Admissions

In order to pursue the B.F.A. in Theatre at SMU, applicants must apply and be admitted to SMU and, in a separate application, to Meadows School of the Arts Division of Theatre. It is recommended that applicants apply to SMU and to Meadows at the same time. Registration for Theatre auditions is found within the Meadows Theatre Application. Read more about the auditions and how to access the Meadows Theatre Application below.

Applicants for the SMU Presidents' Scholar Program or the Hunt Leadership Scholars Program need to complete their theatre audition in the fall semester and follow application timelines and processes for each respective program.

Pre-Audition Day Visit

We welcome all candidates to begin their visit to SMU on the Fridays preceding auditions, during the optional Pre-Audition Day Visit, to become better acquainted with our facilities, students and faculty before their audition experience. 

AUDITION TYPES, DATES, AND DEADLINES FOR 2026-27

There are three types of auditions this year: on-campus auditions, virtual auditions, and Unified auditions. Registration for Theatre auditions is found within the online Meadows Theatre Application. See further below for info. Please note that there are different audition dates and times for the B.F.A. in Theatre - Musical Theatre Specialization and the B.F.A. in Theatre - Acting or Theatre Studies Specializations.

For the audition, candidates should prepare:  

  • A headshot and resume  
  • An introductory slate (introduce yourself and the pieces you will be performing)  
  • Two contrasting monologues from contemporary plays  
  • 16 bars of one song (please note that the song must be unaccompanied)  

The total length of both pieces and the song should not exceed five (5) minutes. Auditions will also include an interview either in-person or virtually. Candidates interested in design, directing, playwriting, stage management or other areas of theatre are encouraged (but not required) to submit through the application status page following submission of this application or to bring portfolios or supplemental materials in addition to presenting their auditions. All auditions will be recorded. Submit your completed Meadows Theatre Application and audition registration at least three days prior to your audition date, unless the applicant is participating in a third-party audition.

On Campus Auditions

You will register for either a morning or afternoon audition. Each audition block lasts approximately three hours. Applicants should arrive at the beginning of their time slot and will be greeted and given an audition order then.

Friday, December 4, 2026

1 – 4 p.m. CT

Saturday, December 5, 2026

9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 – 4 p.m. CT

Friday, February 19, 2027

1 – 4 p.m. CT

Saturday, February 20, 2027

9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 – 4 p.m. CT 

Because audition opportunities are in high demand, if you need to cancel a registration, please refer to the audition confirmation email and find the cancellation link, or contact Meadows Admission to change or cancel your audition. 

Virtual Auditions via Zoom 

Submit your completed Meadows Theatre Application and audition registration at least three days prior to your audition date. When you register, you will be registering for a specific time slot. Auditions last about 15 minutes for each applicant.

Saturday, November 14, 2026

9 a.m. – 12 p.m. CT

Friday, January 22, 2027

9 a.m. – 12 p.m. CT

Sunday, February 7, 2027

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. CT

Saturday, February 27, 2027

9 a.m. – 12 p.m. CT

Because audition opportunities are in high demand, if you need to cancel a registration, please refer to the audition confirmation email and find the cancellation link, or contact Meadows Admission to change or cancel your audition.

Unified Auditions

New York Unifieds @ Pearl Studios

  • January 23-24, 2027
  • 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 – 4 p.m. ET

Chicago Unifieds @ Palmer House

  • February 1-4, 2027
  • 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 – 4 p.m. CT 

Los Angeles Unifieds @ Anaheim Hilton

  • Saturday, February 6, 2027
  • 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 – 4 p.m. PT
  • Sunday, February 7, 2027
  • 1 – 3 p.m. PT

Third-Party Auditions: Conference and Area Auditions 

Faculty will attend various theatre conferences across the country. Candidates may be invited to a callback or asked to submit a Meadows Theatre Application and select the appropriate third-party audition option for immediate consideration.

Musical Theatre candidates must submit a pre-screen video for consideration to audition Pre-screen submissions will be reviewed, and those invited to audition will be notified with scheduling instructions. Notifications are typically sent in mid-November and mid-December (respectively).

All Musical Theatre applicants wishing to participate in a live audition in:

  • November and December must first submit a pre-screening video by November 1 (11:59 p.m. CST)
  • January or February must first submit a pre-screening video by December 10 (11:59 p.m. CST) 

The pre-screen video must include:

  • An introductory slate (introduce yourself and the pieces you will be performing)
  • One contemporary monologue
  • Two full musical theatre songs

We suggest that large video files be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo and linked within the Meadows Portfolio tab of the application.

For applicants that pass the required pre-screen, an application status page will populate with a checklist item to Schedule Audition with a link to the audition calendar. From there, applicants will be able to request the preferred audition date from those available on the calendar, as well as utilize the status page for additional information.

For the audition, candidates should prepare:

  • A headshot and resume (uploaded to the application and two physical copies brought to your audition)
  • An introductory slate (introduce yourself and the pieces you will be performing)
  • Two contrasting monologues from contemporary plays
  • Three full musical theatre songs with properly marked sheet music. Candidates are required to perform one song but need to prepare the other two in case the admission committee wants to hear additional materials.
  • To participate in a 90-minute dance call

On Campus Auditions

All candidates auditioning on campus will participate in the morning dance call (9:30 – 11 a.m. CT) and then are free until their scheduled audition time.

Saturday, December 5, 2026

12 – 6 p.m. CT

Saturday, February 20, 2027

12 – 6 p.m. CT

Because audition opportunities are in high demand, if you need to cancel a registration please refer to the audition confirmation email and find the cancellation link, or contact Meadows Admission to change or cancel your audition.

Unified Auditions

New York Unifieds @ Pearl Studios

  • January 23-24, 2027
  • 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET

Chicago Unifieds @ Palmer House

  • February 1-4, 2027
  • 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. CT

Los Angeles Unifieds @ Anaheim Hilton

  • February 6-7, 2027
  • 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. PT

Third- Party Auditions: Conference and Area Auditions

Faculty will attend various theatre conferences across the country. Candidates may be invited to a callback or asked to submit a Meadows Theatre Application and select the appropriate third-party audition option for immediate consideration.

 

  • Transfer students must audition during the regular audition season as posted.
  • All new Theatre students are required to begin their Theatre courses in the fall semester.
  • Transfer students who apply to enroll in the spring semester who are accepted to both SMU and to Meadows Division of Theatre have the option of beginning their SMU Common Curriculum studies in the spring semester, then begin their Theatre coursework the following fall semester.
  • Please note that transfer students pursuing the Acting specialization will need a minimum of six semesters at SMU to complete the degree. Transfer Students pursuing the Musical Theatre specialization will need a minimum of eight semesters at SMU to complete the degree.

How to access the Meadows Theatre Application portal

The information below helps applicants navigate to the online Meadows Theatre Application. Please read, then find the application portal at the end of this section:

  • When you click on the “Start Your Meadows Application” button below, you are taken to a page titled “Your Application to SMU.”
    • If you have already submitted an SMU application and have previously logged in to your personal status page, click “Log in” under “Returning Users,” using the same username and password.

      If you have not yet applied to SMU and therefore have not received your SMU personal status page login credentials, see “First-time users” and click on “Create an account” to log in.

    • After logging in, scroll to the bottom of that page and click “Start New Application.”
  • In “Select application type,” choose “2027,” then in the drop-down menu select “Meadows Theatre Application.” Click on “Create application.”
  • Once you have started or submitted your SMU and your Meadows Theatre Application, you will be able to access your status page using your login credentials. At the top-right of the status page you will see a small toggle arrow where you can toggle between your SMU and your Meadows applications.

Questions?

Contact us at: meadowsadmission@smu.edu
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