mountainhiker

I've done a pretty thorough search on the forum, and haven't found much recent info on this school. My research shows that it's a BFA Auditioned program, and has concentrations in Acting, Theatre Studies and Stage Management (all programs my DD, current junior, is interested in exploring).

Old forum posts show they accept about 30 BFA Acting students, hoping for a yield of 20-25.

Does anyone have any additional information on this school? Thanks!

skewlcounselor

I am interested in the same. My daughter applied and is auditioning but we don't know much about the program.

mountainhiker

I did come across this news article, about a project a senior Theatre Studies student did a few years ago. Sounded pretty great!

Chicago stage production just the ticket for senior project in theater | News Bureau | University of Illinois
Chicago stage production just the ticket for senior project in theater | News Bureau | University of Illinois

mountainhiker

Also found this article - Jenkins was the former Theatre Studies head at NYU-Tisch, and taught there for 14 years.

Stage Directions | Jenkins New Head of University of Illinois Theatre Department
Stage Directions | Jenkins New Head of University of Illinois Theatre Department

EmmyBet

Just for general info, I'll add that UIUC is a very standard large state flagship kind of in the middle of nowhere (not a quick trip to Chicago, as compared with Northern IL U). My H did a year of grad school there, and I've spent a lot of time in the area. It has all of the great and not-so-great aspects of a school like that. I see grads from their theatre dept listed regularly when I go to IL theatre events.

Mother of GG

We actually visited the summer before senior year and were given a warm welcome...
Shakespeare in the Park "playbill" had several folks graduated from the program, and that is what had led us there in the first place. Seemed top rate, and at the time was told that child would know at audition whether he or she had been accepted...and was.
Many corn fields between Chicago and the school, and so when other acceptances came in April, a more urban setting was picked.

ClaresMom

I wonder if they still tell you at the audition if you've been accepted? That would be great! We visited in April of last year and my daughter loved it. We are driving out again for a Feb 16th audition date. Hoping my D does well!

TheatreFish

I know JW Morissette, a professor there and head of the Theatre Studies department. He is without a doubt the most talented director I have ever met and one of the most dynamic teachers anyone could be lucky to have (As well as being absolutely hilarious.) Although the school is way out of my price range, I considered it for a good long time simpy because I wanted to learn more from JW. I know their acting program specializes in Classica training and that they also have an MFA program which very competitive. I'd be a little worried that more attention would go to the MFA's, but the department's pretty comprehensive (The university's huge) so I don' think that shoud be much of a concern.