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rossji · 07-12-2006, 03:24 PM

"On the 80 student classes, how the heck do they ever get "substantial roles" with that many students? Are these schools producing a season of eight musicals? That seems to me to be the minimum number needed to ensure at least a "featured" or "supporting" role for each in the class (even if it has whittled down, by attrition, to 60). Help the old lady out, here?"

I thought I'd address this question. My daughter finished her freshman year at NYU; there are 80 in musical theater IN HER CLASS ALONE!! Holy #$%%!! However, a couple have left for various reasons (one freshman in her class is in Spring Awakening on Off-Broadway; a couple others in other grades got cast in national tours). I'd guess about 75 freshmen, (an unusually high number; I guess hardly anyone turned down their acceptance) and probably 50-60 each of sophs/jrs/srs. So there are around 225 in musical theater (ONLY A GUESS!) NOT INCLUDING THE OTHER STUDIOS (Meisner, Playwrights, etc.) DOUBLE HOLY #$%%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SO I hear ya about not getting substantial roles! As I've whined about on a different thread, my daughter didn't even get to AUDITION for the mainstage musical, "Hair" (albeit bald and nude requirements....long story....) because there were no slots available. Paying 50 grand a year for musical theater and your kid didn't even get to AUDITION?? I was miffed, to say the least. BUT, as you say, they DO offer more than one musical (not sure how many; probably around 6-8 per year; some student-directed). She DID get to audition for a student-run musical, and I think there are going to be more offered when she returns in the fall. There are lots of straight plays, too, although my daughter probably wouldn't consider those as she loves to sing.
Personally, while I know SHE wants to perform while at school, I'm more concerned with her getting excellent training, which I feel she is. Her private voice teacher is incredible, as was her vocal tech teacher, dance instructors, and acting coach. She will remain with the same private voice teacher throughout her 4 years (she was one of the finalists for Victoria Clark's role in the Nat'l tour of Light in the Piazza; lucky for my daughter, she didn't get it, although for her voice teacher's sake, I hoped she had!) While I'd be thrilled to see my daughter perform at NYU, I'm even more thrilled that she loves it there and is getting top-notch training.

07-12-2006, 03:24 PM	#109
rossji Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Live in CT; daughter at CAP21 Posts: 543	Eve "On the 80 student classes, how the heck do they ever get "substantial roles" with that many students? Are these schools producing a season of eight musicals? That seems to me to be the minimum number needed to ensure at least a "featured" or "supporting" role for each in the class (even if it has whittled down, by attrition, to 60). Help the old lady out, here?" I thought I'd address this question. My daughter finished her freshman year at NYU; there are 80 in musical theater IN HER CLASS ALONE!! Holy #$%%!! However, a couple have left for various reasons (one freshman in her class is in Spring Awakening on Off-Broadway; a couple others in other grades got cast in national tours). I'd guess about 75 freshmen, (an unusually high number; I guess hardly anyone turned down their acceptance) and probably 50-60 each of sophs/jrs/srs. So there are around 225 in musical theater (ONLY A GUESS!) NOT INCLUDING THE OTHER STUDIOS (Meisner, Playwrights, etc.) DOUBLE HOLY #$%%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO I hear ya about not getting substantial roles! As I've whined about on a different thread, my daughter didn't even get to AUDITION for the mainstage musical, "Hair" (albeit bald and nude requirements....long story....) because there were no slots available. Paying 50 grand a year for musical theater and your kid didn't even get to AUDITION?? I was miffed, to say the least. BUT, as you say, they DO offer more than one musical (not sure how many; probably around 6-8 per year; some student-directed). She DID get to audition for a student-run musical, and I think there are going to be more offered when she returns in the fall. There are lots of straight plays, too, although my daughter probably wouldn't consider those as she loves to sing. Personally, while I know SHE wants to perform while at school, I'm more concerned with her getting excellent training, which I feel she is. Her private voice teacher is incredible, as was her vocal tech teacher, dance instructors, and acting coach. She will remain with the same private voice teacher throughout her 4 years (she was one of the finalists for Victoria Clark's role in the Nat'l tour of Light in the Piazza; lucky for my daughter, she didn't get it, although for her voice teacher's sake, I hoped she had!) While I'd be thrilled to see my daughter perform at NYU, I'm even more thrilled that she loves it there and is getting top-notch training.