WallyWorld

Thanks Fishbowl that makes good sense. Wonder what you think of Webster?

fishbowlfreshman

I don't know a lot about Webster and don't personally know anyone who goes there or has even auditioned for them. See the recent posts on the Webster University section of the MT forum and decide for yourself if you'd be comfortable with their attrition rate. I wouldn't, but you have to take the good with the bad at any program and none are perfect.

Why Ignore Ants

Hey. I'm pretty new here and have read as many of the posts and threads about theatre schools as possible...but I was wondering if there's a post somewhere or if anyone has any information about schools with good BA programs that don't also have BFA programs...I've heard Northwestern, but I'm definitely going BA and have heard to beware BFA students overshadowing the BA kids. Eventually I will likely want to get my MFA but I'm reasonably talented and incredibly passionate about theatre and don't want a compromised theatrical education just because I also have 9342002 other interests.

WallyWorld

Im going to throw out two schools that no one else would likely mention that are worth a look. Not especially prestigious but some hidden gemness to them.
The University of Washington (in Seattle)
The University of California @ Santa Barbara.

UW Pros; Strong MFA program so undergrads especially on the tech side get to work with an advanced program. It overshadows a bit but not on the BA side more the BFA. Beautiful campus.

Cons: Dead center of a large city and Rain (did I mention the rain?)

UCSB Pros; You could argue one of the most beautiful campuses in the world (my alma matter) Two miles of its own Pacific Ocean beach, palm trees 80 degrees and sunny nearly every day not much humidity, Spanish style red tile buildings everywhere, you get the point. Just look at the picture http://www.ucsb.edu Facilities are top of the line and brand new. They have a prop shop that most professional companies would die for.

Cons; you do the full undergrad gen ed program. Fairly competitive admission because it is a popular place to go. In spite of its party school reputation you will get a good education.

Why Ignore Ants

Those previously weren't even on my radar, so thanks.

WallyWorld

Gladly,

UW Theater department (I want to say that they do 11 shows a season) Seattle has a thriving arts community. ACT, fabulous sympony and one of the top operas in the country.

http://www.artsci.washington.edu/deptdetails.asp?ID=24

UCSB I talked personaly with two successfull professional stage actors who went through UCSB's program with nothing but good things to say.

http://www.dramadance.ucsb.edu/drama_overview.php

ckp

I looked into Santa Barbara...but I already had 9 schools, and mostly I didn't want to take the SAT II..but I liked the sound of it. For me it would have been my top safty type, since I wanted a bfa.

mwbashful18

I know this is out of place somewhat but since everyone in here seems very well informed regarding schools and their prestige in the arts, could anyone suggest what would be the best school (as a transfer) for FILM?

*I will be applying as a second-year transfer.
*I need excellent finaid (received $30,600 University grant from UChicago for freshman year, I need something equal to it)
*Desire such a transfer because UChicago doesn't have a quality program -- I want all-around training in film editing, directing, cinematography, screenwriting, etc. I want every aspect so I can make a decision on what branch of the film industry I would like to pursue.

Thanks!

Kaylyn

Hi there. My name is Kaylyn, as my username states. I just found this site trying to find some of the top theatre colleges. Well, I was curious. I'm a born and raised Floridian so I would like to attend a college in Florida, or at least the south like Georgia, SC, or NC. I want to major in Theatre production under sound design or stage managment. I would LOVE if there was a way to put in both, but I haven't found anything like that yet. I wanted to go to UF, but they don't have anything of what I'm looking for. UCF sounds nice, but I want a place I can get my best education and that may be it, but I want some other decisions as well. I couldn't get anything from FSU, I guess the site is going through modifications or something. But, anyway. I just wanted to see if ya'll had any suggestions. I'm hoping to transfer after I receive my AA at the local community college; I'm still a high school senior at this point working on college hours.

Thanks for reading my long thread thing.


Kaylyn

WallyWorld

I am interested to know opinions/thoughts on the top international conservatories of which I know little about.

The ones I have looked at are

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA)
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD)
Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPPA)

A couple of observations so far;
At RADA there is no stage time until the third year. Housing looks like an issue as they all appear to be non residential schools. For call backs you have to travel. LIPPA has only been around for 10 years (as opposed to RSAMD created in 1847 and RADA in 1904)

How do these schools compare to top US conservatories?

How do these schools compare and contrast to one another?

Are there others worthy of a look?

Anyone know anybody who has auditioned and or attended one of these programs?

ckp

LAMDA and RADA both have really good reputations (BU goes for a semester(year?) abroad at LAMDA)

I have heard not so great things about RSAMD, but I know very little about the actual program...

actressfosho

I have decided to bag all the US undergraduate conservatories and wait until my sophomore year exchange program in England to audition for some of the UK academies. If that doesn't work out, I would rather wait and get a Masters in the US. Everything I have seen indicates that there is little argument that the top UK academies are RADA, LAMDA, Bristol Old Vic, Central School of Speech and Drama, Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Drama Centre London. These are the schools that will attract the top agents to their showcases. Others outside of London that seem worth looking at are RSAMD (I've neither heard nor read anything bad about them), Queen Margaret University College, Royal Welsh Academy of Music and Drama, Birmingham School of Acting, Manchester Metropolitan University School of Theatre and Oxford School of Drama.

It seems important that any school you choose in the UK be accredited by the National Counsel for Drama Training. http://www.ncdt.co.uk/acourse.asp UK students who graduate from those automatically qualify for British Equity membership. I still haven’t found out for sure if that applies to overseas students or not. However, American students who have graduated from them seem to be getting work in the UK. Here is the UK Conference of Drama Schools site. http://www.drama.ac.uk/ Here is a good site to discuss UK drama schools http://www.thestage.co.uk/stagetalk/viewforum.php?f=4

RADA doesn't perform publically until the end of second year. They perform all the time in-house. Their public performances are constantly seen by agents and casting professionals. Somebody put it well when she said that "Americans consider RADA the British Juilliard. The rest of the world considers Juilliard the American RADA." They have a big alumni network in the US but I don't think they have an American showcase. LAMDA and RSAMD have American showcases. If you want the best classical training, the UK is the place to train on the undergraduate level IMO. The actor training at all the ones I mentioned starts with Stanislavski. Drama Centre London seems to later emphasize Strasberg technique if that is something that interests you. NONE of them have cut systems either upfront or hidden and they don't waste your time with random gen eds. I have been told that contact hours are 35 hours per week minimum. Most are also overall cheaper because they are only three years and cheaper by the year than most of the American schools. Something else to consider is that they are harder to get in than the American schools since the average age of a first year student is around 20 or 21.

WallyWorld

Good info!

So, how would you rate the job prospects in the US for a graduate of a UK academy verses a student who attended a top US conservatory?

actressfosho

That is hard to say other than the more prestigious the degree the more doors it will open for you straight out. If you look at the Tony nominees on Fishbowl’s thread in the MT section, RADA, LAMDA, Central and Guildhall are among the schools with the most nominees in the last ten years. I would rate the chances of working as at least as good considering that the vast majority of the alumni of those schools never come to the US. Why would they even want to with the rich theatre culture they have over there?

CentralBoy

Hey, actressfosho has answered all the questions very well and thoroughly.

I'm UK-based and will be a student at Central come October. She is right about it being tough to get in - I'm 20, and am coming to end of my second gap year. I was rejected the first two years, only successful on my third year, and only at the one school.

If you have any specific questions you wanted answered, I'll do my best.

BTW, the majority of British acadamies are non-residential. No Halls, you'll be looking for flats/houses with other students, or host families.