Emerson MT audition info - Page 2

NotMamaRose · 01-19-2007, 03:51 PM

Wow MichaelNKat, that is one hectic schedule! It sounds familiar, especially the three nights of dance and voice training. My D is fortunate because she has her actor training in the day, at school. (She attends an arts hs, where they have almost four hours a day in their art area.) As it stands, she has only one weeknight per week with nothing on the schedule, and boy, is that night appreciated! Hey, let's face it: the kids are fine with all this running around. But it takes a toll on those of us who are over 20 ....

paying3tuitions · 01-19-2007, 03:54 PM

Hats off to all of you! My S applied to all of these schools, too, but for dramatic writing, so all he had to do was mail them a portfolio. I know I couldn't possibly do what you're about to do. Best wishes and hopes for future collaborations!

babygiraffeboots · 01-20-2007, 09:20 AM

kasl, I got the early bird spot at 9. Maybe we'll run into each other

MichaelNKat · 01-29-2007, 10:37 PM

My daughter's Feb 17 audition date is fast approaching (as it is for many who have posted on this thread). Could anyone who auditioned already this year share some info? How are the auditions structured, what sequence, is there an adequate physical and vocal warm up, is there time to change clothing into or out of dance clothing? What does the dance audition consist of? Are the auditors interactive with students, make adjustments, ask for additional pieces? Any info you can provide would be much appreciated.

soozievt · 01-29-2007, 11:28 PM

Michael....I know this is not this year...but I don't think it has changed much and have had a client audition there already this year, but my D auditioned there two years ago. The dance auditions were first, if I recall. (sometime you might want to search the forum from this time of year the past 2-3 years when people posted accounts of auditions, just an idea). There was time to change into dance clothes. There was NO introduction to the program for students and parents and no current students taking questions or any of that which many other programs include. The dance audition was the weakest by far of any school my D auditioned at. I recall her saying that anyone could do it who had never taken dance in their life (she is a lifelong dancer, however). Sure, a dancer might shine more in their presentation and how they moved but anyone could do the steps as it was very very basic. I even think they went down the line and asked each kid why they wanted to go to Emerson in front of everyone else. Better think of something different to say!

I don't recall a vocal warm up. Changing clothes is given anywhere we have been. The voice audition is with one person and the acting one is with another. Yes, they can work with you. I know they had my D sing one of her songs a different way. She also redid one of her monologues a different way as directed. They were nice. However, my D felt the audition space was very small. She said it was awkward to perform a song or monologue in such a small space compared to anywhere else. She didn't do additional pieces but did hers different ways.

For parents, while I had a great time in the waiting room meeting up with CCers for a few hours, I thought it wasn't so great to not do any presentation or greeting to those who had traveled so far. They surely did nothing to tell about the program or anything. There surely were no refreshments, lol. It was interesting to see how differently each school went about the audition day. I don't judge programs on this but am merely commenting. The important thing is to like the program, not so much the audition day! Luckily we had already visited this school and my D had done an overnight with a friend in the program as well or otherwise, we'd have come away learning very little about it from the audition day.

MichaelNKat · 01-30-2007, 12:13 AM

Thank you for all the information! The contrast in how different colleges handle the audition process is interesting if not revealing. We were at Ithaca last Saturday and one of the theatres was used as a waiting area for students and parents. For the 2 hours we were there, there was a presentation by the head of the department and a panel of students who answered every conceivable question put to them about the program and life on campus. By the time we left, we felt that we had a good sense of the educational values and culture of the MT program. We are doing a tour of Emerson's theatre department the day before my d's audition and it will be interesting to finally get to see the facilities (which were not shown to us on a general tour we took a few months ago).

soozievt · 01-30-2007, 12:23 AM

You are right...we were also to the Ithaca auditions, where they did the same as you just described and that was a contrast to what they didn't do at Emerson. I think having a presentation by the director is good. I also think the Q and A time with current students is effective.

Ithaca didn't hold a dance audition as you know. I prefer to see a dance audition as part of a MT audition. But it somewhat reflects their program and they do admit to dance being a lower priority than voice and acting there.

Again, I would not pick or judge a program by the audition day, just like I wouldn't judge a regular college by an info. session and tour guide. Still, having now attended 8 on campus college auditions, it has been interesting to see the different ways they are handled and organized and so I do have preferences of what I'd consider the pros/cons in each instance and what makes a good audition day from the student or parents' perspectives. Not sure any colleges want this feedback, LOL...but as an observers, I've seen enough to have some! The thing is, some people really do not look beyond the first impressions or audition day and so even though that is not a good thing in my opinion to do, irregardless, some are going to do it. And so colleges need to think long and hard as to how this event comes off.

MichaelNKat · 01-30-2007, 12:34 AM

You are absolutely right that there is much more to picking the right program than simply the impressions gleaned at an audition day. That being said, I do wonder if how the day is handled does give an insight into the "culture" of the program. After all, parents and students travel substantial distances at significant cost to attend the auditions and if a school isn't a good host before they "have" you, how responsive will they be after they have your tuition money.

kaysmom · 01-30-2007, 04:38 AM

MichaelNKat,

My daughter auditioned to Emerson in November and had a great experience there. I think they may have changed things a little from when Soozie's D auditioned. There were students with us the entire time answering any kind of questions we had. They had all kinds of information out and it was very informal which made it easy to talk to the students. There was coffee and water set up for the parents.

In my daughter's session the group was split in half. Some dancing first and others singing/monologues first. Of course my daughter got the dance first which she hates because it messes up her hair! There is no need to bring a headshot...they take a headshot picture right there on the computer which feeds all of the information on to the laptops the instructors have. Very computer savy for sure!

My daughter did say the dance was very easy. I'm thinking something to a song from Hairspray but I could be mixing this up with another school. They did ask the kids as a group to tell something original about themselves and I do believe she said they asked her "why Emerson" but when she was in there alone...not in the group.

The kids got to choose who would be going first in the group. My daughter was late getting on the bandwagon and by the time she figured out the kids were deciding, everyone had an order so she was last! We were there for a very long time so if your daughter wants to be out quicker tell her to make sure she gets a spot in order.

She sang only one song and did her monologue. She was asked to change up her monologue which she felt was just to see how well she takes direction. She wasn't sure that she did well because she couldn't get a good "vibe" from anyone and some of the kids were asked to sing two songs. But she liked it there very much and did like all of the staff she met. She found out in December that she was accepted early action into the MT program and was extremely excited! So don't let daughter get disappointed if she is only asked to sing the one song. It could be a good thing! Best of luck to your daughter! I hope it goes well for her!

MichaelNKat · 01-30-2007, 06:42 AM

Thank you for all the updated info, kaysmom. We keep hearing "don't try to read the auditors" and your daughter's experience bears that out! Congratulations to your daughter.

soozievt · 01-30-2007, 09:11 AM

Huge congrats to Kaysmom's daughter! Way to go! I also agree to not read into what you are asked to do or not in the audition. It can be interpretted either way and you'd drive yourself nuts. It must be so wonderful to have an early acceptance. It makes the entire audition season less anxiety-ridden.

I am very glad to hear that Emerson has made some changes to the audition day. It is not that it was bad or anything like that but it seems like they did improve some areas. Maybe they read CC! LOL! I recall two years ago everyone talking about how there was no presenation, no current students, nothing for the parents, no information about the program, etc.

Also, they did ask Why Emerson to each kid in the group and so that was a kind of weird thing. You had to be more original as they went down the line.

I hope maybe they also changed the rooms where you sing because my D thought the room was so small making it too "in your face" if you are singing a belting song, or it just was different than elsewhere in that regard.

All of these things are not at all to say it was not a good audition experience because it was just fine. It is more feedback about the differences as to how each school sets it up, etc.

littleMTgirl · 02-06-2007, 07:20 AM

kasl24, I'm auditiong for Emerson the 17th with the 2pm slot and Boco the 18th too! I think my Boco slot is for 2pm also. Maybe I'll see you there.

teriwtt · 02-06-2007, 04:58 PM

At Chicago Unifieds, Emerson provided an excellent information session - very informative, yet casual and light-hearted to relax the kids. The only place at Chicago Unifieds so far that has not had an information session at all was Penn State, but someone was available to answer questions.

kasl24 · 02-14-2007, 05:48 PM

littleMTgirl, my BoCo slot is at 10, but maybe we will see eachother at the dance audition, I will go to the 11:00 one if I can make it, or the 1:00 maybe.
But yeah at Emerson we will be there at the same time! My name is Katie, I will be wearing a green dress and I have blonde hair that will probably be half up, half down. Good luck, and see you there!!

littleMTgirl · 02-16-2007, 05:41 PM

I'll probably be at the 11am dance audition for Boco too.

I'll look for you at Emerson! My name is Erica and I'll be wearing black pants, a deep blue shirt and I have really dark brown hair that'll probably be down and straight. See you there, and good luck to you too!!