Theater Scholarships

Theater
For Students
Scholarships

St. Olaf theater scholarships are merit-based scholarships that are awarded to incoming new students with exceptional theater talent and promise in any area of theater. Students also may qualify for additional need-based aid, in which case the theater scholarship becomes part of the student’s financial aid package.

Awards of up to $7,000 per year are open to theater majors and non-theater majors. This merit based award is potentially a $28,000 4-year scholarship. For scholarship renewal, recipients are required to participate in the theater department program once per academic year, more than once is encouraged. Examples of participation include, but are not restricted to, front of house, scene crew, costume crew, acting, enrollment in a Theater course, etc. Exceptions to this list must be approved in advance by the department chair.

The St. Olaf theater scholarship application process is not part of the Common Application. In addition to the theater scholarship application, applicants must also complete the St. Olaf College Application for Admission (via the Common Application). The scholarship application is due at the time the college application is due.

Important Common Application deadlines:

November 1st – Early Decision 1 and Early Action

January 15 – Early Decision 2 and Regular Decision

The link for the online theater scholarship application is at the bottom of this page.
Please read the following instructions before beginning the online application!

When you begin the online theater application, please use the same email address which you used/will use for the Common Application. The email address is what links the two applications. All items listed below must be received by the application due date.

The online theater scholarship application has three components:

Online application

Uploaded theater resumé

Teacher recommendation

Please do not create an application for viewing only. If you’d like to see what questions are on the application, you may look at a copy here. The application must be completed and submitted online.

After you begin the online theater application, you may save/exit as many times as you wish before submitting it. Once you click ‘submit’ you may not make any changes to the application. We recommend you complete the theater recommendation request for your teacher RIGHT AWAY. This recommendation request goes out immediately (it does not wait for you to submit the whole application) and will give your teacher time to write and submit the recommendation while you are preparing the other parts of the theater application.

Apply Now

For questions regarding the application process contact
Molly Boes Ganza at boes1@stolaf.edu or your Admissions officer

September 15
Theater scholarship application process opens.

Your theater scholarship application must be submitted to the college along with your common application for admission by one of the following dates.

November 15
Early Decision 1 and Early Action Common Apps due.
Early Decision is a two-way commitment between St. Olaf and you. We pledge to give you the same thorough and thoughtful consideration for theater scholarships that we give all of our regular decision applicants.

January 15
Early Decision 2 and Regular Decision Common Apps due.

Friday, February 26 – Fine Arts Scholars Day
Invited applicants will attend a virtual Fine Arts Scholars event. There will be no auditions.

May 1
National Candidate Reply date is the date by which all students must respond to offers of admission and to scholarship awards.

Involvement in any of the following may be counted as activity toward scholarship renewal.

Audition for a theater department production.
Act in a theater department production.
Work on a theater department production in one or more of the following ways:
1. Scenery, costume, props, running crew, dresser, hair, make-up, board operator, follow spot operator or usher.
2. Design scenery, sound, lighting, costumes or stage manage. Have an assistant design, stage management or directing position. Design images or posters or be a dramaturg.
3. Accompany a department production in a band or orchestra.
Have a student work position in the theater department.
Other special departmental projects per approval of the theater department chair.

Watch for audition announcements about getting involved in a technical production area.

If you put your name on the theater interest email alias list you’ll get notification of events and activities. This is a good way to stay connected with the Theater department. To be added to the alias contact the main theater office or chair of the department.