Embedded Files
FALL 2025
FALL 2025
About BFA Juries:
1. All students who are interested in joining/remaining in the Salem State University BFA Theatre Arts program must "Jury" (audition or do a portfolio review) every semester.
2. All BFA students must complete at least six Juries in order to graduate with a BFA degree; once a BFA student has completed the requisite six Juries, they must continue to jury each semester until they graduate.
3. All First-Year BFA students must Jury every semester, even if they recently did a BFA Audition or Portfolio Review prior to being accepted at Salem State University.
Fall 2025 BFA Juries will be held on the following dates:
Monday, September 29, 2025
For all Junior and Senior students in the BFA Performance, Directing, and Playwrighting programsMonday, October 6, 2025
For all First-Year and Sophomore students in the BFA Performance, Directing, and Playwrighting programs, and for all students in the Design, Tech, and Stage Management programs.
Locations: TBD
DEADLINE TO SIGN UP FOR JURIES: Friday, September 19, 2025.
BFA Jury Timeslots will be sent out via SSU email on Monday, September 22, 2025.
NOTES:
If a student has a conflicting class during their BFA Jury Time Slot, the Theatre Office will provide an absence letter to the student to send to their professor. Students should please provide information about any potential conflicts on the online BFA Jury Sign-Up Form.
A student’s TPP and GPA are contributing factors to their standing in all BFA programs. BFA candidates must maintain a 3.0 GPA in their Theatre classes and be actively involved in Theatre Department productions/pass all of their Theatre Participation courses to be in the BFA program.
All students applying for the BFA Playwrighting Program are required to email a PDF of their 10-page one-act play (or 10-page writing sample from a full-length play) to aotoole@salemstate.edu by Monday, September 22, 2025 at 4:30pm. The faculty will read the submission prior to the Jury, so you will discuss the play/writing sample at your Jury.
For the full Jury requirements for each concentration, please refer to the information below.
If you have read all of the information on this page and still have questions, please contact aotoole@salemstate.edu.
Fall 2025 BFA Timeslots (Updated 9/26):
Fall 2025 BFA Timeslots (Updated 9/26):
Fall 2025 BFA Jury Timeslots_Updated 9.26.25_Version 2.pdfHelpful Upcoming Events:
Helpful Upcoming Events:
BFA Info Meeting
BFA Info Meeting
Monday, September 15, 2025
12:00pm-1:00pm
Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts
Mainstage Theatre
Current Salem State students: Join the Theatre faculty & staff in the Sophia Gordon Center Mainstage to learn about the BFA program and the BFA Jury process. All students who are interested in pursuing or continuing the BFA program are strongly encouraged to attend.
See you there!
Resume and Portfolio Workshop
Resume and Portfolio Workshop
Current Salem State students: Join the faculty to learn how to make a theatre resume and/or portfolio for auditions, interviews, and BFA Juries.
Monday, September 22, 2025
11:00am-12:00pm
Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts
Rehearsal Room (SG208)
See you there!
BFA Jury Requirements:
BFA Jury Requirements:
Design/Tech/Stage Management BFA Jury Requirements
Design/Tech/Stage Management BFA Jury Requirements
All students interested in our BFA Design, Technical Theatre, or Stage Management programs will have four minutes to review their portfolio in front of our faculty panel. Your portfolio can include any relevant paperwork, photos, renderings or production books you have from previous shows. After the portfolio review, the faculty will ask you a few questions about your theatre background and interests.
Four minute portfolio presentation
Four minute Q&A with the faculty
Provide two copies of your current theater resume
If you have any questions, please contact Profs. Topher Morris, Ali Filipovich, or Ryan Goodwin.
Directing Requirements
Directing Requirements
1st Year Directing students:
Perform a one-minute monologue
Submit your directing portfolio to Prof. Peter Sampieri
Provide two copies of your current theater resume
Provide two copies of your recent headshot/photograph
2nd Year Directing students:
Have another student, who they have coached, perform a one-minute monologue.
Submit your directing portfolio to Prof. Peter Sampieri
Provide two copies of your current theater resume
Provide two copies of your recent headshot/photograph
3rd Year Directing students:
Present a two person, two-minute scene that they have directed (featuring two other students actors.)
Submit your directing portfolio to Prof. Peter Sampieri
Provide two copies of your current theater resume
Provide two copies of your recent headshot/photograph
4th Year Directing students:
Present a three person, three-minute scene that they have directed (featuring three other students actors.)
Submit your directing portfolio to Prof. Peter Sampieri
Provide two copies of your current theater resume
Provide two copies of your recent headshot/photograph
Portfolio Presentation Guidelines:
Your portfolio should consist of your directing/assistant directing work to date. Please include the following:
A concept/personal statement that provides your sense of self as a growing artist – where you are now in process, what your goals are in growth over the program.
Labeled photos and moments from past productions. Of particular interest would be how you present your process by lining up a process/rehearsal photo (or design rendering, or story-board) next to a production photo. Discuss how your journey took you from one place to another.
Reviews or critiques from past productions.
Any script analysis, dramaturgy, visual research or "scratching" that demonstrates your process on a particular production.
Dress in business casual clothing and be prepared to dialogue and answer questions with your faculty adjudicators on the contents of your book.
NOTE: All written aspects are to be typed, single spaced, in no larger than 12 point font. Please supply a table of contents page on the opening page of your portfolio. Use proper academic citation when necessary, in MLA format.
If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Peter Sampieri.
Performance Requirements
Performance Requirements
All students auditioning for the BFA performance program are required to perform two memorized monologues from published plays. The monologues must be two contrasting one-minute monologues- either one classical and one contemporary, or one comedic and one dramatic; the faculty want to see your range. Please do not exceed the two minute time limit for your full audition package.
When preparing for your jury, please read both plays in their entirety as you may be asked contextual questions relating to the monologues, or the plays as a whole. After the audition, the faculty may ask you a few questions about your theatre background and interests.
Two contrasting monologues, totaling no more than two minutes in length.
Provide two copies of your current theater resume
Provide two copies of your recent headshot/photograph
If you have any questions, please contact Profs. Peter Sampieri, Julie Kiernan, Ginger Eckert, Kaela Mei-Shing Garvin, or Esme Allen.
Playwrighting Requirements
Playwrighting Requirements
All students applying for the BFA Playwrighting Program are required to email a PDF of their original 10-page one-act play OR a 10-page writing sample from an original full-length play to aotoole@salemstate.edu by Monday, September 22, 2025 at 4:30pm . The play must demonstrate an ability to employ effective structure, develop dramatic characters, utilize effective language, and convey dramatic action. The faculty will read your submission prior to the Jury and will discuss it with you at your Jury.
Please bring two copies of your theatre resume to your Jury. Students may also be asked questions about their theatre background and interests.
If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Kaela Mei-Shing Garvin.
BFA Jury Rubrics:
BFA Jury Rubrics:
The faculty will use these rubrics to evaluate each BFA Jury. Students will receive a copy of their completed rubrics with their BFA result letter.
The faculty will use these rubrics to evaluate each BFA Jury. Students will receive a copy of their completed rubrics with their BFA result letter.
BFA Design, Costume
BFA Design, Costume
BFA Rubric_Design_Costume.pdfBFA Design, Lighting
BFA Design, Lighting
BFA Rubric_Design_Lighting.pdfBFA Design, Scenic
BFA Design, Scenic
BFA Rubric_Design_Scenic.pdfBFA Directing
BFA Directing
BFA Rubric_Directing.pdfBFA Performance
BFA Performance
BFA Rubric_Performance.pdfBFA Playwrighting
BFA Playwrighting
BFA Rubric_Playwrighting.pdfBFA Stage Management
BFA Stage Management
BFA Rubric_Stage Management.pdfBFA Technical Theatre: Costuming
BFA Technical Theatre: Costuming
BFA Rubric_Technical_Costume.pdfBFA Technical Theatre: Programmer
BFA Technical Theatre: Programmer
BFA Rubric_Technical_Programmer.pdfBFA Technical Theatre: Props
BFA Technical Theatre: Props
BFA Rubric_Technical_Props.pdfBFA Technical Theatre: Technical Direction
BFA Technical Theatre: Technical Direction
BFA Rubric_Technical_Technical Direction.pdfSample Student Resumes:
Sample Student Resumes:
Sample Theatre Resumes.pdfHow do I find my Major GPA?
How do I find my Major GPA?
Different types of Grade Point Averages (GPAs):
1. Term GPA Your GPA for a specific semester
2. Cumulative GPA Your year-to-date GPA (an average of all your Term GPAs)
3. Major GPA Your GPA for your Theatre classes
Why do I need to know my Theatre GPA?
1. Students in the BFA program are required to maintain a Major GPA of at least 3.000 to remain in the program.
2. Students in the BA program are required to maintain a Major GPA of at least 2.000 to remain in the program.
How do I find my Major GPA?
1. Log in to Navigator.
2. Click on the “Academic Progress” tile with the pie chart on the home page.
3. Select the “Degree Tracker” option.
4. The page will have a ton of boxes with different information—click “Collapse All” at the top left of the screen so it’s easy to find what you need.
5. One of the very last boxes should have your theatre arts degree and concentration information (For example: “Bachelor of Arts in Technical Theatre- Technical Concentration” or “Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts- Stage Mgt Option”)- click on that one box to expand the information.
6. Scroll down to the “Theatre Major Grade Point Average GPA Verification” box.**
7. Expand the “Major grade point average verification” box.
8. For BA students, it will say: “GPA: 2.000 required, ______ actual.” For BFA students, it will say: “GPA: 3.000 required, ______ actual”
9. The actual GPA is your current Major GPA!
**Please note: You may have a box at the end that says “Theatre Majors Must Declare a Concentration” instead of your program and concentration. Please update your concentration as soon as possible, as it impacts your degree tracker and advising! You will not be able to view your Major GPA until you have a concentration on file. It is very important to have your correct program and concentration information in Navigator. If you a doing a BFA Jury for the first time this October, you can update your program and concentration after you receive your BFA Jury Result Letter in the Theatre Office (probably around the week of October 17th.)
How to declare your concentration:
1. Log into Navigator.
2. Select the Academic Records tile on your student home page.
3. Select Change Major/Minor/Conc
4. Select the kind of request you want. To update your concentration, select “Change Concentration.”
5. (Depending on the kind of request, you will be asked to enter additional information. For example, if you are changing your major, you will need to use the magnifying glass to look up your current major information and then again to put in your requested major information.)
6. Click on submit.
7. Check your Salem State email for an email confirming that your request has been submitted.
8. When your request is reviewed and approved or denied by your academic department, you will get another email sent to your SSU email address.
9. To check the status of your request, you may review your request history in the same place where you entered your request.
General BFA Program Information
General BFA Program Information
The BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) Theatre Arts program is a specialized liberal arts program for students who show exceptional promise in the performance or production aspects of theatre. One-half of the total undergraduate credit hours in the BFA program are devoted to theatre courses and provide course work, practical theatre experiences and production responsibilities that help prepare students for a professional career in theatre. BFA concentrations/options include Design, Directing, Performance, Play writing, Stage Management, and Technical Theatre.
Students must apply for the BFA Theatre program by jurying every semester. (A BFA "Jury" is an audition or portfolio review in front of a faculty panel.) Students are encouraged to jury no later than the fall of their sophomore year in order to be able to graduate with their BFA degree in four years.
BFA Program Requirements:
All BFA students must complete at least six Juries in order to graduate; once a BFA student has completed the requisite six Juries, they must continue to jury each semester until they graduate. Jurying every semester demonstrates their capacity to continue in the BFA program.
Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their Theatre courses.
Students must accumulate the necessary Theatre Production Points (TPP) every semester. (50 hours of work on a Department production, supervised by a Theatre Department faculty/staff member.)
Students must present a good audition, portfolio presentation, or writing sample (depending on the requirements of their desired concentration.)
Students must demonstrate growth, commitment, and capacity in their desired program of study.
After all of the students complete their BFA Jury each semester, the Chairperson of the Department composes personalized letters with the result of the Jury, notes from the faculty panel, and recommendations for their upcoming semester.
After a student’s First Jury they will receive notice as to their application status in the BFA program, there are two possible status outcomes.
1. STATUS: BFA CANDIDATE
Students who successfully complete their first Jury (audition/portfolio review and interview process) will receive notice that they are now a BFA Candidate.
Please note: Candidate status is usually maintained for two semesters as the faculty and department become acquainted with the student’s growth. This time frame allows the candidate and department the appropriate time to determine, through embodied experiences, the aptitude for student success in this concentrated program of study.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: When a student receives their first “Candidate” status for the BFA program, they should fill out a change of major form to officially register in the BFA program through the University. (Change of Major forms are available online through the university website. We highly recommend all new “Candidate” BFA students complete and submit their Change of Major form as soon as they receive their Candidate letter - so their Navigator account will reflect their BFA status when they meet with their faculty advisor for advising.)
2. STATUS: DENIED
If the first Jury is not successful, the student may be Denied from entering the BFA program.
Please note: “Denied” status may be due to the audition/portfolio review, a GPA lower than 3.0 in theatre classes, insufficient TPP, or other items deemed by the department and explained to the student in the status letter.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: The student should continue in the BA program they are currently following. Students are encouraged, after reading the status letter, to make an appointment with their advisor (or chairperson) to discuss if another BFA concentration might be a better fit for them.
BFA Juries (after the first) & Continuation in BFA Program
Once a student becomes a “BFA Candidate” they must jury every semester until graduation and continue to meet program requirements. After each of the juries the students receive a letter notifying them of their status in the program as either: Candidate (for up to 3 semesters), Accepted, On Probation, or Denied.
BFA STATUS OPTIONS EXPLAINED:
1. CANDIDATE:
Candidate status can be maintained for up to 3 semesters
The student is following all the BFA courses and following the BFA program
During this status, faculty/department are getting to know the student and determining, though course work, TPP, and Juries if the student and the rigorous BFA structure are compatible for success
2. ACCEPTED: Student has met the requirements of the program including:
A 3.0 overall GPA in their theatre classes
Sufficient Theatre Production Points
A good audition or portfolio presentation
Demonstrated growth, commitment and capacity in the program.
3. ON PROBATION: Student has not meet one (or more) requirements of the program, but the faculty/department feel the student has the time and ability to meet the requirements within a time parameter.
If the work presented in a Candidate’s Jury (audition/interview) is not acceptable, the BFA student will be put “on probation” and will have two semesters in which to reconcile the situation by showing creative growth and academic prowess for full acceptance into the BFA.
For example: A student’s GPA in theatre classes may be below a 3.0 but above a 2.90 and they have been active (TPP) in the program and demonstrated growth.
A student can receive up to two “On Probation” results.
If, after two semesters on probation, they do not receive an “Accepted” status they will be denied from continuation of the program.
4. DENIED: If the work presented in a Candidate’s Jury (audition/interview) is not acceptable and does not meet the requirements.
Students will be advised to follow the BA Theatre Arts degree requirements by selecting a minor and fulfilling the foreign language requirements
IMPORTANT BFA ITEMS TO CONSIDER:
Students who are active in the BFA degree program who fail to jury every semester will not be permitted back into the BFA program.
The Theatre Department is committed to full-time students completing their University education in four to five years. To graduate with a BFA a student must Jury 6 times (semesters). If by the end of the sophomore year a student has not received an “Accepted” status, they must transfer into the BA (Bachelor of Arts) program. (Please note- this means that if a student waits until the beginning of their sophomore year to Jury, they only have two Juries in the BFA to receive a Accepted status, in order to graduate in 4 years.)
Students who are on an official/medical leave of absence (LOA or MLOA) from the university are not required to jury for the time that they are on leave. Those students will be reinstated upon return to their former status. Failure to comply with these guidelines upon return will result in denied status from the BFA degree program.
A pattern of course withdrawals and failed classes over a series of semesters indicates a lack of commitment to education, jeopardizes a student’s standing in the BFA program, and warrants an explanation to the BFA Committee.
All active BFA performance majors are required to audition for all Theatre Department productions.
Page updated
Report abuse