actingreacting1

Thanks,
I was wondering if you knew which shows are being produced next season and are they open to all students to audition for.

flyerband

Prof.
We're you there at OCPAC for the masters class?
It was a wonderful time. Our d had did a really good job. She met some of the CSUF students and got to sing and be coached by Megan!
It was a blast!!!

Prof. Himmelheber

All Theatre Dept. majors can audition for the season except for first-time freshmen (and they're only restricted for the fall semester - getting them into the groove before loading too much on their plate; they can audition in December for the spring productions).

The shows:

FALL:
The Sea Gull
Seussical
Spring Storm
Fall Dance Theatre (dance concert)
The Man Who Came to Dinner

SPRING:
Richard III
Baby
Dead Man Walking
The Marriage of Figaro (Music Dept. opera, but our students can audition)
Spring Dance Theatre (dance concert)
Stepping out

We also do original play readings & minimally produced full productions of edgy/new work at our satellite facility, Grand Central Theatre (a very intimate 3/4 thrust theatre in Santa Ana).

Sorry it took so long to reply - I didn't see your question when I posted last.



eve

Marianne603

hello everyone...
I just wanted to introduce myself to this board. I am really thrilled that there is such a board like this. I've been looking for a place to find more information on BFA in CSUF and I thought everyones information here is great. I do have one question, I am a tranfer student and I was wondering can a transfer student live in dorms, I live in Glendale and its bit far for me to commute everyday to CSUF.

Looking forward to reading more on this board
Mari-Anne

Prof. Himmelheber

The dorms have a huge waiting list - if you aren't already on it, you are unlikely to get in this fall.

However, there are over 200 apartment complexes within 2 miles in any direction - and you can check with residence life here to get referrals and roommates wanted ads. Also, check the callboards around campus for students who advertise on their own. Finally, check in the Pennysaver (you can access this online now).

eve

mtmommy

I do not recommend Homestead apartments. If you want details, PM me.

sasha1

The Prgram description on the Department web site states that degree candidates must demonstrate competency in piano. What does that entail and how is this addressed in the curriculum?

Thanks in advance for the info!

Vickii

Prof. Himmelheber

Hi, Vickii:

The lower division curriculum requires one semester of music theory, and then one semester of sight singing. Both will build your familiarity with the keyboard, namely: major vs. minor keys, key and time signatures, chord structure and progressions, harmonics and intervals (among other things).

You won't need to PLAY piano to prove competency; but you do need to be able to plunk out your vocal line if given a conductor's score and told to work on the alto line, for example. This is so that you can do research independently (not often needed, except when choosing music in the appropriate key), and independently prepare for voice lessons and musical theatre classes, so you are not coming in cold with nothing to offer (other than, say, having listened to a cast recording).

And competency only need be proven by the end of the sophomore year.



eve

sasha1

Thanks for the info re piano competency. Can you share anything about how juries went this year such as # that went thrugh the process, # accepted, alternative routes to be taken by those not accepted?

Best wishes
Vickii

Prof. Himmelheber

We haven't juried yet - they are the 20th-22nd. However, we do have the numbers anticipated:

Sophs & transfers auditioning:
15W
11M

Number admitted:
10-11

Of these, we TRY to give half the spots to men. The reason is complex:

1) We need to do musicals other than "Quilters" and "A, My Name Is Alice."

2) In junior level acting and musical theatre dance, finding "all women" material is difficult and limiting - we need a decent balance to maintain the integrity of the training.

3) Men will likely work more readily than women in this industry - it is a fact. Our program strives to reflect in training the realities of the industry.

Of course, we won't take anyone who is not working at a level required by the next stage of training; but we do try to balance numbers in gender.

What it boils down to is this: if you are a guy, your odds of admission THIS YEAR are about 1:2; for women, it's about 1:3.

eve

need2leave07

hello Prof. Himmelheber- I was wondering- say someone who graduated with a bfa in acting from cal state fullerton went to try and work in places such as New York or LA- would the industry be impressed? Is the industry impressed with the people and work you produce. I hope I made my question clear.. Thanks so much!

- grace

Prof. Himmelheber

I would say that, yes, the industry is impressed with our graduates. The proof is in the pudding - our students are getting work. Straight out of school. Those who get out there auditioning. Those who aren't are grads who get "comfortable" working day jobs that pay the bills and aren't actively pursuing industry work on a regular, professional level. Nobody is going to knock your door down to be in their show unless you are possibly of the caliber, and definitely of the reputation of, Patti Lupone, Bernadette Peters, Kristin Chenoweth, and other luminaries. When you are starting out, you must work at getting to auditions. Those of our grads who are are working.

The industry professionals who (regularly) visit campus as guest artists are quite impressed with the level of talent we have and the training our students receive. Many of our students are solicited to audition for big gigs before they even graduate (though most of the industry pros we bring in strongly support education and earning a degree, so they will say, "I want you to call me as soon as you graduate; I've got something you'd be perfect for coming up this summer).

Students at the lower level (sophs and juniors) are often cast in summer stock (Lawrence Welk Dinner Theatre, Starlight, Moonlight, Sierra Rep, SRT, PCPA, Candlelight Pavilion, etc. - all very good west coast companies). Many others (usually the men) are getting summer intensives with ABT, Broadway Dance Center, and Jimmy DeFore among others.

And our graduate NYC contingency is holding their own, too: we've had grads working on Broadway, off-Broadway, in national and international tours, on cruise lines, and in major theme parks.

Here's a good indication of the training and talent in our musical theatre students: one of our junior BFA musical theatre students was one of 16 national finalists selected to travel to the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Auditions, at which he won the Williamstown Theatre Festival intensive, and will spend several months there this summer. This is a kid who competed against undergraduate and graduate students nationwide! The acting emphasis here is equally weighted with voice and dance, and all are of top quality.

So, in answer to your question, yes the training here is excellent, and our graduates are impressing the industry folks.

If you are asking if casting people are impressed by seeing CSUF on our graduates' resumes, I would answer "no more than they are by any other school." You see, the resume is not a reflection of the talent, ability and castability - only of the training received. Casting people might look there for references (if needed), or for conversation to chat about in the interview portion of an audition, but you are NOT going to get a callback based on where you studied. That is simply not the reality of this business. It's not like studying Engineering at MIT, or law at Harvard - training at a good institution is an indication of background, but not ability. So if you are looking to get into a top theatre school so that their name helps your career, you may be sorely disappointed to find that simply isn't the case.

Now, a school's contacts can help you - as do ours when it comes to calling in guest artists to give master classes, hold mock auditions, or see a kid we know is really appropriate for a role opening. However, the contacts are not going to be influenced to cast you if you are not 1) right for the role/show, and 2) able to nail the audition.

Hope I've answered you,

eve

Prof. Himmelheber

Oh, and the BFA in Acting is not yet on the books - but it has passed through all preliminary channels, and is on the Senate agenda (after which, if passed, it should fly through the upper administrative channels).

So we don't yet offer a BFA in Acting, only Musical Theatre. We DO hope to have the Acting BFA available within the next year.

eve

mimzi

Hi, I'm an incoming freshmen to CSUF and I was wondering what if there is anyway I can prepare myself for the program. I know it is highly competative and I don't have very much acting experience outside of highschool. Is there anything I should know, or any classes I should take?

Prof. Himmelheber

Well...all the voice and dance lessons you can get - that would be helpful. And any of your gen. eds. that you might wish to get out of the way before entering (I strongly recommend doing this at a junior college this summer).

You'll meet with an advisor at the New Student Orientation this summer, who will tell you what you should take in the fall (including the core/required curriculum)... One of your freshmen classes is an acting class, so you'll be getting that training here.

In the meantime, staying competitive with your voice and dance will be the best thing you can do.



See you in the fall,

eve