Theatre

Prospective students

How to become a theatre major?

Wofford College offers a welcoming and dynamic theatre program open to all students. To major or minor in theatre, students simply need to be accepted into Wofford — no separate admission process for the department is required. However, prospective students who audition for Wofford theatre faculty can be considered for scholarships.

Step 1: Apply to Wofford College

Step 2: Audition for theatre scholarships

While an audition is not required to major or minor in theatre, prospective students who audition or present a portfolio can be considered for theatre scholarships. More importantly, this process allows students to connect with our faculty, experience our theatre community and explore Wofford’s campus.

Students who visit for an audition or portfolio review will have the opportunity to:

  • Meet one-on-one with theatre faculty in an informal interview setting.
  • Sit in on theatre classes to see our program in action.
  • Tour our theatre spaces, including the proscenium and black box theatres, design studios and scene shop.
  • Talk with current theatre students to learn more about their experiences.

Audition and portfolio guidelines:

Actors: To be considered for a theatre scholarship, you should prepare either two contrasting monologues or a monologue and a song (a capella) of no more than two minutes total. (Age-appropriate monologues from a published play only, please.)

Designers/playwrights/technicians: If you have written plays or completed lighting plots or set designs, you may submit those as well as, or even instead of, preparing monologues. If you have done significant technical or production work, please detail it in your letter.

All applicants: You should provide a personal artistic statement detailing your interest in pursuing further study in theatre, a recommendation from a teacher or director who knows you and your work well and a headshot and theatrical resume.

We encourage all prospective students to schedule a visit and experience Wofford Theatre firsthand. View more information on scholarships.

To schedule an audition, contact our department chair, Dr. Mark Ferguson ’94, professor of theatre and T.R. Garrison Chair of Humanities, at fergusonma@wofford.edu or at theatre@wofford.edu.

Application and scholarship timeline

  • Aug. 1: Applications open for Wofford College
  • Nov. 1: Application deadline (early decision)
  • Nov. 15: Application deadline (early action)
  • Jan. 15: Application deadline (regular admission)
  • Feb. 1: Theatre scholarship interview deadline (regular decision)
  • March 1: Admission and merit scholarship notifications
  • May 1: Deposit deadline

On-campus audition and visit opportunities (2025-2026)

Prospective students can schedule an audition or portfolio review during one of our designated theatre visit days. These visits often coincide with campus-wide admission events and Wofford Theatre productions, allowing students to fully experience our program.

  • Nov. 22, 2025: Scholars Day (More information)
  • Nov. 6-8 and 12-15, 2025: Fall theatre production of Macbeth
  • Jan. 22-24, 2026: Pulp Theatre student-run production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] (again)
  • Feb. 1, 2026: Final scholarship interview deadline

Students are encouraged to check back for updated event details or contact theatre faculty for more information.

  • Dress and present yourself in a professional manner.
  • Observe all time limits.
  • “Slate” with your name, the title of your audition pieces and the character you will be portraying as an introduction. No other information is needed.
  • All audition pieces must be memorized.
  • Choose monologues from published plays. Avoid self-written works, teleplays or screenplays.
  • Avoid audition pieces that require an accent.
  • Avoid monologues with telephone calls.
  • Avoid playing profile. Place your imaginary acting partner directly above or adjacent to the heads of the auditors/camera.
  • Be prepared to repeat your monologue, with changes, after direction is given.
  • Pick audition pieces appropriate to your age and emotional range.
  • Avoid overacting and/or overly dramatic material.
  • Remember that sexually explicit or socially offensive material usually works against an auditioner.
  • Do not apologize or make excuses for your work.
  • Do not choose a “signature song” (a song that is strongly associated with a particular performer) or songs that are overdone.
  • Prerecorded musical accompaniment is preferred, but a cappella auditions are acceptable.
  • Keep your audition simple and honest.
  • Avoid elaborate staging, properties and/or costuming in your audition. Keep it simple and let us focus on your acting skill.
  • If you do not have a formal design portfolio, include any materials that you feel reflect your sense of artistry and your interest in theatrical design — sketches, drawings, paintings, photographs, prompt book excerpts and accompanying paperwork, technical drawings, etc. Your digital portfolio can take the form of a website, slideshow presentation or other digital file. Make sure that your files do not require specialized software to open.
  • Plan out your presentation in an organized manner:
    • You do not need everything you have ever done in your portfolio, just your best work. This may be many things or just two or three things.
    • Show process shots--the final product is often less important than your growth through the process of getting there. Make images as large as possible so that we can see detail.
    • Keep your portfolio streamlined--it should be clean, clear and concise. Neatness shows a respect for your work, your work environment and your fellow workers.
    • Presentation and organization: This refers to the layout of the project. Does it have a beginning, middle and end? Are there transitions between projects? Are there organizational charts and paper work that help describe the scope of the project? Your portfolio showcases your process, resourcefulness and artistry.
  • Make sure images/objects are labeled neatly, consistently and clearly:
    • Name of production and your contribution are essential. From there, you can add other designers, name of producing organization, year and other information, if appropriate. Do not let your labels overtake your images or drawings.
    • Clearly indicate your work and others’ work. Give credit to the appropriate person. For example, do not claim a design as solely your own if you functioned as the assistant designer.
    • Labeling and keys are extremely important tools that will help describe your work even when you are not in the room. Let your portfolio present itself.
  • Never apologize or make excuses for your work or the condition of your portfolio.
  • Proofread your portfolio and resume carefully before submitting.
  • Do not feel the need to limit your portfolio to theatrically produced work. We would like to see the way you think creatively. Examples of drawing, sculpture, photography, digital art and theoretical projects are highly encouraged.
  • Never be ashamed of having limited experience or only a few credits on your resume. You are at the beginning of your career. That is expected.