Musical Theater
Sing, dance, and act in a conservatory-style program
The UCLA Musical Theater Laboratory Intensive is a three-week conservatory-style program for high school musical theater students grades 9 through 12 who seek discipline and training required for participation in a university musical theater program or a career in the performing arts.
Students will rehearse and take classes daily in the areas of acting, dancing and singing and participate in weekend guest workshops. The tools gained from these experiences will culminate in a final performance that is open to invited guests.
Admission to the intensive is by digital audition and instructor consent. As part of the application process, each applicant must submit a personal statement, a video audition of a song, monologue and dance, and a resume.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: If you are an international student, a transcript refers to your complete secondary academic record. To learn more about converting your grades into a US-based GPA, please click here. Please note all international students must obtain a minimum TOFEL score of 100 (with sub-scores above 24) on the TOEFL, 7.5 or above on the IELTS
Housing is available to students who will be 14 years of age or older by June 22, 2026.
2026 fees will be announced this winter and include on-campus housing costs.
2025 (Commuter only) fees were:
Program Fee: $5805
University Fees: $111
Registration Fee: $350
Total Fee: $6266
theatersummerinstitutes@tft.ucla.edu
Applications are reviewed and admission to the program is granted on a rolling basis starting December 1st. Applying at your earliest convenience, prior to April 15th is highly recommended.
Applicants who successfully submit all requirements will be reviewed and notified via email of an admission decision within ~3 weeks. Early application is strongly encouraged.
Applicants are required to provide the following during the online registration process:
Note:
The essay will be prompted on the registration form and can be uploaded (.pdf) along with the resume during the applcation process.All responses will not be accessible to edit in any form after submission of the application.
For the digital audition components, you will need to upload your video and make it private to YouTube, Vimeo, or a similar site, and paste the private link during the application process.
Monologue and Singing Audition Guidelines
• Audition against a blank wall or door.
• Complete the song and monologue in one take respectively.
Slate- Say hello! Tell us your name, age, what voice part you are (i.e. Soprano, Mezzo, Alto, Tenor Baritone or Bass), dance background, including any special skills you have, and where you are from.
• For best results, place your device ( phone, tablet, etc.) on a stationary object such as a tripod or table. A three-quarter shot of your body is perfect. For the singing portion of the audition, you should have a good sounding speaker for the accompaniment backing track output. Make sure that we will be able to hear you singing as well as the accompaniment track.
• Do not do a scene with someone reading lines off-camera.
• Do not send prior performances or tapings from plays. Record a new video according to the audition specs for the purposes of this application.
• Do not put pressure on yourself to deliver the “perfect” audition.
• Do your personal best, be authentic, and don’t forget to have fun!
Dance Audition Guidelines
• Please include a slate in which you tell us your name and dance background, including any special skills you have!
• Film your dance combination in a well-lit spacious area (dance studio, garage, backyard, etc) where your whole body can be seen with ample room to move freely.
• Please wear tight fitting clothing so your body can clearly be seen
Do your personal best, be authentic, and don’t forget to have fun!
View sample syllabus. UCLA Theater Laboratory Intensive students will receive a certificate of completion at the conclusion of the program. The program does not carry college credit.
Due to the intensive nature of the program, a maximum of one excused program absence is permitted.
Financial Aid is not available for the Theater Laboratory Intensives. As an alternative, students should explore the American Theater Wing, Andrew Lloyd Weber Training scholarship .
Application deadline
Enrollment Deadline
July 12 – August 1, 2026