Grants & Scholarships

Drama | Dance

Drama

While there are no auditions for admission to the Drama program, we do hold scholarship auditions and portfolio reviews to determine initial offerings of Drama Talent Scholarships to incoming Freshmen, and to determine admission to the 4-year BFA in Production, which includes tracks in Design, Directing, Stage Management and Technical Theater.

Spring 2023 Drama Talent Scholarship auditions and interviews for incoming BFA Production students will take place on campus Saturday, March 11, 2023; please contact the Department of Drama for more details. All students attending in-person auditions or portfolio reviews must submit proof of full vaccination when scheduling your interview/audition time.

Students who receive Drama Talent Scholarships may apply for annual renewals and increases. We are only able to offer about six scholarships to incoming students, but once a student is attending Hofstra as a drama major, they may apply for activity grants. About 50 continuing students receive such grants. Like the Drama Talent Scholarships, these grants are applied to tuition and serve as a subsidy to students heavily involved in departmental rehearsal and performance activities that make outside employment inadvisable. In addition to these activity grants, many of our students qualify for other university scholarships and loans.

How To Apply

Submit an application to the University.

The student should file a formal application for admission to Hofstra as soon as possible, indicating on the application that he/she wishes to be a drama major. The standard Financial Aid Form should be obtained from the high school office and sent as soon as possible, asking that a copy be sent to Hofstra’s Admission Office.

Send all required Talent Scholarship Audition material to the Drama and Dance Department no later than March 8, 2023.

The applicant should write to the Department of Drama and Dance no later than February 28, 2023, informing the Department that he/she has applied for admission to the University. Your request for an audition/interview should also include home address, telephone number, a resume of experience in theater work and programs corroborating this work. Two recommendations must be sent by adults who can comment on the applicant's proficiency and potential in theater. These may be sent separately or included in the packet.

Angela Visco
Department of Drama and Dance
118 Hofstra University
Hempstead, New York 11549-1180
Fax: (516) 463-4001
Angela.Visco@hofstra.edu

Audition for, or interview with, the faculty.

Auditions and interviews will take place Saturday, March 11, 2023. A student will not be given a specific appointment on that date until the Department has been notified by the Admissions Office of his/her acceptance to the University, ie, only accepted students may audition/interview for a scholarship.

Students who are interested in performance, and wish to sing, must prepare a memorized, one minute monologue and one minute of a song from the Golden Age of Musicals (1940s-1960s). Bring sheet music. An accompanist will be provided. No recorded accompaniment, please.

Students who are interested in performance, but do not wish to sing, must prepare two memorized contrasting monologues, each of which is no more than one minute in length. One piece may be classical.

Students interested in design, technical production, stage management, or directing, should bring portfolios, prompt books, photographs or other appropriate supporting material.

All students who wish to apply for the BFA in Production must contact David Henderson at david.m.henderson@hofstra.edu to begin the application process.

Candidates who live at a considerable distance may submit an audition or portfolio online.

For Performance Students Who Wish to Submit an Online Drama Talent Scholarship Audition:

The same audition requirements apply as for in-person auditions. Contact Angela Visco at Angela.Visco@hofstra.edu for instructions on submitting a video audition. All video auditions and supporting materials must be submitted by March 8, 2023. Upload your video audition supporting materials and links.

For Production BFA Candidates Who Wish to Apply Remotely:

Students can send a link to their personal website, or send us their portfolio digitally through wetransfer.com. Once the department has reviewed the portfolio, we contact the student to set up a Zoom interview.

All supporting materials (CV, letters of recommendation, etc.) must be sent to the departmental address listed above, c/o Angela Visco, by February 28, 2023.

Scholarships are awarded to incoming first-years based on potential and talent. These awards are renewable and may be increased through significant activity in the department. Students not awarded a scholarship in their first year may reapply at the end of the first semester. Transfer students are eligible after their first semester.