What better place to earn your BFA in Musical Theater than in the musical theater capital of the world? This program provides professional training in acting, singing, and dancing, and the synthesis of these three that equips you for a professional career in musical theater, taught by well-connected professionals working in the industry.
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Launch your career in entertainment with a BFA in Musical Theater at Sands College of Performing Arts—one of the top 10 most represented colleges on Broadway. A conservatory-style program, the Pace School of Performing Arts Musical Theater BFA offers you the opportunity to showcase your abilities and talents while preserving and refining your individuality.
Located in the heart of New York City, you’ll live, study, and train in one of the world’s most vibrant artistic hubs. With faculty composed of working industry-professionals, you will receive in-depth training, performance opportunities, develop new works, and participate in our renowned artist-in-residence program.
Pace graduates thrive in network television, major motion pictures, streaming platforms, and Broadway productions. With extensive industry connections, many students land professional opportunities while still enrolled. You will graduate with a holistic understanding of creative integrity and personal artistry, empowered to fulfill your creative aspirations as collaborative artists, and actively engaged theater-makers.
one of the Top 27 acting colleges in America of 2024 (Source: Backstage.com)
named one of the best college dance programs for 2024 in America (Source: DanceUS.org)
one of the 13 best musical theater colleges in America of 2025 (Source: Backstage.com)
Our acting, music, and dance courses have all been designed with the professional musical theater performer in mind, and each class seeks to bring together these three disciplines into a cohesive synthesis.
As a musical theater major, you’ll develop and maintain strong ties to professionals in the industry through workshops and masterclasses led by notable members of the Broadway community through our Artist-in-Residence program. Past artists include Alex Lacamoire, Michael Arden, Mayte Natalio, Andréa Burns, Justin Guarnini, Shakina, Jeanine Tesori, Michael John La Chiusa, Lonny Price, Victoria Clark, Graciela Daniele, and more.
Current students and alumni consistently perform on and off Broadway, earrning us a frequent spot in the top ten represented schools on Broadway by Playbill. Our alumni also tour nationally and internationally, in addition to working in TV and film.
As a Pace student, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with our robust career services team to develop a career plan that best fits your goals.
Some of our alumni include:
Gabi Campo ’18: Broadway credits include Cabaret (Sally Bowles understudy), The Prom (Emma/Alyssa understudy), West Side Story (Anita understudy), Beetlejuice (Miss Argentina), Roundabout’s Pirates of Penzance (Stanley Daughter), and co-star on FBI: Most Wanted, Billions, and Helpsters.
Susie Carroll ’19: Broadway and National Tour credits include Back to the Future (swing), The Prom (swing), Mean Girls (swing), with TV credits including Blue Bloods, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Leana Rae Concepcion ’19: Credits include Radio City Christmas Spectacular (singer), the Broadway revival of Merrily We Roll Along (Beth understudy), and Off-Broadway's Comfort Women at Playwrights Horizons (Namsoon Lee).
Max Chlumecky ‘20: Broadway credits include Appropriate (Rhys understudy) and Harry Potter Cursed Child (James Potter/Cedric Diggory, Albus understudy). TV credits include Law and Order.
Nathan Levy ’21: Broadway credits include Dear Evan Hansen (Evan, Connor, Jared understudy), Once Upon a One More Time (Clumsy, Lord Ebullient), Aladdin (Omar), and & Juliet (François).
Liam Pearce ‘22: Broadway credits include How to Dance in Ohio (Drew) and & Juliet (Romeo). Liam was nominated for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical at the 2024 Drama Desk Awards for his role of Drew in How to Dance in Ohio.
Ndaya Dream Hoskins ‘25: Broadway and National Tour credits include SMASH (swing, Assistant Dance Captain) and Mrs. Doubtfire (swing).
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Nathan Levy ’21: Credits include Dear Evan Hansen (Evan, Connor, Jared understudy) and The Griswold's Broadway Vacation at 5th Avenue Theatre (Rusty).
Analise Scarpaci ’22: Credits include Mrs. Doubtfire Original Broadway Cast (Lydia Hillard).
Professor Carlo holds a PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies with a focus on Social Justice and Social Change. His work lies at the intersections of restorative and transformative justice, and consent and boundary practices to create transformative pedagogical experiences in the arts that ultimately positively impact the theatrical industrial complex.
Professor Flynn is a Vocologist and voice teacher whose expertise includes working on Broadway as a Production Vocal Coach and working with injured singers. Her research and writing focus on musical theatre singing, vocal health and injury, assessment in the arts, and other areas related to musical theatre and voice education.
Professor Mercanti has an MFA in Directing from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of Arts. He is an accomplished director, casting director, and writer with numerous Broadway shows to his credit.
Ready to take charge of your future? Pace is with you every step of the way, providing a world class education and the skills your industry will be looking for far into the future.
To learn more about requirements to apply to the Sands College of Performing Arts and what each program requests to include in your application, visit the Sands admission webpage.
All prospective students to the Sands College of Performing Arts must submit an application for admission to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions before beginning the audition or interview process.
Once prospective students have applied for admission to Pace, they should create a profile on Acceptd and upload the pre-screen requirements to all programs in which they wish to audition/interview.
NOTE: Applicants will need to know their Application ID number (sent via email once the application is processed).
Our faculty will review each digital submission and issue decisions on all submissions. For those issued callbacks, the faculty will need to see the applicant for a live audition or interview. Students will be notified via Acceptd of the faculty’s decision within two weeks from time of submission and, if given a callback, will be invited to schedule their audition or interview via Acceptd. Students who are not called back will also be notified in the same time frame.
If a student does not hear back from the College of Performing Arts within three weeks, they may email performingarts@pace.edu.
If granted multiple callbacks, the student will need to attend all auditions/interviews. (All programs audition/interview separately).
Students will receive one decision letter with their academic and artistic acceptance together. Early Decision applicants will receive their decision by December. All other applicants will be reviewed for academic admission and notified of both the academic and artistic decision beginning in mid-March. In all instances a student must be academically admissible to qualify for admission to the Sands College.
Understanding the value of a degree is essential, especially in terms of return on investment (ROI). According to The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, Pace University is in the top 6% of U.S. colleges that provide the best return on tuition investment.
For the 2024–2025 academic year, full-time undergraduate tuition is $56,382. However, many students pay significantly less due to our generous merit scholarships, which offer up to $33,000 annually, as well as need-based scholarships, grants, on-campus employment opportunities, and loans. Pace is more affordable than you think. Financial assistance can come from many places, including scholarships, grants, on-campus employment, and loans.
Merit Scholarship Estimator
Estimate your merit scholarship eligibility based on your academic achievements to see how much merit aid you may receive.
Net Price Calculator
Use our Net Price Calculator to estimate your annual education costs and financial aid package.
For any inquiries, please email Wayne Petro, Director of Enrollment and Incoming Advisor. He’s here to help answer your questions and guide you through the enrollment process.
Office of Undergraduate Admission
Phone: (212) 346-1323
Email: undergradadmission@pace.edu
Jesse J Carlo
Phone: (212) 618-6104
Email: jcarlo@pace.edu