Learn about... NSU
Innovative. Comprehensive. Fresh. Resourceful. Respected. Local. Global. There’s no one way to view Webster University.
Webster offers everything students seek from a small, private, liberal arts college; while providing the opportunities of a large university.
Class size averages 20-25 students and faculty are professionals who practice what they teach. All buildings on our 45-acre campus are within easy walking distance. Yet there are more than 80 areas of study at Webster, extensive opportunities to study abroad, and the University is located in the 18th largest metropolitan area in the United States.
At Webster's home campus in the historic St. Louis suburb of Webster Groves, you'll find new residence halls, extensive extra-curricular activities, exciting cultural and artistic offerings, and a unique approach to course requirements that allow you to shape your academic experience.
Webster is dedicated to academic excellence, innovation in higher education, meeting students’ needs in an ever-changing world and incorporating an international perspective throughout the curriculum.
Students can study in the U.S., Austria, China, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Thailand. It’s all a part of the Webster experience.
Currently the university enrolls about 22,000 students around the globe who range from traditional college-age students to adult learners. They represent more than 100 nationalities.
Living On Campus
In support of the mission of Webster University and the Department of Student Affairs, the Offices of Housing and Residential Life and the Webster Village Apartments are dedicated to our residents.
We strive to create a community that provides a student-centered learning environment that supports our expectation of academic achievement and personal development. Through compassionate and collaborative relationships, we are guided by honesty, trust and respect to fulfill our commitment.
Learn more about HOUSING
U.S. News & World Report Recognizes Webster
The 2008 America's Best Colleges edition of U.S. News & World Report ranked Webster University the 26th best university in the "Best Universities-Master's"(by region) category. Webster's ranking is in the Midwest division.
Meet the President
"Welcome to Webster University—a worldwide institution that ensures high-quality learning experiences that transform students for global citizenship and individual excellence."
Neil J. George,
President
By sitting in on classes, talking with professors, or just hanging out on campus, you'll get a real sense of whether Webster is right for you. The best time to visit Webster is when classes are in session. That means Monday through Friday in either the fall (September through early December) or spring (late January through April).
Every campus visit is individually planned to meet the needs of each student. Here is a list of possibilities you may want to consider: A campus tour, Meeting with an admission representative, Sitting in on a class, Meeting with a faculty member, Attending a campus activity, such as a play, concert, or athletic event.
A campus visit may be as short as two hours or as long as a full day, depending on your interests and time availability. Our admission staff will make every effort to accommodate your needs and schedule.
Ready to visit? CLICK HERE
Learn about all the great student organizations at Webster by CLICKING HERE
And take an ONLINE TOUR of Webster by clicking the photo below...
Admission to Webster University is moderately selective. Applicants will have their application files reviewed individually to ascertain the fit between prior educational accomplishments and established academic expectations at Webster.
Applicants most likely to be accepted will have a cumulative grade-point average of a "B," rank in the top half of their graduating class, and score a 21 or higher on the ACT, or a 1500 or higher total on the SAT. The University believes that success in prior academic work is the best foundation to ensure academic success at Webster.
Learn more about ADMISSIONS
Financial Information
Tuition and fees, 2008-09
Full-time students: $20,440 per academic school year
Conservatory of Theatre Arts students: $23,940
Room, board, and fees: $8,000 (approximate)
Financial Aid
Approximately 95% of freshmen who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents at the home campus in St. Louis receive financial assistance. Financial aid can include: Loans, Grants, Scholarships and Work-Study.
The average financial aid package including gifts, loans, and work-study is $15,000. Webster wants to make the financial aid and scholarship process as easy as possible.
Learn more about FINANCIAL AID
CONTACT US:
Undergraduate Admissions
Undergraduate Admissions House
(800) 753-6765 or (314) 968-6991 phone
(314) 968-7115 fax
E-mail: admit@webster.edu
Webster University, 470 East Lockwood Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63119-3194
And ON THE WEB!
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The Acting Program At...
Webster University
Welcome To Theatre Arts at Webster University
Conservatory Programs
The Conservatory at Webster is a professional training program for acting, musical theatre, directing, design, technical theatre and stage management. Located in St. Louis, the conservatory has been training theatre students for the professional world for over half a century.
We select our students through auditions and theatre festivals nationwide. We also host auditions here on campus. All of our candidates for admission must complete the audition/portfolio review process to be considered.
One of the distinguishing elements of Webster's Conservatory is its integrated association with two professional companies on our campus: The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.
The Conservatory produces a season of six plays and one dance concert annually. The productions are performed, designed and constructed by students, using each of three performance spaces.
Performance: Acting and Musical Theatre
Webster University's Theatre Arts Conservatory offers an intense four-year actor's training program leading to a B.F.A. degree in Acting or Musical Theatre. Both acting programs are based on a block of courses called the Conservatory. Conservatory consists of classes including acting, voice and movement for the stage, dialects, Shakespeare and Restoration acting, period styles movement and screen acting.
Complementing this, Musical Theatre students take music and dance courses, and both Regional Theatre and Musical Theatre students complete elective liberal arts courses which balance the curriculum and provide a well-rounded education.
Acting
In the acting program students gain strong training for work in a wide array of venues. Voice, movement and acting training cover many styles including realism, Shakespeare and Restoration. Work in classes prepare actors for both stage and film work. Acting students work closely with the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, providing them with a great introduction to American regional theatre.
Learn about your four years of ACTING TRAINING
Musical Theatre
The musical theatre program at Webster University is unique. Not only do students complete a four-year sequence in the Conservatory Acting Program, but they also complete an intensive sequence of courses in both music and dance.
Learn more about your four years of MUSICAL THEATRE TRAINING
A Few Of Our Gifted Faculty
Dottie Marshall Englis, Professor • Department Chair
Dorothy Marshall Englis, costume and scenic designer, is Chair of the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University, where she is also a full professor. Dottie is a member of United Scenic Artists and has been associated with The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis since 1979. She has designed over 30 shows for The Rep including Taming of the Shrew, Death of a Salesman, The Three Musketeers, The Life of Galileo, The Sisters Rosensweig, Born Yesterday, Dancing at Lughnasa, Death and the Maiden, Young Rube, Six Degrees of Separation, The 1940’s Radio Hour, Candide and Saint Joan.
Professor Englis has designed scenery and costumes for many of The Rep’s Imaginary Theatre Company touring productions. She has designed costumes for Illinois Shakespeare Festival productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Othello, Merchant of Venice and Henry VIII, as well as for Evita, Sweeney Todd, and Guys and Dolls at PCPA Theatrefest in California. Dottie has also designed My Fair Lady, Meet Me in St. Louis, Music Man, High Society, She Loves Me, Carousel, Camelot and Man of La Mancha for Stages St. Louis.
Bruce Longworth, Professor • Head Acting Program
Bruce Longworth has been a faculty member in the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University since 1985, and is currently the Head of the Acting program. He has worked extensively in St. Louis and around the country as a director, actor, and voice & dialect coach. He has worked on over 90 productions as Voice and Dialect coach for The Rep, and has performed similar duties at Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, Stages St. Louis, and the MUNY.
As an actor Professor Longworth has appeared at The Rep in The Goat, Scotland Road, The Swan, The Last Good Moment of Lily Baker, Cyrano de Bergerac, Julius Caesar and Our Country's Good, the last of which he reprised at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. He played Henry in Off the Cuff's production of The Real Thing and has acted for The New Theatre, Theatre Project Company. He has worked for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis for six seasons as an actor, assistant director or fight choreographer. Bruce is a member of Actors' Equity and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.
Lara Teeter, Associate Professor • Head Musical Theatre Program
Lara Teeter has performed, directed and choreographed for major regional theatre and opera houses nation-wide. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in the 1982 revival of the Rodgers and Hart classic On Your Toes performing the role of Junior Dolan, originally portrayed by Ray Bolger in 1936. Other Broadway credits include The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, Pirates of Penzance, Happy New Year, and Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. Other roles performed in prominent theatres include Jamie Lockhart in The Robber Bridegroom, Steven Kodaly in She Loves Me, Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, and the Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors. National Tours include the role of Don Lockwood in Singin’ In The Rain, Will Parker in Oklahoma!, and the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz starring Mickey Rooney and Eartha Kitt.
Recordings include the original Broadway cast recording of the 1982 revival of On Your Toes, the Gershwin Trust/Library of Congress first ever recording of Gershwin’s Lady Be Good, and the Grammy Award nominated recording of The Wizard of Oz starring Mickey Rooney and Eartha Kitt. In the summer of 2000, Lara made his Carnegie Hall debut performing the role of Henry Higgins in a tribute to the work of Lerner and Loewe.
Learn more about OUR FACULTY!
Future Student News
The 2008-09 Conservatory production season has been announced. Opening the year is Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, followed by Our Town and Stepping Out. The Spring semester opens with Picasso at the Lapin Agile. Next are the two senior directing capstone productions: Dancing at Lughnasa and Betrayal. Closing out the season is Cabaret and the Webster University Dance Ensemble.
Redgrave Workshop at Webster! Webster will host a Shakespeare workshop with Lynn Redgrave in March. Ms. Redgrave is in town for a fundraiser for the Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis. As with last year's guest, Richard Dreyfuss, she will spend time with local college actors talking about the art of acting in Shakespeare.
Read more FUTURE STUDENT NEWS!
What You Need To Do For The Audition
As a prospective acting major, you must prepare two monologues not to exceed three minutes combined. The selections should be of a contrasting nature. Choose characters close to yourself in age from scripts written after 1930. Monologues must be memorized and fully prepared. Do not plan a long and involved introduction to your scene. Simply announce the name of the play and character and begin.
Do not select Shakespeare or classical pieces. Do not do extreme characterizations of body, voice, or speech (extreme age, illness, insanity, etc.). The characters should be as natural, real, and as close to you in real life as you can imagine. Do not use a dialect or accent. Use your own speech, even if the character would normally speak with an accent. Props and Costumes: Costumes and props are not necessary. We will provide you with a basic table and chair arrangement if you need it.
As a prospective musical theatre major you must prepare two monologues not to exceed three minutes combined and present two songs of contrasting nature of no more than 16 bars each to provide information on vocal quality and range. (For monologues, see the information in the acting auditions listed above.)
Singing: On-campus—accompanist will be provided. Off-campus—auditioners should present their vocal selections with taped accompaniment. Off-campus auditioners must additionally provide a cassette tape containing two musical selections of contrasting nature. This tape will be submitted to the musical theatre faculty for their evaluation.
Get Audition Dates by CLICKING HERE
All questions regarding auditions should be directed to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Students must apply and be academically accepted before acceptance notice will be released.
The Admissions Office can be reached at 314-968-6991 or 1-800-75-ENROLL or email at admit@webster.edu
Study Abroad: Conservatory Students Expanding Their Horizons!
One of the unique qualities of an education at Webster is the remarkably easy access there is to studying abroad. With campuses across Europe and Asia, opportunities to study in another country are readily available. Each conservatory student designs their own experience.
Learn more about STUDIES ABROAD
Here are a few images of our wonderful facilities!
Contact Us!
To Email us for information on specific programs, CLICK HERE
For questions about auditions, campus visits or any other admissions inquiries contact the office of Academic Admissions at 314-968-6991 or 1-800-75-ENROLL.
Or email admissions at admit@webster.edu
And Visit Us ON THE WEB!
