Musical Theater and Common Application

My daughter has had lead roles in many musicals. On the college application for leadership roles, how would she describe how being the lead in a musical uses leadership skills?

There is a musical theater forum so you will want to search for that and ask your question there.

For what it is worth, my D applied for MT and VP. She did not list a lead role under leadership skills…it’s an interesting idea…wish I had thought of that…but I’m not sure about it. Ask on the MT forum.

My D did not have a lot in traditional leadership roles since she spent so much time in performance (typical for performance kids). She was an choir officer…and had a small “leadership” role at her music school as a senior (mainly making copies for both). I think that may have been all we listed…and had to stretch a bit to explain how those roles made her a leader…since honestly she just did grunt work. I remember being slightly concerned about this too.

However, in reality, leadership roles seemed neither here nor there in acceptances…it was all about the audition…but if she’s gunning for some type of scholarship, it could matter there.

Ask on the MT forum…and if she has NO other leadership roles and you want to make a case for leadership on stage as a lead (as opposed to leaving the area empty) I say have her get creative and go for it. We did it with my D’s “making copies” leadership role so…I doubt it would hurt.

Thank you. She has been involved in MT since 3rd grade but the last 3 years shifted to classical voice and now music education with a vocal emphasis. She has had leadership roles in our church but did not know how important they were on the application and hate to see all her time in MT not helping. t

I would not list lead roles in theatrical performances as “leadership roles” on college applications- that is not what they are asking for. Just list them under activities and then put the role down and list it as a “lead role”.

There is no reason not to list her church positions. They are definitely relevant --as service and leadership.

Don’t list the lead roles under leadership. Directing a play might be leadership though.

She can list church leadership.

But honestly, for kids in the arts, I don’t think conventional “leadership” entries on the application matter at all. Colleges know what it takes to have a lead role in a play or be involved in any number of demanding extracurricular activities, in or out of school, that aren’t “leadership.”

If she is applying to a program for MT or music ed or VP, audition will be important, and if she applies to a college or university BA program, without an audition, they will still get it!

One thing, and the MT forum can advise you, but it is possible that an arts supplement might help her for colleges. That would mean sending a video of a performance, cued perhaps to the best 3 minutes, plus a performance resume, letter(s) from directors, even programs.