DANIELLE MALOTT/Arizona Daily Wildcat Molly Rice and David Olsen, theatre arts sophomores, practice before their audition for the musical theatre arts BFA program yesterday.

Students must perform song auditions to get into or keep spots in fine arts' musical program

Yesterday was an uneasy day for many musical theatre students ÷ it was audition day.

Waiting for their turn to get in to the Bachelor of Fine Arts program, several BA students wandered about the hall, while others talked nervously with each other.

While some students quietly whispered their audition songs, so that they wouldn't disturb others, some students expressed their anxieties out loud.

"I need my water. Who stole it?" said Molly Rice, a musical theatre sophomore.

"What if they hate me, they absolutely hate me?" asked Stefan Espinosa, a musical theatre sophomore.

As Espinosa nervously adjusted his clothing, he was literally caught with his pants undone.

"You can take a picture later, but I've got to save this golden ass for the audition," Espinosa said.

Many attributed the hectic atmosphere to the stress caused by knowing that 50 people were all fighting for about 10 spots.

"It's hard to get in to, and I'm scared," said Meghan Kurtz, a musical theatre freshman. "Before and after are the hardest parts. Waiting to began and waiting to hear from them ÷ they make you wait three days. It's brutal."

Other students had difficulty determining which emotion was greater, nervousness or excitement.

"Yeah, I'm excited slash nervous," said Molly Rice, a musical theater sophomore who was trying to get back into the program. "There is a reasonable amount of pressure."

Students must re-audition for spots in the musical theatre program every year, meaning that some currently in the program might not qualify for next year's program.

Regardless of whether they were veterans or vying for a spot for the first time, all students in the hall were practicing for their "judgment."

"I'm doing ÎLong Before I Knew You' from ÎBells are Ringing.' It fits well in my vocal range," said David Olsen, a musical theatre sophomore.

Christine Woods, who sang "Hit Me With A Hot Note and Watch Me Bounce" from "Swing" agreed with Olsen.

"It's good to pick a style and vocal range you are comfortable with when you are nervous because you end up reverting to what's comfortable," said Woods, a musical theatre sophomore. "Also its short and sweet."

Espinosa chose "Luck Be A Lady" from "Guys and Dolls," not just because it fit within his vocal range, but because he was hoping to also use the audition for a springboard for a performance scheduled for next year.

"They are performing ÎGuys and Dolls' next year. That should help. It's also important pick a piece where they can see you playing the part," Espinosa said.

For those students who make it into the program, the auditions will be worth it.

The BFA in musical theatre is part of one of the most respected theatre programs in the nation, according to Albert Tucci, director of the school of theatre arts.

"Our primary goal is to prepare students for careers in the theatre, theatre-related fields or theatre education," Tucci said.

Many of the school's graduates currently participate in shows from Hollywood to Broadway.

"There are 20 on national musical tours, 32 on Broadway and 50 in feature films," Tucci said.

UA's theatre school is one of the oldest in the Southwest.

"It's 66 years old. Most schools started in the Î60s and Î70s," Tucci said.

In previous semesters, theatre arts school also had an MFA program. However, due to budget cuts, the school has been forced to cancel its program for the fall.

Despite budget cuts, though, the theatre department had a successful semester, administrators said.

Its productions included: "Oklahoma," "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "The Cider House Rules."

"'Cider House Rules' was the most successful. The authors of the production came in from Seattle and saw it and gave it a good review," Tucci said.

Tucci attributed its success to many factors within the program.

"The product was superior, it had quality acting, and it was designed well."

The theatre department and its theatre, The Arizona Repertory Theatre, have enjoyed success due largely in part to the nearly 30,000 Tucsonans who support the theatre each year, Tucci said.

According to Tucci, it also received support from the College of Medicine, which sponsored the season.