from yours.

In addition to the audition, prospective Directing majors will need to interview. At that interview, you will need to present the following:

1. A portfolio that showcases any materials demonstrating your work and interest in theatre and/or in the arts. If you have directed a play or scene or assisted on a project, bring materials from that work (pictures, video, promptbook, program, etc). We also understand that students interested in the Directing program might have little or no formal directing experience. For that reason, the portfolio might also include work in other disciplines such as acting, design, choreography, opera, singing, photography, video, film, painting, design or writing. Share your artistic interests.
2. An essay with pictures. This is separate from the essay you wrote for admission to Webster University. Write a 750- to 1,000-word essay on one of the following topics:
   • Tell a compelling story from your life (or someone you know) and describe how you would bring it to the stage.
   • What surprises or inspires you most about your experiences with live performance? Give an example of how you might create such a moment yourself.
   • Describe how you would go about sharing your passion for the theatre with children. Give an example of a project you could direct to demonstrate that passion.

Questions: Contact Andrew Laue, Associate Director of Fine Arts, 314-246-7712 or lauear@webster.edu

To Schedule, Please Complete Audition Request Form

You must submit your application to the University prior to requesting an audition. You will log into your application account, and then use the drop-down menu to choose the Conservatory form to complete. Auditions are scheduled through the Office of Admission.

Auditions for Performance Programs

Auditions for our performance programs (Acting, Directing, Musical Theatre) can only be scheduled on the designated dates, outlined below. Individual appointments are not available.

Important Notes

• Students must apply and be academically accepted to Webster University before we can release audition results for the Conservatory.
• Students seeking an audition do not need to upload materials to Acceptd. However, if students do submit through the Acceptd system, our faculty will review their materials and follow up as needed. Acceptd submissions are not considered final auditions for our programs.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts or the audition process, please contact audition coordinator Patti Baygents at 314-246-4216 and 1-800-753-6765, or at pbaygents80@webster.edu

Monologues and Songs

As a prospective Musical Theatre major, you must prepare two monologues of no more than three minutes total. The selections should be of a contrasting nature. Choose characters close to yourself in age from scripts written after 1930. You must memorize and fully prepare your monologues.

Do not plan a long and involved introduction to your scene. Simply announce the name of the play and character and begin. Do not select Shakespeare or classical pieces. Do not do extreme characterizations of body, voice, or speech to alter your own age, physical abilities, or mental health. The characters should be as natural, authentic, and close to you in real life as you can imagine. Do not alter your dialect or accent. Use your own speech, even if the character would normally speak with an accent that is different from yours.

In addition, you must present two songs of contrasting nature of not more than 32 measures each to provide substantial information on your vocal quality and range. One of the songs must be taken from the "Golden Era" genre that spans from 1943 to 1964.

Accompaniment

For on-campus and Chicago auditions, an accompanist will be provided for your audition. Please be sure to bring your sheet music, clearly marked, for each of your two songs.

For New York and Los Angeles auditions, please have your piano accompaniment recorded and bring a playback device to play your two songs.

Props and Costumes

Feel free to use a chair if you need it. Keep the number of props and costume pieces down to one or two at the most.

Clothing

Please dress in clothing comfortable enough to allow you to do your best work, while still maintaining a professional look. No gym clothes, nothing too tight or revealing, and no heels above 3 inches tall.

For on-campus auditions, please come dressed in comfortable clothes for a movement exercise at the beginning of the auditions. You will have ample time to change into the clothes you want to wear for your audition.

Dance

We may request you to send a video of ballet, jazz and/or contemporary dance that is no longer than one minute in length. An additional one-minute dance video of hip-hop and/or tap will be optional. Please do not send us dance videos unless we have requested them.

Questions: Contact Andrew Laue, Associate Director of Fine Arts, 314-246-7712 or lauear@webster.edu

All students interested in Costume Construction and Technical Direction must interview and present a portfolio for review in order to be considered for the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts.

We schedule interviews and portfolio reviews on an individual basis in St. Louis or virtually throughout the year. Friday mornings are preferred. We also schedule interviews and portfolio reviews in Chicago during the Unified Auditions (February 5–9, 2023).

• Step 1: Apply to Webster University. You can apply through our website at webster.edu/apply, or through Common App or the COALITION App.
• Step 2: Complete the Interview and Portfolio Review Request form and submit a $30 fee. Upon applying to the University, you will also receive an email with this link.

After we receive your Interview and Portfolio Review Request form, Patti Baygents, audition coordinator for the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts, will contact you with information on how to schedule a date and time for your interview.

Locations to Meet Webster University Faculty

Sargent Conservatory faculty attend a variety of Thespian Festivals and other similar events throughout the summer and fall. We may consider interviews and portfolio reviews at these events for Technical Theatre production candidates to be full evaluations and no subsequent interview might be necessary. Prospective production majors will still need to apply and be accepted by the University before gaining admission into the Conservatory program.

Important Note: Students must apply and be academically accepted to Webster University before we can release portfolio review results for the Conservatory.

If you have any questions regarding the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts or the audition process, please contact audition coordinator Patti Baygents at pbaygents80@webster.edu or 314-246-4216.

Portfolio

Students seeking an interview for Costume Construction or Technical Direction must present a portfolio that showcases the variety and caliber of your work in fine arts or theatre. Your interview therefore includes a portfolio review. Such a portfolio might include pieces from the following:

• Drawings, any subject and media
• Examples of work in color
• Drafting
• Prints
• 3-D projects of any type
• Actual theatrical design work, either for a production or a project
• Photographs of projects
• Evidence of work in carpentry, electronics, mechanics, scenic construction
• Sound files

Letters of recommendation from two persons familiar with your work should be included.

We schedule interviews individually to allow ample time to review the portfolio and discuss your experience and career goals.

Questions: Contact Andrew Laue, Associate Director of Fine Arts, 314-246-7712 or lauear@webster.edu