Tufts Blogs

When I was in high school, a huge part of my life revolved around music and theater. I knew that I wanted to be involved in the performing arts in college, but when I arrived at Tufts, I was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of music and theater opportunities at my disposal. If, like me, you are interested in pursuing music and/or theater in college but aren’t sure where to start, here is my guide to all things music and theater at Tufts! 

Beginning with music, here are a few ways to get involved: 

Acapella
We have a big acapella scene here at Tufts, in fact, Tufts was part of the inspiration behind the movie Pitch Perfect! Tufts has many different acapella groups, including the Beelzebubs, the Amalgamates, the Jackson Jills, Tufts SQ, and many more! Most acapella groups require auditions and are more of a time commitment, but some do not require auditions and are more relaxed in terms of a time commitment. 

Pep Band
If you play an instrument or were in Pep Band in high school, Tufts Pep Band is a great choice for you! Pep band performs at all (or at least) most sporting events around campus and has showcases every semester!

Playing in the Pit
If you play an instrument that you can’t play in a pep band, you can play in the pit for musicals on campus. This is a great way to get involved with the theater community as well as the music community. 

Gospel Choir/Concert Choir 
If you’re interested in getting involved with the music department at Tufts, taking the Gospel Choir or Concert Choir classes is a great way to start! I took Chamber Singers (essentially Concert Choir) in the Spring of my freshman year and I absolutely loved it (I wrote an article about my experience in the class which is available here). Both are very beginner-friendly classes yet are still engaging for those with a more robust music background. 

Join or Create a Band
Tufts has many student bands on campus, such as Citric, Call From Earth, Fease, and lots more! Most Tufts bands play at Applejam concerts—concerts put on by students on campus—and around Tufts and the greater Boston area. They also perform at BoChella, a concert run by Tufts radio station WMFO, and one Tufts band gets to open our annual Spring Fling Concert. If you have a few musically inclined friends, maybe start your own band! 

Miscellaneous Musical Madness
If you’re more interested in talking or writing about music rather than performing, there are still many options available for you. Melisma—a student-run music magazine might be the place for you! Or Applejam (mentioned above) which organizes concerts on campus. Also mentioned above is WMFO, Tufts freeform radio station, through which you can have your own radio show!

If you’re more interested in pursuing theater at Tufts, here are a few theater opportunities that you can do: 

Traveling Treasure Trunk/The Local Bard’s Players
If you are interested in performing for young children in the Boston area, consider trying out for Traveling Treasure Trunk or the Local Bard’s Players. Both groups are fairly similar in the ways they operate, but the Local Bard’s Players specialize in performing Shakespeare plays which are adapted for younger audiences. 

Torn Ticket II/Tufts 3Ps
If student-run theater is something you're interested in, try joining Torn Ticket II or Tufts 3Ps (Pen, Paint, and Pretzels). Both clubs do a workshop and a mainstage production every semester, as well as hold weekly meetings and other events. Torn Ticket specializes in musical theater, while 3Ps does straight plays. 

TDPS (Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies) Department Shows
If you’re looking to participate in theater opportunities run by faculty members or other adults in the Boston area, you can try out for the Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies Department performances. Each semester, the department puts on a mainstage production—either a play or musical—as well as other performances throughout the semester. This is a great way to get more involved with faculty and the TDPS department at Tufts, and you do not have to be a TDPS major or minor to audition!

Comedy/Mime/Improv Groups 
If you like comedy, miming, improv, or just humorous performance, there are many student groups that you can join! There’s Hypemimez, the Institute comedy club, and lots more! 

When I was looking through the list of music and theater clubs at Tufts, the list felt inexhaustible and overwhelming. I hope that my list, though still robust, is easier to navigate and gives you a bit more information about what kinds of opportunities there are to pursue theater and music at Tufts—whether it be for your major, minor, or just for fun!