Summer Pre-College Program

High school students face each other on stage, wearing Shakespearean costumes, rehearsing scenes.

Drama Pre-College

The School of Drama’s Pre-College program offers high school students a rigorous introduction to top-tier conservatory training, preparing them for the demands of college auditions and applications while providing a clear vision of their future in theater. Designed for serious students, this focused program mirrors the intensity of the School of Drama’s BFA curriculum, with small studio classes of 10-12 students. Taught by nationally acclaimed faculty, the program emphasizes creativity and discipline, offering a challenging college-level experience that underscores the commitment required for a career in theater.

Find Yourself Here

Discover your potential and define the kind of artist you want to be in CMU’s Drama Pre-College program!

Two high school students sit at a table, acting a scene, while it is being filmed and projected onto a screen to the side of them.

Acting & Music Theater

Students focus on audition preparation, building a repertoire of monologues and songs while learning to select age-appropriate material for applications and auditions. Acting students receive targeted training in Acting, Auditioning, Acting for the Camera, and Dramaturgy, along with Movement, Shakespeare, and Voice & Speech. Music Theater students also take these courses plus Song Coaching and Ballet and Jazz, which offer a solid foundation for beginners and advanced training for experienced dancers. This comprehensive curriculum ensures thorough preparation for auditions and future theater careers.

Three high school students giving a presentation, gesturing to a screen that says “Scenic” with several architectural photos.

Design/Production

Students begin creating a cohesive portfolio upon which they can build for their college application process. They will be exposed to classes in Basic Design, Technical Production, and Stage & Production Management, as well as introductory work in Lighting, Sounds, Video/Media, Costumes, and Fabrication Technology. Additional supplementary subjects may be added and can change from year to year. All students in Pre-College Drama, including those in the DP option, will take Dramaturgy.

Sample Schedules

Classes are held between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, with a daily lunch break. Optional courses and workshops may take place in the evenings. Classes are subject to change.

Acting

  • Monday Wednesday Friday
  • Audition9 am
  • Movement10:30 am
  • Acting for the Camera1:30 pm
  • Acting3 pm
  • Tuesday Thursday
  • Dramaturgy9 am
  • Elective11 am
  • Shakespeare2 pm
  • Voice and Speech5 pm

Music Theater

  • Monday Wednesday Friday
  • Acting9 am
  • Ballet10:30 am
  • Audition1:30 pm
  • Song Coaching3 pm
  • Tuesday Thursday
  • Elective9 am
  • Acting for the Camera11 am
  • Dramaturgy2:30 pm
  • Jazz4 pm

Design/Production

  • Monday Wednesday
  • Basic Design1:30 pm
  • Science of Scenery3 pm
  • Tuesday Thursday
  • Dramaturgy12 pm
  • Technical Production1:30 pm
  • Storyology3pm
  • Friday
  • Production Management1:30 pm
  • Applying to College3 pm

What Parents Are Saying

Give your student a head start on their theatrical journey in a program renowned for its excellence and innovation—where their passion for theater can truly flourish.

Learn more and apply for Carnegie Mellon’s Drama Pre-College Program.

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