Mapping The College Audition: An MTCA Podcast
This podcast is an exploration of the daunting College Theater (+ Musical Theater) Audition process led by an expert in the field, as well as an exploration of the paths to success from college to beyond. We talk with Colleges about their training programs and Artists about their unique careers fostered from their training.
All Episodes
Drake University with Erin Degner
In this College Deep Dive, Erin Degner the Associate Professor of Theatre Arts and Head of the BFA Musical Theatre Program chats with MTCA Director Charlie Murphy about: Kindness counts, not as a strategy, but as a reflection of who you are.
Anne Josephson, 3-Time MTCA Alumni Parent on Embracing Your Child’s Individuality
In this Artist Episode 3-Time MTCA Alumni Parent Anne Josephson and MTCA Director Charlie Murphy discuss: đź”´Finding the right college - student fit. đź”´What Anne learned the 2nd and 3rd time around and what she would do differently.
Florida Southern College with Christianne Roll (Bonus: Charlie’s Unifieds Thoughts!)
In this College Deep Dive, Christianne Roll, Musical Theatre Program Coordinator at FSC and MTCA Director Charlie Murphy discuss; 🔴What it means to be a Florida Southern student. 🔴FSC’s strong vocal education. 🔴What the people behind the table at FSC are looking for.
Paul Kwak (Laryngologist) on Overall Vocal Health
In this Artist Episode Paul Kwak, Laryngologist Chats with MTCA Director Charlie Murphy about. His musical journey to becoming a laryngologist. The importance of vocal technique. How to stay vocally healthy throughout the year.
Pace University (Act II) with Amanda Flynn
In this College Deep Dive, we welcome Amanda Flynn the Program Head of Musical Theater at Pace University. Amanda Flynn is a former MTCA Vocal Tech Coach and has represented Pace University at MTCA’s Junior Intensive for the past two years!
Kevin Munhall (Broadway’s Tootsie) on Breath, Stress, and Performance
In this Artist Exploration, Kevin Munhall (Broadway’s Tootsie) chats with MTCA Director Charlie Murphy about: Build breathing and regulation habits before the stakes are high. Nerves aren’t the enemy; what matters is how you perform under pressure, not just in practice.
Seton Hill with Joseph Domencic
In this College Deep Dive, Joseph Domencic the Associate Professor of Musical Theatre and Theatre at Seton Hill University chats with MTCA Director Charlie Murphy about: Seton Hill’s superpower: individualized training—using a liberal arts model to tailor each student’s path, not force a single mold.
Marcus Crawford Guy (MTCA Song Coach MTCA & AMC’s “Turn: Washington’s Spies”) on The Actor’s Mindset
In this Artist Exploration, Marcus Crawford Guy a MTCA Song Coach MTCA and from AMC’s “Turn: Washington’s Spies” chats with MTCA Director Charlie Murphy about: How subtle quirks of timing can quietly reshape your path. Learning to trust who you already are at your core.
Northern Michigan University with Bill Digneit
In this College Deep Dive, Bill Digneit the Department Head and Professor of Theatre & Dance at Northern Michigan University chats with MTCA Director Charlie Murphy about: How NMU is a place for adventurers.
2025 Holiday Episode
In this Special 2025 Holiday Episode, Charlie discusses his monthly blog post "The Definitive, Ultimate, Universal, Top Ten List of Acting and Musical Theater Colleges" Subjectivity. Statistics. Personalization.
Britney Coleman from the National Tour of Company and Beetlejuice on Bringing Yourself to the Table
In this Artist Exploration, Britney Coleman, from the national tour of Company and Beetlejuice, chats with MTCA Director Charlie Murphy about: 🔴Britney’s journey into theater and majoring in musical theater. 🔴Her experience with A Very Potter Musical.
Texas Woman’s University with Julio Agustin Matos
In this College Deep Dive, Julio Agustin Matos the Artistic Manager of Musical Theatre at Texas Woman’s University chats about MTCA Director Charlie Murphy about: Texas Woman’s MT program is a brand-new, forward-looking Bachelor of Music that feels more like a BFA.
Emma Flynn Bespolka (MTCA Alum and from West End’s Cluesless) on Being Yourself Is “Popular”
In this Artist Exploration, Emma Flynn, an MTCA Alum and from West End’s Clueless chats with MTCA Director Charlie Murphy about: Be yourself, trust your type, and bring your whole person into the room. Grieve the setbacks, then release what you can’t control.
Montclair State University with Ryan Kasparzcak
In this College Deep Dive, Ryan Kasparzcak the Head of Montclair’s Theatre and Dance and MTCA Director Charlie Murphy discuss: Candid look at their MT program, dance expectations, and admissions approach. Leading with your spark, and aiming for a little better every day.
Sara Jean Ford (The Phantom of the Opera) on the The Aging Ingenue
In this Artist Exploration, Sara Jean Ford from Broadway’s The Phantom of the Opera and MTCA Director Charlie Murphy discuss: Showing colleges “who you are” isn’t a gimmick. Grow as an artist by letting instead of forcing.
Arcadia University with Jonathan Shandell and Kathryn Petersen
In this College Deep Dive, Jonathan Shandell and Kathryn Petersen the Co-Program Director of Theater at Arcadia University chat with MTCA Director Charlie Murphy about: Where do you want to live on the Acting to MT spectrum? A reminder that the process isn’t so binary!
Point Park with Michael Campayno
In this College Deep Dive, Michael Campayno — Carnegie Mellon grad, former MTCA coach, and now Director of Musical Theatre at Point Park University — joins MTCA Director Charlie Murphy to discuss: How Point Park is shifting its focus and leaning more into acting while honoring its strong dance roots.
Molly Griggs (MTCA Alum & John Proctor Is The Villain) on Taking Risks
In this Artist Exploration, MTCA Alum and Carnegie Mellon graduate Molly Griggs (John Proctor Is The Villain) joins MTCA Director Charlie Murphy for a conversation about: Does the ease of Zoom make us more connected — or more naive as artists?
Baldwin Wallace University with Jennifer Hemphill
In this College Deep Dive, Jennifer Hemphill, the new Music Theater Director at Baldwin Wallace University and Charlie Murphy, Director of MTCA chat about: How Jennifer’s leadership is shaping a new chapter in the program’s curriculum.
LIVE POD at Pittsburgh Unified Auditions: Faculty Q&A Panel
New Episode Alert: MTCA’s second-ever live pod from the Pittsburgh Unified's faculty Q&A — featuring 26 schools across 5 panels! Speed Dating College Edition! Hear the real people behind the programs — not just the websites. Remember: You’re auditioning them too.
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