The training of Musical Theatre at the Academy started in 1992. Over the past 30 years, a host of CAD graduates have become professional actors and directors for musical, film, TV art, and theatre in general. They have created numerous unforgettable musicals in China and throughout the world. The Department has established close relationships with multiple international musical education institutions, academic groups, and art organizations. The Department proudly owns the only national-level experimental site of innovative training model for musical performers in China, and initiated the Professional Training Committee under the Chinese Musical Association.

In October 2012, the course of musical performance was separated from the Department of Acting, and become the Department of Musical Theatre to independently offer professional training course. In February 2022, the major of 'Musical Theatre', applied by the Department, was successfully included in the catalog of undergraduate majors in regular institutions of higher education by the Ministry of Education, becoming a new major under the discipline of Theatre, Film and TV Studies.

The Department of Musical Theatre boasts a strong faculty team that includes experienced professors as well as keen-minded younger teachers. Well-known overseas specialists are often introduced into the Department to augment faculty expertise. Many teachers have won awards both from home and abroad for their productions, training designs, and creation projects.

The course of Musical Theatre aims to cultivate high-quality professional actors with comprehensive cultural and artistic sense, who systematically master the methods and art of musical performance, creative skills, and professional theories. They are also expected to grasp the basic skills in music, dance, and speech, and be able to use their skills to produce, create and perform in musicals.

Syllabus: Basics of Vocal Studies, Vocal Techniques, Fundamentals of Acting for Theatre, Techniques of Acting for Theatre, Acting for Musical, Music Theory, Solfeggio, Chorus, Basic Ballet Training, Basic Jazz Training, Dance of Chinese and Foreign Styles, Dance for Musical, Basics of Artistic Language, Techniques of Artistic Language, Play Creation, Appreciation of Musical Theatre, Basics of Makeup, English, History of Chinese and Foreign Theatre, and other compulsory courses.