<p>Something to consider when choosing a program… If your child has taken AP classes see if the school accepts those credits. My child graduated from NYU/Tisch in two and a half years, with a summer session included. It definitley took alot of hard work, but she got her degree and got to focus on auditioning much more quickly than the normal four years!</p>
<p>SoosieVT is right on point. 18 - 22 are pretty much the dead years, especially in NY. </p>
<p>I was in a similar situation with my daughter being in Sag/Aftra/AEA. She is now a senior at Boco. We put her career on hold for 4 years because she wants to be in it for the long run. She continued to work (commercials, radio) and auditioned only when requested by the casting agencies. We told her agent she would miss school but only for something big. All told, she probably went to NY maybe 5 times a year to either work or audition.</p>
<p>One thing all the agents and casting agencies did tell me was, if she goes to school, make sure she goes somewhere that is well respected. A place where she can hone her craft. </p>
<p>Just my two cents.</p>
<p>There are ALOT of students currently at Pace University in the Theatre and Musical Theatre departments that are working in regional productions, national tours, off-off broadway, off-broadway, broadway, TV and film.
The faculty works with the students to create a plan that will work with their professional schedules, to help them graduate on time, while still getting a full academic and artistic education.
PM me if you have any q’s about Pace!</p>
<p>Thanks for your input here BRbway! Those of you in the programs are such a great source of info for prospective students and parents.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for your input. I have been talking to my D about these points over the last few days and she has told me she might want to consider a Theater Education major with an MT minor so that she has a “Plan B”. What do people think about that? Not enough time devoted to serious study of MT? Too much? And where is good for that other than NYU? I have not researched Theater Education possibilities with an MT minor yet.</p>
<p>To be honest, I’m pretty sure there aren’t many options when it comes to receiving an actual minor in MT… but I don’t know a lot about that topic.</p>
<p>I DO know, however, that Pace sounds it could be a great school for your daughter. I’m currently a freshman in the MT department and can tell you that we have numerous kids in my class alone who are Equity members with Broadway and national tour credits. Being in NYC and actually being allowed to audition for things (with the approval of our fabulous department head, Amy Rogers) is such an incredible opportunity and results in many students booking big things even before they graduate.</p>
<p>This year alone, we have upperclassmen going on tour with In The Heights, Hair, The Wizard of Oz (as dorothy), and Seussical (as Jojo). If your daughter wants to receive exceptional training while being able to live and audition in NYC, then I’d say she should start seriously looking into Pace University!</p>
<p>A Theatre Education major that does not include certification may not be much of a back-up plan, and may not produce more non-public school educational theatre opportunities (in private schools, education and outreach, etc…) than a musical theatre or theatre performance degree.</p>
<p>Depending on the state certification requirements… and the realities of the public schools in a particular state… many prospective teachers may find that they need to be certified in a “hard subject” … english, history, math, etc… or music ed. in order to actually be hired at a public school. Many times schools will look for a teacher who can teach music, english, etc… to teach theatre classes and direct shows, or hire someone part-time to only do the theatre. I also know people who work as aids to special education students during the day and direct theatre in the afternoon and evenings at the schools where they teach. Basically, it is important to check out the rules for certification and the practice at most schools in the state in which you would like to be certified. </p>
<p>Schools that I can think of off hand that have a MT Minor are USC, Marymount Manhattan, and Catawba… not sure if the offer a Theatre Education major. </p>
<p>:)</p>