MTI Coordinator – Jenn Hemphill - mti@kcactf5.org
MTI Singing Associate Coordinator - Allison Holmes-Bendixen - Allison.Holmes-Bendixen@kirkwood.edu
MTI Dance Associate Coordinator - Emily Wirkus - emily.wirkus@und.edu

Region 5 is thrilled to again offer the Musical Theatre Intensive at Festival 55 in Des Moines, IA. The goal of the Intensive is to celebrate and recognize outstanding musical theatre students within Region 5 and offer educational opportunities to work with musical theatre professionals. Selected performers will participate in a cabaret performance to be held at the end of the week. 

There are three ways to participate in the Musical Theatre Intensive:

• Audition for the MTI Singing event
• Audition for the MTI Dance event
• Submit a video for the new MTI Showcase event
  
  

Students may audition for one, two, or all three events. If selected, students may participate in one, two, or all three events. Students selected to participate will come together to present their work in the Musical Theatre Cabaret performance on Thursday evening at the festival.

MTI Tentative Schedule

Monday
Morning - MTI Singing Preliminary Auditions
Afternoon - MTI Dance Auditions
Evening - MTI Dance Finalists & MTI Singing Semi-Finalists Announced

Tuesday
Morning - MTI Singing Semi-Final Auditions
Afternoon - MTI Dance Rehearsal, MTI Singing Finalists Announced

Wednesday
Morning - MTI Dance Response for those not chosen as finalists
Morning & Afternoon - MTI Singing Intensive
Afternoon - MTI Dance Rehearsal

Thursday
Morning  - MTI Singing Response for those not chosen as finalists, MTI Dance Rehearsal
Afternoon - MTI Cabaret tech rehearsal
Evening - MTI Cabaret Performance (Singing, Dance & Showcase)

Selection Criteria for Singing Performers

• Ability to play urgent, strong and clear objectives as an actor throughout the song. Students (or group) must create an arc to the song in terms of storytelling, with a clear beginning, middle and ending.
  
• Ability to make varied, specific and bold acting and singing choices, which are expressed throughout the performance lyrically and musically.
  
• Ability to perform the song with vocal excellence, exhibiting a healthy and varied vocal instrument through which the student (or group) makes varied, informed musical choices that add texture and layers to their overall performance. Must exhibit a strong understanding of the lyrics and orchestrations; musicality is strongly considered.
  
• Ability to physically connect to the song, making strong and varied choices expressing their character fully physically as well as emotionally.
  
• Students (or group) display strong physical movement that is connected and informed by the music and lyrics of the selection (if choreography is utilized).
  
  

---

MTI Singing Event Details

We encourage all actors/singers to showcase their work. This will be a solo, audition-style intensive. Please see the guidelines for entry below. Please note: If you wish to offer a duet, trio, group number, or other, please submit for the MTI Showcase. Shine your light!

The festival process for this event will work as follows:

• Any KCACTF eligible student may audition with the certification of a faculty member from their college or university. All entries must be solos. 
  
• All students must register for an audition time by January 13, 2023. Audition slots will be pre-assigned and a confirmation email will be sent to the performer with the audition time prior to the festival.
  
• Participants will present their song in a preliminary audition.  From the preliminary round, musical theatre guest artists will select students to advance to the semi-final audition and present a second contrasting song. From the semi-finalists, guest artists will select a group of finalists who will be showcased in the Musical Theatre Intensive Cabaret to be held at the end of the week.  The Musical Theatre Intensive finalists will also have the opportunity to work with guest artists on their material during an all-day intensive workshop prior to the cabaret performance.
  
• Internal cutting is permitted as long as cuts are clearly marked.
• All selections must be performed with live piano accompaniment.  A pianist will be provided.  Students may choose to bring their own pianist if they prefer. All music must be clearly marked and performance-ready WHEN YOU ATTACH IT BELOW. Limited time will be given for explanation prior to the audition. 
• Auditioners should slate their name, the title of the song, and the production it is from as a part of the audition.
• Auditions will not be scheduled until the completed form has been received.  
• Students must also bring a hard copy of their sheet music in the correct key, clearly marked with any accompanist notes, and not cutting off any necessary bass line notes, key signatures or other musical markings, in a binder.  No reflective sheet protectors please.  
• There will be a response session during the festival for those not invited to participate in the Cabaret.
  
  

Song Selection Criteria:

• Songs may be from a musical, revue, song cycle, or from the “pop” genre. For our purposes, “pop” songs may include, but are not limited to: pop, rock, country, rap, bluegrass, folk, jazz, etc. Selection criteria will be the same no matter which song genre you perform. 
  
• Participants should prepare two contrasting song cuts. You may select which of your two cuts you wish to sing for each round.
• Your song cut for the preliminary round should not exceed 60 seconds. If you are selected to continue to the semi-final round, you will be asked to submit a second selection, which should not exceed 90 seconds.
  
• Finalists may select which song (of the two from the preliminary & semi-final audition) you would like to perform for the Intensive and Cabaret. Your song for the final performance should not exceed 3 minutes in length.
  

To audition for the Musical Theatre Intensive Singing event, please complete the form below in its entirety. Note that on the form, required fields are marked and must be completed in order to submit. Submissions will only be accepted until January 13, 2023 at 5:00 pm.
​
Contact Details
MTI Coordinator – Jenn Hemphill - mti@kcactf5.org
MTI Singing Associate Coordinator - Allison Holmes-Bendixen - Allison.Holmes-Bendixen@kirkwood.edu

Entry for this event is now closed.

To participate in this event, you must also register for the festival

---

MTI Dance Event Details

The Musical Theatre Intensive Dance event gives students a chance to learn and perform choreography taught by a guest artist. Selected dancers will rehearse throughout the festival week and perform in an ensemble dance number at the Musical Theatre Cabaret.

The festival process for this event will work as follows:

• Any KCACTF eligible student may audition with the certification of a faculty member from their college or university. Students should have intermediate to advanced experience in musical theatre dance styles for a successful audition.
• All students must register for an audition time by January 13, 2023. Audition slots will be pre-assigned and a confirmation email will be sent to the performer with the audition time prior to the festival.
• Auditions will be held on Monday afternoon of the festival week. Auditioners will be taught a short musical theatre dance combination. Dance finalists will be announced on Tuesday evening. Then, throughout the week, the finalists will learn the entire number and perform it at the Cabaret performance at the end of the week.
  
• Students must wear proper dance attire for the audition. No baggy pants or t-shirts. For the performance, students will be asked to wear all black dance clothes.  Please bring appropriate attire with you to the festival.
• There will be a response session on Wednesday for those not invited to participate in the Cabaret.​

To audition for the Musical Theatre Intensive Dance event, please complete the form below in its entirety. Note that on the form, required fields are marked and must be completed in order to submit. Submissions will only be accepted until  January 13, 2023 at 5:00 pm.

Contact Details
MTI Coordinator – Jenn Hemphill - mti@kcactf5.org
MTI Dance Associate Coordinator - Emily Wirkus - emily.wirkus@und.edu

Entry for this event is now closed.

To participate in this event, you must also register for the festival

---

MTI Showcase Event Details

The Musical Theatre Intensive Showcase event gives students an opportunity to share their musical theatre work that does not fit within the criteria for the Singing or Dance events. Performers will audition via video submission prior to the festival, and will be notified before the festival week if they have been selected. Selected performances will be a part of the Cabaret performance on Thursday night of the festival.

The festival process for this event will work as follows:

• Any KCACTF eligible student may audition with the certification of a faculty member from their college or university. 
• All students must submit their video audition by January 6, 2023 to be considered for the Showcase. 
• Students may submit musical theatre work that includes, but is not limited to: duets, trios, or ensemble songs; dance performances; original choreography; or original compositions. Solo audition songs should submit for the MTI Singing event and will not be considered for the MTI Showcase.
• Videos should include a slate with all performers’ names, the title of the piece, and the show it is from. 
• Performances should be no longer than 3 minutes, not including the slate.
• Students should provide their own live piano accompaniment or perform to a recorded track.
• Props, costumes, and furniture should be kept to a minimum. As in Irene Ryans, a table and two chairs will be available.
• Students will be notified prior to festival week if they have been selected to participate in the Showcase.
• Selected performers will receive a response from guest artists at the end of the week, following the Cabaret performance.

Guidelines for Video Submission:

• Record your video in landscape mode (not portrait).
• Position the camera at eye-level.
• Make sure all performers are well-lit and faces are clearly visible.
• Make sure your audio is clear and audible.
• Make sure the accompaniment can be clearly heard but is not louder than your voice(s) (if singing).
• Include your slate/introduction at the start of your video, as you would for an in-person audition. This will not count towards the time limit of your piece. 
• You do not need to edit the video to include anything additional, such as a title card.
• Please upload your video to a streaming service such as YouTube and make sure that the permissions are set to unlisted (others with the link can view the video), not private (only you can view the video).

To audition for the Musical Theatre Intensive Showcase event, please complete the form below in its entirety. Note that on the form, required fields are marked and must be completed in order to submit. Submissions will only be accepted until  January 6, 2023 at 5:00 pm.

Contact Details
MTI Coordinator – Jenn Hemphill - mti@kcactf5.org

Entry for this event is now closed.

To participate in this event, you must also register for the festival