How to Apply to the University
You must apply to and be accepted by Ball State University to be considered for admission into the Department of Theatre and Dance.
Apply to Ball State
How to Schedule an Audition or Interview
An audition is required for admission into our bachelor of fine arts (BFA) degree programs. An interview is not required for admission into our bachelor of arts/bachelor of science (BA/BS) degree programs, but we strongly encourage you to schedule an interview for scholarship consideration.
Policies and procedures specific to audition and interview days and locations will be provided directly to the applicants in their confirmation email that will come from auditions@bsu.edu 2 weeks prior to the student's scheduled audition/interview.
You will need to schedule an audition for admission into the program. When you fill out your online application to Ball State, you will be prompted to complete a supplemental theatre application via your Cardinal Landing portal, where you MUST request your audition date and location. Look for the ‘Department of Theatre & Dance Audition/Interview Registration’ item on your portal Checklist.
Dates
On-Campus:
- Saturday, November 8, 2025
- Saturday, February 7, 2026
- Saturday, February 21, 2026
Virtual LIVE:
- Saturday, February 14, 2026
Off-Campus:
National Unified Auditions:
- New York Unifieds: Saturday-Sunday, January 24-25, 2026
- Chicago Unifieds: Monday-Wednesday, February 2-4, 2026
- Los Angeles Unifieds: Saturday, February 7, 2026
Moonifieds:
- Dallas, TX: Friday-Saturday, Nov. 21-22, 2025
Digital Video Submissions:
- Digital video submissions open December 1, 2025 and close at 11:59 PM EST on February 1, 2026.
You will need to schedule an audition for admission into the program. When you fill out your online application to Ball State, you will be prompted to complete a supplemental theatre application via your Cardinal Landing portal, where you MUST request your audition date and location. Look for the ‘Department of Theatre & Dance Audition/Interview Registration’ item on your portal Checklist.
Dates
On-Campus:
- Saturday, November 8, 2025
- Saturday, February 7, 2026
- Saturday, February 21, 2026
Off-Campus:
National Unified Auditions:
- New York Unifieds: Saturday-Sunday, January 24-25, 2026
- Chicago Unifieds: Monday-Thursday, February 2-5, 2026
- Los Angeles Unifieds: Saturday, February 7, 2026
Moonifieds:
- Dallas, TX: Friday-Saturday, Nov. 21-22, 2025
Digital Video Submissions:
- Digital video submissions open November 1, 2025 and close at 11:59 PM EST on January 6, 2026.
You will need to schedule an audition for admission into the program (BFA) or for a technique placement audition (BA/BS).
When you fill out your online application to Ball State, you will be prompted to complete a supplemental dance application via your Cardinal Landing portal, where you MUST request your audition date and location. Look for the ‘Department of Theatre & Dance Audition/Interview Registration’ item on your portal Checklist.
Dates
On-Campus:
- Saturday, November 8, 2025
- Saturday, February 7, 2026
- Friday, February 20, 2026
Off-Campus:
National Unified Auditions:
- Chicago Unifieds: Tuesday, February 3, 2026
CNADM – Chicago National Association of Dance Masters
- Chicago, IL: Friday, November 7, 2025
Digital Dance Auditions:
- Submission instructions are on program audition webpages.
You will need to schedule an interview for admission into the program. When you fill out your online application to Ball State, you will be prompted to complete a supplemental theatre application via your Cardinal Landing portal, where you MUST request your interview date and location. Look for the ‘Department of Theatre & Dance Audition/Interview Registration’ item on your portal Checklist.
Dates
On-Campus:
- Saturday, November 8, 2025
- Saturday, February 7, 2026
Virtual LIVE:
- Saturday, February 14, 2026
Off-Campus:
Pittsburgh Unifieds - Virtual Live Tech & Design Portfolio Reviews
- VIRTUAL LIVE: Saturday, October 25, 2025
- Counts as final program decision interviews for BFA Design & Technology. (You MUST register through Pittsburgh Unifieds coordinators as well as your BSU interview registration application).
Our BA/BS theatre programs have open admissions policies, so scheduling an interview for admission into the program is not required for admittance to our BA/BS theatre programs. However, it is strongly recommended that you interview with our faculty for departmental scholarship consideration.
When you fill out your online application to Ball State, you will be prompted to complete a supplemental theatre application via your Cardinal Landing portal, where you can request your interview date and location. Look for the ‘Department of Theatre & Dance Audition/Interview Registration’ item on your portal Checklist.
Dates
On-Campus:
- Saturday, November 8, 2025
- Saturday, February 7, 2026
Virtual LIVE:
- Saturday, February 14, 2026
Guidelines and Procedures
Notification
We will make every effort to contact you by phone if you are admitted to the BFA programs (acting, dance, musical theatre, or design and technology) by April 15. We will also do our best to contact you with information regarding scholarships at that time. If you are not accepted to the acting, musical theatre, or dance options, you will be contacted via e-mail. We will make every effort to contact you via email if you are admitted to one of the BA/BS in theatre options or the teaching major in theatre by April 15. We will also do our best to contact you with information regarding scholarships by that time.
Even If You Don’t Get In…
Admission to Ball State does not guarantee admission into the theatre and dance programs. If you are accepted to Ball State but not admitted into the acting or musical theatre options, you may declare a theatre major in the theatre creation option. The theatre creation option offers an exciting broad-based theatre education that includes courses in acting, directing, theatre history, design, dramaturgy, and theatre management, among many others. It allows you the flexibility to take a wide range of electives as well as pursue a second major. Should you choose to do so, you will have the option of re-auditioning for acting or musical theatre after completing at least one semester on campus.