Undergraduate Admissions – Design, Production & Management
The interview process for our Design, Production, and Management cohort involves carefully reviewing the portfolios of between 250 and 350 applicants yearly. We then have the pleasure of inviting up to 25 of those creatives to join our first year DP&M Core.
The undergraduate DP&M Core is for BFA candidates pursuing a BFA in Scene Design, Lighting Design, Sound Design, Costume Design, Costume Production, Technical Production, Stage Management, or Theatre Arts/Design, Production & Management: Applicants may submit as an Early Decision applicant for Early Decision 1 or Early Decision 2; A Regular Decision applicant; or a Transfer Student applicant.
Applying to Theatre at BU
There are two parts to the BU application process for prospective undergraduate (BFA) students:
1) Academic Review via the Common App, and
2) Artistic Review via the Acceptd portal
BFA Design & Production Core Application Instructions
Applicants must complete both parts of the application process to be considered for admission to the BU School of Theatre. Applications for Boston University can be completed via the Common App. Once submitted, and applicants have received a BU ID, they can apply for an Artistic Review via the Acceptd Platform.
Early Decision 1
Early Decision 1 applicants for undergraduate DP&M Core should upload their materials to the Acceptd platform, and will then be invited for an artistic review. Artistic Reviews for prospective DP&M Core candidates include:
- A virtual interview with a faculty member
- Students are encouraged to prepare a ten-minute presentation, sharing their portfolio collection*
- They should then be prepared for ten minutes of friendly discussion about their work.
* Portfolio collection submissions that do not adhere to the requirements will not be considered, and your submission will not be considered complete until you have scheduled your interview.
Application Deadline: November 1, 2023
Virtual Interview Dates: November 11 & 12, 2023
REQUIRED MATERIALS
All submissions must include:
- A Resume listing:
- Academic, professional, or artistic achievements;
- Work, volunteer, or community service experience;
- Experience in theatre, film, television, or related media;
- Specific training, workshops and/or courses in these fields;
- A Personal Statement:
- 100-200 words describing your artistic perspective.
- An Additional 18 Files. Applicants may submit:
- Images – in .jpg, .png, .pdf, or gif format
- Videos – in .mov, .wmv, .flv, .wp4, or .mp3 format
- Media – as links hosted on YouTube, Vimeo, or SoundCloud
- Design & Production Portfolios should demonstrate the broadest range of theatrical and artistic expression. You may share anything that suggests your ability to communicate using the tools of the visual artist. You may include theatre renderings, related painting or graphics, working drawings, ground plans, lighting plots, props, masks, photography, and photographs of sculpture, murals, or other non-transportable works.
- Stage Management Portfolios may contain prompt books, programs, director’s notes, and examples of creative writing. However, the interview and discussion provides the primary basis for evaluation. Applicants to the Stage Management program should come prepared to discuss their activities in theatre.
* Be sure to watch the BU School of Theatre information video, and feel free to ask any questions you may have on the day of your audition.
ENCOURAGED SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
Optional additions to your submission may include:
- A Letter of Recommendation:
- Please directly upload a letter from a mentor or instructor who can speak to your work and ethos as an artist and collaborator.
- Writing Prompt, please answer the following question in 300-500 words:
- “If you could invite an audience to watch your work, who would it be and why?”
Early Decision 2
Early Decision 2 applicants for undergraduate DP&M Core should upload their materials to the Acceptd platform. Those invited for an Artistic Review will be notified by the first week in January. Artistic Reviews for prospective DP&M Core candidates include:
- A virtual interview with a faculty member
- Students are encouraged to prepare a ten-minute presentation, sharing their portfolio collection*
- They should then be prepared for ten minutes of friendly discussion about their work.
* Portfolio collection submissions that do not adhere to the requirements will not be considered, and your submission will not be considered complete until you have scheduled your interview.
Application Deadline: January 4, 2024
Virtual Interview Dates: January 6 & 7, 2024
REQUIRED MATERIALS
All submissions must include:
- A Resume listing:
- Academic, professional, or artistic achievements;
- Work, volunteer, or community service experience;
- Experience in theatre, film, television, or related media;
- Specific training, workshops and/or courses in these fields;
- A Personal Statement:
- 100-200 words describing your artistic perspective.
- An Additional 18 Files. Applicants may submit:
- Images – in .jpg, .png, .pdf, or gif format
- Videos – in .mov, .wmv, .flv, .wp4, or .mp3 format
- Media – as links hosted on YouTube, Vimeo, or SoundCloud
- Design & Production Portfolios should demonstrate the broadest range of theatrical and artistic expression. You may share anything that suggests your ability to communicate using the tools of the visual artist. You may include theatre renderings, related painting or graphics, working drawings, ground plans, lighting plots, props, masks, photography, and photographs of sculpture, murals, or other non-transportable works.
- Stage Management Portfolios may contain prompt books, programs, director’s notes, and examples of creative writing. However, the interview and discussion provides the primary basis for evaluation. Applicants to the Stage Management program should come prepared to discuss their activities in theatre.
* Be sure to watch the BU School of Theatre information video, and feel free to ask any questions you may have on the day of your audition.
ENCOURAGED SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
Optional additions to your submission may include:
- A Letter of Recommendation:
- Please directly upload a letter from a mentor or instructor who can speak to your work and ethos as an artist and collaborator.
- Writing Prompt, please answer the following question in 300-500 words:
- “If you could invite an audience to watch your work, who would it be and why?”
Regular Decision
Regular Decision applicants for undergraduate DP&M Core should upload their materials to the Acceptd platform. Those invited for an Artistic Review will be notified by the first week in January. Artistic Reviews for prospective DP&M Core candidates include:
- A virtual interview with a faculty member
- Students are encouraged to prepare a ten-minute presentation, sharing their portfolio collection*
- They should then be prepared for ten minutes of friendly discussion about their work.
* Portfolio collection submissions that do not adhere to the requirements will not be considered, and your submission will not be considered complete until you have scheduled your interview.
Application Deadline: January 4, 2024
Live Audition Dates: via invitation
Virtual Interview – January 20 & January 21, 2024
Virtual Interview – January 27 & January 28, 2024
Virtual Interview – February 3 & February 4, 2024
REQUIRED MATERIALS
All submissions must include:
- A Resume listing:
- Academic, professional, or artistic achievements;
- Work, volunteer, or community service experience;
- Experience in theatre, film, television, or related media;
- Specific training, workshops and/or courses in these fields;
- A Personal Statement:
- 100-200 words describing your artistic perspective.
- An Additional 18 Files. Applicants may submit:
- Images – in .jpg, .png, .pdf, or gif format
- Videos – in .mov, .wmv, .flv, .wp4, or .mp3 format
- Media – as links hosted on YouTube, Vimeo, or SoundCloud
- Design & Production Portfolios should demonstrate the broadest range of theatrical and artistic expression. You may share anything that suggests your ability to communicate using the tools of the visual artist. You may include theatre renderings, related painting or graphics, working drawings, ground plans, lighting plots, props, masks, photography, and photographs of sculpture, murals, or other non-transportable works.
- Stage Management Portfolios may contain prompt books, programs, director’s notes, and examples of creative writing. However, the interview and discussion provides the primary basis for evaluation. Applicants to the Stage Management program should come prepared to discuss their activities in theatre.
* Be sure to watch the BU School of Theatre information video, and feel free to ask any questions you may have on the day of your audition.
ENCOURAGED SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
Optional additions to your submission may include:
- A Letter of Recommendation:
- Please directly upload a letter from a mentor or instructor who can speak to your work and ethos as an artist and collaborator.
- Writing Prompt, please answer the following question in 300-500 words:
- “If you could invite an audience to watch your work, who would it be and why?”
Transfer Students
Transfer Student applicants for undergraduate DP&M Core should upload their materials to the Acceptd platform. Those invited for an Artistic Review will be notified by the first week in March. Artistic Reviews for prospective DP&M Core candidates include:
- A virtual interview with a faculty member
- Students are encouraged to prepare a ten-minute presentation, sharing their portfolio collection*
- They should then be prepared for ten minutes of friendly discussion about their work.
* Portfolio collection submissions that do not adhere to the requirements will not be considered, and your submission will not be considered complete until you have scheduled your interview.
Application Deadline: March 15, 2024
Virtual Interview Date • via invitation: March 23 & March 24, 2024
REQUIRED MATERIALS
All submissions must include:
- A Resume listing:
- Academic, professional, or artistic achievements;
- Work, volunteer, or community service experience;
- Experience in theatre, film, television, or related media;
- Specific training, workshops and/or courses in these fields;
- A Personal Statement:
- 100-200 words describing your artistic perspective.
- An Additional 18 Files. Applicants may submit:
- Images – in .jpg, .png, .pdf, or gif format
- Videos – in .mov, .wmv, .flv, .wp4, or .mp3 format
- Media – as links hosted on YouTube, Vimeo, or SoundCloud
- Design & Production Portfolios should demonstrate the broadest range of theatrical and artistic expression. You may share anything that suggests your ability to communicate using the tools of the visual artist. You may include theatre renderings, related painting or graphics, working drawings, ground plans, lighting plots, props, masks, photography, and photographs of sculpture, murals, or other non-transportable works.
- Stage Management Portfolios may contain prompt books, programs, director’s notes, and examples of creative writing. However, the interview and discussion provides the primary basis for evaluation. Applicants to the Stage Management program should come prepared to discuss their activities in theatre.
* Be sure to watch the BU School of Theatre information video, and feel free to ask any questions you may have on the day of your audition.
ENCOURAGED SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
Optional additions to your submission may include:
- A Letter of Recommendation:
- Please directly upload a letter from a mentor or instructor who can speak to your work and ethos as an artist and collaborator.
- Writing Prompt, please answer the following question in 300-500 words:
- “If you could invite an audience to watch your work, who would it be and why?”