The drama program at Hofstra is initially non-audition but becomes more competitive as you progress. Here, you don’t have to audition to have a BA in Drama Performance. However, if you are interested in a more specialized performance track, at the beginning of your sophomore year you can audition for the BFA Performance program; this will provide you with the kind of training you’d get at a conservatory style school, while still giving you the liberal arts experience during your first year. If you’d like to stick with a more broad education in drama, or if you do not get accepted into the BFA program, you can still make the most out of the BA program here and take more performance classes as electives. It could also give you room in your schedule to add a major and come out of your four years here with two degrees!
I really appreciated the non-audition component to Hofstra’s program because they really emphasized how they don’t expect you to be a perfect performer coming into school. The whole reason you’re choosing to go to college for theatre is because you want to get better and you want to learn how to act professionally. During your first year, they’ll teach you all the basic skills you need so that you can be successful in your BFA audition if that’s something you’re interested in pursuing. You can also audition for a minor in Musical Theatre at the end of your second semester here. This requires you to take voice and dance classes, giving you training in all aspects of performance for the stage.
At Hofstra, we have three main-stage productions a semester that are faculty directed; in the Fall, we have our musical and two plays, and then in the Spring we usually do three plays. Auditions for these productions occur a semester before, so casting for the Fall semester is announced at the end of the Spring semester and vice versa. Apart from the main-stage productions, there are countless other performance opportunities. We have two student run performance clubs: Masquerade Musical Theatre which puts up one musical each semester, and Spectrum Players which produces one straight-play each semester. Both clubs are completely student run and the shows are chosen based on proposals from students, so if you’re really interested in doing a specific musical or maybe work-shopping an original piece, this is the place to do it.
In addition to the performance side of theatre, the drama program at Hofstra makes sure that you are well-versed in all parts of the theatre world. You’re required to take a handful of production classes in which you’ll learn about the technical sides of theatre, like working in the scene shop, light and sound designing, costume work, and play analysis. You learn to appreciate all parts of the theatre because you’re required to learn how to do everything involved with putting up a production, and not just performing in it. As a drama major you’re also required to be on crew for one main-stage production each semester. You could be doing anything from being an assistant stage manager, building the sets, creating the costumes, or running the lighting board during the show. So while you’ll be receiving specific performance-based training in your regular classes, the curriculum at Hofstra makes sure that you are a well-rounded member of the theatre community.