<p>mtgraddad, I think they sang about your son in A Chorus Line! I Can Do That</p>
<p>Musicmon1215It does feel like that, although his sister is married but not fat. By the way my S has worked with some OCU grads in summer stock and they were terrific</p>
<p>Mtgraddad,</p>
<p>It’s nice to hear from you. I can only imagine how thrilled you must be to know that your S is living his dream. I think it’s great that he has been able to use his anger about being harrassed in H.S. in his work. My D went through some trying times at her P.A. school and has found that her struggles inform her work as an actor. You mentioned that it’s good to see that adolescents do grow up and stop bullying others. I agree, however, I fervently wish that we adults could get through to our teenagers that it is wrong to ostracize others simply because they are different. I’m glad that your S was able to stick with his dancing despite other kids’ negativity.</p>
<p>P.S. I chuckled when I read Musicmom1215’s comment. You know why! Have you been able to see your S in the production in NYC?</p>
<p>So, mtgraddad, is your son in ACL and I missed that somewhere?</p>
<p>I hope that things are going well for your daughter, as I recall she is a talented performer and I’m sure that FSU will only enhance that. The answer to your question is yes, yes… even at $100+ per ticket I’m a glutton. I’ve seen him several times. I also had time to see Grey Gardens and Spring Awakens. They were amazing also…</p>
<p>MTGradDad…mucho congratulations to your son for ACL. It is so great to see someone debut and fulfill his dream. Enjoy kvelling.</p>
<p>I recently saw Marvin Hamlisch perform and of course he played ACL medley. </p>
<p>ACL is one of my favorite musicals of all time. I have not had the fortune of seeing the revival however. </p>
<p>Here’s to more success!</p>
<p>I never said that my S was in ACL, what I said was that his story was like Mike’s. I actually purposefully didn’t say which show…it makes him uncomfortable. For a guy in theatre he is very private. I guess that I may be more transparent than I thought, so much for keeping things from a highly educated group of theatre parents and students.</p>
<p>MTGRADDAD</p>
<p>People ask my daughter all the time Where are you going? Don’ tyou know yet. Our HS also has never had anyone try for the BFA programs so they can not believe how competitive it is. I know a few have gone the BA route… It is so comforting to know that there are others out there that know what it is like to have a child go through this process. I do think my child is handling it better than I because she feels all things work out to be what they are supposed to be and she will deal with what happens and make it positive. I agree but being older I have alot more" but what if" in my mind. What a time this is! I just wish I could know the programs inside and out and know the faculty.</p>
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<p>Not to hijack this thread again, but it’s a funny thing about actors. The best ones I know and knew tended to be introverted, private, and found curtain calls a necessary, but painful, evil.</p>
<p>Warning to actors who are also teachers: do not accept a role in The Full Monty or your teaching days may be over, if you live in Florida.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/03/13/full.monty.teacher.ap/index.html[/url]”>http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/03/13/full.monty.teacher.ap/index.html</a></p>
<p>AlwaysAMom…wow, just wow. I totally do NOT agree with that school’s administrative decision at all. I don’t think what a teacher does on their own time should be up for judgment, unless it is something illegal. I mean where do you draw the line as to what a teacher can or can’t do on their own time outside of school? Then, of all things, this isn’t pornography or some such. It is part of piece of art. This isn’t someone prancing around the neighborhood nude! This is part of an artistic piece of theater. And of all things, since I have seen The Full Monty (such an entertaining show!), they really are barely EVER nude in that musical. The only time they are nude is for a split second and even then, the lights flash so bright as you don’t “see much” and then the stage darkens. It is more about what they are doing to earn money in the play, but there is hardly any true nudity in the production. Gee, I wonder if a music teacher can be in a piece of theater outside of school that deals with drugs, AIDs, getting drunk, adultery, or whatever is not seen as a “kosher” topic for art. Sorry, but what is displayed as a piece of fictional artistic work is not the same as someone doing that same act off stage. As well, does a school rule what you can do when outside their work environment to this degree? Quite troubling.</p>
<p>I agree, Susan. If the actor had been playing the role of a murderer or drug dealer, it’s doubtful that it would have created even a ripple, let alone a stir like this. It’s ridiculous and is probably a good indication of what this school district thinks about the arts. It reminds me of that story a month or so ago of the art teacher in Texas who was fired for taking her students to a museum that had nude statuary on exhibit. These stories make me crazy!</p>
<p>Talking about jobs after graduation, there is something that is rarely talked about when students and parents consider what school to go to…SENIOR SHOWCASE. When my S went to school, we considered that very important activity and 3 years later I look back and stiil am sure that it’s very important.
It gives a student coming out of school an opportunity to be seen by as many as 50 or more professionals who could positively influence their lives. I would not recommend that a student go to a program without a showcase if they wanted to be in New York, Chicago or LA after graduation. It’s hard enough, if you have a showcase and get an agent to represent you it helps. There are surely other options, I read about actors who set up their own showcases but getting the right professionals to see you is tough.</p>
<p>mtgraddad - </p>
<p>Just wanted to say I’ve seen your son perform many times at UM and elsewhere and he’s great! :)</p>
<p>I think that there are many performers living and successfully working in LA, Chicago, and NYC who did not go to schools with senior showcases. I know that I have worked with many :). That being said, I did go to a school with a senior showcase. I think that it was a wonderful experience preparing for and presenting the showcase. A terrific capstone to the training. I think that many of us were also thankful for having the opportunity to be seen by (and meet with) agents and casting directors. However, ultimately it didn’t really have much of a lasting impact on most of our careers. A great launch… but not necessary. </p>
<p>A lot of school have showcases… some are more well attended than others by agents, casting directors, etc… some schools that have a senior showcase do not take all the seniors to the showcase. If a senior showcase is very important to you, I suggest asking questions when you visit the school to help you get the lay of the land at particular school.</p>
<p>bumping for discussion of jobs while auditioning.</p>
<p>This a surprise. A comment after 4 years. I will tell you that I reread my comment and I still see strong evidence of what I said is still true. If getting an agent gives a new actor an entre, then a showcase is the best way (not the only way). If your child (you) want to really make this a career then you want to find the easiest pathway. If you were going to have a career in sports, you would choose the school that would give you the best opportunity to be seen and your skills improved. The same thing holds true for MTs. If my son was a basketball player, I would have encouraged UNC not No Name State University. Of course there are players from NNSU who are professionals, but their chances of ‘making it’ are much less.</p>
<p>Hi, This is Camge, and I havn’t posted in a while. My S. graduated 4 years ago from NYU. He decided that he wanted to be a director, and has been persuing his art. Lots of great things have come about, and he has had many of his plays produced in NYC. Well now there is an update! He will be attending CMU in the fall as a Grad directing student. We are very proud, only two students are chosen each year for this program. So any CMU students out there go up and introduce yourself. It should be easy to find him he we be the first year grad student that is a male. This has been such a valuble web site. I can only say thank you. If anyone has any questions about life after … I’d be happy to e mail you! Cam</p>
<p>camge, terrific news! Congrats to your son! He is on his way. He has already been successful in having his plays produced in NYC and now he can build his directing training. I predict great success in his field. I was just thinking about your son actually, by coincidence and recalling his putting on his own shows because my D recently wrote/composed and performed in her own musical right before graduating Tisch and now it has been picked up to be produced (she is lengthening it) this summer by a NYC performing arts venue. It reminded me a little of your son because he was a Tischie who created original works that were produced in NYC. Thanks for the update and hope you will continue to give more when new things happen.</p>
<p>I think this is the one that was requested…</p>