ElvisPretzle

does Ithaca train classically, is their acting training top notch?

dgreenw2

At Ithaca all of the BFA students (acting and Musical Theatre) take the first two years of Scene Study, Voice and Movement, Voice and Speech, and Movement together. Therefore as a musical theatre major you'd be getting the same acting training as the acting major your first two years, after which the programs begin to split and Musical theatre majors take more specifically Musical Theatre-geared acting classes. Additionally Musical Theatre majors more than usually get into classes such as Television Acting, Daytime TV Drama, Audition Techniques, etc.

As far as voice goes, it obviously varies by voice professor, but all voice teachers will combine classical voice training with musical theatre voice training (finding a healthy belt, etc.) To compare, classical voice is developed just as the barre is developed in ballet so that the foundation of muscular memory allows flexibility and safer use of the body. If the question is, will you be forced to become a classical singer? Not at all! What you will learn is how to find the sound of musical theatre with the physical release and technical knowledge that is imparted through classical voice training, which will develop your personal sound (whatever that may be), find new resonance, and help you have a long career without destroying your vocal chords. Hopefully this answers your questions!

Lulu'sMomma

We visited Ithaca over Spring break and were not at all impressed. But, having said that, it just might be the right school for YOU. My D didn't care for the campus and the fact that the theatre building was so small-just one black box and a larger theatre- and that many of the bulidings were not handicapped accessible (she thinks about me)-including the theatre. What struck me as odd was the fact that the kids in the theatre building were not at all friendly to "outsiders", and acted as if we were not there (and my D was the only one that was there for the MT program, and did try to talk to several kids that were stretching out in the lobby- and no, there was no rehearsal going on or even any classes). However, the people in the admin. buiulding were extremely nice and the tours were great and very well handled. After looking at the list of "working" performers, their sound engineers seemed to do extremely well, while the MT people didn't seem to be performing all that many places(can you say Michelle Fedderer?!). Go and check it out and see; ask questions and talk to whomever you can.You might love it!

icekiss45

I dont care for the campus at all. too small

dgreenw2

A couple questions to consider-

1. Exactly how many theatres are you looking for in a school? Were you aware that a. each BFA class has an average class size of under 20 (that's Acting and Musical Theatre combined) b. there is no graduate theatre program at Ithaca unlike many other schools you may have looked at?

2. Hundreds of prospective theatre students come through the building each year. In order to give them an accurate view of what life is really like, students are told to go about their business as normal. We would love to stop and meet everyone looking at Ithaca, but it's simply not possible and doesn't show us as we are, in our "natural habitat" as it were (because theatre students are a lot like animals at a zoo...seriously)

3. I'm not sure what list you looked at of people working, but I know for a fact that all of the lists I've seen have only been Ithaca's most recent performers on Broadway. Granted that is where most people looking at schools for Musical Theatre think they want to be, but Ithaca has lots of people in LA, doing regional across the U.S., etc. In the end what matters is what the student puts in and takes out of the training program he/she is in.

4. First impressions of the campus at any school are something to take into consideration. But I urge anyone looking to pursue an education in the performing arts to first and foremost consider the quality of the training you will recieve. That said, take everything into consideration when your making your decisions, and try to visit every campus when it's nice weather (when I looked at Ithaca it was gray and damp, hence I hated it, but after taking everything into consideration it became my first choice).

Sarahsmom42

My D and I were at Ithaca Dec. 2 for her audition. We had a wonderful opportunity to chat with some of the present students in the auditorium while waiting for her turn to audition. A group of five students sat on the stage and candidly answered questions for almost two hours! They were all bright, funny and charming. We already knew all of the statistics about the school and had walked around the campus. At this point in the process, we are trying to get a "feel" for the school and it's students and were most positively impressed!

kasl24

I have lived in Ithaca my whole life (I will be graduating this spring and, hopefully going into BFA MT next year). I originally wrote off IC because I wanted to go somewhere new. It was my first audition, on Nov. 4th, and I was completely blown away. I found everyone there to be SO positive and welcoming. I started out feeling very nervous, but by the time it was my turn to audition, I was mostly just excited. All the students helping out that day were so encouraging, they clapped for each of us as we left the auditorium to audition, they hugged us and asked us questions about our college process and audition material etc. IC went from being one of my lower choices to one of my favorites and possibly my top choice (I haven't seen all the other schools yet). I think everyone has a different experience at each school they visit, so I would say it is important to take each visit with a grain of salt. For example, I really didn't enjoy my visit/audition at Syracuse, and found people to be rather unfriendly there, but then read a post by someone who had found just the opposite. It is always good to keep some perspective!