Apply and Audition

Once Upon a Mattress

Theater Majors can live among their peer artists by joining the Arts Learning Community.

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Applying to our Undergraduate Programs is a Two-Step Process

Admission to George Mason University does not guarantee your acceptance into our programs. However, all College of Visual and Performing Arts majors must be admitted to George Mason.

How to Apply

Step One

Apply to the university. Your application to the university must be on file prior to your audition. We strongly encourage you to apply to the university by November 7 to receive maximum scholarship consideration, including merit and talent-based scholarships. The regular decision application deadline is February 1, and the transfer application priority deadline is March 1.

Step Two

Audition deadlines:

All freshman early action CVPA auditions must be scheduled by November 7.

All freshman regular decision auditions must be scheduled by February 7.

Requirements to be a Theater Major

To be considered for acceptance into the Theater major, students must open an account on SlideRoom

To submit the SlideRoom application, you will be prompted to:

  • Select an Audition/Portfolio Review date. There are both in-person and online dates available. Interviews will be conducted on the same day as your interview/portfolio review.
  • Upload a one-page theatrical resumé in PDF format.
  • If interviewing online, you will be required to upload audition or portfolio materials at least (3) business days before your interview date.

In your slideroom application, you may select either:

  • A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
  • A Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Current George Mason students must:

  • open an account on SlideRoom and upload audition or portfolio requirements
  • Have a 2.5 GPA or higher
  • if accepted, a change of major form will be required

We are looking for:

  • Commitment to the work through preparation for the interview, audition, portfolio review, and/or writing sample.
  • Willingness to accept direction, criticism and mentoring
  • Ability to collaborate with students, faculty, and staff

If you have any questions, please contact the theater office.

Application Deadlines

Incoming Freshman

Complete steps 1 and 2 above

  • University Early Action application deadline: November 1 (audition must be completed by December 6 for early action consideration)
  • University Regular decision deadline: February 1 (audition must be completed by March 1 for Fall admission)

Incoming Transfers

Complete steps 1 and 2 above

  • For Spring 2026 consideration: November 1, 2025
  • For Fall 2026 consideration: July 19, 2026

Current George Mason Students

Only complete Step 2 above

  • Change your major for Spring 2026: November 1, 2025
  • Change your major for Fall 2026: July 19, 2026

Upcoming Audition, Portfolio Review and Interview Dates

*In-person: 11/7/2026, 2/12/2027, 2/13/2027, 2/27/2027 (9:30 am - 4 pm)

Virtual (via Zoom): 12/4/2026, 1/19/2027, 2/9/2027 (3 pm - 6 pm)

Transfer or change of major (Interviews will be conducted on this day and materials must be received at least one day before): 4/5/27 (Further summer dates to be added)

All applicants will be contacted by the School of Theater to schedule an audition time on your selected day.

*Please note applicants auditioning in-person are still required to complete the SlideRoom application. Only Musical Theater applicants must upload pre-screen videos when doing in person auditions. See SlideRoom application for more details.

If you have questions, please contact our Recruitment Coordinator, Mary Burgess.

Programs

Theater, BA

Theater majors pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree are encouraged to maintain wide-ranging interests within the school and throughout the university’s extensive offerings. BA students can organize their advanced work within a chosen area of theater or elect to include advanced level theater classes in several areas of emphasis. Bachelor of Arts students must use some/all general electives to complete a minor, double major, double degree, intermediate-level proficiency in one foreign language, or 12 credits of advanced standing coursework towards an accelerated Masters of Arts degree in Arts Management.

Theater, BFA

The BFA degree prepares students for graduate study or entry into the profession through rigorous, concentrated, and individualized training. All BFA students complete the theater core and are admitted into a chosen concentration to organize their advanced work within the major. Upon admission, BFA students will complete coursework in a specified area of emphasis through one of our five concentrations:

  • Design for Stage and Screen
    • Applicant for the BFA Design for Stage and Screen Concentration submits a portfolio which includes evidence of relevant work on at least one production.
    • Portfolio should showcase your experience with theater/performance/events and/or visual arts 
    • Portfolio should contain at least two of these examples:
      • Production or process photos
      • Sample production paperwork
      • Drafting examples 
      • Design renderings/sketches 
      • Calling script excerpt
      • Sound cue samples 
      • Visual art samples 
  • Performance for Stage and Screen
    • Applicant provides a résumé and prepare two contrasting monologues, not to exceed 90 seconds each. In-person applicants will be asked by the faculty panel to make adjustments and repeat portions of their work.
  • Musical Theater Performance
    • Applicant provides a résumé and prepares two contrasting monologues, not to exceed 90 seconds each. In-person applicants will be asked by the faculty panel to make adjustments and repeat portions of their work.
    • Applicant also presents two prepared songs that demonstrate variety, not to exceed three minutes in total. In-person Actor/Singers will be asked to make adjustments and repeat portions of their work.
    • An accompanist is available for in-person Musical Theater auditions, requiring a $40 cash fee on day of audition. This service includes a brief rehearsal just prior to appointment time. You may provide your own accompanist, or present your two songs a cappella, without accompaniment, if you prefer.
  • Sound Engineering and Design
  • Theater Education for Theater Arts PK-12
    • Applicants for the BA Theater Education concentration audition with one prepared monologue not to exceed 90 seconds, or submit a portfolio for review. Applicants also submit a two-page Teaching Philosophy Statement and a résumé

Tours

We have resumed offering in-person tours of our School of Theater and spaces. If you are a prospective student or parent, and would like to schedule a tour, please contact Mary Burgess.

Please Note: Tours are given Monday-Thursday between the hours of 10:30am-4:30pm. If you would like to tour the spaces outside of those windows, arrangements can be made with advance notice of two business days.

Graduate Admissions

For information on Graduate Admissions, please visit the College of Visual and Performing Arts website.