mtman

I am one of the Intensive people who were waitlisted, and yes, I wish I had gotten in, and yes, it's still my first choice because I feel the program would be the best fit for me (and I for them).

However, we were told from the very first that BW has an idea of what shows they want to do for the next few years, and if there are no plays to showcase our talents, why would we want to go there? Let's use just one play and one person as an example. If BW was going to do "Little Shop" and Antonio Banderas tried out, he probably would not be chosen, as others would fit the Seymour, Mushnik and Dentist better than Antonio. That is not to say Antonio cannot act and would not be picked up elsewhere, it's just BW would not be beneficial for him.

One thing you will learn at the Intensive is what "type" you are. That is VERY VERY helpful in your career. Now I know what parts to try out for, and what songs and monologues to look for the best demonstrate my aptitude.

Also, being on the wait list at BW is not an automatic death sentence. If you drive a few hours in any direction from BW, you find UMich, CMU, CCM, and Penn State plus others. As BW is a small program and has to actively compete with these biggies, they do go to the waitlist some years, AND I JUST HOPE I'M NUMBER ONE!

I'll post what school I make it into on the big list.

mom at home

Hi TXKatsmom:

Just recently I had some email correspondance with BW regarding the summer intensive program.

This is a rising senior only program. The dates have not yet been set, nor has the program. I emailed BW theater dept. directly and they were great with getting back to me quickly.

MusThCC

Justoneyes - I don't know about BW's specifically, but the same can be said about many other summer programs - many of them have larger enrollments than their entering class, so it would be impossible to accept everyone just because they attended the summer program.

You have to look at whether what you learn in a summer program is beneficial, not whether it can get you an acceptance. If the summer program is staffed by the people doing the auditioning, it gives you prolonged exposure to them, which can be a positive or a negative. They have longer to judge your work ethic, your dedication, your willingness to accept direction - but that will not necessarily win you a space in their class.

mtman made a couple of excellent points. They are looking for students they want to work with, but are also looking at building a casting pool. And, more and more schools are waitlisting or deferring more students, and giving out fewer immediate acceptances, particularly in very early auditions.

BWMT09

Attending the Summer program does not gaurantee a spot in the program. But that doesnt mean you won't get in either. I do know that people from the summer intensive who auditioned in Oct did get in, so attending the summer intensive can only help your chances for getting into the program. Nothing has been set yet, but I would assume that the summer intensive will happen again next year

keepingcalm

mtman
your comment about helping you learn your "type" probably makes me more interested in this summer program than anything else. This is something that we have struggled with with my D, as her physical look does not seem to line up well with how people want to cast her, vocally and personality wise.
Therefore I think she frequently presents a mixed collection of peices.

LesMiz08

Can anybody comment specifically about the program itself? I'm interested in applying to the summer intensive, though as of now, BW is not on my list of schools to apply to for college. I had friends who went to many different summer programs and didn't get into the schools they had attended for these summer programs.

What did you learn? Where are you now? Would you recommend this program?
Thanks so much!

mtman

Well, you learn your type, to help picking songs and monologues. Also, you practice the songs and monologues you think you like and they will tell you if it's good or bad for college auditions and pick new ones if they didn't fit you. You dance. Vicky will give information on how to auditon for MT and give you some information about colleges because she knows we will audition at a lot of schools. We went to shows at night, and had a real MT college life--up at dawn and late to bed! It rocked! I'm waitlisted and my mom knows she will lose the deposit she's sent to another school if BW accepts me!

laurel

so, is anyone here planning to audition for this year's summer intensive??

for various reasons, i am recording my audition next sunday (march 9th), even though the application deadline isn't til april 15.. im kind of nervous, so wish me luck, and best of luck to anyone else here that is auditioning.



does anyone have any guess to how many applications they will get?

mtman

As I said earlier, I would update you as to the colleges I got into after doing the Intensive. To date, none. I am still waitlisted at BW, but from what I see on Facebook, so is everyone and a girl from the Intensive that was also waitlisted called the Head of the Conservatory, and he said they probably would not have to go to the wait-list this year. So, it's pretty much none.

I still had a great time at BW. One of the guys from the program (who got into CCM) said we are the only group of MT kids he's ever been with that had no uppity people in it. I think that's Vicky's influence, and why I love BW--cause I know how it is in the entertainment world from music experience and any kid coming out of college thinking they are the s..., well, take the the off. After talking to the kids I auditioned against, I know compared to kids who had spent their lives doing MT, or went to performing arts schools, or attended schools with great arts programs I was a babe in the woods. Also, to me, these auditions were much more important than any others, as my complete MT base was going to be formed here, so I was FREAKING NERVOUS. I don't know if some of the other kids I auditioned against were just so sure they were going to get in, or didn't care where they went, or what, but I could not be so nonchalent as they were, no matter how hard I tried. (Maybe I should have taken a Valium-jk.) When you audition for shows, it's not as big of a deal, as there is another audition next week, or maybe even tomorrow, so you just go in have fun, and do your best.

Now, I do want to indicate here I did not play it safe, either. Even though I'm from an area that had 0 opportunities for me to develop, my chorus director and her husband have connections in NY, and people have seen me and raved about my possiblilites, to the point of talking to my mom about would it be possible for her to quit her job and chaperone (when I was under 18). So, I know I'm good enough to do theatre for a living. Knowing that, I applied to BW (wait listed), Indiana, CMU (call back/ 3rd monologue), CCM (as a lark -- I'm skinny, but I'm not a CCM type), BOCO, Syracuse, and threw in Otterbein and Emerson at the Unifieds for fun and as the last 2 auditions. I also did Ithaca, but actually messed up my song there (started the first 16 measures again instead of going on to the 32), so I was not surprised about that denial. BTW, great pianist at Ithaca, I could have listened to you all day....

I actually applied to Penn State, NYU and Pace, but decided their programs weren't for me so I did not audition.

Where were my safety schools? Well, I had worked extensively with graduates from some of the East Coast "safety schools" in the list last summer, and they all told me I was better than they were already as a Junior in High School, and not to audition at their schools, reach higher. I also worked with a college professor at a school that is mentioned as a safety on the board and she was like "I'm not even going to try to recruit you, I know you're going somewhere big." And, I'm a guy--it's easier for us, right?

Anyway, I realized that the end of the auditions I had auditioned at mostly BFA programs--how stupid for someone who has written music that is published (metal, sorry MT-heads), and needs music to live. So, since I was accepted at IU, I looked at their BA program, and then at the "make your own major" program, and at the Music Studies Minor, and listened to the kids say to take core courses during the summer online or while doing Brown County, and I realized IU made tons of working actors before they started their MT program, and probably would continue to. Because I'm not going to be a teacher, etc., etc., I'm going to be an actor that makes a living out of acting, period. So, I'm going to IU where I'll make my own MT major, and Minor in Music Studies. If it's good enough for Kevin Kline, it's good enough for me 'cause WE ARE PIRATE KINGS!

cassie100

I just got my acceptance e-mail into the program. There were 15 selected this year.

I also had auditioned for UofM's musical theatre workshop, but sadly did not get in. I had a great experience while i was there auditioning though.

Im looking forward to working with Victoria Bussert!!!

TXKatsmom

Congrats cassie100!!!

laurel

i must not have gotten in, i haven't received an email yet..

jabes

hey ive just been accepted to the summer program, can anyone give sum info or wat to expect?

cassie100

Yes, I would also like to know what to expect. jabes, did you receive any information back from them after you confirmed that you would be attending? I confirmed and have not heard back from them, except they did forward me a confirmation letter from a girl in alaska. (I have no clue why)

jabes

no i havent heaard nething either but wat i did hear was that they werent gonna contcact us until mid june but im not sure if that true where u from Cassie? my name is justin by the way nd im from Maryland