Bachelor of Fine Arts in ProductionHow to Apply

The deadline to apply is December 1, 2023.

The following application instructions are for:

All first-year and transfer candidates for undergraduate admission must complete the following:

Submit The Common Application

You may apply to the USC School of Dramatic Arts using the Common Application, which includes some USC-specific questions. In addition to the online application, you will be asked to submit additional materials, including the USC Supplemental Application. For specific information about the items you will need to submit, please visit USC Admission’s First-Year Application Checklist.

For Fall 2024 applicants, the USC School of Dramatic Arts majors will only appear as an option if you are completing the Common Application for Regular Decision.

Submit a SDA SlideRoom Application

The following materials are also required in order to be considered for admission into the USC School of Dramatic Arts. Please be sure to upload all materials via SlideRoom. The supplemental application in SlideRoom will go live early September.

  • Current picture or headshot
  • Resume: Your resume should include any and all production activities (including drama, dance and vocal performance). If you would like, you may also add any other non-production work or volunteer experience.
  • “Take Two”: Provide two images that will give us some insight into who you are and what is important to you. Each image will need a corresponding caption to provide some context.
  • Letter of recommendation from drama teacher/coach
  • Essay Question: Your responses should address the prompts outlined in SlideRoom.
  • Portfolio: Please submit no more than 15 slides that provide an overview of the type of work you have completed and will serve as the impetus for discussion between you and our production faculty.
  • ‘Who are you?’ Video: Please upload a one- to two-minute video where you share with us who you are. We kindly ask that you not submit any monologues, cover songs or dancing. This video is not considered an audition piece.
  • Non-refundable audition fee of $35

Portfolio Review

In mid-December, our office will send information on scheduling a portfolio review to candidates that have been invited to the second round of review of our BFA in Production majors. Our portfolio review consists of a conversation with our production faculty, where you discuss the portfolio that you submitted as part of your application and why you wish to pursue the discipline you’ve indicated. You should limit the number of materials in your portfolio to your best work so that you can clearly articulate your creative process to the faculty.

Your portfolio should include materials that showcase your work and skills as a theatre artist.

Theatrical Designers: Your materials should establish a clear progression of thought and demonstrate, if possible, a development from your research, sketches, to realized production photographs.
Sound Designers: Your work can be anything that provides insight into your understanding of sound and can range from original compositions to paperwork, sample cue sheets, and sound effects.
Stage Managers: Provide extracts of your prompt book to demonstrate your organizational process, sample blocking and calling script pages, paperwork, etc.
Technical Direction: Your portfolio should document the construction process including examples of drafting, shop drawings, engineering calculations, budget and material lists, etc.

What should you leave out?
The intention of your portfolio is to showcase your skillset as an artist. Refrain from including anything that does not support your talent, e.g. mementos, pictures of friends, or programs (unless you designed them).

Remember…
Your SlideRoom portfolio is intended to provide a snapshot of your skillset as an artist and does not need to be confined to your work in theatre. Feel free to include related experiences e.g. concerts, fashion shows, fine art drawings, paintings, graphic design, etc.

Portfolio reviews will take place in the month of January or February on Zoom.