Happymom08

mth_dad, does your son have anything in writing about the no cut decision? I'm asking because at the Unifieds they said they offer to a large number and then will graduate a class of 16. Also, they said the study abroad program at the castle is the only one MT kids can do. Any information your S could provide would be accepted in this period of decisions, decisions....

everla

The students I talked to at the audition also said it wasn't a good idea to do the study abroad program. They said it puts Musical theater students at a disadvantage going into their cut audition.

beachmom24

Just wondering if anyone here has heard from Emerson after unifieds in Chicago. Will there only be final notifications end of March? Just curious. Thanks.

soozievt

Emerson is a school that sounds out all decisions at one time (not including the Early Action ones in December). Therefore, don't expect to hear until late March or by April 1.

mth_dad

My son, now a sophomore, just survived the reauditions. His class started at 20. Three left the program on their own and they cut 2. He says his class of 15 is typical with the number going anywhere from about 12 to 18. I now am unsure that this policy is going to change. He spent the first semester of his sophomore year at the Castle Well. This is a magnificent program and an experience of a lifetime. I was concerned that missing his voice instruction for so long would be a problem so he made sure to have some additional lessons outside of school. His acting instruction at the castle was outstanding. I understand that they are now not going to close the Castle to musical theatre majors but will instead add a voice instructor on site.

mt13

Hi Everyone. I am new to this forum, but I feel that I can clear some things up, as I spent my summer at the Emerson Summer Stage MT program and have asked or heard all these questions myself. There is a senior showcase. Studio time means time in the specific "Musical Theatre Studio" class, not classes in the theatre department as a whole. Cuts aren't generally a surprise. They mostly consist of the kids who don't attend class or put in any effort, or those who voluntarily leave the program for the B.A. program or decide to study in another field. Primary acceptances to the program range from 20 to 40. However, by the time orientation and first classes roll around, there are only about 20 to 25 kids in the program. After a re-evaluation at the end of the sophomore year, the program tends to reduce to about 16 to 20 students. The Castle program is now available for B.F.A. MT students, but ONLY in the fall semester of their sophomore year or as a summer program. This program is now offered because the university working with Emerson there has agreed to introduce voice and dance classes in addition to their already existing acting classes and other theatre courses. While the Castle program is allowed, it is not advised, as it takes students away from Emerson pretty soon before the re-evaluation. Participating in the Castle program DOES NOT lessen any students chance of advancing past re-evaluations. As I have previously mentioned, some students do chose to move to the B.A. Theatre program or to study in a different field. An option that Emerson offers, unlike most other MT programs is that if a student is not accepted into the program or wishes to change his/her program, that student may continue as a student at Emerson college if he/she is qualified academically. Many grads go onto theatre careers, whether it be onstage or off. One of the more notable alums currently working is Gabby Garza currently playing the role of Anna in the first National Tour of Spring Awakening. Jordan Kai Burnett and McCaela Donovan have both recently been cast in a professional Boston production of Cabaret, and they just graduated this past June. Jordan from the B.F.A. MT program, and McCaela from the Masters program.

Thank you all for reading
-mt13

mt13

Sorry, but one more thing. Emerson definitely does have a campus. While it isn't one sectioned off area solely dedicated to Emerson, the entirety of Emerson is contained within two blocks, aside from the few dorm rooms set up in the local hotels which is less than a five minute walk away. Students are housed in the newly built Piano Row dorms, the Little Building, or on a specific Emerson floor of the Double Tree hotel. Most classes for the Mt's will take place in the Tufte building, as well as Walker, and the other Emerson buildings.

soozievt

mt13, thank you for sharing what you know about Emerson's MT program.

Technically, all colleges have a "campus" but I think when people say Emerson doesn't have one, it is similar to what is said about certain urban campuses like Emerson or NYU which have no containted campus or quads, etc. and the college buildings are interspersed with other city buildings not affiliated with the college and those who are on the street around "campus" are not simply students and faculty of that college. Emerson doesn't have a traditional college campus in the way that one is usually referred to.

Nice to read the news of Jordan Kai Burnett as my daughter spent many summers taking classes and being in musicals with her and even roomed with her. One winter, when my D performed in Jordan's home city, we visited with her as well. My D did an overnight with Jordan on campus when she visited Emerson to explore the school. I don't know if my D knew Jordan was cast since graduation but I will tell her.