Does anyone have any info about some o the non audition schools on the big list? I already have info on Muhlenberg but am wondering about the others:Birmingham Southern, Brenau Univ, Kennesaw State, Brandeis, Mars Hill, Univ of Findlay, WV Wesleyan, Five Towns, etc…
@MTVT2015 might be able to tell you about Brandeis!
I have a BUNCH of friends at Brenau (which is partnered with the University of Norh Georgia and is 1/2 of the Gainesville Theatre Alliance. You can attend either school to be in the program - GTA is what most of my friends call it in conversation) and Kennesaw. My friends at GTA in particular are in love with the program.
http://www.onstageblog.com/columns/2015/6/21/the-10-most-underrated-theater-colleges-southeast
^Both schools are noted here on this list of the ten most underrated programs in the Southeast. GTA actually takes the cake, according to this assessment.
I’m not attending because I was ready to get out of the South, but, if they’re programs you start to research and like, I have friends I could put you in touch with who I am sure would be very happy to talk with you - especially about GTA.
Brandeis has an AWESOME theatre department! Check out some of the course offerings on their web site–really interesting stuff. It seems like you can really gear the theatre major toward what you want to do. And of course the academics are stellar! I didn’t end up going there (I almost did!) but I’m so glad I applied.
Birmingham Southern is a wonderful liberal arts school with a great department & great academics. It was D’s non-audition safety school, and she has several friends there who chose it over auditioned programs. I’m sure Michael Flowers, the head of MT, would be happy to answer any questions you have.
Brandeis was a top choice for my D. But when she visited, attended classes and had a voice lesson, she felt that the talent wasn’t really there if one wanted professional level theater training. It was excellent as a minor and for those who wanted to do theater in college as an extra curricular. Our high school had a fantastic theatre program with a lot of well trained/ talented students (many who went on to study voice, music and theatre.) D felt that the acapella groups she heard and the classes she attended were below the level of her high school and that she would not have been challenged. A friend’s D did attend Brandeis as a math major from our high school a few years later. She got a major part as a freshman in the school’s musical and many solos in her acapella group. Her mother felt our high school’s productions were far better.