1. Apply to the University
The directing and stage management option has an open admissions policy, so scheduling an interview for admission into the program is not required for admittance to the program. 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.
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2. Schedule an Interview
Fall 2027 Entry Term Applications will be available on August 3, 2026.
The directing/stage management BA/BS option has an open admissions policy, so scheduling an interview for admission into the program is not required for admittance to the program. 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, Admissions will notify you via email to access your digital Cardinal Landing portal.
In your portal, you may complete the supplemental application ‘Department of Theatre & Dance Audition/Interview Registration’ located on your portal’s Checklist. Select your preferred interview date and location and submit. We will contact you directly.
In order for us to schedule your interview, you MUST complete this step.
Dates
On-Campus:
- Saturday, November 14, 2026
- Saturday, February 6, 2027
Virtual LIVE:
- Saturday, February 13, 2027
- If you select this date, add any portfolio materials (see Process and Guidelines section) to your digital Portfolio on your Cardinal Landing portal.
Process and Guidelines
On-Campus Auditions
All applicants will be notified of dates, times, schedules, materials needed, and audition guidelines via email no later than two weeks prior to the audition date chosen. Continue to be active in your Application Portal and upload any required documents prior to your audition date. Please add auditions@bsu.edu to your address book to avoid messages getting lost or dropped in spam/junk. You are encouraged to email auditions@bsu.edu with any questions.
What to Bring
- A résumé that outlines your theatre activities and experience
- A portfolio or folder of materials that illustrates your work, if applicable (Depending on your area of study and past experience, you may submit prompt books and/or a notebook containing program copies and stage photographs for each production you wish to document.)
- A short statement of purpose that addresses what you want to do in the theatre (In the statement, please explain clearly why you have a passion for your area of interest, as well as what skills and values you possess which will make you a successful student for the next four years, and a working professional later.)
Please be prepared to discuss and answer questions about your portfolio/folder/notebook, and statement of purpose, as well as your past theatrical experiences.
You will be interviewed by members of our production faculty who will welcome you and be eager to learn more about you.
Note
We do not expect every student to have a physical representation of work done in the past, or to be at a particular level of knowledge or experience. You are strongly encouraged to bring anything you think will help the interview process, as outlined above, but if you only have the required resume, that is acceptable.
Creating a list of questions you ask every university for which you are interviewing may allow you to compare programs more specifically. However, the answers to many of your questions will be on the various departmental websites and in printed materials, so we cannot emphasize enough how important it is to research the programs prior to your interview. It's possible that you will be asked what you are looking for in a program and why you're interested in our program in particular. Having a sense of what differentiates one program from another is one of the best things you can do prior to your college theatre interview.
If you haven't been able to find an answer to your question(s), please feel free to ask the faculty or the theatre students who will be present on your interview day. We want to make sure you get the information you need!
Finally, this is a time for us to find out a bit more about you, and for you to learn more about us and our program. Relax, breathe, and be yourself. We look forward to meeting you!