Big List updates

doctorjohn · April 14, 2005, 10:20am

Several people have posted updates in the Otterbein thread, or written me privately. It occurred to me that it made more sense to establish a separate thread for updates to the Big List that Dancersmom and Shauna first created a couple of years ago. First of all, here’s the link:

<a href=“Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos”>Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos;

If you’re new to this board, you will want to look at the parent site, created almost entirely by Shauna:

<a href=“Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos”>Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos;

So here are the updates, all now included in the Big List:

*Added Nazareth College in New York (BA)

*Added Wilkes University in Pennsylvania (BA)

*Changed U Central Florida to selective (2-stage audition process)

*Changed U of Oklahoma to selective (2-stage audition process)

*Changed Cal State Fullerton to selective (open admissions for first two years, but highly selective audition to complete the BFA in MT)

(See comments by mtmommy and others on the Otterbein thread for details about UCF, CSF and OU.)

So from now on, if you learn of a program that’s not on the list, or if you have questions about a program’s listing, you can post here.

Thanks, everyone.

MidgetMom · April 14, 2005, 11:17am

I posted this on the Otterbein thread, but it’s probably more appropriate here.

UCF has definitely gotten more selective. My dd has wanted Orlando since she was very young and, after working with different directors and UCF students the last couple of years in dinner theater and other regional theater, was told she would have no problem in getting into the BFA program. As a result, she put all her eggs in one basket and only auditioned for UCF. She ended up getting a callback but was ultimately put into the BA program. She was also accepted into the BM music performance program. (But that was a separate audition on a different date through the music department).

At both the audition and BFA callback she danced for Brian Vernon, who is heading up the new dance minor at UCF. Since she was rejected from the BFA, she is still juggling between the BM and the BA, but would like to take the dance minor. Since she had been seen by Brian Vernon twice, she e-mailed him and asked if it were necessary for her to come to Orlando yet a third time to audition for the dance minor. He told her that the department has become very selective and it would be necessary to come back a third time.

mtmommy · April 14, 2005, 9:27pm

Thanks for updating the list, Doctorjohn!

Midgetmom, that’s too bad that your D has to audition for UCF a 3rd time. Hopefully, they will come to appreciate her persistence and hard work.

And, yes, everyone should take a look at the FAQ site. Shauna did a fantastic job creating it. She’s multi-talented beyond the norm, even for MT!

MidgetMom · April 14, 2005, 10:26pm

Thanks for your kind words. Yes, my dd is pretty upset over this (but more mad than upset). After all, she did dance twice already, but Brian Vernon told her that the dance minor would involve a higher level of dance than at the BFA audition and he wanted to make sure all the candidates were up for it. Still, I think it’s crazy. But, she’s up for it. And, she still has the BM with the scholarship, if this doesn’t work out. Also, several of our friends have told her she needs to audition for Disney at their monthly auditions, since she’s now 18 and is eligible for more things. So, whatever, right? At this point, I’m hoping she’ll go with the BM since she got a merit scholarship AND a talent scholarship in music, and she’ll lose the talent one if she doesn’t use it for music.

Jacisme · April 16, 2005, 7:41pm

What about Muhlenberg College in Pa.? The name has come up many times. Should it be on the big list? They offer a BA in Theatre performance, music and dance. To focus on MT you can double major or major and minor in all three. The departments work cooperatively and they have 6 theatre productions a year on their main stage. This does not include their black box and student run productions. The audition is for a talent scholarship. They also have a well respected summer stock program, which is on a professional level. 
Muhlenberg has a beautiful campus and very new theatre facilities. It is a small liberal arts college that has become more difficult to get into. This year they had around 4100 for a class of 575. I don’t know what percentage of that are theatre, music or dance majors. 
Our D received a talent scholarship and will be attending Muhlenberg this fall.

mtmommy · April 17, 2005, 11:00pm

For students interested in Cal State Fullerton’s MT program, take note that the cover letter with their materials contains these paragraphs:

“Once students have met all prerequisites and completed their sophomore year, all prospective Musical Theatre BFA candidates must audition for acceptance into the program. These auditions are held only at the end of each spring semester. If students do not pass this audition, they must either repeat their sophomore year of department classes (if space permits) and re-audition the following spring (essentially adding one year to their studies), or select another degree emphasis in which to major (thus graduating on schedule, but not with the degree of choice).”

“The audition for the BFA program audition requires that students prove proficiency in all three areas of performance: acting, singing and dancing. The applicant must pass the all three areas of the audition before admittance intot the program is offered.”

It goes on to say that students sing 4 songs, etc.

“PROGRAM RETENTION: Once accepted into the program, students must re-audition each semester until graduation, for retention evaluation. If satisfactory progress is not met in all three areas of the degree emphasis (singing, dancing and acting), the student will be cut from the program.”

“Finally, the degree program for the Musical Theatre BFA is limited in number - we can only accommodate a certain amount of students at any time, depending on faculty resources. We anticipate 50+ students auditioning at the end of this school year (including both current lower division and transfer students). If all our current BFA juniors remain in the program, we will have ONLY NINE (9) SPACES available in the program for next fall . . . an EXTREMELY competitive environment, as you can see.”

“I hope the above isn’t too overwhelming. It’s just that I want to be very honest with prospective students - about what a daunting task they are undertaking when choosing the Musical Theatre BFA degree program, as well as the exceptional quality and standards of the program they are considering.”

I thought it might be useful if I shared this info on this list. Note that the 9 out of 50+ isn’t similar to the odds high school seniors face as they travel the audition circuit. These are students who have already completed two years of their college education. This is a cut system.

And I would suspect the 50+ is more on the side of the + than the side of the 50 because we live in a fairly small town and I personally know about 7 students who have gone into that program.

MTpolk · August 16, 2005, 5:27pm

After months of reading posts it just occurred to me that my own MT program isn’t on The Big List.
It’s Dean College, in Massachusetts, and it’s a non-audition based program.

I didn’t say anything earlier because I’m anxious to get out of the school (personally) BUT it was a great option for me instead of taking a year off while I found a better match, so I thought I’d try and get it added in case there’s someone else out there who could use the option.

:)

doctorjohn · August 16, 2005, 8:48pm

Thanks, MTpolk. I’ve added Dean College and its two-year Associate of Arts degree program to the Big List.

doctorjohn · August 24, 2005, 10:18pm

I’ve just added this to the Big List. I received an e-mail from an alumna of the program, who wrote:

“Please add to your website under OKLAHOMA the University of Central
Oklahoma.* They offer an undergraduate degree in Music Theatre.* It’s a
BM, by audition, and the program is not selective.* The program was
founded by Carveth Osterhaus (who also founded OCU’s music theatre
program), Kay Creed, and the late Tamara Long (the original Mona Kent
in “Dames at Sea”). Successful graduates of UCO include Milena Govich
(Broadway’s “Good Vibrations,” et al.), Greg White (“Nunsense A-Men!”
original cast), Billy Sprague (Broadway’s “Beauty and the Beast,” et
al.), Mat Govich (Broadway’s “Cabaret”) and many performers in regional
companies and tours, and local favorites in the state of Oklahoma.”

Many thanks to Jamie for bringing this to our attention.

doctorjohn · August 30, 2005, 7:46pm

Razorback1 mentioned this school on another thread. They do indeed have a Bachelor of Music degree in Musical Theatre. No audition is required for entrance. They audition all their music students for placement; remedial work may be required. Prospective students also have the opportunity to audition for scholarships.

Nice to have an MT option in Arkansas. Thanks, razorback!

anothermom-w-q · September 9, 2005, 6:36pm

I think SUNY Geneseo used to be on the list. Is there a reason I don’t see it there anymore? (Other then the fact that everytime I put on a pair of reading glasses I realize my prescription has gotten worse!?)

soozievt · September 9, 2005, 7:32pm

I just looked up SUNY Geneseo and indeed they offer a BA in Musical Theater but you must audition to get in. So, it should be on the list since the list comprises all sorts of degree programs in MT. If DoctorJohn reads this, or Shauna, they must know how to add to the Big List and this one should be added.
Susan

doctorjohn · September 10, 2005, 12:47am

anothermomwithquestions & soozievt: Done. Thanks.

soozievt · September 10, 2005, 12:57am

DoctorJohn, Thank YOU for updating the list…Susan

happy_days · September 10, 2005, 4:21am

I have heard of other programs in the Midwest for Music Theatre:

Kansas

Friends University, Wichita, KS BA in Music Theatre

University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS BFA Theatre and Voice (a new degree being offered as a joint degree between music and theatre departments)
audition

Missouri

University of Missouri, Kansas City Conservatory of Music
BA Music/Theatre Concentration
(second year for this program)
audition

anothermom-w-q · September 10, 2005, 12:33pm

Thank you doctorjohn, for all the hours you have put into this site.

doctorjohn · September 11, 2005, 8:41am

Thanks for the tip, happy days. MT programs at Friends University (Kansas), University of Kansas (known to Jayhawks as KU), and the University of Missouri-Kansas City have been added to the big list.

anothermom, you’re welcome. Happy to help.

Prof.Himmelheber · September 12, 2005, 5:23am

MTMommy is right - our program is highly selective (about 1:5 odds, as are many of the top programs).

What my letter doesn’t state is that NO STUDENT HAS BEEN CUT FROM THE PROGRAM SINCE ITS INCEPTION (to the best of my knowledge–I’m in my second year here–and local folklore).

Students do LEAVE the program, but it is almost always due to professional work…Disney, national tours, local regional theatre, etc. The quality of student here is very good.

Also, we can have no more than 20 junior and senior classes combined (based on our NAST BFA accreditation demands for limited enrollment). Next May, we anticipate taking 11 students, unless more leave the program.

Hope this clears the air a bit.

Eve

Prof.Himmelheber · September 12, 2005, 5:27am

Of the 50 or so students who audition each year (sophomores from in house, as well as transfer students), there has rarely been the case where there were so many extraordinary triple-threat students that we have had a hard decision. Like any other audition process, about the first 5-7 are very clear choices - the A list. After that, it is a matter of finding a balanced “company” in terms of castability (as we promise to cast them each semester), faculty preference/proclivity, and hair-splitting. The “middle ground” group ranges in numbers (from about 10 to 15). The rest really are not competitive at this level…which is very similar to other top-tier school admissions.

But do be aware that the first two years are preparatory for this audition - and students who transfer in do not fare as well as in-house students (because the training is not usually up to our standards).

Hope this helps. Glad to answer any questions you may have.

eve

andi · September 12, 2005, 7:23pm

hi,
I’m wondering why Muhlenberg College isn’t listed in PA. It’s got excellent MT.

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