Colleges Represented for auditions at EDTA?

College Majors Musical Theater Majors
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<p>I am playing with another idea in order to get my D in front of as many colleges as possible this summer. She is a junior in HS, last year she did BAA and it nearly broke us financially to stay in NY for 8 days (we are from Florida), in fact we are still paying on the credit cards. And the exposure for so many students isn’t that great. They seem to focus more on the Dance Majors. Our hope with the experience was to get in front of Casting agents and Composers. The outcome was not as positive and the financial sacrifice was large.</p>

<p>So the idea of another MT Intensive Workshop doesn’t appeal to us when the object is getting her prepared for College Auditions and exposing her to as many MT schools as possible. We have friends that took their D to the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska for 2 years in a row. Our school did not send a director so the mom somehow was allowed to bring her. Her D participated in our State Thespian Competition as mine, which will be this coming April 22-25th. I mention the dates because I read on the EDTA website that College Audition Applications are due by April 1, 2009, of course that is too early to have the judging of my D’s solo at State. </p>

<p>The National Thespian Festival is not happening this year. I am a little fuzzy with the connection between EDTA and the International (National) Thespian Festival. So my main question is this:</p>

<p>What is the likelihood that investing in the EDTA festival solely for the College Audition process could be a worthwhile investment? Of course, my D if allowed and has been listed as a requirment for enrollment, and would compete and get workshop training. The friend I mentioned said her D got callbacks from every college represented and also some scholarship offers. Please advise.</p>

<p>Oh, and one more note. My D is planning to audition for a Summer Stock here in Florida which will run 8 weeks, for a very reasonable price. Because it is relatively local the cost will be minimal. I am thinking that if my D is actually in a show, the work experience is comparitively better than just paying for another Workship Intensive.</p>

<p>Thoughts please from anyone that has done the same or similar track or from any advisors would be welcomed. And if anyone can give me the list of Colleges that will be represented at the EDTA Conference or last years International Thespian Festival.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance</p>

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<p>A very sweet friend has just informed me about several items in my post which are inaccurate. So please just forget I ask about all of this. However I would still like to know of any Colleges that would be represented at EDTA.</p>

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<p>If you go to the EDTA website, you might find a list of the schools that were there last year. Also, someone from your state who has been before might be able to answer those questions.</p>

<p>My son participated in the Georgia thespian conference, and could have taken his solos to the international festival for judging, but we usually had other things planned in the summer. His friends who went had great things to say about the experience, though.</p>

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<p>[Educational</a> Theatre Association](<a href=“http://www.edta.org/educational_events/festival/default.aspx]Educational”>http://www.edta.org/educational_events/festival/default.aspx)</p>

<p>The Festival is indeed happening this year. Every other year they do a “National Cast” show, and this is the off-year for that - so that may be what you’re thinking of. </p>

<p>EDTA is the parent organization for Thespians. The EDTA Conference is for theatre teachers/directors/advisors of Local Thespian troupes. The Festivals are the events geared for students. </p>

<p>I have known students who have participated in the national casts, who have gone with their Thespian troupe, and who have attended individually. Everyone I know who went found the experience valuable.</p>

<p>I know that in the past, there has been a large list of colleges attending, but I wouldn’t want to name some, and leave out many others. Some colleges have been known to offer acceptances based on that audition - many others have used it as a chance to express an interest in a student pursuing their school in the course of normal auditions.</p>

<p>I’m a little confused by one of your statements:

Do you mean that she has to PAY to be in Summer Stock? Although there are various levels, typically summer stock jobs are considered jobs - not something you pay to participate in. Sometimes there are unpaid or minimimal-pay internships, more often some pay with or without Equity points, sometimes great pay - but I would double check any “summer stock” that is pay-for-play.</p>