Webster University Conservatory

Webster University's Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts has quietly built one of the most impressive track records in American undergraduate actor training, with an alumni roster that includes Tony Award winners, Broadway stars, and iconic performers whose careers demonstrate the exceptional quality of training this under-the-radar program provides. The conservatory is located on Webster University's campus in Webster Groves, Missouri, a charming suburb of St. Louis, and offers BFA programs in Acting and Musical Theatre through an intensive conservatory model within a private university setting. Webster was founded in 1915, and its theater program has grown into a nationally recognized conservatory with an approximately 8% acceptance rate that makes it one of the most selective BFA programs in the country. The alumni list is remarkable for a program of Webster's size and profile: Jenifer Lewis (Black-ish, Hollywood Walk of Fame inductee), Marsha Mason (four-time Academy Award nominee, Golden Globe winner), Norbert Leo Butz (two-time Tony Award winner for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Catch Me If You Can), Ronald J. Bohmer (Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera), Matt Vogel (voice of Kermit the Frog since 2017), and most recently Erik Christopher Peterson, who plays Scorpius Malfoy in the Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The Sargent Conservatory's partnership with The Muny — the nation's largest and oldest outdoor musical theater, located in nearby Forest Park — provides students with an extraordinary connection to one of America's most beloved theatrical institutions.

In 2025, the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts operates as an intensive four-year BFA program that provides conservatory-caliber training within the supportive environment of a mid-sized private university. The BFA in Acting and the BFA in Musical Theatre are the program's core offerings, with training that covers acting technique through multiple methodologies, voice and speech, movement and stage combat, dialect work, on-camera technique, and comprehensive professional preparation. The conservatory model means small class sizes, dedicated faculty mentorship throughout the four-year journey, and a training intensity that matches or exceeds many larger, more famous programs. The conservatory currently enrolls approximately 139 students (as of Spring 2025), creating an intimate community where every student receives individualized attention and substantial performance opportunities. The department produces a full season of plays and musicals each year, with recent and upcoming productions including The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Our Town, Ride the Cyclone, The Legend of Georgia McBride, Cinderella, Seize the King, and The SpongeBob Musical — a diverse repertoire that exposes students to classical, contemporary, comedic, dramatic, and musical material. St. Louis's vibrant professional theater community, anchored by The Muny, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, and dozens of smaller companies, provides a rich professional ecosystem that supports student development and creates career pathways for emerging artists. The annual Industry Showcase connects graduating seniors with agents, managers, and casting directors, continuing the program's tradition of effective professional launching.

Admission to the Sargent Conservatory is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of approximately 8% that reflects the program's selectivity and the strength of its applicant pool — drawn by the conservatory's impressive alumni record and growing national reputation. Applicants must complete a standard Webster University application plus an artistic audition that includes monologues for Acting applicants and monologues, songs, and dance for Musical Theatre applicants. The audition process evaluates not just current skill level but potential for growth, collaborative spirit, and fit within the conservatory's tight-knit community. Callbacks may include additional exercises, cold readings, and interviews with faculty who are looking for students who will thrive in the intensity of a four-year conservatory program. Academic credentials are considered alongside the audition, as Webster values students who can engage with the university's academic requirements while maintaining the demands of conservatory training. The program only offers the BFA at the St. Louis main campus — it is not available at Webster's international campuses or satellite locations. Financial aid and talent scholarships are available, with over $215,000 in departmental scholarships awarded in the 2024-25 academic year. Most departmental scholarships are reserved for third and fourth year students, though some first-year awards are available. Contact with Associate Director of Fine Arts Admissions Andrew Laue is recommended for detailed information about available financial support.

The four-year BFA curriculum is structured as a progressive, intensive training arc designed to develop actors from foundational technique through professional-ready performance. The first two years focus on self-exploration, script analysis, characterization, diction and dialects, and the building of the physical and vocal instrument through dedicated movement training (including Alexander and Feldenkrais techniques) and voice work (including Fitzmaurice methodology). The third and fourth years shift focus to styles training spanning Shakespeare through contemporary film, advanced performance in increasingly demanding roles, and intensive professional preparation for industry entry. Students perform in the conservatory's full production season throughout their four years, with casting opportunities across the diverse repertoire of plays and musicals the program produces. The on-camera training component ensures students are prepared for screen auditions and on-set work alongside their stage training. Professional development intensifies in the upper years, with the senior Industry Showcase serving as the culminating professional launching event — a carefully curated presentation of graduating talent to industry professionals. The conservatory's partnership with The Muny provides additional performance context and exposure to large-scale professional musical theater. The intimate class sizes and dedicated faculty mentorship throughout all four years create a training experience where students are known individually and guided through their specific artistic development in ways that larger programs cannot replicate.

Webster's Sargent Conservatory attracts intensely focused, career-driven performers who have identified the program through its remarkable alumni track record and who value the combination of conservatory intensity, personal attention, and affordability. The alumni network is extraordinary for a program of Webster's size: Jenifer Lewis's iconic career spanning film, television, and concert performance; Marsha Mason's four Academy Award nominations; Norbert Leo Butz's two Tony Awards; Matt Vogel's position as the voice of one of the most beloved characters in entertainment history; and Erik Christopher Peterson's starring role on Broadway — this concentration of high-profile success from a single small conservatory is genuinely remarkable. The enrollment of approximately 139 students across all years means the community is intimate and tightly bonded, with students who train together forming the kind of deep artistic and personal relationships that sustain professional careers. The program draws students from 36 states and 5 countries (as of Spring 2025), reflecting its growing national and international reputation. St. Louis's theater community provides a supportive professional environment where conservatory students can engage with working artists, attend professional productions regularly, and begin building the professional relationships that will support their careers. The culture of the conservatory is collaborative and supportive — the kind of environment where students push each other to grow while genuinely caring about each other's success.

Tuition at Webster University for the 2025-2026 academic year is approximately $31,750 for undergraduate students — significantly lower than most comparable private university conservatory programs. The total cost of attendance including housing, meals, and personal expenses brings the annual figure to approximately $47,000-$52,000, which is still substantially lower than peer programs at NYU ($104,000+ total cost), Carnegie Mellon ($67,560 tuition), or USC ($67,503 tuition). Approximately 83% of Webster undergraduates receive some form of grants or scholarships, with average awards of approximately $20,833 — a generous aid rate that further reduces the actual cost of attendance for most students. The Sargent Conservatory awarded over $215,000 in departmental scholarships in the 2024-25 academic year, with most awards going to third and fourth year students, though some first-year scholarships are available. The St. Louis cost of living is dramatically lower than New York, Los Angeles, or other major metropolitan areas — housing, food, and transportation costs in the Webster Groves area are among the lowest of any city home to a nationally recognized conservatory program. The combination of moderate tuition, generous institutional aid, departmental scholarships, and low living costs makes Webster one of the most affordable paths to conservatory-quality BFA training available anywhere. Students should apply for financial aid early, communicate with Andrew Laue in Fine Arts Admissions about talent scholarships, and explore external scholarship opportunities to maximize their financial support.

Webster's Sargent Conservatory is an excellent choice for actors who want conservatory-intensity training at a price point that is dramatically lower than most comparable programs, with an alumni track record that proves the training produces professionals who succeed at the highest levels. If you are drawn to the intimacy of a small conservatory community, value personalized faculty mentorship, and recognize that the quality of training matters more than the brand name of the institution, Webster offers exceptional value. The program is particularly well-suited for musical theater performers drawn by the Muny connection and the triple-threat training, and for straight actors who want rigorous conservatory work without the financial burden of coastal programs. Actors who need the brand recognition of a top-tier name program should consider Carnegie Mellon, NYU Tisch, or Michigan instead. For similar-quality conservatory training at a comparable price in the Midwest, consider Otterbein, Baldwin Wallace, or Wright State. If you want to be in a major entertainment market during your training, programs in New York or Los Angeles provide geographic advantages that Webster's St. Louis location cannot match. Webster's combination of selectivity, alumni success, and affordability makes it one of the smartest value choices in BFA conservatory training.

When evaluating Webster, look at the alumni outcomes rather than the university's overall profile — the concentration of Tony winners, Oscar nominees, and working professionals from this single conservatory is remarkable and demonstrates that the training produces world-class results. Build the strongest possible relationships with conservatory faculty from your first year, as their personalized mentorship and industry advocacy will be among the most valuable assets of your Webster experience. Take advantage of The Muny partnership by attending performances, engaging with Muny artists, and absorbing the energy and professionalism of America's largest outdoor musical theater — this access is a unique privilege. Engage with St. Louis's broader theater community by attending professional productions at The Rep, Stages St. Louis, and smaller companies, building your awareness of professional-level work and your local professional network. Plan your post-graduation transition carefully — research the market you intend to enter (New York, LA, Chicago, etc.), build connections during your training years, and use the Industry Showcase as a strategic launching event. Connect with Webster alumni who are currently working in the profession, as the conservatory's tight-knit community is genuinely supportive and alumni like those performing on Broadway and in major productions can provide mentorship, guidance, and industry introductions that accelerate your professional entry.