FAQs
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Each Spring, OCUNYC members facilitate a week of professional opportunities in NYC for students pursuing a career in the arts. The workshop is open to all current OCU students, no matter what your major or career focus is. Classes are catered to students aiming to create a professional life in the arts, onstage and off. The Workshop Schedule will include both performance classes (dancing, singing, acting) and other topics (producing, life in NYC, business of theatre, side hustles, etc.) and students will have the opportunity to curate a class schedule that best fits their career goals.
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This year’s program will begin in the afternoon of Monday, March 16th, and end at 5pm on Friday, March 20, 2026. All classes will take place at Pearl Studios (500 Eighth Avenue). Students are not required to participate in all 5 days of the workshop, but participation costs cannot be lowered for students with partial attendance. The mock audition portion will be offered on Wednesday morning, and Thursday and Friday will be regular added days of classes. We encourage students to look at travel options for Sunday or Monday morning, and departing Saturday.
Workshop Schedule:Monday: Orientation and Mixer (3pm Start)
Tuesday: Full Day of Classes (10-6pm)
Wednesday: Mock Audition, Half-Day (10-1pm)
Thursday: Full Day of Classes (10-5pm)
Friday: Full Day of Classes and Wrap Up (10-5pm)
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Registration for the 2026 Spring Break Workshop will open on Monday, January 12, 2026 at 6:30 am CST and will close on Monday, January 19, 2026 at 10:59 pm CST. The link for registration can be found here.
Classes will be filled on a first-come first-served basis. While we do our best to create class sizes that match student interest, we reserve the right to alter class schedules after registration as needed. -
Each student is asked to contribute $200 towards workshop participation. This amount covers studio and faculty costs for 30 hours of dedicated time with industry professionals. This amount is due at registration. Students are responsible for travel, housing, show tickets, or other expenses.
Recommended budget:Flight: $800-$1,000
Housing: varies, talk to friends or reach out to alumni for a couch!
Show Tickets: $39-$99/show
Transportation: $150
Meals: $75/day
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Yes, full scholarships are available. Scholarship applications will open Sunday, January 4th at 12:00 pm CST and close Friday, January 9, 2026 at 10:59 pm CST. A limited number of scholarships will be given by January 11th, prior to registration.
All scholarships are funded by generous alumni who want to see the next generation of OCU artists succeed and reach their highest potential. Scholarships are not guaranteed and will be awarded based on financial need.This scholarship will cover your $200 registration contribution only, and cannot be used for travel, housing, show tickets, or other expenses. If awarded a 2026 scholarship, you agree to attend the entire workshop.
The scholarship application can be found here. Join the mailing list to be notified when applications open! -
If you are unable to attend the workshop, your 2026 registration fee is non-refundable and cannot be transferred to another year. OCUNYC is an all-volunteer organization with limited funds. We book the exact rooms and faculty based on the number of students registered and the fees collected each year.
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Students MUST coordinate their own housing accommodations for the week. We encourage all students to reach out to any alumni or friends already living in NYC before taking alumni spots. We will have a limited number of generous alumni willing to open their homes to students during the workshop. Alumni housing is not guaranteed and will be awarded based on financial need then in the order of freshman, 1st NYC timer, sophomore, junior, and seniors.
If your participation in the workshop would rely on receiving assistance with alumni housing, housing applications will open Sunday, January 4th at 12:00 pm CST and close Friday, January 9, 2026 at 10:59 pm CST. A limited number of housing spots will be given by January 11th, prior to registration. The rest of students will be placed on a waiting list and notified by Friday, February 9, 2026 if OCUNYC will be able to provide housing this year.
The alumni housing application for the 2026 workshop can be found here. -
For those students who are booking their own housing, keep in mind your commute time. All classes will take place in midtown Manhattan, which usually is considered 34th Street to 59th St, between 6th and 8th Avenues (the city is a grid!). Any hotels in that area will be a short train ride, if not walkable, to the studio. Other easily commutable neighborhoods include Hamilton Heights, Morningside Heights, the Upper West Side, Lincoln Center, Chelsea, the West Village, and more.
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Workshop students are responsible for their own transportation to and from New York City, as well as local transportation. Flights can be very expensive, so you should begin looking now at what travel options work for you. Students have also been known to carpool to Dallas for more affordable direct flight options. All three NYC-area airports (Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK) offer access to Manhattan and have public transportation options as needed. Check out our airport guide for more information on what to expect at each airport.
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Classes are programmed to fit the interests of registered students. In addition to Broadway dance classes and vocal masterclasses, other past topics have included auditioning, on-camera acting, networking, director/choreographer, arts administration, show study highlighting on one production’s team, precision dance, talent agents, contracts, internships, and more.
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OCUNYC is proud to once again provide discounted and special-access tickets for Broadway shows, available exclusively to Spring Break students. These tickets are not included in the workshop contribution and must be paid for separately. After you register, a form will be sent for students to claim tickets for various Broadway shows throughout the week of Spring Break. Most tickets are be $49-$79 and will be limited to 1 ticket per show per student.
If there are other shows you’d like to see, in most cases, buying tickets directly from the show's website or box office will offer the lowest rate. Many shows also have online lotteries you can enter in advance (LuckySeat, TodayTix, and more). Programs like Roundabout's HipTix, Lincoln Center's LincTix, 2ST's 30under30, and MTC's 30 Under 35 all offer low priced tickets in advance for young people. Once you're in New York, you can go to a box office in-person to avoid fees. Be sure to ask for "rush", "partial view", and "standing room" if you're really looking for the lowest price, regardless of the view. We also recommend looking into a $40/year TDF membership, which provides affordable tickets year round to students, teachers, and other communities. -
The three closest airports are LaGuardia, Newark, and JFK. All three have public transportation options into Manhattan that will cost from $3-$15 and take an average of 45-90 minutes. Car services and taxis can cost anywhere from $45-$125 depending on which airport you’re at and what your final destination is. Ride-sharing with other workshop attendees is highly encouraged!
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No, MetroCards are no more! The MTA is now equipped with OMNY tap-to-pay systems that allow you to use your credit card and mobile devices to enter the station as well. Here's a 60-second video tutorial.
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There is so much to do in New York City! A few popular spots are listed below. Click on them to learn more:
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OCUNYC is a registered 501(c)(3) organization and all financial donations are tax-deductible. Every dollar is used toward the furthering of OCUNYC’s mission to provide educational and professional experiences to our community. DONATE HERE