wcusas

Hi,

I am trying to make Western Carolina U have a larger online presence. We are a very new program. Next year marks our 10 year anniversary. Our audition numbers and our class numbers have grown significantly in the past 4 years. I am currently a Junior MT here.

I could type out lists and lists of the WONDERFUL THINGS here at the school. But I wanted to save that and see if anyone had any questions about the school, the program, etc. I find that it helps hearing it from a student rather than (HEAR SAY).

Terrence Mann still comes in annually to teach masterclasses as well direct a show. Since I have been here at WCU he has directed A Grand Night for Singing, Kiss Me Kate last year and is currently directing Sweeney Todd this year.

If anyone has any questions on the program please ask. You can find more info and media on our website.


Western Carolina University - School of Stage & Screen

EmsDad

I would add "and very affordable with an OOS list price of less than $24,000 per year."

tracyvp

^^Yes, I noticed that as well! We may need to give that school a look-see. The bad thing from our West Coast perspective is that they only have 2 audition dates, one of which is the weekend we're traveling to Chicago for Unifieds and we already have an audition for that day. But we'll at least consider it!

How's the dance program for MT students?

wcusas

I aspire to be a choreographer once I graduate from WCU. We recently hired a new director of the dance program who was a Rockette for several years and has a great amount of credits. Since then our dance program has grown significantly. There is no major but there is a minor and MT students are able to take any of the classes. I also teach class in our facilities as well but obviously not for credit or anything. We offer two levels of each Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Modern. Then we have Dance Appreciation, Musical Theatre Styles, Choreography, Dance Anatomy, and you also receive course credit for participating in our Dance Showcase that happens about every year.

Keep the questions coming!

bearbiscuit

We live in nc and my daughter is applying for MT BFA's and acting BFA's. We visited WCU for the college tour/fair but it did not give her a feel for the BFA program. We then found out Terrance mann is hardly there. She felt the school was too conservative and far away from everything...How many BFA students do they take each year and how different are these kids from the liberal arts kids? Do you feel isolated????

wcusas

Its very unfortunate that we don't offer program tours since it is a liberal arts school. The school is actually not as conservative as you think. We have a ton of support from fellow non majors with our shows. But it is great to have some NON MAJORS to befriend. Being around nothing but mt students can be a bit much. We take about 15 students a year. We are very different from the liberal arts kids in scheduling, but I have a ton of non major friends and I enjoy spending time with them especially since I am with Majors all the time in rehearsals and major related courses.

I definitely do not feel isolated. I think having a conservatory feel training with a liberal arts based school is the perfect combination. You get the college experience, which so far has been fantastic.

Let me know if you have anymore questions!

wcusas

OH and about Terrence. He is actually here more than you think. Terry is still working in NYC. He comes when he is directing a show here and also to teach. But its great to have him come back and forth because he tells us his stories and whats going on. He is currently here at the moment and will be back in November for tech. Then again in the Spring for a huge event for the new chancellor. Donors from the state will be there especially the board for all the colleges in NC as well. Terry will be directing and performing with us.

mtdog71

wcusas - I know some of your faculty and have been to your lovely campus. I appreciate your enthusiasm - however, a program that is a decade old no longer qualifies a "new". Also, Karyn Tomczak (the dance teacher you described ) has been working there for several years - she is not a new hire. So, while you should be proud of your program and the good work they do - let's keep the rhetoric straight. I am glad you keep a reasonable perspective on Terrance Mann and his wife's involvement - previous writers sometime sometimes left the impression that he regularly taught actual courses.

wcusas

mtdog71 - Thank you for your comment. I believe that our program is still growing compared to other programs out there who are more established and already have "the name" in order to have hundreds of students audition for the following year. Karyn Tomczak was hired when I came here my freshmen year. She has only been here for 2 years. This being her third. Terr(E)nce Mann and Charlotte's involvement at this point is a lot more than we can ask for since they still work in NY. However, Terry has been in an immense amount of my classes, and is scheduled to be helping a lot with some major courses once Sweeney is done. Right now as a student auditions at numerous conventions such as SETC and professional summer theaters. Having Terry as a director, sometimes featured guest in a show, and under Acting training looks fantastic on a resume.

wcusas

Hey Everyone! Just so everyone knows Auditions for the program are February 4th and March 24th. The Application can be found posted on our Facebook page. Stage & Screen at WCU - School - Cullowhee, NC | Facebook If you have anymore questions, please let me know!

tracyvp

I have a few questions:

How many days of dance do you take per week? How advanced is are the dance classes?
What type of acting training do you receive?
Do you have voice all 4 years?
Do you have any "business of the Business" classes?

I would be really interested to know what the typical schedule is like for MT students. There's a great thread here on CC that would be really helpful if you or someone from WCU posted in called,
The Freshman Experience

wcusas

Hey ---
I am a student at WCU! I am junior MT Major.

1. You can take as many dance classes as you want that fit in your schedule and that are offered that semester. You are allowed to place out of the lower level dance classes. However taking a basic ballet class here and there is recommended. It works on your posture and technique that are the key to the advanced classes. I was a competition dancer and I have NOT slowed down since I got here. The dance classes are as rigorous as you make them. There are always companies and teachers coming to take masterclasses as well - Ailey II, Koresh, Parsons Dance, Flamenco Vivo, and more.

2. There are 4 levels of Acting. MT students are required to take up to the 3rd level. You must have certain requirements and skills shown to the Faculty to be able to take Acting 4 with the Acting Majors. It is something that we all work up to and it makes us stronger. I am currently in Acting 4. The training is rigorous - The faculty stresses "NOT ACTING" and connecting what you have experienced to the character you are playing. We play a lot with taking monologues and scenes off the stage and in the environment around us. For example, taking a dramatic monologue and the acting professor takes you into the rough rapids of the lake (with people watching over you of course), and STOP Acting! Its magnificent.

3. You are in voice lessons every semester with professionals from Opera companies in Asheville, etc. I have had the same professor every semester since my Freshman year. She is brilliant and I have grown leaps and bounds. They are trying to let you become a healthier vocalist. Stop SCREAMING and create a sound from a loose and unstressed or tensed place in the body.

4. We have Introduction to Professions, Musical Theatre Topics, and Professional Development which is all about the business and all different aspects. We also have our visiting directors talk about their careers and how they made it. Terrence Mann our endowed Chair of the MT Dept is always here teaching and talking about the business. All faculty is available for questions - with an open door policy!

Let me know if you have any more questions! I will definitely try and put together a "Day in the Life of an MT at WCU." Let's see what I can do.

Hope this all helped!

EmsDad

@wcusas - thanks for some great information on a program that has not been covered much on CC! Your input is really helpful.

wcusas

No problem. Always willing to help. We are opening our production of MUSIC IS this weekend. And its getting some recognition on Playbill.com! Check it out if you want. Its TWO Pages!!

Music Is, the "Lost" Broadway Musical by Richard Adler, Will Holt and George Abbott, Reconstructed for Concert - Playbill.com

tracyvp

Hey, I just want to let people know something important. When you audition here, if you are accepted, they will ask you to commit to the program within 2 weeks. (You don't have to send any money, but for us it is an issue of integrity).

They give you the option of asking for more time, but when D wrote and said that she would not be able to let them know before receiving her financial aid info and comparing offers from other schools, they replied that if she couldn't commit before February 25 she would be removed from consideration and would have to re-audition.

I want to be clear that this in no way affects her academic admission, where she still has until May 1 to accept of decline admission. It's just the MT department wanting to solidify their class early.

Sadly, I believe she will probably have to let this one go. There is no way she will commit to any program, no matter how great it is, before she has a chance to compare all of her option.