Scholarship Opportunities

Luther Dance Scholarships recognize incoming students who display outstanding potential for participation in Luther’s dance program. Dance scholarships are considered a Talent Award, just like theatre and music scholarships. While students may audition for more than one Talent Award, only the highest scholarship will be added to the financial aid offer. Dance scholarships are in addition to any academic scholarship and are renewable up to four years.

Candidates for a Luther Dance Scholarship are identified through an audition and brought to the attention of the scholarship committee.

Current high school seniors are welcome to schedule an audition or interview during an individual weekday visit to campus. Students may audition or interview before completing Luther’s application process, but scholarships will not be awarded until after a student has been admitted to Luther. Please check the requirements and complete the Recruit me for Theatre and Dance form, indicating your interest in a scholarship audition.

If you have any questions about scheduling your dance audition, please email Jane Hawley or Heather Frey.

Talent scholarship auditions must be completed prior to the deadline each year (April 5, 2024). Students who complete their Luther application after April 1st may be considered for a deadline extension. Notify the Admissions office of your interest.

Luther Dance Scholarship

Value:
$12,000 over four years ($3,000 per year).

Renewal:
Renewable up to 8 semesters, based on full-time enrollment, satisfactory academic progress, and participation in dance productions or dance courses each year at Luther.

Audition and Interview:
Perform a prepared or improvisational solo (1 to 1½ minutes) for dance faculty, and then talk with dance faculty in an informal interview about the creative process and why you are interested in dance at Luther.

The Debra and Mark Elstad Scholarship

Established by Debra Elstad ’74 and her husband, Mark, this scholarship is given to current Luther students who have declared a theatre major or minor and/or a dance minor and qualify for financial assistance. Those interested in having their name submitted for this scholarship should contact Jane Hawley.

Luther Theatre Scholarships recognize incoming students who display outstanding potential for participation in Luther’s theatre program regardless of a chosen major or minor. Theatre scholarships are considered a Talent Award, just like dance and music scholarships. While students may audition for more than one Talent Award, only the highest scholarship will be added to the financial aid offer. Theatre scholarships are in addition to any academic scholarship and are renewable up to four years.

Theatre faculty award these scholarships in two areas of interest—performance or design/technical theatre. Candidates for a Luther Theatre Scholarship are identified through an audition or interview and brought to the attention of the scholarship committee.

Current high school seniors are welcome to schedule an audition or interview during an individual weekday visit to campus. Students may audition or interview before completing Luther’s application process, but scholarships will not be awarded until after a student has been admitted to Luther. Please check the requirements and complete the Recruit me for Theatre and Dance form, indicating your interest in a scholarship audition.

If you have any questions about scheduling your theatre audition/portfolio review, please email Heather Frey.

Talent scholarship auditions must be completed prior to the deadline each year (April 5, 2024). Students who complete their Luther application after April 1st may be considered for a deadline extension. Notify the Admissions office of your interest.

Luther Theatre Scholarship

Value:
$12,000 over four years ($3,000 per year).

Renewal:
Renewable up to 8 semesters, based on full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic progress and participation in theatre productions each year at Luther.

Performance

• Perform a monologue or monologue and song (1 to 3 minutes), followed by an informal interview with a theatre faculty member. Virtual interviews will be scheduled once the audition video has been received.
• The performance piece must be memorized.
• Students choosing to perform a song should be prepared to sing a cappella if no accompanist is available, or to provide a copy of their music in the correct key for an accompanist if one is there.

Design and Technical Theatre Interview Requirements

• Present a portfolio of design or technical work images and/or drawings during an interview with a theatre faculty member.
• Portfolio images can be of designs (scenery, lighting, costuming, properties) by the student, or projects designed by another person but constructed by the student.

Portfolios may be submitted as a PDF document to Heather Frey for virtual interviews.

The theatre program offers scholarships to students demonstrating financial need as well as rewarding outgoing seniors. For more information, contact Jeff Dintaman.

The Debra and Mark Elstad Scholarship

Established by Debra Elstad ’74 and her husband, Mark, this scholarship is given to current Luther students who have declared a theatre major or minor and/or a dance minor and qualify for financial assistance. Those interested in having their name submitted for this scholarship should contact Jeff Dintaman.

The Helen Adams Bodensteiner Excellence in Theatre Award

Established by her sons, this award honors the legacy of Helen Bodensteiner, who served on the Luther faculty from 1946 until her retirement in 1969 and whose vision and work were foundational in growing the program in speech and drama at Luther. This award and accompanying scholarship is given to a graduating theatre senior(s) who has demonstrated significant influence and promise during their four years within the department.

When you hear back is determined by where you are in the college admissions process.

Luther College has rolling admissions, which means, beginning October 1, acceptance letters are sent within approximately 2 weeks upon receipt of all admission application materials.

If your audition/interview occurs AFTER acceptance to Luther, you will receive a notification in the mail approximately 2 weeks after your audition date.

If your audition occurs BEFORE acceptance, your theatre scholarship award information will be included with you acceptance notification, and sent approximately two weeks after receipt of all admission materials.

Theatre scholarship awards are also included in your financial aid award letter which are mailed later in the year. When students indicate an intention to audition or interview, all financial aid award letters are held until scholarship auditions/interviews have been completed.

If your admission materials have been submitted, it has been more than two weeks since your audition and you have not received notification, please contact Jeff Dintaman for assistance.

Most of our studios are unlocked and available for you to use before your audition. Whether you audition during an individual visit or during a visit event, your schedule will allow at least 15 minutes to warm up before your audition.

See specific requirements for each area. Perform a prepared audition consisting of either a single monologue, two contrasting monologues, or a monologue and 16-32 bars of a song. Whichever option you choose, your audition should not exceed three minutes. Songs from musical theatre are strongly recommended. Keep in mind that selections should demonstrate your artistic and technical abilities. Present material that represents you at your best!

No. Your audition is based on your talent and potential as a theatre student. Typically, students apply to Luther during the fall of their senior year, receive acceptance, and then schedule an audition for either an individual date or during one of our visit events, such as Christmas at Luther or other scholarship audition events.

Auditions typically happen with one faculty member. He or she will listen to you and get to know you better as a performer/designer/technician and student. Auditioning/interviewing is a great way to begin to feel comfortable with the faculty in our theatre program.

No. Auditions for productions take place fall and spring semesters after you arrive on campus.

Yes. Live auditions/interviews are strongly preferred. Luther auditions and interviews are structured like a one-on-one advising session. Having an in-person interaction with our theatre faculty works in the best interest of the student. On-campus auditions and interviews also give you a chance to see our facilities. If coming to campus is not an option, you may submit a video of your audition, or PDF of your portfolio.