doctorjohn

LocoMom:

Wish I could be. I grew up in LA, and did my Ph.D. at UCLA, so it would be fun to go home for their college fair. However, we open Tartuffe on November 1, and I suspect the cast would like me to be around for dress rehearsals.

I will be in LA for the unified auditions on February 11, and would be happy to see your d then. Is she planning on attending the unifieds?

The picture couldn't be 42nd Street because the catalog is two years old--we publish it every other year--and we did the play last spring. I'll check the catalog when I get to school and let you know.

LocoMom

doctorjohn;

You will indeed be seeing my d in L.A. I'll escort her if she wants me to. I hope so. I'm going to miss the Mom job so.

doctorjohn

LocoMom:

I miss the Dad role, too, although we had both boys (well, young men--they're 24 and 26) home last weekend for the holiday. First time we've been together since the younger one was married a year ago December.

I couldn't find a photograph in the catalog, so I went searching on-line, and I suspect you're referring to a photo on the web, on the "Auditions and Awards" page. Indeed, that picture is of our production of 42nd Street last spring. It shows Peggy (Selina, a sophomore from San Antonio) and Billy (David, a sophomore from Miami). The show was supervised by Randy Skinner, choreographed by Kelli Barclay and directed by Tripp Phillips, Randy's PSM for all the 42nd Street productions. Our kids had a great time with them.

MTMama

We also got the new admissions brochure (with application inside) last week - and I'm pretty sure that is a picture from 42nd Street (we saw a rehearsal and remember the actors). This must be the most recent brochure/catalog with updated pictures.

LocoMom

Doctorjohn, My son(22) will be home in a few minutes(from U of A) for a long weekend and Yom Kippur. Both my babies under one roof. Happy Mom.

Early rise to work on gettng her auditions straight. Then a day with my boy.

LocoMom

Doctorjohn, My d just asked if your school takes 4 girls in MT and some MT/D or 4 total? I think I know the answer, but she wants me to ask.

doctorjohn

Normally, we look for 4 men and 4 women in MT and MT/D combined, plus 4 men and 4 women in Acting. We saw some very strong MT candidates, however, and decided to take 2 more, 1 man and 1 woman. Of the 5 women, none are dancers; of the 5 men, 2 are dancers. The balance depends on who we see in a given year. We always try to recruit at least 2 MT/Ds, but there's no separate quota for them, which is what I think she was asking.

Hope this helps.

LocoMom

It's hard to tell if the dance audition is the same at the Unifieds as on Campus. It sounds like it's more extensive on campus. So for a very advanced dance would it be better to audition on campus? We are trying to keep her on campus auditions down because of cost, but if it helps her chances off getting in she'll be there. Thanks

danimal88

So the title of this thread seems to suggestto me that Otterbein is especially strong in dance and theatre but, if one had to choose a weakness, it would be in voice. Is this true or am I reading it wrong?

mezzomom

Danimal, I'm sure DoctorJohn will be along to respond to your post, but I thought I'd throw in my two cents. My daughter is a music major (BA) at Otterbein, and she is over the moon with the education she is receiving. She came to Otterbein well-prepared (she was a vocal major at a performing arts high school); that said, she feels she has learned a ton in her first quarter and is well-challenged.

She also told me that MT kids are in the same choir as her, and they share theory classes. There might be more shared classes, but those are the ones that I remember her mentioning specifically. Although the MT kids have a different course track, they are receiving [most/all?] of their music education through the music department, which my daughter feels is outstanding.

Hope this helps...I'm sure DoctorJohn will fill in the gaps in my information.

linus2004

If I may also throw in my two cents, I'm a freshman MT major, and I mentioned Theatre and Dance because that is the official name of the department. However, there is a Musical Theatre major within that department that includes a strong training in vocal music, aural skills, and music theory. I consider the Musical Theatre major an unofficial double major in Acting and Vocal Music with a minor in Dance--it seems this is the way the very structured curriculum for the MT major turns out, and I love it. It is an indication of Otterbein's stressing that graduates graduate being triple threats. And I am friendly with several vocal music majors, and that is also a very strong program.
Hope this answers your question/concern, and if you have any further questions, I would be happy to help to whatever extent I am able, so just personal message me or find me on Facebook (screenname: justsoicanbthere)
Happy Thanksgiving, and enjoying the rapidly-approaching holiday season!

doctorjohn

danimal: I hope mezzomom and linus have answered your question. Our MT's do indeed receive all of their music training through the Music Department, which has an outstanding faculty. Let me know if there's anything else you need to know.

LocoMom: We video all of our unified auditions, and Stella Kane, our director of dance, feels that she can get a pretty good idea about a dancer's technique from the video. What your d. won't get, unless she comes to campus or to the Chicago unifieds, is a good idea about Stella. At the other sites, including LA, I tell the auditioners what steps Stella wants to see, and then put them on tape.

We have offered admission to MT/D's whom Stella hasn't seen in person. But auditioning works both ways, and I do think it's better for dancers to meet her. So yes, I'd recommend coming to campus or to Chicago.

Hope this helps.

Darya

Hey..im a senior in high school and i love acting! and i just wanted to know how i proceed in getting into Otterbein...it seems like a great school and the only thing i really want to do right now is act!.. so can ya give me some tips...thanks!