University of Arizona - Page 4

CtrRowOrch · 03-26-2007, 10:25 AM

Are there any others out there with positive thoughts on University of Arizona BFA acting? This is my first post although a frequent visitor. My D is an alternate there. I feel like I've been seeing the same 300 people in auditions across the country. Yes, this is crazy week. The last time anything major happened at my mailbox was when a turtle laid her eggs there a long time ago.

Proudpapa · 03-26-2007, 05:04 PM

I've been wanting to write this for some time now, your questions have encouraged me to do so. My D is a MT Freshman at U of A. Like so many of our daughters , she is following her dream. She was very successful in high school and community musical theater. After being accepted at several MT schools/universities,(and several others on academics alone, p.p. ) she chose the U of A.
Given the reality that the majority of freshman go through homesickness, missing friends and family, and adjusting to a completely new environment she has adjusted fairly well. She is committed to the program as are her professor's committed to teaching it. She has nothing but praise for the dedication and support that she receives from all her teachers/coaches.

I have read most of the threads over this past year and a half, the following is how I feel.

My D is very well aware that she is in a program where she could be cut; she knew that going in. Since she's preformed at piano recitals as a child and singing competition all through her youth, she was aware that she would place or not, if she didn't she had two choices, give up or try harder next time.

All the negative threads from former students seem to be about pointing fingers at others for their not making it in that program.Maybe they gave 110% of their best, but that was not enough in that program. It doesn't mean that 110% effort won't be recognized in another program, it all depends what the teachers/coaches are looking for.

I have coached youth in competitive sports for over 25 years, very talented kids with all the potential in the world to go far; however it's about putting together a team that can adjust to the system that my assistants and I have developed for what we believe will enrich their future potential. Sometimes cuts are necessary for the good of the player and the team, there have been times when I have replaced a player with one that was cut from another team because I believed that player would fit our system.

The University Of Arizona is a fine Musical Theater team with very dedicated coaches.

CtrRowOrch · 03-26-2007, 09:59 PM

ProudPapa, thanks for your post. We are all pretty aware that it is as you say: this is a business where you will fail more often than you will succeed (her acting coach offered that observation.) It's about how you move from each attempt to the next. It's just that SO much emphasis is made on making "the right choice" at the age of 17 and a half. I have an older daughter that started as a film major and got into one of the top programs; after 2 years she transferred to another school because she wanted a niche production aspect of film: sound design, and her film school didn't offer enough in that area. Her transfer was a huge success, she received a talent scholarship and she will be hopefully graduating in 2007.
I wish there was more insight into the ACTING versus the MT program on this thread. Thanks again. Good luck to your daughter; we hope to talk w/some students during our visit next week!

believersmom · 03-27-2007, 07:15 AM

CtrRowOrch-
No offense but this is the MT thread. A lot of the straight theatre people discuss on the Art Majors Thread. I don't know if there is an Arizona discussion there or not, but you may find that more helpful.

Just trying to help.

CtrRowOrch · 03-30-2007, 08:34 AM

Believersmom,
Didn't mean to intrude. The info on Uof A has mostly come from thegreatargos, a student cut as a freshman. I never did understand if that student was MT or Acting. Since most of the schools discussed here have programs that have the MT and BFA acting students in the same class stream, I thought I might get some feedback on the acting portion of the program. (Emerson makes a POINT, in fact that their BFAs all take the same program for 2 years). My student auditioned for both MT and BFA acting programs. Just searching for answers like everyone else.

believersmom · 03-30-2007, 08:54 AM

You are not intruding at ALL!

I was just trying to point you in the direction(where the "Acting" discussions are located) that would be most helpful to you. You stated: "I wish there was more insight into the ACTING versus the MT program on this thread."

Sorry to offend. Really trying to be helpful.

CtrRowOrch · 03-30-2007, 02:30 PM

believersmom, sometimes the isolated words on screen don't convey the human aspect. No offense taken. My student has auditioned for both MT and BFA Acting, depending on the school. Sometimes the same faculty comes in contact with both their MT and Drama students. The remarks from those cut at the Arizona program (s) led me to want to hear some balance and the words I heard from Proud Papa were helpful in this MT thread. In the end, it is ONE department, so I am trying to patch together one observation from various sources. As my student is an alternate, it is a possible choice for us.
BTW, the "fat" envelope from Emerson BFA Acting arrived today! I know this is the MT thread, but we're singin' about it!

Arrow · 04-10-2007, 06:51 PM

Whatever they did, the personnel they have now are terrific: I saw the preview performance of The Who's "Tommy" last night and it is fantastic -- better than many professional musicals I have seen (and my kid isn't even in it!)

thegreatargos · 04-14-2007, 02:22 AM

as i am extremely for the idea that everyone is open to their own, i dont want to create an arguement with anyone.

in the long run all i was simply trying to state was that cutting students that were clearly talented and recieved good grades because they didn't "fit" the "team" is wrong. the training program is aimed to create successful graduates in the field. it seems that a person who is both talented and smart is someone who has all the potential to suceed. lets not forget that cutting such students does not only interfere with their "dream" but more importantly it interferes with their education... if the people in question were clearly slacking in classes, or just not as talented as the other kids in question then the cuts would have been appropriate. to cut an otherwise fully qualified person because they dont "fit" is wrong when so much is at stake, if this person didnt "fit" in the facultys plan... why admit them in the first place?

proudpapa, i wish for your daughter to suceed in all of her endeavors at the u of a. and hopefully you will never have to see the other side of this coin when it comes to her education... just because she didnt "fit" the "team".

Prof. Himmelheber · 12-15-2007, 07:22 PM

I hadn't seen any updates on the cuts for last year. ProudPapa, did you daughter make it through?

eve

azmtgrad · 08-11-2008, 12:09 AM

Hi everyone. I have read this site for several years and never felt compelled to write on it until now. I am a 2008 graduate from the University of Arizona's Musical Theatre program. I think it is very commendable that you parents are concerned for your future or current students and their pride and education. That being said, they are SMARTER THAN YOU THINK, they are going to find out what school is the best school for them.

The "cut" process is daunting and scary, yes, that goes without saying, but it seems as though very few people have looked at the flipside of the coin. Imagine the program didn't cut. Do you want your hard earned money, and your child's valuable time to be spent trying to teach a student concepts that they simply cannot grasp. Do you want your child's time being able to work in front of the teacher spent on a student who is not excelling at the same rate as everyone else in the class? So, then you ask, why did they accept that student into the program? The answer is because they saw potential! Potential, however, unfortunately does not always come to fruition as ability. Not to say your child isn't talented, but the stanislovski based training may not be what feeds their particular talent.

Next, what if it is your child that gets cut? Would you rather them be kept in a program where they are not going to be utilized in mainstage productions and more importantly, remembering this is an education setting, do you want them to continue to fall further and further behind essentially wasting their time, their classmates time, and your hard earned money?

I am one of the infamous students who came back in the 2006 school year which is part of why so many students happened to be cut that year. But, more than more students in class than expected, there was a lot of potential that year that did not blossom, in this program. They are looking out for your student as well as for the good of the company, please remember that fact.

There is more to a program to think about than the cut process as well. Piece of advice....ask yourself what kind of actor you want to be? What do you want your emphasis to be in? If you want to be the best actor possible it is emparitive you go to a school where the musical theatre program is based out of the acting school. If dancing is a huge emphasis for you, the UA is probably not the school for you, because many of the advanced dance classes conflict with the acting classes which make them not available for you to take. If you want to be a pop star, UA may not be the place for you, as with all of our training we are classicly based, including in our vocal training. (That doesnt mean we dont have belters, or work on belts, but the focus of your vocal training comes from a classical place, and then modified for modern musical theatre sound.) If you want to be a triple threat, i absolutely suggest the UA. The acting training is impecable, the teachers are experienced both as professional actors themselves and as educators, and the community support is phenominal.

Lastly, VISIT! Sit in on classes, see a production, ask current or past students, remember sometimes the reward is only as big as the risk! Also remember people tend to speak out a lot more if they are disgruntled or angry then when they are satisfied and content. Probably, because most of us are busy working as actors, go class of 2008! I hope this helps prospective students and parents with some of their questions. Parents, you i whole heartedly believe you are robbing your students if you scratch UA off your list because of the cut process, that is our business, have confidence in your childs ability and work ethic, and the rest will all fall into place.
Jeff