Audition/class size numbers - Page 19

MichaelNKat · 10-14-2008, 07:14 AM

Last year, there seemed to be a large number of posters who did not fully appreciate the highly competitive nature of audition based BFA admissions (3-9% acceptance rate depending on the school), applied only to 4 or 5 schools or even if greater numbers often only to schools with a "Big Name" (i.e. 800 - 1000 applicants, national talent pool, class sizes of about 12 or less, acceptance rate 3-6%) and did not have a non-audition BA safety on their list. As a result, there were a load of posters very disappointed with the outcome.

In contrast, there seems this year to be a lot of posters who have taken the message to heart but to the opposite extreme and have lists with 12, 14 even as many as 20 schools. There needs to be a balance so that you have a reasonable number of well thought through schools, comprising a diverse list, that is manageable and does not turn the process into a hyperdrive over stressed situation that is counter-productive.

NotMamaRose · 10-14-2008, 02:04 PM

One thing to note is that acting auditions generally take less time than do musical theater auditions. My D auditioned for 12 schools, but several of these were for straight acting programs (Minnesota, Fordham) and thus, was basically "in and out" in between 10 and 30 minutes for each audition. (Minnesota does regional auditions in New York during NYC Unifieds. Of course, if you are fortunate enough to get a callback, then you have to travel to Minneapolis for an entire weekend, but that's another story!)

HSN · 10-15-2008, 05:37 PM

My D (still a junior) is musing over the possibility of auditioning for some schools as a straight actor and others for MT, depending on the school and the program. And, of course, having straight non audition BA schools on her list, too. We were just at a college performing arts fair and it was interesting to see how much action the Muhlenberg table was getting. The secret is obviously out on that one! In any case, I'm wondering if there are other students out there who scattered their approach like this, or whether you think it's better to stay focused on one thing.

NotMamaRose · 10-15-2008, 07:16 PM

The reason my D did some straight acting auditions is because she attended a high school with an actor training program (public) and her teachers only felt qualified to weigh in on her chances for successful auditions for straight acting: they admitted that all they knew about MT college auditions were that they were even more stiffly competitive than were the straight acting ones! So my kid decided to hedge her bets a bit and do a handful of acting auditions.

She ended up being quite fortunate in her outcomes both for MT and acting, and as MT was her first choice, is now at a BFA program in musical theater.

One thing to think about if your kid is considering this is whether the student would be happy doing straight acting/drama at a place where musical theater is offered. My own daughter wouldn't have been, though her passion for Shakespeare and classical drama is second only to MT! But she wouldn't have felt OK doing Shakespeare while kids at the same school did musicals. Other kids may feel a different way.

actormcfamous · 10-15-2008, 11:42 PM

HSN, I also did a combination of acting and MT auditions (and MT auditions at schools where I marked I would be considered for acting as well - CMU, Ithaca, and Otterbein, for instance). I knew that I wanted to study either at an MT program with great acting training or at an acting program with great opportunities in musical theater so that I will be well-equipped to work in both plays and musicals when I graduate. Musical theater is my greater love, though, and so I ended up opting for a MT program when all was said and done, though there were acting programs I applied to that I know I could have been very happy at.

NYQ12 · 10-16-2008, 12:07 PM

I am currently applying to both acting mt and ba programs. I really believe acting is the one essence of theatre, the number one discipline. Therefore, I strongly believe it is more important to receive a comprehensive acting education over a musical one. Although, mt only makes you that much more adept and well rounded. But I think I would rather be at a strong acting program over a mediocre musical theatre one. But hands down, this process is so individually created by each individual student. Do what you want, go for what you love, and don't necessarily do things just because others did. Create it to your needs and desires.

MichaelNKat · 10-16-2008, 05:51 PM

Keep in mind that MT and a strong acting program are not mutually exclusive. There are many schools where the acting component of MT is given great weight. At my daughter's school, the BFA acting students and BFA MT students take all of their core acting studio classes together throughout the curriculum. It is very important to look closely at the curricula at schools and at the course catalogues to get a good sense of whether a MT program gives the emphasis to acting that will meet your needs.

beenthereMTdad · 10-17-2008, 10:40 AM

If you are not sure you want to sing, act and dance all day, every day then my advice is to look for a drama program. BFA-MT requires intense work on the student’s part in all three disciplines (triple threat). Especially voice and dance. There is a surprising number of freshman who drop out because they realized it was not for them.

MichaelNKat · 10-17-2008, 12:18 PM

Just to follow up on the BFA MT intensity issue, as an illustration, my daughter, a sophomore, has 27 hours a week of class and 28 hours a week of rehearsals for the show she is in. Add to it time needed to prepare for classes, do required readings, practice scenes for studio classes, learn music for vocal classes, write papers etc, there is very little down time. Her experience is typical for a BFA MT program.

rossji · 10-17-2008, 04:05 PM

MichaelNKat- WOW! 28 hours a week?? I've never heard of such a long rehearsal schedule! They must have only a couple weeks of rehearsal, OR they're doing one INTENSE SHOW, lol!!!

NotMamaRose · 10-17-2008, 04:31 PM

Maybe UArts has very long weekend auditions for productions?

MichaelNKat · 10-17-2008, 05:19 PM

UArts has an intersting way of handling auditions. They have 8 shows a semester (school productions) and auditions are held the semester before. First they have a couple of days of general mass auditions in front of all the directors that all acting and MT students must attend. About a week later, they have 3 days or so of call backs for each show and lists are posted of who has a call back for which show and at what time. A student can have multiple call backs and gets "sides" and music for them. Each student can only be cast in 1 show per semester (student productions are not included in this limit).

My daughter was cast as Emma the Socialist in Tintypes. It's a small cast of 7 but there are, I think, 58 songs in it. Rehearsals started September 30 and the show opens November 6. Tuesday through Friday rehearsals are from 7 - 11 pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 - 6 pm. As soon as her show ends, she has to serve as crew on another show for a week, I think, and then starts to prepare for the auditions for the spring shows as she gets ready for her end of semester juries. And I think I have a tough schedule!

alwaysamom · 10-17-2008, 05:39 PM

In our experience, that type of rehearsal schedule is pretty typical, even at my Ds arts h/s. My D who does theatre at her college on an extra-curricular basis has similar rehearsal experience, with the one difference being that a six week lead-in to a show is a long one. More similar to most professional shows, her rehearsal period is usually ~3 weeks then a week of tech, prior to opening.

beenthereMTdad · 10-17-2008, 06:06 PM

Well said MichaelNKat. You have to want to live, breath and drink all 3 disciplines, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a BFA-MT (and there are thousands out there that love exactly that) There is little time for anything else. So if you are more interested in acting, think twice.

onstage · 10-17-2008, 06:43 PM

My D has a similar schedule, MNK. For the fall production of Steel Pier, rehearsals ran Tues - Fri, 7 - 11 pm. Saturday and Sunday, usually 10 - 4. No rehearsals on Monday!! That's right, 28 hours a week. Students began rehearsing Aug. 15, and the show closed last weekend. All of this is in addition to a full schedule of classes -- many of which ALSO require extra rehearsals.

Auditions at Syracuse are also similar to UArts. Beginning this Saturday, students will audition for all spring productions: main stage, black box, the Equity Syracuse theater, and new workshop productions that may end up in NYC next summer. Each director will have individual callbacks next week, and most shows will be cast by the following week. Students may be cast in more than one show, depending on rehearsal schedule. My D was in Steel Pier, had one day off, and then began rehearsals for a black box show that opens in 3 weeks.

Yes, it's a very intense schedule; however, I don't think this is unusual for a BFA theater degree. Students who plan to audition for these programs really need to understand what they're getting into!