Theatre Undergrad Programs with Built-in Study Abroad?

Aspiring6776 · 09-22-2012, 11:02 PM

Hello,
I have a very strong interest in travel and in theatre performance, and because of this, I am looking at programs with study abroad options within the theatre curriculum, similar to programs at NIU or UM Guthrie. These programs have an incorporated study abroad requirement in the BFA, which I find interesting and appealing. I was hoping to use this thread to compile a list with programs similar to these (if there are any additional programs to mention), so let's not use this thread to post about universities with study abroad programs within the school, but for undergraduate theatre programs with an incorporated study abroad program for the theatre department specifically. These programs could be either BFA or BA, and can be in any type of school.

Thank you for your help! I have pasted the links for the two aforementioned programs below.
UM Guthrie: http://global.umn.edu/icc/documents/...e_poster33.pdf
NIU: NIU Moscow Program

Thank you in advance for your help, and I hope others who are searching for similar programs will find this thread helpful as well.

glassharmonica · 09-22-2012, 11:20 PM

Mason Gross?

austinmtmom · 09-22-2012, 11:34 PM

The BFA Physical Theatre majors at Coastal Carolina University spend their senior year at the Accademia dell'Arte in Arezzo, Italy. The BFA Acting majors may spend a semester there.
CCU Department of Theatre

TheRealKEVP · 09-23-2012, 07:43 AM

Another option is simply to go to a foreign college or university.

dramamom0804 · 09-23-2012, 09:23 AM

Mason Gross, Syracuse, Ithaca, Boston U, Carnegie Mellon that I know of.

Times3 · 09-23-2012, 09:40 AM

According to my notes from last year, Hartt has a 10-week program for juniors--studying Shakespeare in London. Muhlenberg has options for Italy and London, and Evansville runs a program for sophomore through their campus in England. I'm not separating out required programs, and I'm not sure whether you mean "required" when you say "incorporated," so apologies if these don't fit your goal.

Also, most of the non-audition programs my son is considering include the possibility of study abroad, of course. Lots of good options out there!

NJTheatreMOM · 09-23-2012, 09:45 AM

Boston University School of Theatre students do spend a semester abroad, and most of them study at LAMDA in London or the Accademia dell'Arte in Italy. However, BU theatre students may choose a non-theatre semester abroad if they wish, and some of them do.

"In the second semester of the junior year the School of Theatre requires students in both BFA performance majors (Acting and Theatre Arts) to spend a semester studying abroad through Boston University International Programs.

Students can choose from any of the abroad experiences offered through BU’s International Programs to challenge their growth and development not only as artists, but as individuals. The School of Theatre has established conservatory-style studio specific training semester programs in London, England (with the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art—LAMDA) as well as in Arezzo, Italy (with the Accademia dell’Arte)."

Gwen Fairfax · 09-23-2012, 10:07 AM

Hartt's program is a lot like Guthrie's-- the junior actors go abroad together, study Shakespeare, and do a Shakespeare play when they return.

EmmyBet · 09-23-2012, 10:13 AM

Adelphi BFA students spend a semester of Junior year at LAMDA. It is not required, but most juniors go, and the coursework is integrated into the degree. There also is a January term London trip every year offered to any Adelphi student - 3 weeks of an overview of theatre history, going to plays, etc.

Time flies - it seems like yesterday my D was applying, and now she is planning her Junior year at LAMDA!

nansan · 09-23-2012, 11:11 AM

I want to mention that there also are study abroad drama programs that are operated by independent organizations and that drama students may find appealing. For example, the Eugene O’Neill National Theatre Institute sponsors a Moscow Art Theatre semester that is open to undergrad drama students. Also, my S attends a BFA program at one of the universities that is noted in this thread and that sponsors its own London drama program. However, he is spending this semester in Ireland studying drama (of course with an emphasis on Irish playwrights and theater) through an independent study abroad program. He wanted to become familiar with another culture that places a high value on theatre arts and also to get to know students from other schools, including students who are studying courses other than drama. I have to admit that I initially wasn’t so sure how things would turn out because he would be attending a program where he didn’t know anyone, but it seems to be working out quite well. He has had quite a number of adventures so far and has had the chance to see professional Irish theater productions as well as numerous Fringe Festival events. The students also will be visiting London as a group. So, it is possible to have a valuable study abroad experience with a focus on drama, travel, and culture outside of a program that is operated by the university or its drama department.

northdad · 09-23-2012, 12:24 PM

Sarah Lawrence has a close relationship with BADA in London:

London Theatre Program

stagemum · 09-23-2012, 04:58 PM

Mason Gross/Rutgers has a mandatory junior year abroad, based at the Globe Theatre in London. It costs the same as a residential year at home, with in-state rates applying for NJ residents.

Aspiring6776 · 09-23-2012, 06:06 PM

Thank you all so much for your information so far -- so many programs I didn't know about!

SDonCC · 09-24-2012, 03:31 PM

here's a link to the study abroad programs offered by Tisch. The acting ones are in London, Shanghai, Amsterdam (summer) and Florence (summer). London and Amsterdam require audition. Florence might (it didn't, then it did, now I'm not sure if it does...).

Tisch students can also do regular study abroad offered by the university.

CCer2014 · 10-16-2012, 08:26 PM

Hi I'm one of the guthrie jrs abroad right now. As far as built in study abroad curriculum, the only ones I know of where you are required to go abroad with your acting company is UMN/Guthrie (fall semester jr yr), Rutgers (an entire year), Hartt (10 weeks during their spring semester), NIU (fall semester jr yr).

It's quite a different thing to have the option to study abroad than to go separately or with only a portion of your class.

Honestly I'm only really familiar with the programs for my school and rutgers as I know a few students there.

I've met some students from Syracuse who are here for the fall as well, but came with only a portion of the acting and musical theatre jr class. One of my company members also ran into a hs acquaintance while we were at the National the other week who goes to Northwestern and is here for the fall through BADA.

I believe there are other programs with study abroad components in their curriculum. There are only a select number of the nature like mine and rutgers however that expects not just individual but ensemble growth from the study abroad experience and requires the entire company to go abroad together and continue to build upon their company dynamic.

To clarify Gwen, we only do an abridged show while we're here in London and work on our Greek when we get back to the states...the fall semester in London builds on the Shakespeare training we worked heavily in last year that wrapped with our Shakespeare project and to experience more physical approaches to acting like Michael Chekhov work and Lecoq work with some other workshops/intensives thrown in to compliment and add on to what we sometimes refer the first half of our training time as the "foundation years".