Applications for Fall 2026 Theatre & Dance Scholarships are now live!
Awarded to first-year students (transfers not eligible) on the basis of acting, directing, playwriting, design and technology, stage management, or dance. Students can receive $2,000 to $8,000 per year. Applicants should apply in the area in which they wish to focus their time and skills on while at Wooster. Scholarship recipients are not required to major or minor in Theatre and Dance at Wooster.
Application Instructions
Applicants who complete all necessary application materials by midnight EST on December 15, 2025, and attend the January 31, 2026 audition weekend, will receive notification by April 1, 2026. Note that Early Decision Applicants must submit their scholarship application by the November 1, 2025, Early Decision deadline.
- Complete the general Application for Admission. Theatre & Dance Scholarship applicants must apply Early Decision or Early Action.
- Complete the Theatre & Dance Scholarship Application by December 15.
- Submit a resume and requested materials with your application.
- Attend the audition weekend held on-campus in Freedlander Theatre on January 31, 2026.
It is highly recommended that students attend an on-campus audition date. However, virtual auditions are available. Please contact Scott Shwarzwalder, Administrative Coordinator, at the time of scholarship application submission to request a virtual audition.
Materials in Word or PDF format may be attached to the scholarship form at the time of submission or may be sent separately via email to sschwarzwldr@wooster.edu.
Those applying should prepare two contrasting monologues (serious/comic or classical/modern) from two different published plays (musical auditions will NOT be accepted). The characters you choose should be under 25 years old. Selections must be memorized, blocked, and rehearsed. You have two minutes to present all of your material and you will be timed from the first word of your piece. Performance pieces from forensic competitions are not appropriate. Please be aware that the quality of your chosen material has a direct bearing on the success of your audition. Virtual auditions for acting will require a student to submit a video recording of this monologue performance.
Auditioning dancers should be prepared to perform 1-3 minutes of dance/movement in the style of their choice. Please keep in mind that, due to the focus of our program and the studio floor, no hard shoes are to be worn. Bare feet, socks, or soft ballet slippers are acceptable. Dancers should also submit a resume of relevant experience and be prepared to discuss their interests and intended study at the college. Virtual auditions for dance will require a student to submit a video recording of their performance.
Applicants whose interest and experience focus on theatre and dance design (Scenery, Costume, Properties, Lighting, Sound, and/or Projections) and production (Artisan, Technical Direction, Electrics, Sound/Projection, etc.) should submit a theatre portfolio in digital form at the time of application. A theatre portfolio is to show what you have done and what you can do. We will evaluate your experiences based on your level of talent and growth, the types of situations, theatre spaces, and familiarity of the tools, materials, and technologies that you have acquired. If your portfolio file size is too large, please share the web link to your cloud drive (e.g., Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, etc.). Applicants will also be required to interview with the Theatre and Dance faculty and staff. Virtual auditions for design & technology will require a live virtual meeting. Please email sschwarzwldr@wooster.edu at the time of scholarship application submission to coordinate a meeting.
Please submit in digital form a written concept and analysis of structure, theme, style, mood, and character using August Wilson’s Fences or Quiara Alegria Hudes’ Water by the Spoonful. Additionally, applicants will be required to interview with a member or members of the Theatre & Dance faculty and staff. Virtual auditions for directing will require a live virtual meeting. Please email sschwarzwldr@wooster.edu at the time of scholarship application submission to coordinate a meeting.
Please submit digitally a sample of your work – plays, scenes, dialogues, and/or other significant examples of writing ability. Additionally, applicants will be required to interview with a member or members of the Theatre & Dance faculty and staff. Virtual auditions for playwriting will require a live virtual meeting. Please email sschwarzwldr@wooster.edu at the time of scholarship application submission to coordinate a meeting.
At the time of application, applicants interested in Stage Management should submit in digital form samples of their prompt book and sample work that demonstrates important skills and experience for stage management. If your file size is too large, please share the web link to your cloud drive (e.g., Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, etc.). Additionally, applicants will be required to interview with a member or members of the Theatre & Dance faculty and staff.
Expectations of Recipients
Beginning with the first semester of the first year and continuing as long as the scholarship is held, recipients must participate in a minimum of 45-hours each semester within the theatre and dance program. These hours may be accomplished by performing in, designing/assistant designing, assistant directing, fulfilling the role of props person, master electrician, or stage managing one mainstage faculty directed production; or serving as a crew member, or in public relations/box office for two productions.
Questions and Concerns? Please contact Admissions at admissions@wooster.edu.
*The maximum annual amount of Wooster merit scholarships is capped at full tuition annually, and scholarships can be applied only to tuition charges. Prospective students may apply for more than one interest-based scholarship. The Presidential Scholar, College Scholar and Dean’s Scholar are mutually exclusive. The interest-based and performing arts scholarships are renewable when qualifications and criteria are met. Scholarship award amounts will be finalized prior to notification of admission.
**Students who are eligible for and awarded a tuition benefit such as the Great Lakes College Association (GLCA) program, Wooster’s employee tuition remission, or Veteran’s Education Benefits may choose to apply for the merit scholarships noted above, but if awarded, the scholarship status will be honorary only.