2025 In-person Auditions October 10th-13th @ Pittsburgh CLO Academy, 130 CLO Academy Way 
Fri/Sat: Auditions and Masterclasses, Fri: Student Mixer, Sat Dance Call
Sunday: Q&A Sessions, Parent Masterclasses, Junior Experience/Mock Auditions and
Sunday/Monday: Callbacks

2025 Virtual Auditions October 18th-19th Audition Room on Acceptd Portal
Saturday: Virtual LIVE Auditions 9am-6pm
Saturday: Virtual MasterClasses and Q&A Sessions
Sunday: Callbacks, MTCA Informational Sessions, Q&A Sessions, Dance Call Self Tape Due

2025 Virtual Auditions Tech & Design Portfolio Reviews October 25th Audition Room on Acceptd Portal
Saturday: Tech & Design Portfolio Reviews in Audition Room 10am-4pm, Virtual MasterClasses
 

PUAuditions (PUA) was founded by a number of caring musical theatre parents who wanted to help future musical theatre students and their families by simplifying and demystifying the audition process. There are a number of advantages to participating in PUA, including: · A Supportive Environment – The founders of PUA are dedicated to offering a safe and supportive atmosphere to help you do your best work. BTDT (been there/done that) parents are available to answer your questions, PUA alumni return to escort you to your audition room, and audition coaches help you prepare in the green room before your audition. · Early Feedback – Since PUA takes place in October – very early in the audition season – the response you receive from college programs can help you prepare for the rest of the process. Whether you gain confidence from multiple callbacks or a desire to make adjustments for better results moving forward, this early feedback sets you up for success. · Introductions to Emerging Programs – Many of our attendees report that they learned about a program they hadn’t previously considered, and based on their connection with the faculty members at PUA, that program ultimately became their perfect fit. · Prescreen Passes – Many of the schools participating in PUA treat our auditions as live prescreens. Rather than submitting individual prescreens (and prescreen fees) to each of these schools, you’ll submit your prescreen videos to PUA and then perform live for the schools in a consortium setting. You’ll save time, money, and effort, while giving the schools a chance to see your recordings and your live performance. · Early Offers – Some of the schools participating in PUA treat our auditions as final offers, which means you could start the audition season with a solid offer (or more than one offer) in hand. · Application Waivers – Nearly all PUA schools offer participants an application waiver, eliminating or reducing the cost of your application to those schools. In addition, if you learn at PUA that a particular school is not a good fit for you, there is no need to spend money on an application to that school, further reducing your total audition expense. The waiver is their "ticket" to participate or they must provide a scholarship for an attendee. · Master Classes – You’ll have the chance to attend master classes with faculty members from many PUA schools, giving you insight into their teaching style. And, you'll have a chance to show them what you can do, outside of the audition room! · Connections & Community – You’ll meet other students that are embarking on the same audition journey that you’re preparing to take, and your family members will meet other PUA families. After bonding at PUA, you’ll be able to encourage each other throughout the season and take comfort when you see friendly faces at an on-campus or Unifieds audition.

The in-person auditions for PUA 2025 are scheduled for Friday, October 10, to Monday, October 13, at Pittsburgh CLO Academy of Musical Theatre, 130 CLO Academy Way in Pittsburgh. Audition slots begin at 8 am on Friday, October 10th. There is a welcome pizza party for students at the Even Hotel on Friday evening. Auditions are all day Saturday (along with masterclasses), Dance call is Saturday evening and In-Person One-on-One Callbacks are on Sunday/Monday. On Sunday the Junior Mock Auditions will take place along with Junior-Specific Master Classes. Virtual PUAuditions take place on Saturday, October 18, and callbacks Sunday, October 19. You will receive the Dance Choreography via video and have a week to self tape and send in through the portal. All virtual auditions will take place via Audition Room on the Acceptd platform. The Tech & Design Portfolio Reviews will take place virtually on Saturday, October 25th via Audition Room on the Acceptd platform.

PUA is not associated with National Unified Auditions, which refers to a group of college theatre programs that conduct auditions and interviews in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles in late January and early February. The term “Unifieds” refers to the fact that PUA conducts consortium-style auditions, in which students have the opportunity to audition for many colleges at once.

No! PUA also offers an exciting Junior Experience for high school Juniors. To find out more about the Junior Experience, see below. Additionally, Gap Year and Transfer students are welcome to attend! You would do so by purchasing a Senior Experience package.

These terms represent how each school participating in PUA treats your audition. Each school participating has their own audition and acceptance procedures. Live Prescreen: Refers to you performing your prescreen materials live, on stage, to the schools in attendance at PUA. Rather than submitting individual prescreen videos (and individual prescreen fees) to each of these schools, you will perform your materials live, on a stage, where you are most comfortable and at home, to the schools in a consortium setting. You will save time, money, and effort, while giving the schools a chance to see your live performance versus a video recording. For the Virtual event, your audition is performed LIVE, in real time, from where you are at and watched in real time from where the faculty is at. Final Audition: The schools that indicate “Final Audition” will treat your performance as your final audition for that school. A final audition could still result in an on campus callback or a virtual callback after PUA if the faculty needs to see more. The final audition could result in an offer from that school in the room, at the callback or at a later time. Hybrid: Schools that indicate “Hybrid” treat your audition at PUA as a combination of the above two terms, depending on the student and the audition. They might treat your audition as a final audition, which could result in a callback at PUA and a possible offer. However, they could also treat is as a live prescreen and call you back after PUA has concluded. If a hybrid school makes it a live prescreen, it means they think you might be a good fit. It does not mean they passed on making it a final audition because they don’t like you. There are several reasons they could go this route, some of which could be they want to invite you to campus for a visit to see if it is a mutual fit, they want other faculty to review your audition, or they might ask for a virtual or live (on campus or at a national unified event) callback at a later date to see progression of talent. The faculty reserves the right to treat each candidate differently in the decision making process.

No need to worry! All schools/programs view all students, regardless if the student is auditioning in-person or virtually. What this refers to is how the program is watching the auditions. Some schools will be in-person in Pittsburgh and some schools will be watching the auditions virtually back at their home base. The in-person auditions in Pittsburgh are recorded on video for the schools that do not travel to PUA in-person. Also, all of the schools watch all of the students who participate on our virtual weekend. So, be assured that each and every school will watch your audition!

The most updated information about participating schools will be posted here on our website under the "Schools Attending" tab. Each discipline that a school is recruiting for is indicated on the chart. We will also announce programs on our social media (Facebook: PUAuditions and PUA Parents; Instagram: @PUAuditions) so be sure to follow us!

Some of the callbacks occur at PUA on Sunday and Monday. However, due to time constraints, the schools cannot callback everyone they are interested in at PUA. Therefore, you will receive callbacks in the days and weeks following PUA. Most of your callbacks will occur after PUA has concluded and you have returned home. Also, please keep in mind that some programs use PUA as a final audition, and they only reach out to students with audition status at one time, after ALL of their auditions have concluded. Therefore, you might not hear from some programs until February or March.

The first step to registering is to purchase a registration in the “Purchase Your Package” section of our website: https://www.pittsburghunifiedsauditions.com/shop . Once you have checked out and paid, you will receive an email with a code to access the PUA Acceptd page and submit your video media review video materials.

PUAuditions is committed to making the college audition process as fair and equitable as possible. To assist with this, each year, we have a limited amount of full and partial scholarships available to qualified students. Scholarships requests will be evaluated on the basis of financial need and merit in order to make this audition opportunity as accessible as possible. If you are interested in applying, please click on the "Scholarships" tab on the main menu. Fill out the Google form and foward all requested additional materials to us. Please apply for your scholarship prior to registering for PUA.

Yes! You can pay for PUA over time by utilizing PayPal when you checkout. There is an option to pay monthly. Be sure to select PayPal as your payment method when checking out.

After you purchase your package for PUA, you will receive an email to the email address you used to register. In that email, you will receive instructions and a code to set up your PUA GetAcceptd account.

Due to the nature of the planning of this. event, no refunds will be given past JULY 1, 2025 at NOON, unless there is a documented medical emergency. ALL REFUNDS WILL BE MINUS $150 to cover fees incurred. Thank you for your understanding.

Unfortunately, due to capacity limitations and the fact that we have an official Wait List, we are unable to transfer your attendance to a friend. If a conflict arises and you are unable to attend, we advise you to take note of our refund policy. However, if you are an in-person student and you are able to switch to our virtual platform, we might be able to switch you over, if space allows. Please email us at info@pittsburghunifiedauditions.org if you are no longer able to attend.

Unfortunately, space is limited for our packages. If the package you are interested in has sold out, we will have a waitlist. To join the waitlist, add the package you are interested in to the shopping cart. You will automatically be added to the waitlist. You will get an email if the product comes back in stock for you to complete the purchase. You will have 48-hours to complete the purchase before your spot will be released and sent to the next person in line.

If you need to switch to a virtual package, please email info@pittsburghunifiedauditions.org and we will try our best to accommodate the switch, as long as space is available. Please note that the virtual package is only for Seniors. There is not a virtuall package for The Junior Experience.

If you accidentally purchased the wrong package, please email us as soon as possible at info@pittsburghunifiedauditions.org. We will look into the issue and assist you.

Yes! We love our Gap Year students! Gap Years should purchase one of our Senior packages.

Acceptd has a link to the Musical Theatre Common Prescreen (MTCP), which goes over all of the requirements and even gives tips on filming quality videos. To access the guide, CLICK HERE.

Media review video materials are used for the schools to get a first look at you. They are similar to prescreens, but they are not something that you will "pass" or "not pass." They are just used as a "get to you know as a performer" for the schools and programs attending PUA. The videos will consist of songs, monologue(s), dance and an optional Wildcard. Each element will be a separate video that is 60-90 seconds in length. The schools participating in PUA have agreed to use the Musical Theatre Common Prescreen for both Acting and Musical Theatre. At PUA, you can use Option C for songs and monologues, which means you are free to choose either Option A or Option B. Additionally, if you are applying to Musical Theatre, you will need to film a dance video. Acting-only candidates do not have to film a dance. For dance, you can use Option A or B. The ballet video is optional. The dance video should also be between 60-90 seconds in length. The Wildcard video is optional, however it is a great way for schools to get to know you beyond songs and monologues. It is a way to show your personality to the schools and an opportunity to share something about you. The Wildcard can be ANYTHING you want - a special skill, an interesting story about yourself, a passion speech, poetry you've written, an instrument you play, etc. “What do you want the schools to know about you?” The Wildcard video should be between 60-90 seconds in length. The slate is a separate video for the Musical Theatre Common Prescreen and must be uploaded to Acceptd. Please do not to slate before each song and monologue. The videos must be labeled in the following format: - Title of Song – Musical/Show – Your First & Last Name - Title of Play – Playwright – Your First & Last Name When filming, be sure to film in landscape (horizontal) format and to position the camera at eye level. To find out more about the 2025/2026 Musical Theatre Common Prescreen and its requirements, and to get more filming tips, CLICK HERE:

The media review video materials are similar to prescreens, but are not used to prevent you from coming to PUA. PUA reviews your media to make sure that you can be seen and heard by the college faculty members who will review your videos. If there is a major issue that we recommend you correct before we make the prescreen available to PUA schools, we will contact you. We review the media not to prevent you from attending, but to set you up for success.

As long as you upload your media files by September 1st, you are guaranteed to get constructive feedback from our professional panel of industry expert reviewers, which rotates each year. We use people that are active in the industry and also some of the professional coaches from MTCA. The reviewers look at everything in order to set the student up for success. PUA reviews your media to make sure that you can be seen and heard by the college faculty who will review your videos. As you would expect, the dance, vocal, monologue and wildcard videos are reviewed. However, reviewers also look over resumes, general formatting, labeling of videos to ensure they comply with MTCP requirements, etc. If there is a major issue that we recommend you correct before we make the prescreen available to PUA schools, we will contact you. We review the media not to prevent you from attending or to discourage you, but to set you up for success.

Don't overthink it! Wear something you love and that you feel comfortable and confident in. Definitely wear something that you feel reflects your personality. As a general rule, wear something that you would wear on a first date. For dance, you should wear something that is easy to move in. Also, please wear something that is close to the body so the faculty can easily observe your lines.

We would advise that you follow the recommendations of each program, which is outlined in the Pre-Program materials. Overall, we recommend waiting until you receive your PUA callbacks before applying to the PUA schools that you are interested in attending. If you receive a callback, you may also receive an application waiver, which will reduce or eliminate your application fee. If you do not receive a callback, there is no need to apply to that school, and you can eliminate unnecessary time, effort, and expense by skipping that application. When you do apply to a school, the student is responsible for completing and submitting all application requirements outside of the audition (essays, test scores, transcripts, etc.). Please keep in mind some programs require you to apply to both the school and department separately.

If a PUA school is on the list of schools you are interested in attending, there is no need to submit a separate prescreen to that school. The school will count your PUA video media review materials and/or live audition as the school’s prescreen.

The Junior Experience package is the perfect way to feel more prepared and relaxed when it’s your turn to audition for college as a high school senior. In the Junior Experience, you will walk the same footsteps as the seniors, so you will know what to expect the following year. Not to mention, you will have the extra benefit of having the opportunity to make friends super-early in the process, so you can all go through it together! Juniors will have the opportunity to attend all of the masterclasses during the weekend, and there will also be masterclasses geared specifically to the juniors and workshops for junior parents on Sunday. Junior parents are also invited to attend any of the parent sessions that are scheduled over the weekend. The centerpiece of the weekend for juniors will be the mock auditions with some of the PUA colleges, universities, programs and industry professionals. After their audition, juniors will receive real-time feedback on the audition in the room. Both the master classes and mock auditions will offer juniors meaningful feedback and valuable practice for next year’s audition process.

The Junior Experience at PUA is a great way to become familiar with colleges/universities/programs before you have to audition. There are so many programs out there and by attending PUA as a Junior, you’ll gain invaluable insights to prepare you for the application process. You’ll also be able to meet and take masterclasses with school professors, ask pertinent questions and learn directly from industry professionals. During the moc auditions, you'll get to experience a consortium style audition and be prepared for the experience prior to senior year. Additionally, after your audition, you will receive valuable feedback from school personnel and industry professionals. You will be one step ahead prior to Senior year.

The Junior Experience will encompass all days of PUA. Beginning Friday morning, the juniors will have the opportunity to attend all of the masterclasses run by university & program faculty that occur during the weekend. Additionally, junior parents are welcome to attend any workshop, panel or discussion group that senior parents attend. On Friday evening there will be a pizza party mixer at the Even Hotel that the juniors are invited to. On Sunday, there will be masterclasses geared specifically to the juniors and workshops for junior parents. The centerpiece of the weekend for the juniors will be the mock auditions with some of the PUA colleges, universities, programs and industry professionals. After their audition, juniors will receive real-time feedback on the audition. Both the master classes and mock auditions will offer juniors meaningful feedback and valuable practice for next year’s audition process.

The Junior Experience is an in-person event only.

Juniors are asked to prepare the same audition package as the seniors. The PUA audition follows the Musical Theatre Common Prescreen (MTCP) Option C. Musical Theatre Candidates: You will be asked to perform TWO (2) contrasting songs (32 bars each) and ONE (1) monologue. The total time of your pieces should not exceed 5 minutes. Acting Candidates: You should prepare TWO (2) contrasting monologues. The total time of your pieces should not exceed 5 minutes. Acting & Musical Theatre Candidates: You have the choice to perform A or B: a.) ONE (1) monologue and TWO (2) contrasting songs (32-bars each) b.) TWO (2) contrasting monologues and ONE (1) 32-bar song. The total time of either of your pieces should not exceed 5 minutes. For all candidates, you can perform the same material from your prescreen, or you can use different material. There is no live Dance Call for juniors at PUA.

At Junior Mock Auditions, you will have a live accompanist. However, it would be helpful to have recordings of your music for masterclasses.

The Junior Experience will set you up for success during your senior year. Therefore, the Junior Experience is very similiar to what the seniors will be during over the course of the weekend. Juniors have the opportunity to take master classes with the seniors on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, there will be master classes specifically designed for the juniors and workshops for the junior parents. The highlight of the weekend will be the Junior Mock Auditions on Sunday afternoon! Juniors will audition for a group of PUA schools and industry professionals on the same stage as the seniors, performing the same auditionl materials that the seniors use. The number of schools watching the mock auditions is smaller than the number that watch the senior auditions, but the smaller audience gives juniors the chance to experience a consortium audition without the pressure of a full room. Juniors will get immediate in-room feedback! Additionally, juniors will not have a live dance call like the seniors do. Instead, juniors will have the opportunity to participate in an optional digital dance call for feedback.

Don't overthink it! Wear something you love and that you feel comfortable and confident in. Definitely wear something that you feel reflects your personality. As a general rule, wear something that you would wear on a first date. For dance masterclasses that you sign up for, you should wear something that is easy to move in. Also, please wear something that is close to the body so the faculty can easily observe your lines.

Once you are on the stage at PUA, you will introduce yourself to the adjudicators by stating your name and your audition number. You will then present all of your pieces at one time. For songs, you state the name of the song and the musical it is from. For monologues, you state the name of the monologue, name of the play it is from and the author. For example: "Hello! My name is John Doe, #10 and today I will be performing "Tonight at Eight" from She Loves Me and "Take What You've Got" from Kinky Boots. My monologue is “Richard's Boast" from Richard III by William Shakespeare."

There is no live dance call as part of the Junior Experience. However, juniors will be sent a dance combination that they will have the option to record and upload to Acceptd for feedback. Recorded dance calls are becoming industry standard for professional opportunities and this will be a good introduction to the process for the juniors. Additionally, juniors are able to register for any dance masterclass that they wish over the course of the weekend.

No, the Juniors do not receive callbacks during the Junior Experience. Instead, immediately following their moc audition, Juniors will receive in-room, constructive feedback from the college and program representatives and MT professionals. This feedback will give the Juniors the opportunity to perfect their materials and give them actionable items to work on over the year so that they are in a solid starting position for their senior year.

Virtual PUAuditions take place on Saturday, October 18, and callbacks Sunday, October 19. You will receive the Dance Choreography via video and have a week to self tape and send in through the portal. All virtual auditions will take place via Audition Room on the Acceptd platform.

Virtual auditions take place during the day on Saturday, October 18, 2025 via Acceptd Audition Room. You will receive an email with links and instructions to connect and join the Virtual Lobby before beginning your audition experience. Click here to Go to ACCEPTD AUDITION ROOM GUIDE to familiarize yourself with how the Virtual auditions will work! Callbacks take place on Sunday, October 19, 2025 or they can take place at another date and time arranged by the school/program.

Your virtual audition will be the same as the in-person candidates: Musical Theatre Candidates: You will be asked to perform TWO (2) contrasting songs (32-bars each) and ONE (1) monologue. The total time of your pieces should not exceed 5 minutes. We also recommend bringing your rep book, in case you are asked to sing an additional song at a callback. Acting Candidates: You should prepare TWO (2) contrasting monologues. The total time of your pieces should not exceed 5 minutes. Acting & Musical Theatre Candidates: You will perform a total of THREE (3) pieces and have the choice to perform either A or B: a.) ONE (1) monologue and TWO (2) contrasting songs (32-bars each) b.) TWO (2) contrasting monologues and ONE (1) 32-bar song. The total time of your pieces should not exceed 5 minutes. We also recommend bringing your rep book, in case you are asked to sing an additional song at a callback. For all candidates, you can perform the same material from your video review materials that you uploaded to Acceptd, or you can use different material. For Dance Call questions, see the question below about the Virtual Dance Call.

Virtual candidates will get the recording of the dance call, as well as the music track. We will send the materials out via ACCEPTD Messenger and you will have a week to return your self tape back. You will upload it to the portal like your other media. In the past, successful candidates have recorded it in various places, such as their living rooms, basements, garages, dance studios, church or school auditoriums, and even outside on the patio or driveway! The important thing to remember is please do not stress! The instructors are looking for ability to pick up choreography and dance fit for their program.

Yes, absolutely! Our virtual students will get to choose their 10-minute audition time slot via Acceptd just like the in-person students do.

Audition Room on the Acceptd platform has recommendtions for your computer settings. You can VIEW THEM HERE prior to your audition or portfolio review so you can be well prepared.

Absolutely not! Schools are very comfortable and experienced with virtual auditions, both live, virtual and recorded video virtual -- especially since 2020. At PUA, you will have a live, virtual audition facilitated by Audition Room over Get Acceptd. Our virtual students have had amazing results that compare to the results of the students at our in-person weekend.

Absolutely, positively YES! All schools watch all candidates, regardless if the candidate is auditioning in-person in Pittsburgh or auditioning virtually during our virtual weekend. Our virtual students receive the same opportunity to be seen by schools as our in-person students.

A ¾ shot (from the knees to the top of the head) works well for your virtual audition. Be sure to position the camera at eye level and to have the camera in landscape (horizontal) format.

Once you are let into Audition Room, you will introduce yourself to the adjudicators by stating your name and your audition number. You will then present all of your pieces at one time. For songs, you state the name of the song and the musical it is from. For monologues, you state the name of the monologue, name of the play it is from and the author. For example: "Hello! My name is John Doe, #10 and today I will be performing "Tonight at Eight" from She Loves Me and "Take What You've Got" from Kinky Boots. My monologue is “Richard's Boast" from Richard III by William Shakespeare."

For the Musical Theatre and Acting auditions, callbacks take place on Sunday, October 19, 2025 via Acceptd Audition Room or they can take place at another date and time arranged by the school/program. For the Tech & Design Portfolio Reviews, the schools will reach out directly to the the students for next steps.

Yes! School and program faculty run virtual masterclasses for students and MTCA runs classes for both students and parents. You can refer to the master class section of our website to see opportunites that were available in prior years. This year's schedule will be published in September.

Absolutely yes! All of our students, whether in-person or virtual, will receive the list of school-specific, application waiver and discount codes.

During virtual auditions, since you cannot have a live accompanist, it will be necessary to have audio recordings for the music of your song cuts. Please do not use karaoke tracks for your audition. Sources for obtaining accompanist tracks can be local resources like your voice teacher or your school band teacher. There are also online resources like Musicnotes and Sheet Music Direct and apps that you can use such as Appcompanist, PianoTrax or Tomplay Sheet Music.

The Tech & Design Portfolio Reviews will take place virtually on Saturday, October 25th via Audition Room on the Acceptd platform.

All Portfolio Reviews will be presented virtually on October 25, 2025 via Acceptd Audition Room. Please refer to the FAQ section on Virtual Auditions to answer questions regarding how virtual auditions work.

You will present an electronic portfolio of your work to present to the programs participating in the Portfolio Reviews. Please be prepared to present your work and discuss the elements in the portfolio. Each design review will take approximately TEN (10) minutes in length.

When you are let into the Audition Room, smile and greet the adjudicators with your name. Let them know what type of tech work your portfolio consists of and then just enjoy presenting your work!

Absolutely yes! All of our students will receive a listing of the school-specific application waiver and discount codes.

Yes! We will have virtual Tech & Design masterclasses for students!

For the Virtual Tech & Design Portfolio Reviews, the schools will reach out directly to the the students for next steps.

Auditions begin at 8:00 AM on Friday, October 10, 2025 for In-Person. (Saturday, 10/18, at 9 AM for Virtual and Saturday, 10/25, at 10 AM for Tech & Design Reviews). Master classes will also begin on Friday, October 10th. The first non-audition event of the weekend is a pizza party for students, which takes place at the Even Hotel on Friday, October 10, from 7:15 to 9:30 PM. The pizza party is optional, and is a student-only event. Parents are welcome to mingle in the Even lobby during that time. A cash bar and café are located in the lobby for parents' convenience. On Saturday, October 11, PUA events begin at 8:00 AM, but you have the option to schedule them at times that are convenient to you through Acceptd. The earlier the materials are submitted and pass the panel screen, the earlier you will be invited to schedule your audition. Remember, it's a suduko puzzle to schedule auditions, but we will do our best to accommodate everyone's travel plans. Please don't wait until the last minute to submit your materials on Acceptd! Master classes will continue on Saturday. Callbacks will occur on Sunday, October 12, and Monday, October 13. Schools will try their best to accommodate your travel schedules. A full schedule will be posted on our website as we get closer to the event and master classes are finalized.

You will check-in for PUA on Friday, when you arrive at the CLO for either your audition or your first master class. Our check-in table is located in the main hallway when you enter the CLO Academy. Give your name and the date and time of your audition to the PUA personnel and they will check you in and get you your Audition Packet. The packet will consist of a folder with your audition date and time, dance call date and time, your audition number, which you are to wear at all times to all PUA events (except for the pizza party), including master classes and informational sessions. It will also include a photo release form, which should be returned to the check-in table and a school excuse letter (which will also be distributed electronically). Other informational paperwork could be included as well.

That number is your audition number. Audition numbers are common practice across both college and professional auditions. That number is how the college faculty and personnel will remember you over the course of the in-person events at PUA. You are required to wear that number to all activities at PUA, including the audition, dance call, callbacks and all master classes. Please wear it in a visible place above the waist.

Don't overthink it! Wear something you love and that you feel comfortable and confident in. Definitely wear something that you feel reflects your personality. As a general rule, wear something that you would wear on a first date to impress someone. For dance, wear something is comfortable to move in and that is close fitting to the body so the instructors can easily see your lines. For all auditions, dance calls, master classes and callbacks, be sure to wear your audition number.

Sorry! Parents are not permitted to watch any of the auditions. Master classes are considered part of the audition process, and as a result, parents are not permitted to watch. However, there will be some information sessions scheduled especially for parents that they are more than encouraged to attend.

You will audition for all PUA schools at one time in what is called a consortium-style audition. If you receive callbacks from any of the schools, you will have an opportunity to meet with those schools individually.

Musical Theatre Candidates: You will be asked to perform TWO (2) contrasting songs (32-bars each) and ONE (1) monologue. The total time of your pieces should not exceed 5 minutes. We also recommend bringing your rep book, in case you are asked to sing an additional song at a callback. Acting Candidates: You should prepare TWO (2) contrasting monologues. The total time of your pieces should not exceed 5 minutes. Acting & Musical Theatre Candidates: You will perform a total of THREE (3) pieces and have the choice to perform either A or B: a.) ONE (1) monologue and TWO (2) contrasting songs (32-bars each) b.) TWO (2) contrasting monologues and ONE (1) 32-bar song. The total time of your pieces should not exceed 5 minutes. We also recommend bringing your rep book, in case you are asked to sing an additional song at a callback. For all candidates, you can perform the same material from your video review materials that you uploaded to Acceptd, or you can use different material.

In the audition room, each candidate is alotted 5 minutes to perform their pieces. Your 5 minutes begins at the first note of your song or the first word or beat of your monologue. Please be conscious of time when preparing your pieces to ensure that they are no longer than 5 minutes in length.

For PUA, we are requesting that your songs be 32-bar cuts. A 32-bar cut is approximately between 1 minute and 15 seconds and 1 minute and 30 seconds. Please time your pieces before coming to PUA. We will be adhearing to FIVE (5) minute slots per candidate in the room.

For PUA, we are requesting that your monologue should be between one minute and one minute and thirty seconds. Please time your total package to ensure that it is no longer than 5 minutes total with both your songs and your monologues.

Once you are on the stage at PUA, you will introduce yourself to the adjudicators by stating your name and your audition number. You will then present all of your pieces at one time. For songs, you state the name of the song and the musical it is from. For monologues, you state the name of the monologue, name of the play it is from and the author. For example: "Hello! My name is John Doe, #10 and today I will be performing "Tonight at Eight" from She Loves Me and "Take What You've Got" from Kinky Boots. My monologue is “Richard's Boast" from Richard III by William Shakespeare."

At in-person PUA, there will be an accompanist for the senior/junior auditions, and you will have an opportunity to work with the accompanist for tempo, etc. prior to your audition. This also serves as a great warm up! However, you should also bring a recorded tracks for use in master classes. However, at any auditions at National Unifides or on-campus, it is always good practice to have digital recording tracks of your music. You should have a track for your cut (16 or 32-bar) and a track of the full song.

We recommend bringing the following items with you: - Two audition outfits - Dance clothing and shoes for dance call - Sheet music, with cuts properly marked, for accompanist - Downloaded tracks of audition songs - Wireless speaker with cords and charger - Head shots with resumes stapled to the back (recommend 5-10). These items are available to programs in the digital platform, but bring some to practice handing out during Callbacks. - Water, tea, and lozenges - Power bars or other type of healthy snack - A personal steamer

The dance call is an industry standard, in which you will learn a dance combination and then perform it in small groups. We will offer a few different dance call times, and you will have the opportunity to schedule your dance call prior to PUA. The dance call will take place in a dance studio, so jazz shoes or character shoes are fine to wear. Be sure to wear dance clothing that allows the faculty members to see and appreciate your movement and your lines. Virtual candidates will get the recording of the dance call, as well as the music track. We will send the materials out via GET ACCEPT'D and you will have a week to return your self tape back. You will download it to the portal like your other media. In the past, successful candidates have recorded it in various places, such as their living rooms, basements, garages, dance studios, church or school auditioriums, and even outside on the patio or driveway! Whether you're live or virtual, don't stress! The instructors are looking for ability to pick up choreography and dance fit for their program.

A callback is an opportunity for you and a PUA school to learn more about each other. It’s a sign that the school representative(s) liked what he/she saw in your audition and want to see more from you. You may be asked to sing an additional song, have the opportunity to tell the school representative about yourself, or ask questions about the program. For some schools, receiving a callback is sign that you are receiving a prescreen pass. For others, it is a sign that you will receive an offer. When the list of PUA schools is finalized, we will indicate whether the school is treating PUA as a live prescreen or a final audition. Callbacks will occur at PUA, however due to time restrictions, schools cannot see all of the students that they are interested in at the PUA event. Therefore, be aware that callbacks will continue to happen after PUA is concluded. The bulk of your callbacks from PUA may occur after the event is over and you have returned home.

You will receive a notification late Saturday night via Acceptd Messenger, telling you that you have received at least one callback. You will then be able to schedule your callbacks with each school. Instructions will be at the event. Also, the schools that are watching your audition virtually will reach out to you directly after PUA has concluded.

Faculty members from participating schools teach a variety of master classes over the weekend in-person and virtually during virtual PUA. Topics range from vocal health, acting the song, acting scene analysis to dancing with confidence. The master classes give you an opportunity to experience a variety of teaching styles, to learn skills that will help you throughout the audition process, and to show faculty members what you can do in a safe and positive atmosphere.

Callbacks start at 8am. Callbacks will be finished by 4:00pm Monday. We wrap up the weekend with a session led by audition coaches to help you reflect on the weekend and prepare for the months ahead. If you are flying out or have more than a 8 hour drive, we will give you priority spots when we schedule your callbacks.

Aside from the Friday night pizza party, PUA does not provide meals throughout the weekend for the students. There is a bistro in the lobby of the Even Hotel, and there are a variety of restaurants close to the hotel and the Pittsburgh CLO Academy. Students are free to leave the Pittsburgh CLO Academy to grab a meal or snack between master classes and between callbacks.

On Friday evening, PUA will host a pizza party mixer at the Even Hotel for both junior and senior students. This event is for students only. Parents can drop off the students at the Even (lobby level) and return for pick up. There is a bistro in the Even Hotel Main Lobby that serves food, drinks and adult beverages that parents can visit or use to plan an informal parent meet-up. The cost of this, if you decide to take advantage, is not included in PUA registration. No other formal events are scheduled for the students over the weekend.

There is not a group vocal warm up at PUA. Utilize space in your hotel to warm up prior to your audition. It is common practice to come to college auditions already warmed up vocally. You will encounter this throughout your college audition journey and should be prepared for crowded audition spaces with very little private areas for vocalization.

Seniors do not get feedback from the auditions. It is not standard practice for adjudicators to provide feedback for college auditions and PUA follows that model. This goes for both in-person and virtual Senior Auditions. However, both seniors and juniors who upload their media review video materials by September 1st, are guaranteed to receive professional feedback on all media uploaded (songs, monologues, dance, wildcard, resume, slate, and video labeling standards). During Junior Mock Auditions, all juniors will receive in-room, constructive feedback from the panel of professionals in the room.

The master class schedule will be finalized in September, when we are closer to the event. When it is finalized, students will be notified via email, Acceptd Messenger and social media. Additionally, the schedule will be published on our website under the "Master Class" tab and the "Schedule" tab. Students will be provided with instructions on how to sign up for classes via a Sign-Up Genius and we kindly request that students read the instructions on registering and only sign up for classes that they know they will be attending, in order to be fair to all students attending PUA.

If you received a callback from a particular program, you will receive instructions on how to proceed for that school. You may be asked during your callback to submit your application to the school, or you may receive an email a few days later with instructions on scheduling your final audition. The next steps will vary from school to school, as will the speed of each school’s communication with you. The organizers of PUA try to keep you informed as much as possible. If a program contacts us with information on their progress and next steps for students, we will be sure to pass that information to you right away. While you are waiting, you are more than welcome to send a thank you note that expresses appreciation for the faculty member’s time and comments on a specific moment from your audition, callback, or master class.

After PUA, we encourage you to use your list of application waiver codes to apply to the schools that you have received a callback for and for schools that you have a high degree of interest in. Keep in mind, that some callbacks will occur after PUA is over, so keep those waiver codes handy! When you do apply to a school, the student is responsible for completing and submitting all application requirements outside of the audition (essays, test scores, transcripts, etc.). Please keep in mind some programs require you to apply to both the school and department separately.

Yes! In fact, the majority of your callbacks will likely occur after PUA, when you have returned home. Due to time constraints at PUA and school travel schedules, they can only see so many students during PUA. Schools will continue to reach out to you after PUA has concluded. Also, remember that schools are also watching your audition virtually. They will begin to reach out to you after PUA has concluded. Trust the process!

Every program is on their own timeline. Some schools release their decisions on a rolling basis and some schools release their decisions all at one time for all auditionees. That means that you might not hear a decision for some of the schools until February or March. We try to keep you aware of each school's timelines in your Pre-Program materialsl. Most schools will notify you of decisions on or before April 1st. PUAuditions is not involved in the decision making process for any program and does not receive notification of students admission offers or scholarships.

During the college audition process, it is important to remember that not every school is a fit for every person. And, not getting a callback does not mean that you had a bad audition or that the school did not enjoy your audition. There are many factors that go into why or why not a school calls you back. It is all part of the process. However, at PUA, schools understand and appreciate that this is early in the process and they want you to succeed and present your best, most authentic self. If you consult your Audition Guide, which you received when you arrived at PUA and is also available electronically, you will see that some schools, such as Texas State, will let you apply directly with them using their normal audition process, utilizing new materials.