Music Theater

Oberlin Conservatory is thrilled to announce the launch of our Music Theater program coming in Fall 2025!

Step Into the Spotlight

Oberlin’s prestigious Conservatory of Music blends traditional excellence with innovative training to offer you a Bachelor of Music degree designed for the next generation of music theater artists. From the first act to the final bow, our rigorous curriculum and unparalleled faculty will equip you with the skills and experience needed to shine in the professional music theater world.

Our pre-professional program combines singing, acting, and dancing coursework alongside a thriving liberal arts environment. With ongoing performance opportunities throughout the year, the program culminates in an annual showcase in the heart of the music theater world, New York City. Join us at Oberlin, where your dreams take center stage.

Three women in costume sing and dance.

Learn More About Our Program

We are pleased to welcome inquiries from incoming first-year students, and transfer applicants from top-tier music theater programs, to join us in fall 2025.

Request Information

Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni

Music Theater Faculty

Work alongside experienced professionals in acting, music direction, and choreography to enhance not only your performance but also your perspective.

Performance Opportunities

New York, New York

Senior showcase offers every graduating senior the once-in-a-lifetime chance to perform together in New York and connect with industry professionals eager to spark your career.

A performer sings under stage lights.

Playhouse Square

Access Cleveland’s Playhouse Square, the largest performing arts center in the U.S. outside of New York City, just 35 minutes from campus.

Cleveland's theater district at night, in a stylized photo.

Sample Courses

Music Theater

Music Theater Workshop I: Solo Songs

Music Theater Workshop I is an introduction to basic acting processes utilizing musical material. We will use the story-telling works of multiple composers to apply fundamental skills of the performance of Music Theater repertoire.

Taught by
Victoria BussertMatthew Webb
Music Theater

Music Theater Acting VI: Business of the Business

A class that focuses on networking, union membership, taxes for the artist, building a budget, resources for finding auditions in and out of NY, creating their Actor’s Access profile, and building a 5-year business plan post-graduation.

Taught by
Laura Welsh
Music Theater

Broadway Hip Hop I

This class provides a dynamic exploration of the foundational elements of Hip Hop dance, focusing on rhythm, style, and expression. Students will immerse themselves in the energetic world of Hip Hop movement, learning essential basic grooves, techniques, and choreography while developing their own unique style.

Taught by
Lauren Marousek
Music Theater

Music Theater Workshop VI: Showcase

Music Theater Workshop VI is the creation of the Senior Showcase to be presented in NY. Advanced singing, acting, and overall performance standards will be very high. This is a highly collaborative process where your skill and maturity as actors will be on display. Each individual will be expected to sing, create, design, make clear choices, and collaborate on the highest level to form the complete showcase with your classmates.

Taught by
Victoria BussertMatthew Webb

Oberlin Alumni in Musical Theater

From John Kander’s captivating compositions in Chicago and Cabaret, to Julie Taymor’s direction in The Lion King, Oberlin graduates have amazed audiences worldwide and made significant contributions to American and global music theater for years.

Julie Taymor

Julie Taymor ’74 is the reason that The Lion King was adapted to stage, and she received Tony Awards for both her direction and costume design for the production.

Photo credit: Annie Leibovitz, courtesy of Julie Taymor
Montana Levi Blanco

A Tony Award-winning costume designer, Montana Levi Blanco ’06 has some exciting upcoming projects, including working on the stage adaptation of Purple Rain.

Photo credit: Lauren Mueller
John Kander

John Kander ’51 is a four-time Tony, two-time Emmy, and Grammy winner most known for writing the scores to Cabaret and Chicago.

Photo credit: Vincent Tullo, courtesy of John Kander

I took religion classes, English literature, a folklore and mythology class. And every single thing that I studied, I realized almost all of my theater pieces and my films have somehow been connected with one of those things that I did here. Sometimes even more directly than you can imagine.”

Julie Taymor ’74

Natasha Katz

Natasha Katz ’81 has won eight Tony Awards for her lighting design of Broadway plays and musicals—to name a few, Aida, Once, and the revival of Sweeney Todd.

Photo credit: Dominik Bindl/Getty Images
Tommy Kriegsmann

Tony Award-nominated producer Tommy Kriegsmann ’98 is a support system for artists, with his latest success being the Broadway production of Illinoise.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Tommy Kreigsmann
Will Chase

Will Chase ’92 has been all over the stage and screen, featuring in productions such as Rent and the TV show Stranger Things, just to name a couple.

Photo credit: Deborah Lopez, courtesy of Will Chase

There is an Oberlin trait, at least the people who come to New York and who are in the theater, of not just sitting back and being passive but of trying to make something happen.”

John Kander ’51

Next Steps

Get in touch; we would love to chat.


A singer performs in costume under stage lights.
Photo credit: Søren Malmose