EJmusicman

U of M has released the dates for the 2011-2012 cycle of musical theatre auditions.

According to the UMich website, the dates are:

01/13/2012 Ann Arbor
01/20/2012 Ann Arbor
01/27/2012 Ann Arbor
02/03/2012 Ann Arbor
03/09/2012 Ann Arbor
02/05/2012 Chicago, IL
02/06/2012 Chicago, IL
02/07/2012 Chicago, IL
03/03/2012 New York, NY

I am wondering as to why there are no audition dates before the middle of January. In the past, I am almost positive that UMich has held auditions in November. Am I right?

I don't understand why UMich would cease to hold auditions before the weather becomes unbearable! Especially for people traveling FAR distances, this doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense.

Does anyone have any knowledge as to this?

Thanks,
E.J.

mommafrog

No wisdom, but anecdotal experience -- my kid was one of the 17 who were on campus for a November MT audition this past fall. They were told that the later audition dates were much larger (100+ auditionees per date). This is partially due to the academic "hoops" that a prospective must go through to be granted an audition date -- you need the application and essays, all recommendations, guidance counsellor forms, etc -- and I'm pretty sure these were DUE the end of September. Although she had all her stuff in well before deadline, it took some serious pushing to impress on guidance these deadlines were firm. Then the University has to do their whole review to make sure a kid is academically cleared before an audition date is granted...quick turnaround.

Although daughter LOVED the less crowded day, it was a lot for the UMich staff to do a full audition day (including live pianist for the dance audition) for 17 kids.

And the results? Several of her MPulse friends received quick "no thank yous" from that audition She was deferred until mid-March, finally not admitted...which was a long wait for a no.

Wonder if the school just looked at their resources and requirements (that whole academic/application piece) and decided that the smaller audition date wasn't as cost-effective? (Then again, those who are in the know may know about other things scheduled there for the fall, faculty schedules, etc.) It was a lovely, no-snow mid-fall day when we were there, and the smaller audition day felt very intimate and lovely....

tracyvp

I'm really sad because it looks like, although UMich is going to be at the L.A. Unifieds, it will only be for Acting, not MT.

Is that what it looks like to everyone else? I was REALLY hoping not to have to make a special trip up there from Southern CA. There are SO many schools....this is going to be a darned expensive year.... (Yes, I knew that going into it! I'm just whining a little)

soozievt

Michigan's MT program just holds auditions in Ann Arbor, NYC, and Chicago and is not officially part of Unifieds (even if they hold auditions in Chicago and NYC). Mich's BFA in Acting is the program that auditions in CA (my niece auditioned for the BFA in Acting in CA actually and eventually attended the program).

There are a number of excellent MT programs that are not a part of Unifieds. What you have to do is fit it all in like a big puzzle. Use Unifieds (if you wish) for schools that participate and then do campus auditions for those schools you are interested in which do not participate in Unifieds. That would be the break down basically. While it is very expensive of course, another point is to not put all your eggs into the Unifieds audition basket as that is too much riding on the line in one weekend and things can happen. Campus auditions can also serve as campus visits and it helps to have some campus visits under your belt before April of senior year when there is a crunch in time to visit the schools you are accepted to. Also, through campus visits, one's preferences in terms of college selection become better defined (not just specific colleges but what is important and appealing to you in a college and a MT program). So, think of it as more than just accomplishing the auditions themselves.

mompop

I heard that several schools are prescreening (artistically) this year before scheduling actual auditions. That could explain the lack of Fall audition dates.

fourkidsmom

someone just posted on the main MT page that they are doing a video pre-screen, non-edited DVD

http://www.music.umich.edu/departmen.../auditions.htm

violeteyes

Can anyone tell me the time the auditions for MT at Michigan begin...and do they take the entire day?

soozievt

The on campus auditions do take the entire day.

mommamt

They start with a meeting on Central Campus around 8 am, if I remember correctly. The day ended on North Campus and I believe most people were finished between 3-5pm. It greatly depends on the number of applicants on that given day. It is a very well organized day, and not rushed or hurried, but do plan on the full day. If you are flying in, you could probably schedule a flight out the evening of audition day, but you would need to arrive the day before to be ready for the early morning. I hope this is helpful.

violeteyes

Thanks much for the reply...it was very helpful.