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dancersmom · 07-13-2005, 04:43 PM

Coach C,

I agree that the U. Michigan list of questions to ask in evaluating an MT program is wonderful. I originally posted the list in February 2004. I really don't think that anyone from U.M. will mind my sharing it here. So, here's a copy of my post from last year:

I thought I'd share some information I received from the University of Michigan. They hand out an excellent paper to prospective students with questions to ask in evaluating MT programs. Here they are:

1. What kind of degree is offered? BFA? BA? (These 2 degrees are philosophically quite different.) Is the BFA designed specifically for MT, or just for theatre in general?
2. How large is the program? Where do the students come from? What is the make-up of the student body? Does the size of the university have an impact on the program?
3. What is the response of current students? Is the environment at the school supportive, creative, stimulating? Do casting policies for productions seem fair and ethical? (It is particularly useful to speak with seniors and graduates.) Does the program have a philosophical approach to education/training which is clearly stated to the students?
4. Where are the graduates working?
5. How large are the classes, especially those which are performance related?
6. What is the faculty/student relationship? Ratio? Do the students primarily have faculty members as teachers, or graduate assistants?
7. How many musicals are presented each year? What are the casting policies? How are the shows chosen? What are examples of past productions?
8. Does the school promote new works?
9. Do the students have opportunities to be in plays as well as musicals? What about opera, dance concerts, films, and recitals?
10. Do the students have the opportunity to perform in theatres of differing sizes (opera house to "black box") and differing styles (proscenium to in-the-round)?
11. Are the students taught specifically about the field as a profession, and how to go about making a living after they graduate? (Equity, agents, casting directors, audition techniques, commercial and non-profit theatres, etc.)
12. How well do the music department and the theatre department cooperate? Dowes the school have a dance department? (Almost always, the real success of a musical theatre program lies at the core of the inter-disciplinary relationship of these three areas.)
13. Does the faculty work professionally away from the school?
14. How often does the school bring in professionals to work with or speak to the students?
15. Does the school have a cut or review policy? What are the standards a student must maintain in order to remain in the program, and how is this monitored?
16. How complete is the school's library of musical theatre resource materials? (Songs, scores, scripts, vocal books, etc., are often rare, unpublished, or out-of-print.)
17. Is the program of department firmly established? How long has it been in existence? How is it regarded by people in the profession, such as casting directors and agents?

07-13-2005, 04:43 PM	#19
dancersmom Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Threads: 11 Posts: 436	Evaluating MT Programs Coach C, I agree that the U. Michigan list of questions to ask in evaluating an MT program is wonderful. I originally posted the list in February 2004. I really don't think that anyone from U.M. will mind my sharing it here. So, here's a copy of my post from last year: I thought I'd share some information I received from the University of Michigan. They hand out an excellent paper to prospective students with questions to ask in evaluating MT programs. Here they are: 1. What kind of degree is offered? BFA? BA? (These 2 degrees are philosophically quite different.) Is the BFA designed specifically for MT, or just for theatre in general? 2. How large is the program? Where do the students come from? What is the make-up of the student body? Does the size of the university have an impact on the program? 3. What is the response of current students? Is the environment at the school supportive, creative, stimulating? Do casting policies for productions seem fair and ethical? (It is particularly useful to speak with seniors and graduates.) Does the program have a philosophical approach to education/training which is clearly stated to the students? 4. Where are the graduates working? 5. How large are the classes, especially those which are performance related? 6. What is the faculty/student relationship? Ratio? Do the students primarily have faculty members as teachers, or graduate assistants? 7. How many musicals are presented each year? What are the casting policies? How are the shows chosen? What are examples of past productions? 8. Does the school promote new works? 9. Do the students have opportunities to be in plays as well as musicals? What about opera, dance concerts, films, and recitals? 10. Do the students have the opportunity to perform in theatres of differing sizes (opera house to "black box") and differing styles (proscenium to in-the-round)? 11. Are the students taught specifically about the field as a profession, and how to go about making a living after they graduate? (Equity, agents, casting directors, audition techniques, commercial and non-profit theatres, etc.) 12. How well do the music department and the theatre department cooperate? Dowes the school have a dance department? (Almost always, the real success of a musical theatre program lies at the core of the inter-disciplinary relationship of these three areas.) 13. Does the faculty work professionally away from the school? 14. How often does the school bring in professionals to work with or speak to the students? 15. Does the school have a cut or review policy? What are the standards a student must maintain in order to remain in the program, and how is this monitored? 16. How complete is the school's library of musical theatre resource materials? (Songs, scores, scripts, vocal books, etc., are often rare, unpublished, or out-of-print.) 17. Is the program of department firmly established? How long has it been in existence? How is it regarded by people in the profession, such as casting directors and agents?