The Department of Dramatic Arts (DART) at Brock University invites you to attend and successfully complete one of two Invitationals before or after you receive your conditional offer of admission to the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Dramatic Arts, Bachelor of Arts (Honours)/Dramatic Arts Concurrent Education, or International Double Degree in Dramatic Arts (Musical Theatre and Education) programs.

All participants will be taken through a range of Invitational workshops events. Plan for an active day with a lot of moving around. We ask that you wear loose, comfortable and neutral clothing including plain black pants and a plain white short sleeved T-Shirt. On the FRONT and the BACK of your T-Shirt write your preferred first name followed by your last name, in permanent black marker in letters that measure at least 6 inches. Your first name should be above your last name in 2 lines. This will help everyone to refer to you by name. You may also indicate your preferred pronoun. We recommend that you avoid wearing jewelry, particularly dangly earrings, rings, bracelets, etc., that could get caught on other people’s clothing as you work.

You may want to bring a water bottle to keep hydrated for the Invitational Workshop Event, but lunch and snacks will be provided. When you book your placement in the workshop, please inform [email protected] of any dietary restrictions.

No. This workshop will give you a sampling of the range of courses of study our program offers. You may find that the experience will help you identify what your interests are. However, students must complete the vocal audition to be considered for the International Double Degree or the Concentration Musical Theatre and Education.

In advance, prepare one short unaccompanied song or excerpt of your choice (maximum 2 minutes). Choose something that showcases your strengths as a performer.

At the audition, you will also complete a series of vocal exercises to assess your range, sight-sing two short melodies, clap two rhythm patterns, and listen to and sing back a series of short melodies.

In advance of the workshop, you will be asked to do the following:

Read Sophocles’ Antigone (442 BCE). We are recommending a translation by Ian Johnston available online at: https://web.viu.ca/johnstoi/sophocles/antigone.htm and as a PDF.

After reading the play, you will be asked to bring the following two items with you to the Invitational:

1. Two to four consecutive lines from the play that you found most surprising, moving, challenging, or thought-provoking.
2. One image or object that illustrates your response to the play when you read these lines.

We are particularly interested in students who are eager to develop themselves both artistically and intellectually in a university context.

Please register and reserve your spot for the DART Invitational as soon as possible once the registration system is open.

There is a registration fee of $100.00 which includes materials, snack, refreshments and lunch. Payment is made when you register online.

It’s important to keep in mind that a university degree in Dramatic Arts requires that you read and write critically about works of dramatic literature, as well as historical and theoretical texts about the theatre.

You will receive a results email from the Department within 2 weeks of participating in the workshop. The Department will also notify the Admissions Office of the result. The Admissions Office will extend an offer to the Dramatic Arts program as soon as you are deemed academically eligible.

Contact the Department of Dramatic Arts at [email protected] to book a Personal Alternate Interview.

International applicants:
You are invited to contact the department to schedule an alternate Invitational experience. This may include the submission of:

• a video portfolio,
• an interview by Skype, Zoom or similar,
• a letter of reference,
• the assignments we ask students to complete at the DART Invitational.

For details please contact the Department of Dramatic Arts at [email protected] to book a Personal Alternate Interview.

If you are approved for a Personal Alternate Interview, you will need to read the same play that is assigned for the DART Inviational, Sophocles’ Antigone (442 BCE), translated by Ian Johnston and available online at: https://web.viu.ca/johnstoi/sophocles/antigone.htm and as a PDF.

You will then need to submit the following four items before the interview, which will serve as our discussion points:

1. Two to four consecutive lines from the play that you found most surprising, moving, challenging, or thought-provoking.
2. One image or object that illustrates your response to the play when you read these lines.
3. A documentation of achievements in aspects of performance or dramatic presentation. This may include a video portfolio shared through a YouTube/Vimeo posting or similar, an image portfolio, a recording, or similar item. You are encouraged to use your imagination and represent your achievements in a manner appropriate to your recent practice and future aspirations. The portfolio MUST be distributed (via links or digital files) before the interview event so that faculty interviewers have sufficient time to review the documents/sites.
4. A letter of reference from a current or recent educator or professional who has sufficient knowledge of you to effectively identify your aptitudes as well as articulate your ability to succeed in undergraduate studies of Dramatic Arts. Among other things the letter should speak to your ability to collaborate and participate in teamwork. The referee may be an educator, director or coach who has knowledge of your activities other than Dramatic Arts, such as language and literature, music, or sports and sport-related activities. The reference letter will normally be two pages in length. The letter should be addressed to: Jennifer Roberts Smith, Chair, Department of Dramatic Arts, [email protected].