Apply to the Theatre Program

Becoming a Theatre Major at Southern Oregon University is a three-step process.

Step 1. Apply to SOU

Contact the Office of Admissions for more details.

*You do not have to wait for acceptance into SOU to continue with Step 2, however, your theatre application decision will be contingent upon SOU acceptance through that separate application process.

Step 2. Apply to the Theatre Program

*Please carefully follow the Theatre Program Application Instructions listed below.

Step 3. Confirm Enrollment Intent

If accepted to SOU and accepted into the Theatre program, you will receive a notice and be asked to send confirmation of your intent to enroll by the deadlines listed below.

*In the event you are accepted into SOU but are not selected for the Theatre program, you may reapply to the program the following year. Some theatre courses are always available for enrollment to non-theatre majors.

Please read the following instructions carefully and prepare all of your materials before logging-on to the Theatre Program Application Website.

You may save your application in multiple drafts if you are not able to complete it in one sitting. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 541.552.6346 .

Biographical Information

The first section of the application asks you to enter the following items:

• Have you applied to Southern Oregon University?
• What is your SOU ID number?
• Your First and Last Name
• An e-mail address where we may contact you
• Contact phone number
• A mailing address
• Name of current or most recent school
• Have you taken the SAT or ACT? What was your SAT combined or ACT composite score?

Applicant Information

You will be asked to describe your areas(s) of interest.

Please note the following as you complete your application:

1. You are applying for admittance to the BA / BS degree option only.
2. There are no “emphases” in the undergraduate BA/BS program. Although you may be interested in specific aspects of theatre, all accepted students are admitted as theatre generalists. As such, you will be expected to engage in a broad area of theatre study.
3. Admission to any of our BFA tracks is open only to enrolled students and is by audition, interview, and/or resumé‐portfolio presentation. Students must consult the BFA program advisor in their area of interest for specific restrictions and guidelines prior to applying for admission to the theatre BFA program. Acceptance into the undergraduate BA / BS program in no way guarantees acceptance into the BFA program at any point during your undergraduate career.

Early Application Deadline: December 1, 2020
The Theatre Program will grant priority consideration to candidates who apply by this date. Candidates may expect to receive their decisions by January 31, 2021. Accepted candidates must confirm their intention to enroll at SOU by May 1, 2021.

Regular Application Deadline: April 1, 2021
Final date to submit an application to the Theatre Program for the 2021-2022 academic year. Accepted candidates must confirm their intention to enroll at SOU by May 1, 2021.

Required Application Components

A 30‐second video introduction, resume, and writing sample are required for all applicants.

1. Writing Sample (required): Please write a maximum 500‐word essay answering the following: Why have you chosen to apply to the Theatre program at Southern Oregon University? Please consider all aspects of the essay. We will examine for style and syntax as well as content. You don’t need to be clever or have a gimmick ‐ you need to show us you can express yourself clearly and concisely. DO NOT SUBMIT GENERAL WRITING SAMPLES. The following file types can be uploaded: doc, docx, mus, pdf, ppt, pptx, rtf, sib, txt, xls, xlsx. Preferred files are .doc or PDF.

2. Resume (required): Please include a single-page resume. You may include non‐theater related work experience. Please list previous theater experience with the following information: job title or role, name of show, venue, director, year. For example: Jack, Into the Woods, Springfield High, Jane Doe, 2016.

3. 30‐second Video Introduction (required): Introduce yourself and tell us something about yourself that you would like us to know. The following formats can be uploaded: avi, m4v, mov, mp4, mpeg, mpg, vob, wmv, mkv.

Optional Application Components

4. If you select “Performance” as one of your areas of interest – then you are required to upload a second video containing a 3‐minute maximum audition. Video may consist of two contrasting monologues (one comedic, one dramatic), or a short scene you perform with a partner, or a clip from a student film or other taped performance. If you sing, please include 16 bars or a short sample of your work in that area. Please state your name clearly and introduce your material before you begin. Please also title your video with your first and last name, i.e. “Sally Smith.”

5. Upload a Portfolio (optional): Students with backgrounds in design or technology should create a PDF document with images and captions describing their work. Please include text describing your contribution to the work in the images. For example, you may include a photo of a stage set, but please describe what you did for that production; i.e., design, painting, carpentry, etc.

You may include any work you feel is relevant. If you designed and built your own prom dress, show us a photo. If you spent the summer building a deck, let’s see it. The best images clearly show your work. A photo of a hand prop you made yourself is better than a photo of a set you helped paint as part of a 12‐person crew.

If you do not have images of previous work, you may still post a text file or PDF with a 250‐word description of relevant work. If you spent the summer helping build Habitat for Humanity houses, that’s relevant. If you have worked for years at a vintage clothing store, let us know. Tell us if you have been in charge of setting up the AV equipment for your high school’s events. Any previous experience you would like to describe in 250 words or less may be included.

The following file types can be uploaded: doc, docx, mus, pdf, ppt, pptx, rtf, sib, txt, xls, xlsx, gif, jpeg, jpg, png. Multiple files may be uploaded, but we strongly encourage you to assemble your images and captions into a single PDF document.

*No applicants are accepted to the BFA program in any area through this admission process. Application to the BFA program occurs no earlier than when a student has achieved sophomore standing.