Exploration Track
for Freshmen & Sophomores

This program is designed for students who are curious about pursuing Acting or Musical Theatre in college but are still early in the process. The focus is on developing research habits, familiarity with repertoire, and an understanding of what college auditions may require — while also building your support “team” at home so that students and families feel informed together. Beginning this work early helps ensure that when senior year arrives, material selection and application decisions are informed by years of exposure to the process, rather than a rush of new information all at once.

How the College Exploration Program Works

Students in the Exploration Program receive five 90-minute Zoom coaching sessions spread throughout the year. These sessions are scheduled at key points in the academic calendar to help students stay on track and engage with the process alongside their family or support “team.”

At the start of the program (usually around May–June), registered students receive an introductory packet outlining the college audition landscape, along with access to their College Program Guide, curated musical theatre listening lists, and recommended play and monologue resources. Students will also receive a tracker to log the plays, musicals, and adaptations they watch or listen to throughout the year, which we’ll use to guide discussion and coaching in future sessions.

Spring & Summer 2026: Initial Consultation (First Zoom)

We begin with a foundational meeting to discuss the college audition process, review the introductory materials, and outline how students and families can begin engaging with repertoire, programs, and degree types over the summer and fall.

Summer & Autumn 2026: Independent Exploration

During this period, students will:

Research college programs
Listen to recommended cast albums
Read plays and watch theatrical adaptations

Students will track the work they engage with using their shared repertoire log, building familiarity with writers, composers, and performance styles over time.

December: Q&A + Reflection Session (Second Zoom)

We reconnect over winter break to discuss what students have explored so far, answer questions that have emerged through their research, and begin identifying any early artistic interests or trends in the material they’ve responded to.

Winter & Spring 2027: Introductory Repertoire Coachings (Third and Fourth Zooms)

In the late winter into spring, students may bring in monologues or songs they are working on in class or private lessons to receive coaching from an audition-focused perspective — helping them become familiar with the type of work we’ll do in greater depth during junior and senior year. If students aren't working on anything in particular, Mimi can help make suggestions.

Ongoing Support & Final Reflections (Fifth Zoom)

The final Zoom session may be used for coaching, process questions, or preparation as needed throughout the year.

Students who meet annual exploration benchmarks (such as engaging with a set number of recommended plays, musicals, or adaptations) will be invited to attend a complimentary group workshop at the end of the school year, focusing on audition technique and repertoire selection. It is a chance to apply what they’ve learned in a guided setting alongside other students in the program, and to learn from invited, older students who have completed their audition process in their senior year.

The Physical Resources Students & Families Will Receive:

College Audition Process Introduction Packet

At the start of the program, families receive an introductory information packet outlining the key steps of the college audition process from start to finish. This resource provides an overview of the typical application timeline, how artistic and academic admissions often function separately, and the range of degree types and training models students may encounter as they begin researching programs.

Students and families will also be introduced to common audition formats and requirements, along with larger questions to consider over time about program “fit,” training expectations, and whether this path feels aligned for the student at this stage. The packet includes explanations of commonly used terms (such as Unifieds, pre-screens, 32-bar cuts, and self-tape framing) to support a shared, working understanding of the process as students move forward.

College Program & Degree Guide

Students receive access to a comprehensive guide to Acting, Musical Theatre, and Theater Studies degree programs across the U.S., organized by state and degree type (BFA, BA, BM, BS, Associate's, etc.). This resource introduces families to the range of training options available and helps students begin understanding how different programs approach performance training — laying the groundwork for future research and school list development. The guide is personally reviewed and updated by me each year, so families can trust that the information has been recently checked by a human — not pulled from an outdated database — and includes direct hyperlinks to each school’s theatre program page for easy access to up-to-date audition requirements and training information.

Musical Theatre Listening Lists

Students are given curated listening lists of musicals and cast albums to explore over time, helping them build familiarity with a wide range of repertoire and styles. These lists are provided in a shared spreadsheet format so students and their support “team” can make notes on standout songs they enjoy that may be suitable for future auditions. Early exposure to this material allows students to develop personal taste and awareness of vocal range, character types, and storytelling approaches — making future audition song selection more informed and less rushed.

Play Engagement & Monologue Exploration

Students receive recommended play-reading lists to support future monologue discovery and to encourage engagement with contemporary and classical texts. This may include tailored recommendations for Shakespeare adaptations to watch, live streaming platforms to engage with contemporary plays, and curated monologue books featuring pieces from published works. All suggested resources are personalized to align with each student’s interests, helping them begin identifying the types of material they connect with while building a strong foundation for future audition preparation.