<p>I do not believe an audition is required for Muhlenberg. They have scholarship auditions, but not for admissions. From their website: </p>
<p>“An audition/interview or theatre design portfolio submission is not required for admission to study in the department. Students do have the option to audition or submit a portfolio in support of their application if desired. An audition or interview is required for applicants who wish to be considered for talent-based scholarship awards.” </p>
<p>[Muhlenberg</a> College Theatre & Dance](<a href=“http://www.muhlenberg.edu/depts/theatre/2admission.html]Muhlenberg”>http://www.muhlenberg.edu/depts/theatre/2admission.html)</p>
<p>In terms of competitiveness of Marymount Manhattan – The admit rate for Marymount may be a high percentage than a school like CMU (for example), but any school that requires an audition is competitive. </p>
<p>For example – I teach at a BA school where no audition is required for the Theatre Concentration, but where an audition is required for the Musical Theatre Concentration. The admit rate for the musical theare concentration is about 18% - 20%. MUCH higher than schools with a 2% admit rate, but there are still 80% of the applicants for Musical Theatre who are not admitted to the concentration. Because we are a school that separates academic and major admissions… many of the students who do not get into the MT concentration but DO get into JMU choose to come to JMU in the Theatre Concentration, take advantage of both MT and Theatre training and opportunities and are very happy. </p>
<p>It looks like you have non-auditioned back-ups (although it looks like the BA program at Pace also requires an audition, so it cannot be considered a back-up – [Pace</a> University - Performing Arts - Auditions](<a href=“http://www.pace.edu/page.cfm?doc_id=9258]Pace”>http://www.pace.edu/page.cfm?doc_id=9258))</p>
<p>The audition process is subjective, each year there are students who do not get into a school that is perceived as less competitive and DO get into a school that is perceived as more competitive. You have applied to A LOT of schools. Applications take a lot of time and money. As long as you have one academic, non-auditioned safety school on your list (that you would be HAPPY to attend). You may want to take a step back and now focus on preparing for the auditions. Good luck :)</p>