Bachelor of Creative Arts (Acting) in Music Theatre

Duration

2 years (6 trimesters) accelerated

Location

Melbourne, Sydney

Fees

FEE-HELP Available

Domestic Fees

International Fees

Intake Dates

February Only

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International

CRICOS 104616C

JMC welcomes from all over the world.
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Our performance-focused program will prepare you to pursue a professional and sustainable career in Acting & Music Theatre performance by equipping you with knowledge and skills for a fulfilling career, and by diversifying your creative practice & artistry to enable you to meet the specific needs and nuances of the dynamic performing arts industry.

Watch: Music Theatre Course Overview

Music Theatre at JMC

Built on core streams covering Acting & Performance, Voice and Dance, Musicianship, Creativity and Entrepreneurship Acting at JMC involves unique and dynamic learning experiences which will position you for success in theatrical and cinematic performance.

The Music Theatre major is underpinned by rigorous actor training, coupled with intensive voice & musicianship development (solo & group), and dance (Jazz, Tap, Ballet, & Commercial), preparing you to become an industry ready music theatre performer. We are committed to nurturing versatility and flexibility for our graduates, enabling them to move with confidence between a variety of performance media, locations and contexts.

Our Bachelor Degree will nurture talent and performance craft, whilst supporting the creation of new ideas, projects and creative ventures, ensuring our graduates are able to fully and confidently participate with personal leadership in all facets of their industry.

Collaboration

At JMC, collaborations between actors, filmmakers, animators, game designers, audio engineers and more, create a dynamic and multi-disciplinary approach to learning ensuring that this acting program remains at the leading edge of the creative arts industry. We celebrate the synergy between performers and creative professionals from a range of disciplines in an immersive environment committed to each individual’s artistic journey and creative potential.

Industry Experience

As part of the training program at JMC, Acting and Music Theatre students work on various projects across performance mediums such as film and tv, voice over, motion capture, stage combat & fight choreography, and cinematic design. Additionally, we teach our actors business acumen which enables them to enter the industry with confidence and portfolio of works which can be showcased to agents, casting directors, and audition panels.

Performance Opportunities

JMC Music Theatre students perform in a wide range of live productions across the course of their Bachelors program. Performances range from showcases in an intimate setting to full staged productions in black box theatres. Our Graduate Show provides our actors the opportunity to experience a professional production process, whilst performing in some of Melbourne’s best theatres, in collaboration with Australian and International Directors & production teams.

Course Structure

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CURRICULUM

Foundations (Trimesters 1 & 2)

The Acting Foundation - ACT201

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 1

This unit introduces the student to the foundation principles of acting, which provide the base from which the actor begins to build their process.

This acting foundation describes freedom and availability as core principles of the actor’s process. This approach to the work requires self-awareness to identify personal limitations or habitual behaviours and to then apply preparatory techniques to enable the actor to respond to stimulus moment to moment.

Students will undertake a range of practical preparation activities and exercises to develop these core skills, as well as developing conceptual understanding of these foundation principles and how these form the basis of the actor’s work. These foundation skills will be applied through both theatre and screen performance exercises and activities.

Theatre Production 1 (Music Theatre) - ACT211B

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 2

This unit builds upon the core foundation and introductory knowledge and skill developed in Trimester 1 and introduces the craft of musical theatre performance. This unit culminates in a performance of a contemporary musical theatre work(s).

Craft skills of the actor involve meeting the obligations of a performance text/score and developing a role throughout a rehearsal period. Craft also requires the actor to apply acting principles and techniques to an audition context and whilst collaborating with a director, fellow performers and crew in meeting the performance and technical requirements of a musical theatre production

Prerequisite: ACT201 (The Acting Foundation)

Introduction to Voice and Movement for Music Theatre Performance - ACT202B

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 1

This unit supports the Acting foundation and incorporates voice and movement training into the development of the acting process.

The synthesis of acting, voice and movement builds the essential embodiment of acting process. Acting requires a dexterous and flexible physicality, as well as the development of the vocal support infrastructure of body, breath, resonance and articulation.

Students will undertake a range of practical exercises and activities to build these skills, as well as developing an understanding of the anatomical processes and conceptual understanding of how this contributes to their acting process.

Voice and Movement in Music Theatre Performance - ACT212B

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 2

This unit develops further physical and vocal technique and integrates into acting practice to meet the obligations of text and character for performance.

The actor’s craft requires the integration of voice and body into the development of a role for performance. Voice and movement are integral to the actor’s ability to embody a character and holistically apply acting, voice and movement techniques to meet the requirements of a performance.

Students will undertake a range of vocal and physical exercises and activities as well as incorporate research and analysis skills into the vocal and physical development of character/s in performance.

Prerequisite: ACT202B (Introduction to Voice and Movement for Music Theatre Performance)

Musicianship for Music Theatre 1 - ACT205

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 1

It is expected that Music Theatre students will have a fundamental understanding of the technical and theoretical principles underpinning all music compositions. In this, the first of two musicianship units, students will learn to write and sing scales and interpret rhythmic notation. They will be introduced to intervals and the Circle of Fifths as tools to further assist them to “read” sheet music and strengthen their aural perception of musical elements. Students will also draw upon their understanding of music theory to analyse musical theatre scores for performance and character development. Developing aural perception and familiarity with written music are key outcomes of this unit.

Musicianship for Music Theatre 2 - ACT215

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 2

Students will continue to develop their musicianship units, furthering their ability to accurately sight-read contemporary music theatre scores. Students will students will learn to write and sing scales and interpret rhythmic notation. They will be introduced to intervals and the Circle of Fifths as tools to further assist them to “read” sheet music and strengthen their aural perception of musical elements.

Students will also learn to apply these musicianship and aural skills within performance contexts. A primary focus of the workshops will be on analysing musical theatre scores to understand a composer’s intent and use this knowledge to develop and embody character.

Prerequisite: ACT205 (Musicianship for Music Theatre 1)

Introduction to Professional Practice - ACT204

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 1

This unit introduces foundation principles of safe practice, professional and personal boundaries and conduct as well as warm-up, cool down and preparation processes. It also introduces processes of reflective journaling, independent reading, research protocols and expressing a personal opinion.

The nature of the acting process, ensemble challenges and demands of an acting career create unique stresses on the professional actor. These require systematic processes and practices to ensure wellbeing is maintained and the actor is able to develop resilience in relation to these intrinsic stresses.

Students will develop thorough warm-up, cool down and preparation processes, as well as developing knowledge in approaches to journaling and reflection. Through participation in this unit the student will better understand the “connective tissue” of the course as well as their ability to positively contribute to a healthy, brave and supportive artistic ensemble.

Acting Process and Analysis - ACT214

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 2

This unit introduces the student to research and analysis skills as they relate to the building of an independent and reliable personal acting process. It is from this base that further writing, research and critical analysis skills are scaffolded throughout the course.

An independent and reliable acting process sits at the heart of a sustainable acting career. The actor must develop systems to analyse their own process and incorporate areas of new knowledge to build a robust, adaptable and flexible professional acting practice.

Students will develop skills and knowledge to reflect on and analyse their individual acting technique. They will undertake research into acting theory and practices and identify opportunities for skills development and the integration of new techniques into their personal practice.

Polish and Build (Trimesters 3 & 4)

New Media and Performance - ACT301

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 3

This unit prepares the actor to develop knowledge and apply technique across new and emerging media platforms and technologies which may include web-based content, games / animation, voice over and/or virtual reality.

New and emerging trends and technologies in new media are creating diverse performance platforms for the contemporary actor. This changing industry is placing further demand on the flexibility of the actor’s skills and knowledge in order to meet the specific performance requirements of these new platforms.

Students will undertake acting exercises and activities to refine their acting technique to develop greater nuance and craft in order to adapt and apply technique across a range of performance media.

Prerequisite: ACT211B (Theatre Production 1 (Music Theatre))

Theatre Company Production 2 - ACT311B

Credit Points: 12
Trimester 4

This double unit will involve studio-based training to develop an understanding of performance craft as it relates to stylised and/or classical theatrical work. Students must draw upon learnings from prior units of study to apply technique to the auditions, rehearsals and performance of stylised and/or classical musical theatre works, within the context of an Independent Theatre Production.

These works form a significant part of the music theatre tradition and remains a staple of the contemporary music theatre industry. The rigour demanded of an actor to perform such material not only meets an industry imperative but extends their ability to adapt to a range of theatrical forms and styles.

Through this double unit the student will participate in the rehearsals and performances of a Musical Theatre Production. This process will require the student to integrate acting technique, research and analysis, collaboration and performance craft skills, whilst working alongside a Director and other technical and creative personnel.

Prerequisites: ACT211B (Theatre Company Production 1 (Music Theatre)), ACT302B (Heightened Voice and Movement in Music Theatre Performance)

Heightened Voice and Movement in Music Theatre Performance - ACT302B

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 3

This unit extends the actor’s theatrical capacity in voice and movement enabling them to meet the obligations of heightened text and theatricality. This unit develops knowledge and skill to perform a range of theatrical performance styles.

Theatrical performance requires a robust embodiment of voice and physicality in order to meet the demands of this performance media. Theatricality may also require the actor to embody physical and vocal extremes as well as a range of theatrical storytelling styles and forms beyond realism and naturalism.

Students will undertake voice and movement training to develop greater theatricality in their performance and to explore more range, style and form in vocal and physical characterisation.

Prerequisite: ACT212B (Voice and Movement in Music Theatre Performance)

Theatre and Performance Styles (Music Theatre) - ACT314B

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 4

This unit exposes the student to a broad and diverse range of theatrical performance styles, forms and significant dramatists, and creative practitioners, from the late nineteenth century to today.

Style and form build a theatrical language and is used by dramatists and performers to fulfil a performance aesthetic. The contemporary actor must have a theoretical understanding of the use of form and style as a theatrical construct, but also the particular requirements this places on the practical application for the actor.

Students will begin with theoretical lectures on key pieces of the canon throughout this period. Scene studies will then commence, which involve tutorial-based classes to develop theoretical knowledge and practical workshop scenarios to explore these works in performance.

Prerequisite: ACT311B (Theatre Company Production 2)

Cabaret - ACT303B

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 3

This unit develops the capacity of the actor to apply knowledge of performance styles, principles of theatrical storytelling, creativity and collaboration to develop a short, devised performance piece for theatre, which includes song, movement and spoken text.

Devised and experimental theatre, such as cabaret & vaudeville, contributes a significant and growing sector of the contemporary performing arts industry. The associated skills and knowledge required of the actor involves understanding of a range of theatrical forms and styles, improvisation and collaboration techniques as well as the recording of developmental processes through to the finalisation of a concept, and the presentation of a cohesive performance.

Students will undertake a process of creative concept development beginning with improvisations and other collaborative and creative activities, then leading to the documenting, planning and presentation of the performance concept.

Prerequisite: ACT211B (Theatre Production 1 (Music Theatre))

Australian Performance History and Culture - ACT313

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 4

This unit will develop theoretical knowledge of the history of performance in Australian theatre, film and television, and how this history has evolved into creating the contemporary performing arts industry.

The function of performance in storytelling contributes to national identity and culture. In order to assure the performer’s role in this function the contemporary actor must possess knowledge of the cultural history of Australia and the influences on performance from indigenous ritual and storytelling to modern Australia.

Students will examine the role of performance from Australia’s Indigenous culture and ritual, through to major twentieth century Australian dramatists and the key players of the New Wave of the 1970’s. Students are required to examine present day social, cultural, political and environmental factors and articulate the relationship between these factors and the contemporary Australian storytelling palette.

Critical Analysis and Reflection - ACT304

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 3

This unit develops the actor’s ability to research acting theory and technique and to apply this knowledge to the development of their own personal practice. Through critical self-analysis and reflection, the student will identify skills gaps and needs and articulate strategies to develop a versatile, sustainable and robust personal, collaborative acting practice.

The working actor must have mechanisms to ensure a process of lifelong learning and development of skills and techniques. Theoretical knowledge of acting approaches and addressing issues of resilience and career sustainability are integral to the development of a successful portfolio career.

Students will research theoretical concepts and evaluate the application of new knowledge into their own practice.

Prerequisite: ACT214 (Acting Process and Analysis)

Showcase and Project (Trimesters 5 & 6)

Screen Performance for Showreel - ACT401

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 5

This unit develops advanced screen acting technique, through a deepened understanding of the screen performance medium as well as studio-based training and practice. It culminates in a film shoot of a showreel scene suitable for industry.

The audience’s expectation and appetite for realism in screen performance is creating extended demands on the actor’s process. The demand for “truth” in performance is now a fundamental requirement of any working actor’s performance career.

Students will undertake practical exercises and activities in screen performance, whilst also examining modern techniques of film acting and process and beginning to embed these into their personal process. This unit will culminate in the filmed performance of an Industry Showreel project.

Prerequisite: ACT301 (New Media and Performance)

Industry Theatre Production (Music Theatre) - ACT411B

Credit Points: 12
Trimester 6

This double unit requires the student to integrate their personal acting, singing & dance techniques, and professional practices into the audition, rehearsal, and performances of their Industry Theatre Production.

Theatre productions which form part of mainstage theatre company seasons operate under industry award conditions. Apart from wages and conditions as dictated by these awards, the structure of rehearsals and other production protocols differ from the independent sector. This may include such differences as full-time rehearsal schedules, longer technical and production periods and longer performance runs. The skills and knowledge required of the actor in this work environment therefore carry unique requirements.

Students will work across a full-time schedule of rehearsals, technical and production activities for a performance in a professional theatre venue. This production will involve external theatre directors, creatives and crew.

Prerequisites: ACT311B (Theatre Company Production 2), ACT403B (Advanced Acting Technique for Music Theatre), ACT314B (Theatre and Performance Styles (Music Theatre))

The Working Actor - ACT402

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 5

This unit integrates industry knowledge, practice and processes into the workplace context of the actor. Students will acquire in depth knowledge of structure and the operations of the contemporary performing arts industry and how the actor may successfully navigate the sophisticated nuances of this work environment.

The contemporary performing arts industry presents a complex and unique structure. Work opportunities are diverse and the mechanisms to secure employment vary across the range of performance media and contexts. Networking and the building of professional relationships are intrinsic to the performing arts industry. The portfolio career places further demand on the actor’s ability to extend the application of their skills and knowledge to work opportunities both in and beyond the performing arts industry.

Students will undertake analysis of industry structure, legislation, compliance and processes. Knowledge and skills will be applied in auditions and screen tests and in the independent analysis of the individual actor’s unique strengths and employability in the industry. Students will also develop fluency in written expression, documentation and communication processes relevant to the performing arts industry.

Prerequisite: ACT304 (Critical Analysis and Reflection)

The Entrepreneurial Actor - ACT412

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 6

This unit explores creativity and innovation as a core principle of the artistic process and how these principles may inform career opportunities within the creative arts industry. This unit seeks to place the individual actor as a professional, self-sufficient and active industry participant.

The working actor must have the ability to move between artistic and business application of their skills. The development of creative projects is often born through artistic endeavour, whilst bringing such a project to realisation requires skills to be applied in a business and industry context. The synergies of these skill sets allow for the development of the entrepreneurial actor.

This unit requires the student to examine the impetus to create and to develop strategic approaches to the development and implementation of a creative project. The unit culminates in a Pitch Project to an industry panel.

Prerequisites: ACT405 (The Actor as Creator), ACT402 (The Working Actor)

Advanced Acting Technique for Music Theatre - ACT403B

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 5

This unit develops acting theory, technique and practice to prepare the student for professional standard performance projects. Studio based learning, coupled with theoretical and technical study, will develop a more sophisticated approach to personal acting process and performance.

The flexibility of the contemporary working actor to adapt to the vast range of performance media and platforms places extended demand on both practical skills and theoretical knowledge of technique, forms, styles and performance language. This unit will solidify a robust and reliable process to deliver impacting performances.

Students will undertake practical exercises and activities in a range of acting techniques and processes, coupled with theoretical and supporting knowledge in order to develop the individual’s personal process.

Prerequisite: ACT302B (Heightened Voice and Movement in Music Theatre Performance)

Career Sustainability - ACT413

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 6

This unit develops a self-aware, responsible and sustainable approach to long term participation in the performing arts sector. It examines established research and statistical sources, which give a reliable and authentic account of the experiences of working actors in the contemporary industry.

The creative arts industry is a unique work environment which places a variety of demands upon the working professional. The nature of portfolio rather than permanent employment opportunities demand a thorough understanding of industry structure and operation, business and financial skills as well as the ability to plan, forecast and examine self as a working professional.

Students are required to evaluate research outcomes, analysis, planning and business skills to construct a logical and achievable plan for artistic and professional career longevity.

Prerequisite: ACT402 (The Working Actor)

The Actor as Creator - ACT405

Credit Points: 6
Trimester 5

This unit integrates the student’s knowledge and skills in performance with the principles of creativity and collaboration. With a focus on the entrepreneurial actor and diverse performance platforms, the student works to plan and develop a piece of performance as part of a festival production construct. This unit allows the individual student to develop and articulate their unique voice as intelligent, passionate, and vocal artistic citizens.

The actor’s portfolio career demands a fluency in the business side of performance projects. Theatre companies, production houses and funding bodies have unique and specific compliance and policy requirements. It is therefore imperative that the working actor is able to incorporate skills and knowledge in these areas as part of their role as creative arts professionals.

Creativity and collaboration skills are developed through the realisation of the student’s artistic vision, while participation in the process of curation, and the meeting of technical and other compliance functions enable the student to refine and adapt their concept to meet production limitations and parameters.

Prerequisite: ACT303B (Cabaret)

Our Lecturers

Ben Samuel

Head of Acting + Music Theatre (Melbourne), and Chair of Learning and Teaching Committee

Having recently moved from New Zealand, Ben has immersed himself in the performing arts industry in Melbourne. In New Zealand, Ben has performed in several musicals, concerts, cabarets & music festivals across the country. His performance credits include singing, acting & dancing in major stage productions such as Carmen, Cats, Fiddler on the Roof, Hair, Curtains, Coca-Cola CCITP & Nelson Opera in the Park.

Ben has also performed alongside many New Zealand artists, with production companies such as Showbiz, Canterbury Opera & Chant et Danse, and was involved extensively in the New Zealand Jazz & Arts festivals for many years. During his time in Melbourne, Ben has been building a career in singing & teaching whilst standing by the words of Stephen Sondheim “..if I cannot fly, let me sing.”

Ben Samuel

Head of Acting + Music Theatre (Melbourne), and Chair of Learning and Teaching Committee

Glen Hamilton

Head of Acting (Sydney, Brisbane)

Glen was Course Director for Acting at JMC's sister school Academy of Film Theatre and Television and is an experienced teacher, director, producer and arts professional. He has directed over one hundred theatre productions, including small independent shows, touring performances and a range of fringe and festival productions.

As an arts professional, Glen founded his touring theatre restaurant business, Leading Arts in 2006, producing original theatre restaurant shows to more than forty venues across Sydney and regional NSW. Through his own business, Glen has also developed and facilitated training services to a range of medium and large corporate clients as well as successful community acting and performance programs.

Glen’s expertise has been recognized by Bauer Media, through his invitation to judge the Most Outstanding awards for the TV Week Logie Awards, for the past five years. He has also accepted judging appointments with the Short and Sweet Festival, and Sydney Festival.

Glen defines a successful career in the performing arts where the skills of performance, creativity and innovation are brought together to develop the actor not only as a versatile, dynamic and spirited performer, but as an artistic entrepreneur, able to claim their unique space in an exciting and challenging industry.

Glen Hamilton

Head of Acting (Sydney, Brisbane)

Laura Lattuada

Acting Lecturer

Laura Lattuada has been working as a professional actor and teacher after graduating from University of Melbourne in 1988. She has a Masters in Drama in Education and has also worked as a drama Lecturer, theatre director and co-writer. Laura has worked for MTC, STC in both Sydney and Adelaide, Melbourne Workers Theatre, Red Stitch, The Malthouse, La Mama, Theatreworks, Areana Theatre, Doppio Teatro, Belvoir St. Theatre and the Victorian Art Centre. T.V. work includes;Winners & Loosers, Stingers, Good Guys/Bad Guys and Halifax as well short films SBS. In 1996 and 97, Laura was nominated for a Green Room Award for Best Actress in a Lead Role in Playbox’s production of ‘Emma- Celebrazione’.

Laura Lattuada

Acting Lecturer

Enya Daly

Acting Lecturer

Enya is a Melbournian of Irish descent actor, dramaturg and teaching artist. She holds a B.F.A in Acting (NIDA) and is currently completing the Master of Theatre (Dramaturgy) course at VCA. At a young age, she started training in acting, musical theatre, singing, piano and various styles of dance at Centrestage Performing Arts School, where she studied intensively for 10 years. Her passion for performing became primarily focused on acting when she was named a 2012 Melbourne Theatre Company Youth Ambassador. She also trained and performed with the Australian Shakespeare Company in productions of Romeo & Juliet and As You Like It.

Enya is a graduate of SHOWFIT and NIDA. Enya is the recipient of the 2018 BBM Youth Scholarship. She intends to use the scholarship to travel to the UK to further develop her skills as a theatre maker and collaborator, by working with a collection of leading feminist theatre, verbatim theatre, physical theatre and improvisation practitioners.

A versatile performer, Enya has recently appeared in That Was Friday and Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again (House of Sand), the title roles in CDP’s national tours of Spot- Live on Stage and The Gruffalo’s Child, The Moors (Siren Theatre) and The Feed (SBS).

Enya works with Theatre Works’ She Writes Collective as a dramaturg. In this role, she facilitates writers workshops and works one-on-one with emerging writers to develop their projects. Other dramaturgy credits include SLUTNIK™ by Flick (Theatre Works) and Agamemnon dir. by Tanya Gerstle (VCA).

Enya is a BBM Global Industry Scholar. This position saw her travel to Europe for three months to investigate methods of bettering the representation of women in the arts, and to pursue further artistic development opportunities.

As a teaching artist, Enya has designed and delivered a broad range of performing arts courses for institutions including NIDA Open, Commonwealth Bank, Parramatta Actors Centre, Helen O’Grady Drama Academy and Australian Institute of Performing Arts.

Enya Daly

Acting Lecturer

Deborah Leiser-Moore

Acting Lecturer

Deborah is a performance maker, performer, director and lecturer whose bold, highly visual and physical works use multiple theatrical languages to investigate gender, identity, culture, community and contemporary issues. Her most recent major works include: unHOWsed, which she directed/cowrote/ designed, with an ensemble of mature ex-homeless women. Presented by and at Theatre Works, the work was a visual and visceral glimpse into the women’s lives and was described by Theatre Press as one of the most important works you’ll see. In 2020 the work was chosen for the ‘in competition’ program at the Cairo International Festival of Experimental Theatre. In 2021 it was remounted for the Drum Theatre, Dandenong; Medea: Kaddish For The Children, a visual, visceral feminist re-imagining of the classic Medea story.

View Deborah's full bio at https://www.deborahleisermoore.com/about-me.html

Deborah Leiser-Moore

Acting Lecturer

View Deborah's full bio at https://www.deborahleisermoore.com/about-me.html

Acting Graduate Showcase

See Showcase

Why Study Acting at JMC?

Become a commercial and sustainable actor with experience in acting for stage, screen, audio, game design, animation and more

Focus on production and performance-based training, designed to align with industry best practice

Be career ready with courses designed in response to the latest industry trends

Are you ready to take the next step toward your career in Music Theatre?

Apply now →

FAQs

Is JMC Music Theatre a practical course?

Yes. 80% of your time at will be spent in practical classes and performances. At JMC, you learn acting four ways.

Learn by doing: This is where you participate in a practical acting exercise or activity in class or in a performance and this experience informs your acting process.
Learn though others: This is social learning. Here, you might witness a fellow student do an exercise of a performance, and through their experience, you might learn something about your own acting process. The other way we learn through others is by collaborating. When an actor plays a character, they only truly develop that character through listening and responding to their scene partner.
Apply your skills and knowledge: This is where you take all of your learning in the various subjects you do and you consolidate these skills and knowledge into your performance projects. This is the most sophisticated learning process you will enjoy at JMC Acting because this is all based on real-world performance projects. In other words – you learn to be an actor by doing what actors do!
Gain new knowledge: This is where we come together and talk about acting. Where we read about acting. Where we think about acting. This helps you to understand the process not only from a practical perspective but also from a theoretical perspective.

Do I get to perform in the Music Theatre course?

es. A Lot! Here are some of the main performance projects in the degree.

Tier 1:

Music Theatre Showcase

This project celebrates bravery and vocal proficiency! A presentation of high-stakes character songs (solo & ensemble), with choreography and staging, which challenge Actors to draw upon musical theatre storytelling techniques and voice craft to deliver performances with conviction and confidence. This showcase occurs in WEEK 10.

The Actor and the Text

This is where your acting classes progress from instrumental development to the application of craft, and you learn how to apply acting technique to a scene, which is performed to an audience of fellow students, family, and friends in WEEK 13.

Tier 2:

Theatre Company Production 1

Your first full-length play/musical, performed over THREE nights in our purpose-built Drama Studio in WEEK 9. It is a culmination of the acting, singing and dance training in Trimesters 1 & 2. This is an opportunity to collaborate as an ensemble to build and inhabit the world of the play. Working alongside a director and production team, you'll learn the process of rehearsing and performing in a live theatre production.

Actor as Filmmaker Project

Follow a process similar to that of the famous British film director, Mike Leigh, and work in a small team to create a short film from initial concept to final screening in WEEK 14.

Tier 3:

American Theatre Project

Learn a standard American accent and then work on a scene from the canon of American Musical Theatre. Perform this in week 7.

Voiceover

Participate in workshops focused on teaching you the technical skills required for voiceover work, for commercial TV and animated films.

Multi-Cam Studio

Develop, rehearse and perform scenes in a multi-cam environment. During this project, Actors learn how to respond to various elements in a film studio, and deliver authentic performances on camera.

Cabaret

This project includes mentorship and training for development of a cabaret performance. The theatrical work includes elements of singing, movement, and draws on extended storytelling techniques. The Cabaret project is designed to develop actors who can act through song, and create a cohesive performance experience.

Tier 4:

Theatre Production 2

This is the rehearsal and performance of a complex Musical Production, performed over FOUR nights to a public audience in our 100-seat auditorium space. The focus of this production is to instil an awareness of stylistic devices, theatrical conventions, and stagecraft in our Actors. The production includes heightened voice and movement work, and rigorous training for the development of stamina and consistency in performance.

Actor as Creator Project

This project celebrates your individual creative talents and entrepreneurialism. Students choose a performance project that they create from beginning to end. These projects can be of any form or media and may include, writing a musical theatre scene, physical dance performance, cabaret, contemporary dance, film, and multimedia.

Tier 5:

Showreel

Work with a professional film crew, on location in a showreel scene. This is then professionally edited and circulated to agents and other industry representatives through our Acting Graduate Showcase on our website. The showreel will contain content ranging from audition song cuts to choreographed routines and screen acting scenes.

Tier 6:

Industry Theatre Production

Work with an external director and production crew on theatre production at an external industry venue. This production provides Actors with the opportunity to experience a professional-level process and hone their skills in musical theatre performance.

How much work is there in the Acting and Film industry?

Contrary to popular belief, there are plenty of opportunities in the acting and film industry. The industry is bigger than ever before and continues to grow at a healthy rate. Other than film, TV and musical and theatre opportunities, social media platforms offer countless avenues for actors and performers – there are countless blog’s, short films, web-episodes and channels, not to mention Facebook content. Plus the advertising industry is a huge employer of actors and performers thanks to ever-growing platforms and audience reach.

It's also worth remembering that the skills acquired in acting and performing are also hugely transferable. Skills such as public speaking, corporate hosting, event management and retail and hospitality industries all require poise, self-confidence, and self-esteem.

With society’s exponential hunger for content, screenwriters, directors, producers and cinematographers are in huge demand. Our film school students are in the industry of content creation, and that is a hugely profitable genre – think about the amount of content you see everyday, from Facebook ads to YouTube and Instagram, podcasts to mainstream news networks, current affair stories and self-help videos. Plus, there is vast capacity for on-demand TV and online content (Netflix/Stan).

Ultimately though, hard work, motivation and recognising opportunities when they are presented to you are the most important factors for any graduate finding success.

Is JMC Music Theatre full time?

Yes. Our Music Theatre major runs typically over 3 – 4 days per week, longer during performances and productions. We believe that actors are best served in training by immersing themselves in their work. This allows for skills and knowledge to be consistently developed. Your work in one trimester informs your development in the next trimester. Whilst this is a substantial commitment, this also allows you to spend most of your time doing something you love!

Will the Music Theatre major also teach me to act for stage and screen?

Yes, whilst this course is designed to teach you to become an industry ready music theatre performer, you will also learn the fundamental acting skills required for a variety of performance opportunities including stage and screen. JMC Acting has not only dedicated theatre performance spaces but also a fully equipped Multi-Cam Television Studio, Motion Capture suite, Rokoko Suits, Red Epic and Arie film cameras, state-of-the-art voiceover and sound recording suites, and a creative community that is all about inter-disciplinary collaborations to allow you to grow your skills in music theatre, film, tv, live theatre and new media.

Are JMC courses available to study online?

No, our courses are hands on and practical. Students are required to attend classes to receive ongoing mentorship, learn new skills and work with the equipment provided. We do encourage our students to use online study resources, however our courses would not be as immersive as they are without the practical component.

Is a JMC Academy degree of equal standing to a university degree?

Yes. The JMC Academy is registered and regulated by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) which is Australia’s independent national regulator of the higher education sector, both public and private.

What are the benefits of studying at JMC Academy over a larger university?

The ultimate benefit of studying at JMC Academy is the reassurance and relief in knowing that we are leaders in creative industries education and have been delivering quality education in the Creative Industries for over 30 years. We were the first to be accredited in Australia for education in Audio Engineering, Digital Television and Multimedia.

Our courses have always been practical, with hands-on projects and an intense focus on industry and outcomes undiluted by extensive, non-essential electives.

In choosing to study at JMC Academy, our students are opting for the benefits of an intimate classroom size where the lecturer knows their name and learning needs. They are choosing to learn at an award-winning institution that fosters collaboration and creative vision. At JMC Academy the student's experience becomes an integral part of their learning and the institution's own values defined by quality, integrity, diligence and innovation indelibly become their own.

Is JMC Academy a recognised institution?

JMC Academy is broadly recognised and accredited:

Registered Higher Education Provider.
Accredited by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)
Registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
Regulated by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).
Member of the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA).
Nationally recognised within the Australian Qualifications Framework.

Our strong industry links also ensure that JMC Academy qualifications are recognised within the creative industries.

How long does the application process take?

Applicants who submit a complete application (including all accompanying documentation, including folio or audition if applicable) will usually be contacted within 24 hours to arrange an interview. After a successful interview, an offer letter will usually be issued within 24 hours.

Do you help students find jobs after graduation?

Many jobs in the creative industries are found via direct recommendations or referrals. At JMC Academy, many of these recommendations are made while students are completing their studies and via organisations that approach JMC for graduates. That is why we stress the importance of networking through our industry connected lecturers and taking advantage of the many work experience and internship opportunities that arise during your time at JMC. Throughout their studies, students are progressively adding to their portfolio of work, networking with lecturers and students, and learning how to run their own businesses. All of this directly contributes to their ability to generate an income in a field they are passionate about and enjoy.

You owe it to yourself and the art that's inside you - you have to honour that will and that drive. Studying Acting at JMC has allowed me to honour that, and it's really rewarding.

Campbell Briggs

Acting Alumni