Two Gents, photo by Ethan Kauffman

Whether you're an experienced performer or just curious about trying something new, you'll find a welcoming performing arts community at American University. 

The Department of Performing Arts offers a wide range of opportunities to perform, create, and collaborate through theatre, dance, and music. Join an ensemble, audition for a production, explore opportunities behind the scenes, or simply enjoy live performances throughout the year. However you choose to participate, there's a place for you in AU Arts. 

Sign up for our mailing list to stay up to date on performances and events throughout the year. 

Interested in studying the performing arts? Learn more about the Department of Performing Arts' degree programs in arts management, audio technology, dance, music, and theatre/musical theatre. 

Not sure where to begin? Start with the Welcome Back Night, where you'll meet faculty and students, explore programs and ensembles, and learn how to get involved: 

Department of Performing Arts (DPA) – Welcome Back Night

Wednesday, September 2, 8 p.m. 
Katzen Arts Center, Rotunda and Abramson Family Recital Hall 

Meet with students and faculty and learn more about opportunities in the Department of Performing Arts, including majors, minors, productions, and ensembles. All interested are welcome to attend! Come to the Abramson Family Recital Hall to get started.  

Theatre/Musical Theatre 

Oklahoma, photo by Ethan Kauffman 

Theatre/Musical Theatre Open House 

Thursday, August 27, 2–3:30 p.m. 
Katzen Arts Center, Studio Theatre 

Meet with Theatre/Musical Theatre faculty and other students to learn about classes, productions, and the audition process. 

Theatre and Musical Theatre Auditions

Auditions take place one semester in advance of all theatre and musical theatre program productions. For spring 2027 performances, auditions will take place in October, date and time to be announced.  

Overture 2026 

New to AU? Overture is a performance created by—and for—the Class of 2030. Through student-generated dialogue, music, and movement, first-year students come together to tell the story of the excitement, challenges, and possibilities of beginning college.  

• Rehearsals take place throughout September, with performances at Katzen's Studio Theatre on October 9 and 10.  
•  No audition is required. If interested, attend the DPA's Welcome Back Night on September 2 (see above).  
• Participants in Overture are encouraged to register for THTR 101-001 and THTR 102-001 (1 credit each) or THTR 001-001/002-001 (0 credits). 

Follow the Theatre/Musical Theatre Program

Email Program Director Jason Arnold ([email protected]) to be added to Callboard, the program’s information listserv, and follow @americanutheatre on Instagram.

Dance  

Danceworks, photo by Jeff Watts 

Dance opportunities are open to all American University students. Contact the Dance program ([email protected]) for updates on auditions and opportunities.  

Dance at AU! Open House

Wednesday, August 26, 7–8 p.m., Katzen 112 

Join AU dance program faculty to learn about dance classes, majors and minors, level placement, auditions, and performance opportunities in the dance program this fall. Come meet current dance students and find out about upcoming events! 

Embodied Knowledge/Dance Level Placement

Thursday, August 27, 4–6 p.m., Katzen 152 

To register for embodied knowledge (technique) courses at AU, join us for our level placements. We will be placing for African, ballet, contemporary dance, jazz, tap dance, and street and club styles. Not only will you receive level placements that you can use to register for dance classes any semester this year and beyond, but you’ll meet dance faculty and take several mini dance classes––a great way to get moving after your move to campus! 

• Registration for Level Placement is required. Register by contacting [email protected].  
• Deadline to register: August 26, 8 p.m.  

Fall Dance Concert Auditions

Wednesday, September 2, 5:30–8:00 p.m. – Faculty work 
Thursday, September 3, 5:30–8:00 p.m. – Student projects 

Audition to perform in the Fall Dance Concert, a mainstage event featuring new faculty work and selected student-choreographed, faculty-mentored projects, held at the Greenberg Theatre in November. If this is your first semester at AU, or if you haven’t yet performed in an AU dance production, these are the auditions for you––all students are welcome to audition! We encourage you to attend both auditions. Dance experience recommended but not required.  

• Registration for the Fall Dance Concert auditions is required. Register by emailing [email protected].  
• Deadline to register: August 31, 9 a.m. 

Follow the AU Dance Program

To learn more about opportunities in the Dance program, check out @au_dances on Instagram. 

Music

AU Jazz Band, photo by Zeyna Mbengue 

Music Ensembles Open House

Thursday, August 27, 6 p.m., Katzen Rotunda  

Attend this open house for a complete overview of music at AU. You’ll meet music faculty and other students and get an overview of music ensemble activities and opportunities for the year. Learn more about private lessons, group classes, and all the outlets for your music interests.  

Music Ensemble Auditions  

August 31–September 4, Katzen Arts Center, locations vary  

Ensembles perform throughout the academic year in Katzen’s Abramson Family Recital Hall. Ensembles are open to current American University students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members.  

Vocal Ensembles

The AU Chorus and AU Chamber Singers hold joint auditions. Singers are considered for both ensembles. We will ask about your preferences and interests during your audition. Nothing needs to be prepared in advance of your vocal audition, which will consist of vocalizing, scale singing, pitch matching exercises, and some limited sight singing.  

AU Chorus

The AU Chorus has a tradition of performing a wide range of choral repertoire, ranging from masterworks of choral literature to small octavos, to newly composed choral works. Contact [email protected] for more information. 

• Rehearsals: Tuesday 7:45–10:15 p.m./occasional Mondays 8–10:15 p.m.
• MUSC-042/142
• Audition is required. Register for chorus auditions here. 

AU Chamber Singers

The AU Chamber Singers ensemble is highly selective and generally limited to between 26 and 32 members. Repertoire includes works drawn from all periods of music and varies greatly from early music masterworks with ensemble, to contemporary a cappella literature. 

• Daniel Abraham ([email protected]), Director of Choral Activities & Conductor of AU Chamber Singers. Contact for more information. 
• Rehearsals: Mondays and Thursdays, 2:30–5:00 p.m. 
• MUSC-043/143
• Audition required. Register for Chamber Signers auditions here. 

Gospel Choir 

• Sylstea Sledge ([email protected]), Gospel Director 
• Rehearsals: Wednesdays 8:10–10:40 p.m., Kay Spiritual Life Center 
• No audition: attend first class meeting.  
• MUSC-061/161 

Instrumental Ensembles 

AU Symphony Orchestra

The AU Symphony Orchestra's repertoire consists of major masterworks from the Baroque through the twentieth century and beyond, featuring more than 60 accomplished members including strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.

• Matthew Brown ([email protected]), Director of Orchestral Activities. Contact for more information. 
• Rehearsals: Thursdays, 5:30–8 p.m.  
• MUSC-044/144 
• Audition is required. Contact Matthew Brown ([email protected]) for sign up details. 

AU Symphonic Band

The Symphonic Band is an ensemble for woodwind, brass, and percussion players that performs the highest quality wind repertoire. 

• Matthew Brown ([email protected]), Symphonic Band Director 
• Rehearsals: Monday evenings, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
• MUSC-047/147 
• Audition is required. Contact Matthew Brown ([email protected]) for sign up details.  

AU Jazz Orchestra

The AU Jazz Orchestra is a classic ensemble that prepares and performs selected jazz works including standards, traditional big band era arrangements, and charts of more progressive, international, and fusion styles.  

• Joshua Bayer ([email protected]), Director of Jazz Studies 
• Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 5:30-8 p.m. 
• MUSC-046/146  
• Audition required: attend the first class meeting  

AU Jazz Combo 

Jazz Combo is a smaller ensemble for the study and performance of jazz music in a more intimate setting. The Combo performs jazz standards and original compositions. There is a focus on improvisation while also exploring swing, bebop, hard bop, jazz fusion, funk, blues, and R&B styles. 

• Joshua Bayer ([email protected]), Director of Jazz Studies 
• Rehearsals: Wednesdays 10–11 a.m., Katzen Arts Center 144 
• Audition required: Attend AU Jazz Orchestra first meeting to be considered. 

Chamber Ensembles

Students are placed in small chamber groups (2–5 players) with weekly coaching sessions and rehearsals. For most instrumentalists, an audition and participation in orchestra or band is required.  

• Ann Kang ([email protected]), Music Program Director  
• Meets Tuesdays or Fridays, 2:30–3:45 p.m.  
• MUSC-045/145-001  
• Audition for AU Symphony Orchestra or AU Symphonic Band to be considered. 

Songwriters’ Hub 

Do you write and perform original music? Are you interested in helping others perform, record, produce, or promote their music? This collective empowers students in their efforts in pop, rock, hip-hop, bluegrass, etc. Meet and work with like-minded musicians, gain access to instruments and equipment, rehearse in a classroom instead of your dorm, and record in a studio! 
 
We are looking for songwriters, singers, instrumentalists, sound engineers, and even bands that have already been formed. Take your music to the next level! 

• Matthew Brown ([email protected]), Songwriters’ Hub Director 
• Meets Thursday, 8:20–10:20 p.m.  
• MUSC-045/145-002 
• No audition required  

Quiet Storm  

In this ensemble, vocalists and instrumentalists cover R&B songs from 1970s classics to newer releases. Recent performances include music by Mint Condition, Jill Scott, Chaka Khan, Babyface, Toni Braxton, The Stylistics, The Emotions, and Earth, Wind & Fire.  

• Fernando Benadon, Professor of Performing Arts 
• Rehearsals: Tuesdays 2:30–3:45 p.m., Katzen 112 
• MUSC-045/145-003 (may be taken for credit) 
• Audition required: Contact Professor Benadon at [email protected]. 

Pep Band  

The AU Pep Band creates fun and innovative performances for AU athletic events, university ceremonies, and student recruitment events. Instrumentation of the ensemble is like a general marching band with the addition of bass guitar, bass clarinet, and more. Anyone with a positive attitude is welcome to find a home and artistic outlet. 

• Aidan Dixon, director  
• MUSC-050/150 
• No audition required, email [email protected] if interested 
• Meets select Mondays, 8:20–10:00 p.m. 

Follow the Music Program

Learn more about opportunities in the Music program on Facebook (@AUMusicProgram) and Instagram (@aumusicprogram).