Prospective Students

Thank you for your interest in becoming a part of the finest and most unique four year preparatory curriculum available to Central Texas students.

To become a member of the program, you have to take a few steps. Follow those steps below and you'll be well on your way to the best possible high school experience.

Steps to Take to become a Member of the Academy

1. Have a passion for theatre, either performing or behind the scenes. The single most important thing we are looking for in prospective students is the desire to be involved in theatre. It matters little how much experience you have, as long as you are excited by the opportunity to learn, practice, and hone the craft.

2. Apply to the Academy. Before you can even audition for the Theatre program, you must apply to the Fine Arts Academy. You can do this by filling out the application. If you want to learn more about McCallum High School and Fine Arts Academy visit their website by clicking here.

3. Review the requirements for being a Theatre major. Remember that being accepted and attending means you've made a commitment to fulfilling the four year requirements for all majors. In addition to completing the coursework necessary to graduate under Austin Independent School District requirements, the Fine Arts Academy major must complete the coursework listed below for the academic strand in which they are majoring and for Theatre, that means Acting Emphasis - 4 years of Acting classes; one year of Technical Theater class. Technical Emphasis - 4 years of Technical Theatre classes; one Technology class (Digital Graphics/PreCad). Theatre Majors are required to participate in one play production their freshman year and two productions every other year (participation is either as an actor on stage or behind the scenes in a technical capacity).

4. Schedule an Audition Time and Prepare for It!

Acting Emphasis, perform two monologues, one comic and one dramatic. Each monologue must be from a play. Each monologue must be memorized. Each monologue should be no longer than 1 minute in length. Please avoid classical or dialect materials. If you would like, you may sing 45-60 seconds of a Broadway song, a capella, to demonstrate any musical theatre abilities.

Technical Emphasis,

Part 1: Prepare a handwritten 300-word essay that describes your interest in technical theatre. This essay could include your formal experiences with technical theatre such as lighting, costume, or scenic design but may simply be why this area has sparked your imagination and interest.

Part 2: Prepare an example of your design abilities by creating an informal scenic design model box (could be in a shoebox). Choose a famous character from literature or history and design the birthday party for them. Special attention should be paid to the overall concept of the birthday party including location, surroundings, theme, etc. Emphasis is placed on creativity of design, use of materials, composition, and technical execution. Student should be prepared to discuss the design and answer any questions posed by the directors about it. At this time, you will also be asked to complete a quick problem solving challenge in order to better see dexterity, time management, etc.

5. Prepare for Auditions. Work hard and diligently to prepare a successful monologue and/or shoebox design. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time and rehearse quite a bit to avoid getting nervous or getting behind.

6. Present your Audition piece. After you present, you will have a quick interview with the Directors of the program. Be ready to discuss your experiences in theatre, how you work with others and under deadlines, and prepare any questions you might have for us. This will help us make sure if you're a good fit for the program and that the program would be good for you.