Mapping The College Audition: An MTCA Podcast

In this special summer break episode MTCA Director Charlie Murphy reads his audio blog: A Tip to Chunk up your Process and Avoid Burnout: Start Where you Are, Use What You Have, Do What you Can!  You can find the written blog HERE! You can find the previous blog Charlie referenced HERE If you have any questions about the college audition process, feel free to reach out at mailbag@mappingtheco...

In this College Deep Dive Ithaca’s Associate Dean Gavin Mayer and MTCA Director Charlie Murphy discuss;  What makes Ithaca’s program special  What type of student thrives at Ithaca The training structure as well as the time abroad  The importance of showcase and how it can be an extension of a student’s education If you have any questions about the college audition process, feel free to reach out...

In this special episode MTCA Director Charlie Murphy makes the trek to attend NMU's senior showcase and gives us a behind the scenes look! If you have any questions about the college audition process, feel free to reach out at mailbag@mappingthecollegeaudition.com. If you’re interested in working with MTCA for help with your individualized preparation for your College Audition journey, please chec...

In this College Deep Dive the Head of Musical Theater at West Virginia University, Ryan Scoble and MTCA Director, Charlie Murphy Discuss: What kind of student WVU is looking for in an audition Life of a student on and off campus and the culture that their program cultivates  What type of student really thrives at WVU and the paths that are offered How WVU structures their showcase If you have any...

If you have any questions about the college audition process, feel free to reach out at mailbag@mappingthecollegeaudition.com. If you’re interested in working with MTCA for help with your individualized preparation for your College Audition journey, please check us out at mtca.com, or on Instagram or Facebook.  Follow Us!  Instagram: @mappingthecollegeaudition YouTube: @MTCA (Musical Theater Colle...

In this College Deep Dive Director of Musical Theater Studies, Beth Burrier, and MTCA Director Charlie Murphy discuss:  What it means to be a Manhattanville student and what they look for in applicants The advantages of Manhattanville's location and the opportunities it provides students How "true joy" translates in an audition room Why understanding the type of college experience you want is esse...

In this Special Episode, MTCA Director Charlie Murphy attends Carnegie Mellon University’s 2026 Senior Showcase! Charlie gives us a behind-the-scenes peek at the showcase experience, along with student and teacher interviews, plus his final review! ***** If you have any questions about the college audition process, feel free to reach out at mailbag@mappingthecollegeaudition.com. If you’re interest...

In this College Deep Dive Sarah Wigley (Clinical Professor of Voice) and Lara Brooks (Clinical Assistant Professor of Voice) at UIUC and MTCA Director Charlie Murphy Discuss:  The in’s and out’s of UIUC’s unique program and BMA degree  What type of student UIUC’s program might be right for  Exploring what campus life might look like  Diving deeper into the audition process and what UIUC is looking...

In this Artist Episode Leenya Rideout (Broadway’s War Horse) and MTCA Director Charlie Murphy discuss; Leenya’s musical background and journey through school  Leenya’s early career and her path to Broadway  Managing managers and agents  The exciting and rewarding experience of being in an Off-Broadway show If you have any questions about the college audition process, feel free to reach out at mail...

In this College Deep Dive Wright State’s Head of Musical Theater Greg Hellems and Assistant Professor Ronvé O’Daniel and MTCA Director Charlie Murphy Discuss; The Wright State student  What it means to be a multi-hyphenate actor and how to hone those abilities  How Wright State’s program will grow and change along with the everchanging industry  What Wright State is looking for each year  If you h...

In this Artist Episode, MTCA Director Charlie Murphy chats with Adam Gwon, Michelle Noh, and Elizabeth Stanley about the making of a cast album from the perspectives of a composer, a producer, and a performer If you have any questions about the college audition process, feel free to reach out at mailbag@mappingthecollegeaudition.com. If you’re interested in working with MTCA for help with your ind...

In this College Deep Dive, Assistant Professor and Head of Musical Theatre at Ohio Northern University Tim McGarrigal and MTCA Director Charlie Murphy Discuss: ONU’s flexible curriculum How students balance their degrees, double majors, multiple minors etc.  How ONU prepares students to go out into the business after graduation  ONU’s emphasis on community If you have any questions about the colle...

If you have any questions about the college audition process, feel free to reach out at mailbag@mappingthecollegeaudition.com. If you’re interested in working with MTCA for help with your individualized preparation for your College Audition journey, please check us out at mtca.com, or on Instagram or Facebook.  Follow Us!  Instagram: @mappingthecollegeaudition YouTube: @MTCA (Musical Theater Colle...

In this College Deep Dive, Dean Nolen the Associate Professor of Acting and MTCA Director Charlie Murphy discuss:  🔴Texas Tech’s campus life and how it supports the arts 🔴What a day in the life as a student of Texas Tech looks like  🔴How important “the work” is as an actor and how Texas Tech supports that  🔴Generosity as an actor and what that means on and off the stage  If you have any questi...

In this Artist Episode, Ally Bonino (Broadway’s Suffs and MTCA Coach) and MTCA Director Charlie Murphy discuss: Ally’s beginnings in theater Behind the scenes of Suffs and its evolution What “types” we’re still seeing on Broadway vs. regional productions Discovering what makes you you in theater—and how to let that shine through If you have any questions about the college audition process, feel fr...

In this College Deep Dive Associate Professor and Chair of Performing Arts Deena J Conley and MTCA Director Charlie Murphy Discuss;  🔴 What makes the SUNY Cortland student 🔴 The landscape of showcases and how they are changing 🔴 Why liking your audition pieces is important 🔴 SUNY Cortland’s plans for the future and the program they want to build If you have any questions about the college audi...

In this Artist Episode Matt Rodin from the national tour of company and MTCA Director Charlie Murphy discuss: 🔴Matt’s audition journey to college  🔴How Matt felt like there was “no place” for him in theater  🔴Creating your own opportunity in this industry  🔴Bringing authenticity into the room, what that means and how to do it  If you have any questions about the college audition process, feel...

In this College Deep Dive, Kim Shively, Associate Professor of Performing Arts at Elon University chats with MTCA Director Charlie Murphy about:  🔴 The type of student an Elon Acting major is 🔴 Learning abroad in London 🔴 Diving deeper into what it means to study Meisner 🔴 The in’s and outs of the Elon acting audition process  If you have any questions about the college audition process, feel...

In this special episode, MTCA Director Charlie Murphy interviews students, parents, and coaches at the Chicago and LA Unified Auditions!  If you have any questions about the college audition process, feel free to reach out at mailbag@mappingthecollegeaudition.com. If you’re interested in working with MTCA for help with your individualized preparation for your College Audition journey, please check...

In this College Deep Dive, Erin Degner the Associate Professor of Theatre Arts and Head of the BFA Musical Theatre Program chats with MTCA Director Charlie Murphy about:  Kindness counts, not as a strategy, but as a reflection of who you are Trust can feel more accessible than calm or confidence and serves as a powerful antidote to anxiety Direct industry connections often prove more effective tha...

In this Artist Episode 3-Time MTCA Alumni Parent Anne Josephson and MTCA Director Charlie Murphy discuss: 🔴Finding the right college - student fit  🔴What Anne learned the 2nd and 3rd time around and what she would do differently 🔴Some of the realities of professional life outside of college  🔴The different ways to support your child before, during and after college If you have any questions ab...

In this College Deep Dive, Christianne Roll, Musical Theatre Program Coordinator at FSC and MTCA Director Charlie Murphy discuss; 🔴What it means to be a Florida Southern student 🔴FSC’s strong vocal education 🔴What the people behind the table at FSC are looking for 🔴A theater career after college and cruise ship stories If you have any questions about the college audition process, feel free to...

In this Artist Episode Paul Kwak, Laryngologist Chats with MTCA Director Charlie Murphy about His musical journey to becoming a laryngologist  The importance of vocal technique How to stay vocally healthy throughout the year If you have any questions about the college audition process, feel free to reach out at mailbag@mappingthecollegeaudition.com. If you’re interested in working with MTCA for he...

In this College Deep Dive, we welcome Amanda Flynn the Program Head of Musical Theater at Pace University. Amanda Flynn is a former MTCA Vocal Tech Coach and has represented Pace University at MTCA’s Junior Intensive for the past two years! Amanda and MTCA Director Charlie Murphy chat about:  How Pace supports professional work while still valuing graduation What a NYC “city campus” really means T...

In this Artist Exploration, Kevin Munhall (Broadway’s Tootsie) chats with MTCA Director Charlie Murphy about:  Build breathing and regulation habits before the stakes are high. Nerves aren’t the enemy; what matters is how you perform under pressure, not just in practice. Guardian angels open doors—but progress comes from saying yes, showing up, and putting in the work. Authenticity isn’t people-pl...