Carnegie Mellon's Pre-College Programs: Drama

Pre-College Drama prepares students for the college audition and interview process, illustrating the kind of creativity and discipline required of students studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts Drama curriculum. Classes are taught by accomplished Carnegie Mellon University faculty and adjunct professors. Choose from one of our three options below to prepare for an education and career in theater: Acting Option: Acting students will focus on audition preparation and classroom training rather than a production, allowing students to enter the college application and audition process with a repertoire of monologues as well as the skills needed to find material appropriate for their age and type. Along with the core classes of Acting, Audition, Acting for the Camera, and Dramaturgy, students in the Acting option will also receive training in Movement, Shakespeare, and Voice & Speech. Design/Production Option: Students begin creating a cohesive portfolio upon which they can build for their college application process. They will be exposed to classes in Basic Design, Technical Production, and Stage & Production Management, as well as introductory work in Lighting, Sounds, Video/Media, Costumes, and Fabrication Technology. Additional supplementary subjects may be added and can change from year to year. All students in Pre-College Drama, including those in the Design/Production option, will take Dramaturgy. Music Theater Option: Students focus on audition preparation and classroom training rather than a production, allowing students to enter the college application and audition process with a repertoire of monologues and songs, as well as the skills needed to find material appropriate for their age and type. Ballet and Jazz classes will provide inexperienced students with a dance foundation, while more experienced students will be placed with peers of similar ability allowing for further development. Music Theater students will also take classes in Acting, Audition, Acting for the Camera, Song Coaching, and Dramaturgy.