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Apply Anytime - Upcoming Intakes

Trimester 1: January
Trimester 2: May
Trimester 3: September

duration-icon

Duration

2 Years full time
Also available in part-time mode

Program Fee

International: $35,000 AUD per year
Domestic: $26,400 AUD per year
(FEE-HELP available)

Delivery

On Campus,
Brisbane CBD

 

Do you want to perform as an actor, singer and dancer?

APAC’s Bachelor of Musical Theatre programme is a blend of various artistic skills, including acting, singing, and dancing, while making professionals out of artists under the guidance of skilled lecturers and skilled professionals ready to thrive in today’s competitive entertainment industry. Crafted to hone on-stage talents, this course offers hands-on experience in technical areas such as stage management, direction, and choreography for diverse career roles.

This programme covers everything from aural studies and music theatre analysis to choreography, storytelling and more. Also opening careers spanning executive, production, creative, and technical roles to attain expertise across multiple performing arts disciplines.

Musical theatre courses are a chance to step inside the world of live performances, films, television, education, and production. After pursuing our course, students can make a significant impact on culture, conversations and artistic landscapes across the globe.

Have completed an Australian Senior Secondary Year 12 Certificate OR successful completion of an AQF Level 4 qualification or above (Certificate IV or above) OR a pass grade or higher in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.

Completed an Australian Senior Secondary Year 12 Certificate with a passing grade or higher in English.

For mature-age applicants and/or those who do not hold their HSC or equivalents, be 21 years or over at the time of applying for entry, complete all documentation and evidence requests as per the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) application process.

Must demonstrate performance capabilities in a musical theatre context.

Have completed an Australian Senior Secondary Year 12 Certificate I OR its overseas equivalent qualification as assessed by the Australian Government Department of Education (NOOSR), AND Outcomes and career options.

Demonstrated English proficiency e.g. an IELTS with an overall score of at least 6.0 with no sub-score below 5.5 (or an approved equivalent test).

Must demonstrate performance capabilities in a musical theatre context.

  • Music theatre performer
  • Concert soloist
  • Choreographer
  • Director
  • Arts administrator
  • Community theatre director
  • Casting consultant/agent
  • Stage manager
  • Teacher (Voice, Dance or Acting)
  • Scriptwriter or lyricist
  • Film/TV actor
  • Entertainment entrepreneur
  • Producer
  • Event manager

  • Aural Studies and Musicianship
  • Practical Script Analysis
  • Integrated Performance Techniques 1
  • Contemporary Art Exploration: Forms, Influences, Engagement
  • Musical Theatre Dance 1
  • Voice Production
  • Musical Theatre Ensemble
  • Integrated Performance Techniques 2
  • Self-Portrayal Skills
  • Lead, Direct, Present
  • Musical Theatre Analysis and Arrangement
  • Musical Theatre Dance 2
  • Audition for Screen and Stage
  • Choreographing Musical Theatre
  • Musical Theatre Composition
  • Career Planning
  • Musical Theatre Project 1
  • The Business of Musical Theatre
  • History of Storytelling
  • Genre and Adaptation: Influence in Entertainment
  • Multi-platform Productions
  • EMusical Theatre Project 2: Showcase

Higher Education Fees apply for our courses. For information on course fee breakdowns and non-tuition fees, please see the links below. 

FEE-HELP

If you are an Australian citizen looking to study a Bachelor degree, you may be eligible to receive a FEE-HELP loan from the Australian government’s Study Assist scheme. To find out more, visit their Study Assist page. 

Learn More

Q. How is musical theatre different from acting?

While both acting and musical theatre involve portraying characters and telling stories, here's a breakdown of the key differences:

Based on Criteria  Acting  Musical Theatres 
Core Elements  Focus on spoken dialogue, physical expression, and emotional portrayal  Focus on acting combined with singing and choreographed dancing.
Skill sets  Acting including voice, expression, and script analysis.  Three key disciplines - acting, singing and dancing. 
Music and Dance  Music is atmospherical. Dance is minimal or absent.  Songs are strategically placed and drives the plot. Choreography is integral. 
Performance style  Realistic approach. Styles vary.  Heightened emotion and expression plus grounded acting skills. 
Training   Acting techniques (e.g., Stanislavski, Meisner), voice and speech, movement, and script analysis  A combination of acting classes with dedicated vocal and dance training. 
Q. What can you do after pursuing a Bachelor of Musical Theatre degree?

If you think the Bachelor of Musical Theatre degree is confined to theatrics, think again. This course has been structured in a way to transform students into elite performers with expertise in music theatre, allowing them to pursue a career as administrators, entertainers, producers, directors, choreographers, writers, as well as performers in other media, including film and television, radio, broadcasting, commercials and promotional work.

Q. What is the audition stage in the application process?

This initial selection stage is where applicants must demonstrate their performance capabilities through pre-recorded performances. During the application submission process, applicants must submit the following video recordings with it: –

  1. A dance routine within 1-2 minutes to demonstrate your ability to perform in either of the styles (ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, contemporary, lyrical, modern, Latin or musical theatre).
  2. Two Musical Theatre songs within 2-3 minutes demonstrating contrast in style, mood, or vocal technique. It should also include movement and characterisation. 
  3. A monologue within 2 minutes (from the APAC list) without a script.
  4. A personal statement within 1-2 minutes where applicants share a little about themselves, including name, location, job or hobbies or your school.
  5. Discuss the inspiration behind pursuing Musical Theatre - the value and impact of your art form on audiences, industries and/or communities.
  6. Discuss your favourite Musical Theatre performer or Musical (artistic influences)
  7. Briefly outline your Musical Theatre training journey, experiences and goals.

Points to be noted:

Applicants are advised to choose age, experience, and culturally appropriate content.

Recording of videos must be completed in one continuous take. Each piece must briefly introduce relevant information (title, where it is from, composer/choreographer).

The assessment of videos will be conducted by an assessment panel comprising at least two qualified assessors.

Panel members will make informed and consistent judgments when assessing auditions using clear criteria.

Q. What is the face-to-face interview application round?

The Face-to-Face Interview Round is the second level of selection. In this round, candidates are invited via email to participate in a face-to-face call-back.

Here, the call-back applicants must be prepared to present the following in person:

  1. A monologue from Round 1
  2. A dance from Round 1
  3. One of their Round 1 songs
  4. Engage in a discussion and answer questions about the content and characters in the monologue, song or dance.
  5. Respond to feedback and direction, contribute to discussions and work, and collaborate.
  6. Undertake a short-written activity that mirrors the process undertaken during professional role preparation.

Points to be noted:

  • Candidates must prepare and carry - the prepared tracks and a portable speaker. If this is not possible, contact APAC to arrange an alternative.
  • Candidates must wear appropriate clothes to facilitate the completion of the audition activities listed above. (Basic props are permitted where necessary).
  • Regional or International applicants who cannot travel to the face-to-face call-back can attend the call-back online (Teams/Zoom). Applicants in this situation will receive instructions via email and the APAC list of monologues.
  • Assessment of videos will be conducted by an assessment panel comprising at least two qualified assessors who will make an informed decision using clear criteria.
Q. Who should join Musical Theatre?

This field is for you if you are-

Passionate about musical theatre

In performing arts, passion plays an integral part. It drives your career and navigates you through the rejections and towards success.

Multi-talented

Aspiring performers must have a knack for dancing, singing, and acting - a combination of three disciplines.

Versatile and Adaptable

Each discipline comes with a multitude of options, including dance and music. Every role or character demands different skills or techniques.

Expressive Personalities

Inclined towards expressing emotions, ideas, or narratives in a creative manner, which is well-suited for musical theatre

Team player

A collaborative field that involves working closely with directors, choreographers, musicians, and fellow performers, helping them thrive in such an environment.

How do I Apply ?

Our Faculty

Director of Higher Education

Avril Huddy

Avril is an award-winning lecturer and teaching artist. She was an academic leader of the dance specialisation within the Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) for 14 years, and has previously worked with APAC as an expert critical friend on new degree development.
Avril has a Master of Arts (Research), from QUT and is currently completing her PhD. Her Masters thesis is titled “A Contemporary Model for Dance Artists in Residence in Secondary Schools”. Avril also holds Pilates instructor qualifications and Feldenkrais Method practitioner qualifications.

Read more

Head of Discipline – Acting

Sean Dennehy

“Give yourselves the permission to be excellent” A passionate acting teacher Sean teaches from the film set to the classroom, from the stage to the studio straight to the students of APAC. An independent actor, director and producer he has travelled his way round the world and through the industry. His credits include:
Appearing in TV Rake, Home and Away, All Saints films Don’t Tell, Sanctum 3D, his latest film JIVA is showing at Cannes Film Festival in 2020. Theatre As You Like It, Mercy Thieves, Rigoletto, and Hamlet. 
QLD Executive Producer of the Short+Sweet Theatre + Cabaret Festival, Sean provides a professional pathway into the industry. Director and producer for OperaWorks LA, Taiwan International Arts Festival, Regional Theatres such as the Brolga and independently in Australia and U.S.A.
Course coordinator – for the past 3 years he has been helping artists realise their passion by turning their talent into a career.

Read more

Head of Discipline – Screen Production

Kristina Chapman

Kristina is a researcher interested in online media content creation, specifically TikTok. Throughout the past few years, she has written and spoken about the evolution of participatory culture through the lens of TikTok; pulled a part story structures within the 7-second, 15-second and 1-minute video formats; and has investigated the merits of the participatory and self-reflexive documentary modes through the format of TikTok via the creation of Finding Culture – a mini documentary series where Kristina learns more about her Filipino culture through her mum.
Outside of mobile media platforms, Kristina is interested in screenwriting and story development, with a number of short film scripts placing in multiple film competitions.

Read more

Lecturer – Screen Acting

Mirko Grillini

Born and raised in Italy, Mirko graduated in performing arts early 2000s. With a background as a Chef Presenter, he devotes his life to performance on both screen and stage as actor, accomplishing to date over 200 screen productions and hundreds of live performances. Roles include Narnia, The Leftovers, Home and Away, Wanted, Neighbours, Joe Exotic and a array of international & Domestic Feature Films. Mirko has won several awards as an actor and as a director/writer and run classes in QLD, NSW and VIC as mentorship for artists who wanted to deepen their understanding of truthful performance and business growth in the industry.
His goal is to allow each student to unleash the artist inside, make it boundaryless and curious and find the freedom to learn, reflect and create while maintaining a vision and be abreast of the constant evolution of the Film/Tv industry. Understanding the business allows the artist to be like water and filter through the gaps constricting creativity and successful outcomes.

Read more

Lecturer – Screen Production

Joe Nucifora

Joe’s extensive Film and TV career – as a photographer, cinematographer, editor, producer, and teacher – commenced in the late 70’s in special events, as well state-wide TV commercials, documentaries, corporate, marketing, entertainment and instructional videos. In the late 90’s Joe established his own successful professional photography business, specialising in portraiture, fashion, commercial and advertising – as well as video editing and film production.
Over the span of his career he has also worked alongside Brisbane based cinematographers producing work for a wide range of advertising agencies, as well as significant large-scale Queensland government projects.
Joe brings extensive technical and creative skills and experience to APAC, as well as formal qualifications in a GradCert in Tertiary & Adult Education, excellent communication skills and complete professionalism. All of direct benefit to the students he teaches and the professional colleagues with whom he works on a day-to-day basis.

Read more

Lecturer – Acting

Sherri Smith

Sherri has had an extensive movement background and has furthered her training in acting and fight combat disciplines. This has allowed her to work in many areas through the performance industry including stage, screen, and live interactive theatre productions. Her credits include solo-actor performances of the stage play adaptation of ‘Animal Farm’ performed at the Powerhouse, Sonia in Uncle Vanya (The Curators Theatre); Lady Capulet in Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo & Juliet’ in the Shakespeare Festival, and MJ in ‘Mania’ as part of the Brisbane Arts Festival. In addition to her stage roles, she her work has also included: TVC’s, voice-over work, and roles in International, National and Local film projects like Project Eden (Mad Anth’m Pictures), Practise Patience (Sparrowland Productions) and Phoenix Rising (Vertical Realm Productions). Whilst lecturing at APAC, she still continues to work professionally in the industry.

Read more

Our Faculty

Director of Higher Education

Avril Huddy

Avril is an award-winning lecturer and teaching artist. She was an academic leader of the dance specialisation within the Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) for 14 years, and has previously worked with APAC as an expert critical friend on new degree development.
Avril has a Master of Arts (Research), from QUT and is currently completing her PhD. Her Masters thesis is titled “A Contemporary Model for Dance Artists in Residence in Secondary Schools”. Avril also holds Pilates instructor qualifications and Feldenkrais Method practitioner qualifications.

Read more

Head of Discipline – Acting

Sean Dennehy

“Give yourselves the permission to be excellent” A passionate acting teacher Sean teaches from the film set to the classroom, from the stage to the studio straight to the students of APAC. An independent actor, director and producer he has travelled his way round the world and through the industry. His credits include:
Appearing in TV Rake, Home and Away, All Saints films Don’t Tell, Sanctum 3D, his latest film JIVA is showing at Cannes Film Festival in 2020. Theatre As You Like It, Mercy Thieves, Rigoletto, and Hamlet. 
QLD Executive Producer of the Short+Sweet Theatre + Cabaret Festival, Sean provides a professional pathway into the industry. Director and producer for OperaWorks LA, Taiwan International Arts Festival, Regional Theatres such as the Brolga and independently in Australia and U.S.A.
Course coordinator – for the past 3 years he has been helping artists realise their passion by turning their talent into a career.

Read more

Head of Discipline – Screen Production

Kristina Chapman

Kristina is a researcher interested in online media content creation, specifically TikTok. Throughout the past few years, she has written and spoken about the evolution of participatory culture through the lens of TikTok; pulled a part story structures within the 7-second, 15-second and 1-minute video formats; and has investigated the merits of the participatory and self-reflexive documentary modes through the format of TikTok via the creation of Finding Culture – a mini documentary series where Kristina learns more about her Filipino culture through her mum.
Outside of mobile media platforms, Kristina is interested in screenwriting and story development, with a number of short film scripts placing in multiple film competitions.

Read more

Lecturer – Screen Acting

Mirko Grillini

Born and raised in Italy, Mirko graduated in performing arts early 2000s. With a background as a Chef Presenter, he devotes his life to performance on both screen and stage as actor, accomplishing to date over 200 screen productions and hundreds of live performances. Roles include Narnia, The Leftovers, Home and Away, Wanted, Neighbours, Joe Exotic and a array of international & Domestic Feature Films. Mirko has won several awards as an actor and as a director/writer and run classes in QLD, NSW and VIC as mentorship for artists who wanted to deepen their understanding of truthful performance and business growth in the industry.
His goal is to allow each student to unleash the artist inside, make it boundaryless and curious and find the freedom to learn, reflect and create while maintaining a vision and be abreast of the constant evolution of the Film/Tv industry. Understanding the business allows the artist to be like water and filter through the gaps constricting creativity and successful outcomes.

Read more

Lecturer – Screen Production

Joe Nucifora

Joe’s extensive Film and TV career – as a photographer, cinematographer, editor, producer, and teacher – commenced in the late 70’s in special events, as well state-wide TV commercials, documentaries, corporate, marketing, entertainment and instructional videos. In the late 90’s Joe established his own successful professional photography business, specialising in portraiture, fashion, commercial and advertising – as well as video editing and film production.
Over the span of his career he has also worked alongside Brisbane based cinematographers producing work for a wide range of advertising agencies, as well as significant large-scale Queensland government projects.
Joe brings extensive technical and creative skills and experience to APAC, as well as formal qualifications in a GradCert in Tertiary & Adult Education, excellent communication skills and complete professionalism. All of direct benefit to the students he teaches and the professional colleagues with whom he works on a day-to-day basis.

Read more

Lecturer – Acting

Sherri Smith

Sherri has had an extensive movement background and has furthered her training in acting and fight combat disciplines. This has allowed her to work in many areas through the performance industry including stage, screen, and live interactive theatre productions. Her credits include solo-actor performances of the stage play adaptation of ‘Animal Farm’ performed at the Powerhouse, Sonia in Uncle Vanya (The Curators Theatre); Lady Capulet in Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo & Juliet’ in the Shakespeare Festival, and MJ in ‘Mania’ as part of the Brisbane Arts Festival. In addition to her stage roles, she her work has also included: TVC’s, voice-over work, and roles in International, National and Local film projects like Project Eden (Mad Anth’m Pictures), Practise Patience (Sparrowland Productions) and Phoenix Rising (Vertical Realm Productions). Whilst lecturing at APAC, she still continues to work professionally in the industry.

Read more

The School of Filmmaking
____

The best education in film is to make one.

– Stanley Kubrick

“The film industry is constantly evolving. What started as cinema grew into television, streaming services, and digital platforms. Technology advancements saw changes from film to digital, AR and VR, CGI and motion capture, and even generative AI. At APAC, we value this history and teach the importance of adapting to the world around us. Our industry-led, hands-on classes ensure students experience the variety filmmaking has to offer us and learn how to adapt as the world continues to grow and develop.”

Kristina Chapman Head of Discipline Screen Production, APAC

We see the world unconventionally

Let us know if you do, too.