thesbohemian

I couldn't find anything on a few of them, but here's where most of the 2005 Tony Nominees went to school:

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Philip Bosco, Twelve Angry Men – BA, Catholic University
Billy Crudup, The Pillowman – BA, UNC-Chapel Hill; MFA, NYU/Tisch
Bill Irwin, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? - BA, Oberlin College; Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey's Clown College
James Earl Jones, On Golden Pond – BFA, University of Michigan
Brían F. O'Byrne, Doubt - Samuel Beckett Center; Trinity College, Dublin

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Cherry Jones, Doubt – BFA, Carnegie Mellon University
Laura Linney, Sight Unseen – BA, Brown University; Moscow Arts Theater School; Juilliard School
Mary-Louise Parker, Reckless – Diploma in Acting, North Carolina School of the Arts,
Phylicia Rashad, Gem of the Ocean – BFA, Howard University
Kathleen Turner, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? - BA, University of Maryland

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Hank Azaria, Monty Python's Spamalot - BFA, Tufts University
Gary Beach, La Cage aux Folles – BFA, North Carolina School of the Arts
Norbert Leo Butz, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – BFA, Webster University; MFA, Alabama Shakespeare Festival
Tim Curry, Monty Python's Spamalot - Cambridge and Birmingham
John Lithgow, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – BA History, Harvard University; London Academy of Music and Drama

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Christina Applegate, Sweet Charity - None
Victoria Clark, The Light in the Piazza – Music Degree from Yale University
Erin Dilly, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – BFA, University of Michigan
Sutton Foster, Little Women - Carnegie Mellon University (left to go pro after one year)
Sherie Rene Scott, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
Alan Alda, Glengarry Glen Ross- BA, Fordham University
Gordon Clapp, Glengarry Glen Ross – BA, Williams College
David Harbour, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf – BA, Dartmouth College
Liev Schreiber, Glengarry Glen Ross – BA, Hampshire College; MFA, Yale School of Drama; Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Michael Stuhlbarg, The Pillowman – BFA, Juilliard School

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Mireille Enos, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? - BFA, Brigham Young University
Heather Goldenhersh, Doubt – BFA, Juilliard School
Dana Ivey, The Rivals – BA, Rollins College; London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Adriane Lenox, Doubt - Lambuth University
Amy Ryan, A Streetcar Named Desire - ???

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Dan Fogler, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee –BFA, Boston University
Marc Kudisch, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – BFA, Florida Atlantic University
Michael McGrath, Monty Python's Spamalot - ???
Matthew Morrison, The Light in the Piazza – BFA, Tisch/CAP21
Christopher Sieber, Monty Python's Spamalot – American Music and Dramatic Academy

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Joanna Gleason, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - UCLA and BA, Occidental College
Celia Keenan-Bolger, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – BFA, University of Michigan
Jan Maxwell, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - ???
Kelli O'Hara, The Light in the Piazza – BM, Oklahoma City University
Sara Ramirez, Monty Python's Spamalot- BFA, Juilliard School

wakenda

I replied over on the MT section as well, but Amy Ryan didn't go to college.

thesbohemian

Cool. I looked high and low and couldn't find her. Any ideas on which pro studio she might've trained at if any?

wakenda

I believe she went to an arts high school and that was the end of her training, but I'm not sure about that. There was a NY Times article about her a while back, if you want to look it up in a library. It isn't online for free anymore.

doctorjohn

We made our decision today. Based on interest, we've decided to add a fall audition date on Friday, December 2, for both Acting and Musical Theatre prospects. We understand that CCM has scheduled an MT audition for Saturday, December 3, and we thought this might make it possible for students to do an Ohio weekend. For those unfamiliar with Ohio geography, Otterbein is in Columbus in the center of the state, and CCM is in Cincinnati, two hours south of us on the Ohio River.

Although we are not changing to rolling admissions (for reasons that I outlined in earlier posts), we will tell students who audition in December their status: accepted, in consideration, or not in consideration. Because we take so few students (typically 4 men and 4 women in MT, 4 and 4 in Acting), we are unlikely to accept more than one or two men and one or two women in each degree program. (We must reserve space for those auditioning for us later.) But we will keep a larger number than usual in consideration. Those students will be notified of our decision in mid-March, along with the students who audition for us in January, February and March. The rest of the students will be released, and although that is a painful message, we hope that it will allow students and their families to make better plans for the remaining auditions.

B.F.A. Acting Audition Dates
Friday, December 2, 2005
Friday, February 24, 2006

B.F.A. Musical Theatre Audition Dates
Friday, December 2, 2005
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Saturday, February 4, 2006
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Saturday, March 4, 2006

National Unified Audition Dates
New York, Sunday, February 5, 2006 (please note we are only in NYC on Sunday; other schools will be there on Saturday)
Chicago, Monday-Wednesday, February 6-8, 2006
San Francisco, Saturday, February 11, 2006
Los Angeles, Sunday, February 12, 2006

Students interested in the BFA in Design/Technology may do a portfolio review at any of the National Unified Audition sites, or on campus between mid-January and early March. Same for students interested in the BA Theatre degree (directing, playwriting, stage-managing, arts administration). Details will be posted on our website in late June.

knoxcounty

Let me start by saying that right now my EFC is 0. Yeah, we're poor.
These are the colleges I am planning on applying to.

CMU, 39,000 p/yr- Perfectly between NYC (my birthplace and of course the greatest theatre town on Earth) and my home in Kentucky, less than one day's drive either way. Amazing program with impressive Alumni. Housing is unmatched by any other college I have researched. Pittsburg seems nice. I also like being within one days drive of the shore. It's a tie between this and NYU as my top choice.
Con: Pricey

NYU, 37,000 p/yr- Great program, Great Location, Washington Square Park...hmmm, nothing illegal happens there , Great Opportunities, Relatives and friends nearby,worth being far from home.
Con: Pricey, far from home, ugly campus.

Rutgers, 20,000 p/yr- Pro: Same reasons as NYU.
Con: RU screw, and I hear they don't let you audition for other things while you are attending the school. Far from home.

Northen Kentucky University, according to studentreview.com 8,000 p/yr- Best Theatre program in Kentucky, close to home, close to Cincinatti, close to Actor's Theatre in Lousville, many scholarships offered.
Con: Not many opportunities in surrounding area.


Berea College, FREE!- Pro: Free tuition and free laptop to all attending, small liberal arts college, "Harvard of the South" opportunities for many fellowships, pretty good theatre program allthough no BFA offered.
Con: It is in a dry county and I'm a party-er. Small, small, small town and that would drive me crazy.

Southern Methodist University, 29,000 p/yr- Pro: Uncle was major contributer, hopefully that means I would be offered a lot of scholarship money. Great theatre program.
Con: I don't want to be in Texas, I have had enough of the southern states.

Florida State University, 23,000 p/yr- Not going to Pro/ Con this one, it's my mother's almer mater, will not apply unless an Alumni scholarship is offered or I am likely to get a lot of scholarship or FinAid money, I have been hearing mixed things about the theatre program.

University of Kentucky 15,000 p/yr- Pro: close to home, relatives in city, sister attending same school, buttload of scholarship money, offers a BFA with many productions.
Con: 82% acceptance rate, might not be challenged enough.

Penn State 23,000 p/yr (13,000 in-state)- Pro: Good Theatre school, midpoint between NYC and Kentucky, less than one day's drive to the shore. Possibilities for more FinAid.
Con: Don't know much about it (not really a con)

Otterbein, 25,000 p/yr- Pro: Close to home. Great Theatre program. doctorjohn seems nice, lol
Con: Don't know much about it (not really a con)

University of Evensville, 24,000 p/yr- Pro: close to home, great theatre school, good enough for Thesbo
Con: Don't know much about it (not really a con)

DePaul, 25,000 p/yr- Pro: I have heard nothing but great things about this school, Chicago is a happening place for theatre.
Con: hesitant to live somewhere I've never been

Brown, 35,000 p/yr- Pro: Ivy league, wow, scary prospect. Close to NY, close to the shore, great theatre program, in a state that is home to Family Guy
Con: Ca-ching, pricey

Another thing I am looking for is a senior showcase in NY and LA. LA preferably as I want to be a film actor. I believe that a good actor must have a basis in theatre and learn to scale it down for film. I still am not sure if I want to consider a MT major. I have sung all of my life, I'm in an elite choral group in my school, and I play guitar and sing about an hour or two every day. I am worried that I may miss some intense dramatic traing and it be replaced by dance classes if I do a musical theatre major. For film acting, I guess going for MT seems unfocused to me. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated

jamimom

I think that because you are interested in being a theatre major, and because these programs are very selective, you need to cast a wide net. You have a great start on a nice number of schools. Be aware that your academic numbers should also be within the midranges of the schools of choice at a number of your schools, and even in the upper 25%. Academics can count heavily in getting money. Though I would not eliminate any schools in the beginning for monetary reasons, be aware of schools that do not give 100% of need. It is going to be tough to get money out of them. To balance those choices, have some that are generous in financial aid and have some nice merit money as well. As a rule out of state state schools are not generous with aid. Brown, though pricey, does give 100% of need if you are accepted. A suggestion I have is to look at the Unified list and research which of those colleges tend to give 100% of need. You could then audition for those at the Unifieds and have some idea of walk-ins to do if you find yourself with time. I am told that things are less hectic at the LA Unifieds than the Chicago and NYC ones, so that you can do more walkins at those schools. Also, many times for walk ins they do not charge an auditon fee which is very nice, and you don't have to apply to some schools until after you audition which also can save you money in app fees for schools that are a shot in the dark. You mention Thesbo , and it is great you know of her because her strategy was great in getting some nice financial awards and getting accepted at some fine programs. You may want to search for her posts detailing this strategy. She did have great academic stats, however, which I am sure made a big difference in some of the aid she did get.

knoxcounty

I just looked up Brown's theatre program and it looks like they only offer Acting I, I'm not sure, but if that's the case that worries me, it makes me think that they are trying to raise Theatre History teachers instead of actors.

thesbohemian

Knoxcounty,
I just looked and Brown actually has six levels of acting though they're not all called "acting" per se. They are ...

TA3: INTRODUCTION TO ACTING AND DIRECTING
TA23: ACTING
TA116: STYLE AND PERFORMANCE
TA119: CHARACTER, MASK AND ACTION
TA121: SOLO PERFORMANCE
TA140: ADVANCED PERFORMANCE

They also have an MT workshop class as well as stage combat. It looks like they're slack on voice & speech and movement though most BAs are since they're not intended to give professional training. It does look like you can get plenty of movement work by taking modern dance, etc., though. They also seem to be very highly-regarded by the heads of the MFA schools.

As for Musical Theatre, if you are a real triple threat, it's a great major and you'll get all the same acting classes as a BFA Actor in most programs. You'll usually have even less opportunity to take things outside your major, though. Hey ... The more versatile you are, the better. It's tough to make a living in this biz and any paying gig's a good one unless you just don't like MT.

emom

What is the RU Screw?

thesbohemian

Emom,
My understanding of the RU Screw is that it is the myriad manifestations of a huge and often uncoordinated bureaucracy of a massive university which happens to be spread out over several campuses. The most common manifestation involves the bus system between campuses which is not always dependable and/or lacks sufficient space. This can make it difficult to get to class on time which, as I'm sure you know, can be disastrous in the life of a theatre student. Here's a link to their Live Journal group if you want to ask the students, themselves.

thesbohemian

Ah … My chance to blather on about Evansville a bit since they’re as much an unknown to Knox as they were to me this time last year! They were actually one of the first schools I asked about on some now long-lost thread. Here’s what I’ve learned since …

The typical breakdown of a freshman class is 16 BFA Performance majors (10 boys and 6 girls); 10 B.S. Generalists who can emphasize performance, tech, or theatre studies; 10 BFA Design/Tech majors; and 3 Theatre Management majors. They also have what is supposed to be a highly selective Theatre Education major though I’m not sure how many they admit. Here’s a link to the breakdown of the majors which is for some reason not part of the department’s website. One thing to note is that you don’t necessarily graduate in what you were initially accepted in. There’s a shift at the end of the freshman year with some switching from the BFAs to the BS Generalist tracks and vice versa. I’m not sure what the difference in requirements is, though there’s no dishonor in it and a lot of the people who switch from the BFA do it so they’ll have more flexibility to declare a minor or do an associated study in something else. The main difference freshman year is that the BFAs and BS Generalists are in different acting classes though they intermingle later and, from my observation, there’s no shortage of talent in either track. The BFA actors are also required to take some singing and dance classes that the BS students are not. The actor training itself is Stanislavski-based though eclectic methods are employed. At first, I was a little concerned from looking at the breakdown of the BFA that there might not be enough voice and movement work, but that is ongoing in the acting classes themselves is supplemented with the singing and dance.

There is no cut system or formal jury system, but they do have what are called “departmentals” each semester where theatre classes are cancelled for two days and you perform before the entire faculty and receive their notes. These are conducted as if they are professional auditions/interviews. You also turn in a self evaluation at the end of each term and you get a written evaluation from the faculty. Like I said, there is no cut system, but like in any good department, people who are not working out are sometimes asked to leave.

The department puts on five mainstage shows a year with one being a musical along with a blackbox production known as the “classroom project.” The entire department auditions for these and freshmen can and do get cast. If you don’t get cast in those, there are a lot of other directing projects, etc., so the performance opportunities are plentiful. There’s also been some talk of getting an improv troupe started though they don’t have one yet.

The department’s main emphasis is getting people into the top MFA programs, so there is no senior showcase. Instead, they make a big effort to get seniors connected to the grad schools and even bring some of them to campus to conduct auditions. They have former students placed in all the best ones – ACT, Yale, UCSD, and Tisch among others. Personally, this is fine with me since I’m pretty sure I’m going to want an MFA, anyway, so I can possibly teach at the college level when I get old. However, they also have people who did not go to grad school working in regional theatres all over the country.

I think one of the main things that attracted me to UE was the theatre students themselves. What I was told, found through reading blogs, and from my own observation on my visit is that they tend to be very well-rounded, stable, down-to-earth people with very few of the neurotic divas reputed to inhabit some other places. Everybody is all about the craft and very supportive and cutthroat stuff is not tolerated. A lot of the students have athletic backgrounds and I’d surmise from my own audition interview that Mr. Lutz (Department Chair) prefers to admit bright, well-rounded kids who are good academic students into the program. I saw no shortage whatsoever of very bright lights in the department though the school as a whole is, I think, third tier with an average SAT of 1131. On the upside of that, the Princeton Review for some reason gives them a 92 Admissions Selectivity Rating. The school as a whole also offers full-tuition to National Merit Finalists so there should be some very bright people spread throughout who couldn't afford the more "name" academic schools. The theatre facilities were very nice though not on the same level as SMU’s. Any nicer than that and I’d be afraid to touch anything! The University as a whole also has a British campus as well as several other international sister institutions and most students spend a semester abroad sophomore year. It can be kind of weird because half a class won’t see the other during sophomore year and I won’t see half my sophomores until spring semester next year.

On the downside … Like in most theatre departments, there are work calls with a certain number of shop hours required. During tech weeks at UE, however, paint calls go from 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. and light calls are from 1:00 through 3:00 a.m. on weeknights and you have to do some of them or you won’t get your hours in. There is also not a lot of diversity on campus if that’s important to you. It’s mostly white, middle class, Midwestern kids with only around 4% visible minorities. There is a fairly strong international presence on campus due to their exchange programs, though. The dorms aren’t the nicest I’ve seen either, though at least I’ll be in the honors dorm where there’ll be air conditioning. The rest don’t have it but they all have ... communal bathrooms. There are oncampus apartments available to upperclassmen, though. It's also officially a dry campus and there was some tension last year between the students and campus security over what was perceived to be overly-aggressive enforcement. My read was that you can party as much as you want as long as you don't get too loud about it. Fraternities are also very prevalent on campus and most of the parties take place in their off-campus houses.

Yay for another uber long post by me!

wct

knoxcounty-

My S was in MT in HS but decided when it was time to go to college that he wanted to concentrate on acting. He will be starting his Junior year at CMU, (BFA acting). He is also interested in film. He feels he made the right choice not to go MT. He will be getting a voice class (singing) this coming fall semester and he is doing two musicals this summer. He has been able to take ballet, (for actors) and modern dance, (elective). So as you can see he hasn't had to give up too much by not going the MT route. You can always take voice lessons if you want to keep your voice up, or as you mentioned you play guitar, so keeping your voice in good condition doesn't sound like it would be an issue for you.

wct

knoxcounty-

One more thing. Apply to Arts Recognition and Talent Search, (ARTS) through NFAA. It would be a great opportunity for you. If you don't know about it look at this website. If you need more info PM me.
http://www.nfaa.org/

Good for you for taking control of your life and turning it around, (I've read some of your other posts). I wish great success for you this coming year!

knoxcounty

Thanks so much for your replies, they are really appreciated. I am considering doing the whole NFAA deal, right now I am try to pick two fitting monologues and am not finding anything I like in my age range. Right now, I am considering monologues from Cyrano de Bergerac as Cyrano, Much Ado about Nothing as Benedict, Taming of the Shrew as Petrutio, The School for Scandel as Joseph Surface, and Hamlet as Claudius. I am having a tough time finding monologues from modern plays that fit me.