Musical theatre

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Welcome to musical theatre at the University of Colorado Boulder College of Music!

Since 2019, the College of Music is proud to present a Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre degree.

To train young singing artists who are pursuing a career in musical theatre, we offer an immersive four-year program of study in voice, acting and dance that ensures our students enter the professional theatre world with confidence. Our program is not only focused on theatre arts, but also includes development of core skills that today’s musical theatre artists need—including theory, history and keyboard arts—to be successful and well-rounded singing actors and musicians.

A variety of classes are offered and taught in conjunction with the Department of Theatre & Dance, offering a unique opportunity to work with an array of professional theatre artists and professors. The collaborative spirit at the College of Music allows our musical theatre students to experience exposure to an array of music and performance opportunities in addition to productions produced by the musical theatre area: Multiple choral and instrumental ensembles, Eklund Opera Program productions, CU NOW productions, student recitals and scenes programs are all open to musical theatre students. Students are also eligible to audition for productions produced by the Department of Theatre & Dance.

Performance opportunities are abundant and innovative—recently including “Chicago,” “The Drowsy Chaperone” and “Urinetown”—with productions in both fall and spring semesters.

Degree programs

CU Boulder offers two musical theatre degrees: the Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre (BM/MT) through the College of Music, and the Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Musical Theatre (BFA/MT through the College of Arts and Sciences). These programs work closely together in course offerings and season productions; additionally, you may be considered for both degree programs at the same audition. 

Full description of the BM/MT degree program
Full description of the BFA/MT degree program
Differences between BM/MT and BFA/MT degrees

Matthew Chellis

Matthew Chellis is considered one of America’s most versatile singing actors.  He has appeared with opera companies, orchestras and theatre companies in North and South America and Europe. Chellis has sung over 20 principal roles with New York City Opera and sung with Washington National Opera, Frankfurt Opera, Atlanta Opera, Opera Bogata and Calgary Opera to name a few. Concert performances include numerous appearances at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall and Boston Symphony Hall. Chellis has taught at New York University and Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts prior to his appointment at the CU Boulder College of Music. He is the founder and executive director of the Up North Vocal Institute—an intensive four week vocal training program located in northern Michigan. MORE
 

Justin Johnson

Justin Johnson is a full-time instructor and director supporting the musical theatre program at the University of Colorado Boulder College of Music. He has been involved in over 70 productions—either as an actor, production manager or director. Some of his most recent directing gigs include “Avenue Q,” “Poltergeist,” “Urinetown,” “The ThreePenny Opera,” “Mamma Mia!” and “The Drowsy Chaperone.” His favorite performing credits include Patsy in “Spamalot,” Paul in “Barefoot in the Park,” Greg in “Sylvia,” Wadsworth in “Clue,” Lenny in “Rumors,” Selznick in “Moonlight and Magnolias” and The Scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz.” MORE

Robert Westenberg

After a lengthy performing career that included work on Broadway and Off-Broadway, in regional theatres, national tours, television and film, Robert Westenberg is now concentrating on teaching, directing and playwriting.  

He is perhaps best remembered for his roles in the original Broadway casts of “Into the Woods” as the Wolf and Prince, for which he received a Tony nomination and Drama Desk Award, “Secret Garden” as Neville Craven and “Sunday in the Park with George” where he replaced Mandy Patinkin in the title role. He also performed the role of Javert in the Broadway production of “Les Miserables.” Other Broadway credits include leading roles in “1776,” “Company,” “Abe Lincoln in Illinois,” “A Christmas Carol” and “Zorba” for which he received a Theatre World Award. MORE