Prospective Students

Open Houses & Theatre Merit Scholarships

The University of Mississippi Department of Theatre & Film is thrilled to invite you to our ninth annual Open House, Friday, April 5, 2024!

Students and parents from all years of high school and beyond are welcome to join us for this fun-filled day where you will get to sit in on classes, meet with the students, faculty, and staff of the department, and attend the screening of student films in Fulton Chapel! This Open House will give you the perfect opportunity to experience what it means to be a student in the Department of Theatre & Film at The University of Mississippi. To register for the Open House please complete the form found at this link.

Please visit our guide to What to Prepare for applications, auditions, and interviews for additional information about entry into each of our BFA programs as well as forms where you can submit your materials or schedule interviews. If you have questions about any of our programs or will be in town and would like a tour of our facilities please contact us.

Thank you.

Michael Barnett
Chair, Department of Theatre & Film 

Open Houses & Theatre Merit Scholarships

The department awards up to twenty-five Theatre Merit Scholarships each year. These scholarships are rewarded based on auditions (for performers) and portfolio reviews (for designers, stage managers, and students interested in production). Auditions and portfolio reviews are conducted two times a year on campus during our departmental Open Houses.

Sign up for an audition or interview at an upcoming Open House or learn more about Theatre Merit Scholarship Audition / Interview Weekends and visiting campus (see below for details).

Typical Theatre Merit Scholarship Audition / Interview Weekend Friday - Saturday

Friday
Parents are invited to accompany students to all of the weekend's activities

9:00am:           Meet with Chair & Professor, Michael Barnett

10:00am:         Attend a class within your area of interest with current faculty and students

11:00am:         Attend a class within your area of interest with current faculty and students

Noon:              Pizza Lunch Hosted by the Department

1:00pm:           Attend a class within your area of interest with current faculty and students                   

2:30pm:           Tour of Campus Conducted by Theatre & Film Students

4:00pm:           Conversation with Current Theatre & Film Students

7:30pm:           Screening of Student Films from the UM Film Festival  

Saturday

9:00am:           Audition/Interview for Entry Into BFA in Theatre Arts Programs and Theatre Merit Scholarships

The Mary Ann Mobley Collins Theatre Arts Scholarship

This scholarship, established to honor in perpetuity Mary Ann Mobley Collins, is awarded annually to entering freshmen who are majoring in Theatre Arts.

The Susan Colbert Davis Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded yearly to theatre students from Mississippi, preferably from either from Chickasaw or Alcorn counties, who demonstrates financial need and academic achievement and who are in at least their junior year of study.

The Mary Donnelly Haskell Council Scholarship

Scholarships are awarded each year to young men and women in the Fine Arts entering the freshman class at The University of Mississippi. Academic and leadership record is considered. Some scholarships may be need-based. To apply for this scholarship please read more here.

The Ruby Simpson Shelton Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship, created to honor in perpetuity Ruby Simpson Shelton and to provide scholarship assistance to deserving students, is awarded annually to full-time students in the Department of Theatre & Film.

The Patricia Tarr Leavitt Scholarship

Established by two Ole Miss Theatre alumni, this scholarship is awarded yearly to full-time undergraduate students from Mississippi pursuing a BA or a BFA in Theatre & Film.

The Upton-Cantú Scholarship for Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting

The Upton-Cantú Scholarship is a merit-based award given every year to a BFA Acting student. Students are invited into the BFA Acting program after auditioning at the end of their sophomore year.

The Wallace Hamilton Scholarship

Any full-time theatre student is eligible for this annual scholarship, which was established by the friends and family of Wallace Hamilton.

College of Liberal Arts

There are scholarships available through the Office of the Dean in the College of Liberal Arts.  They are available to any major in the College of Liberal Arts, but there is not an application process.  Click here to see those possible scholarship opportunities.

Office of Financial Aid

Additional information regarding loans, grants, and scholarships may be found at The University of Mississippi Office of Financial Aid website.