Great theater program for freshman. WHERE?

[IJElkiss]

<p>At BoCo you have pleanty of chances to gain experience even if you are not in a show. Although I did several shows my freshman year, it was working in my voice studio and in acting class where I feel I learned the most and improved the most. Plus at BoCo there are several senior directed projects each semester (which can at times be better than the mainstages bacause they are more intimate and wonderful quality) as well as Grad student thesis projects. So at BoCO if you are auditioning for everything, there is no reason that you shouldn’t get something! And, not to be confrontational, I do feel that a program where everyone is guaranteed a part is detrimental for the actor. Experience is only worth what you make it, and if you are already getting cast, you might start to believe that you were good enough that you didn’t need to work anymore. I’m not saying that everyone would do this. I’m not even saying that most people would do this, but some people would. I have found some of the most educational and inspirational experiences in my life to be when I have not gotten parts. It make you work harder and then when you do get it, you know that you really earned it.</p>

[fishbowlfreshman]

<p>There seem to be some parallels between what I’ve read about Zen training and actor training as I’ve experienced it thus far. Here’s an old saying that I think might be relevant here if you switch the words around a bit …

Before the study of Zen, mountains are mountains and rivers are rivers. When study begins, mountains are no longer mountains and rivers are no longer rivers. Once there is realization, mountains are once again mountains and rivers are rivers.

Make of that what you will. There was another quote from Peter Brook in a link somebody gave on the Junior Parents’ thread that I liked a lot, too …

Preparing a character is the opposite of building–it is a demolishing, removing brick by brick everything in the actor’s muscles, ideas and inhibitions that stands between him and the part, until one day, with a great rush of air, the character invades his every pore.

That one makes me happy. Then there’s the old Indian proverb …

In ancient India, six blind men encountered an elephant for the first time and quickly began to squabble about the nature of elephants. The first blind man bumped into the elephant’s side and declared that the beast was like a wall. The second, discovering the ear, concluded it was like a fan. The third blind man came across the tail and thought the elephant to be very much like a rope. The fourth, encountering the elephant’s leg, was sure the animal resembled a tree. Finding the tusk, the fifth blind man proclaimed the elephant to be like a spear. And the sixth, grasping the elephant’s trunk, concluded the giant pachyderm most resembled a snake.

Just thought I’d throw that in, too, for some additional randomness.</p>

[ckp]

<p>I LOVE that proverb, it makes all religions blend into one, even if they seem different, but after all, it’s all just mythology and lessions!</p>

<p>Sorry for joining the random boat.</p>