Virginia718

Hi Theatre Tech folks,

I have been lurking for a while, but now that my son is a junior I am ready to post! Son would love to study design tech/stage management in college, so we are starting the looking and thinking process. It make me very happy that he has an idea of what he wants to do - it sort of takes us out of the rat race of the same stressed out 200 families I know fighting for the same spots at the same schools.

Some stats - please let me know your thoughts and if there are any schools I have not thought of. He likes cities or cool college towns. Does not care about football games or fraternities. Would prefer BFA but would be OK with BA w. Tech concentration. I prefer East Coast or close by.

Also, in your opinion, how much weight is put on portfolio for tech students?

Son has worked on stage productions the since freshman year (crew, lighting, scenery, sound and Asst Stage manager of big spring musical last year).

Summer job as a tech at local children's community theatre. New member of Thespian society. Takes Tech as a class in school and is licensed by county so he gets paid for working chorus, band, etc. productions.

Core courses mainly Honors, AP and IB courses. GPA probably 3.6ish (and rising). Founded a social justice club, but most activities he is in are theatre related. PSATs were good. Took mock ACT this weekend (no results yet). Will take SAT in March.

So far we have visited Ithaca, Syracuse and Virginia Commonwealth (in state for us). Liked Ithaca and VCU. Hated Syracuse.

Others on the list: Emerson (dream school), BU, Ohio U (I went there), James Madison U (in state), Pace, Univ. of Vermont, Univ. of Colorado (the last two just because he likes them - not even sure about their theatre programs).

ugadog99

Welcome, Virginia. My D is a senior and following the same path as your son. She only wants a BFA and would prefer a conservatory. Her GPA falls 3.3-3.5 range with honors classes but no AP. She has a disability in math, ADD, and anxiety, and as such her test scores are unmentionable. Financial aid is a huge concern for me, so I really haven't limited her schools because it will all boil down to the package she gets as far as where she actually goes. We are in GA, so she has concentrated on the East Coast, mostly.

Her schools (in no particular order):
UNCSA
University of Central Florida
Webster
Evansville
Point Park
Carnegie Mellon
DePaul (test optional route)
Coastal Carolina
VCU
Shenandoah
Purchase
Otterbein

In State:
Columbus State (the best our state has in theatre)
Valdosta State
Brenau/Gainesville State/Gainesville Theatre Alliance

Hope that helps!

KatMT

I teach at James Madison University. Please feel free to PM or email me at arecchkm@jmu.edu. I can help arrange a time for your son to visit when he would be able to see a mainstage production and/ or tech rehearsal meet with technical and design students and tour the facility with technical and design faculty.

For schools that require a portfolio review the portfolio and interview are primary with admission to the program. How much pull the department has on academic admissions will vary from school to school.

:-) Kate

PS. for other OOS schools he may want to look at Penn State (public), CMU (Private), CCM (public).

Virginia718

Thanks UGADOG99 and KatMT -

UGA - I should mention we are going to need some kind of grant as well. We have a bit of $$ - enough to cover an in state school - but we will fall into "too much income for financial aid" but we could still use a merit grant. That is why schools like CMU and NYU are not on our list (and BU will likely be bumped off). Too pricey!

KatMT - Thanks! We just might contact you when we are ready to visit Madison.

kyndcookie

I am an AEA stage manager and former theatre faculty at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Please feel free to PM me with any questions you may have regarding technical theatre and stage management curriculum.

GCmom

I'm interested in people's perception of SUNY Purchase. We are in state, so the price is fantastic.

mandemb

You might also want to think about CCM at the University of Cincinnati. I have a S there in his second year. He applied and got excepted at UNCSA; Webster; DePaul; SCAD; LIPA; and CCM. I have older children that went to college for acting, technical theater is much less competitive.

lightingmom

Bumping and hoping to revive this thread a bit for all the designers and techs.

frinkila

Im a junior in highschool. And im not sure whether i want to be a designer or production student. Ive applyed to Carnegie Mellon summer programs for diversity for their design and ptm class. Not really looking for any other summer program. I am heavily involved in my highschool backstage theater, community youth theater, and the two adult theater companies in my town. I mostly do set construction while the rest of the time I'm stage managing. I feel myself leaning more toward studying to become a tech director but i like the idea of designing the sets, costume. Does anybody have suggestions on colleges? Could i double major in drama at Carnegie Mellon (my current dream school).

theater mom

Welcome finkila:

Most BFA programs, including CMU, begin with a core curriculum that includes some of everything. I think you get a year and a half before you have to choose. My daughter was also indecisive when she started but a year and a half made a big difference. CMU also used to allow students to major in more than one technical area, such as set design and technical direction in your case. But they're dropping the option for a 4-year degree. I think you can still do it but you have to stay in the program longer.

BU, DePaul, and probably others too, offer BFA degrees in Theater Arts that will give you more flexibility than you can get at CMU or other straight-ahead technical programs. You should probably take a look at these programs. They are good for students who want the freedom to do something really original.

But the bottom line is that you can't opt for both breath and depth without taking more time. It's a trade-off.

snapdragonfly

Anyone with kids currently working on their undergrad, going into tech or design or production, who have started attending USITT events? Other than me?

lightingmom

Trying to bump this thread. Would LOVE to hear where other tech/design kids are going this year and what the criteria were that helped them make their final decisions.

Actingmom18

I would definitely look into the Mason Gross School of the Arts. We happen to be there today for the admitted students day for my daughter who is actually a prospective for the BFA acting program. We sat in on the info session for the design/stage management BFA program within the theater department and spoke with some of the students. The program is quite impressive. Their opportunities and faculty seem to be top notch. The students were very enthusiastic and we spoke with a graduating senior from the design end who is already booked in a job after graduation. It's an MFA type program for BFA students so the professional training seems really on par with the industry. Just one to add to your research.

lightingmom

Thanks very much Actingmom18 and huge congrats to your daughter! I agree it' a terrific program!

techtheater

Hi Everyone,

I am glad to find this thread. I'm still in high school and gleaning all sorts of needed information from this thread and board! Can't wait to get a little further in my college search by touring another 5-6 tech strong schools this summer!