Theater/Drama Colleges Part 12

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

<p>Here’s a new part to this ongoing discussion with links to the old ones. It’s your time, Class of '09. Speak, speak! :)</p>

<p>[Theater/Drama</a> Colleges Part 1](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/66659]Theater/Drama”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/66659)</p>

<p>[Theater/Drama</a> Colleges Part 2](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/70728]Theater/Drama”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/70728)</p>

<p>[Theater/Drama</a> Colleges Part 3](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/73398]Theater/Drama”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/73398)</p>

<p>[Theater/Drama</a> Colleges Part 4](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/82159]Theater/Drama”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/82159)</p>

<p>[Theater/Drama</a> Colleges Part 5](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/88650]Theater/Drama”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/88650)</p>

<p>[Theater/Drama</a> Colleges Part 6](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/91997]Theater/Drama”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/91997)</p>

<p>[Theater/Drama</a> Colleges Part 7](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/arts-majors/157-theatre-drama-colleges-part-7-a.html]Theater/Drama”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/arts-majors/157-theatre-drama-colleges-part-7-a.html)</p>

<p>[Theater/Drama</a> Colleges Part 8](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/arts-majors/63432-theatre-drama-colleges-part-8-a.html]Theater/Drama”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/arts-majors/63432-theatre-drama-colleges-part-8-a.html)</p>

<p>[Theater/Drama</a> Colleges Part 9](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/arts-majors/166214-theater-drama-colleges-part-9-a.html]Theater/Drama”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/arts-majors/166214-theater-drama-colleges-part-9-a.html)</p>

<p>[Theater/Drama</a> Colleges Part 10](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/arts-majors/309110-theater-drama-colleges-part-10-a.html]Theater/Drama”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/arts-majors/309110-theater-drama-colleges-part-10-a.html)</p>

<p>[Theater/Drama</a> Colleges Part 11](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/arts-majors/421630-theater-drama-colleges-part-11-a.html]Theater/Drama”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/arts-majors/421630-theater-drama-colleges-part-11-a.html)</p>

<p>On the last Part, some people had some browser issues with opening Parts 1 - 6. If you block and move or type the following addresses into your address bar and close the space after <a href=“http://www.,%5B/url%5D”>www.,</a> you should be able to open them.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www”>www</a>. collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/66659
<a href=“http://www”>www</a>. collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/70728
<a href=“http://www”>www</a>. collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/73398
<a href=“http://www”>www</a>. collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/82159
<a href=“http://www”>www</a>. collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/88650
<a href=“http://www”>www</a>. collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/91997</p>

2

<p>Something you rising seniors will hear when you visit some of your prospective schools will be “We don’t turn out cookie cutter performers like XXX school does.” I heard it myself and never have figured out exactly what a cookie cutter performer is. Is there some class I haven’t heard of yet that teaches you to juggle metal implements and cut little doggies and Christmas trees in rhythm to circus music? Do you rap and pop wheelies on a teeny little bicycle while you do it? Is it hard? Do casting directors and agents frown on it? Hrmmmm … </p>

<p>Seriously, though … Here are links to this year’s senior showcases for three top acting schools about which I’ve heard the “cookie cutter” line …</p>

<p>[Carnegie</a> Mellon](<a href=“http://www.cmushowcase.com/theactors/index.htm]Carnegie”>http://www.cmushowcase.com/theactors/index.htm)
[url=<a href=“http://www.juilliard.edu/4yr/]Juilliard[/url”>4th Year Drama Class | The Juilliard School]Juilliard[/url</a>]
[url=<a href=“http://www.danedehaan.com/FinalVersion/ShowcaseNY.html]NCSA[/url”>http://www.danedehaan.com/FinalVersion/ShowcaseNY.html]NCSA[/url</a>]</p>

<p>Most are at least moderately attractive like working professional actors you’ll find in most venues of the theatre world. I see that there are an abundance blue-eyed brunettes amongst the women this year, but they’re all otherwise different. I don’t see anything “cookie cutter.” </p>

<p>Just be advised that you’re likely to hear such things and take it for what it is. Be like me, respond “Yuh huh,” and let it go at that. And … if you’re already a student - or God forbid one of the guilty faculty members -, realize that saying such things can have a reverse effect. It’s so … cookie cutter! ;)</p>

3

<p>Thank you to fishbowlfreshman for setting up a new thread for this next cycle of theater/drama/acting applicants. This ongoing discussion has been on CC for years and has certainly earned a Part 12 by now. For those new to this forum, sit back and spend some hours reading through Parts 1-11 and you’ll learn a real lot from the many valued contributers to this forum/thread.</p>

4

<p>Fishbowlfreshman, I noticed that the links to senior showcase included 3 of the 4 schools in the Consortium of Professional Theatre Training Programs?</p>

<p>Was there a link to SUNY Purchase Senior Showcase? I can’t seem to find one.</p>

<p>There’s not alot of info shared on the boards about Purchase, yet aren’t they still considered one of the top acting conservatories? I believe they showcase their seniors along with Julliard, CMU and NCSA but it’s odd that they wouldn’t have a flashy senior showcase website like the others?</p>

5

<p>^ I couldn’t find a site for the Purchase showcase, but I definitely would have linked it if had. Boston U is also a member of the Consortium and I couldn’t find one for them, either.</p>

6

<p>^Boston U is a former member of the Consortium I believe. It’s an excellent theatre school from what I hear. I’ll ask Purchase at my son’s Freshman orientation in July why they don’t have a senior showcase website.</p>

7

<p>According to NCSA’s site, BU is in the Consortium with NCSA, Purchase, and CMU and holds off campus auditions in conjunction with the other schools. </p>

<p>By the way, not all schools post their showcase seniors on a site. I know that my D’s school, Tisch, does not.</p>

<p>Fishbowl…I have to laugh along with your post because I am also constantly baffled by the many posters from some schools who make claims that THEIR school doesn’t train and turn out “cookie cutter” performers as if some other schools do. I am not sure what a cookie cutter performer is but most programs I am familiar with, including the one my own kid attends, works with individuals, and those individuals are all very different from one another in their type, skill sets, strengths, and looks. But I am seeing many posts about these claims that “we don’t train and turn out cookie cutter performers like XX schools do!”</p>

8

<p>Hello!</p>

<p>I happened across this site while searching for schools. I’ve read through the forums, and I’ve got some questions that I’d like to ask, since everyone here seems to have a better grasp of what they’re doing than I do. :)</p>

<p>I’m a junior (just finished my sophomore year last week), and I definitely plan to pursue an acting degree, preferably a BFA. I’ve made a tentative list of schools, in no particular order: NYU Tisch (probably my first choice), Boston U, Northwestern, Carnegie Mellon, Juilliard, Columbia, Vassar, Skidmore, Sarah Lawrence, Eugene Lang, and Bennington.</p>

<p>Academically, I think I’m okay. I took the ACT for the first time last October with no preparation and scored a 30, and will prep extensively to hopefully raise my score the next time; I’ll take the SAT as soon as possible. I’ve already taken some AP classes, and will continue to take as many as I can in the next two years. In addition, my family has almost no income, so I am in good standing for need-based financial aid.</p>

<p>The issue is that my theatrical education is limited by my situation. I’m the president of the forensics (competitive drama and debate) team – I spend most of my time preparing for competitions, as it is my passion. In addition, I try to be in every show my school does. However, I have no other training. I live in a relatively small town in Oklahoma, where theater doesn’t exactly flourish. I also have absolutely no means of going to summer theater institutes like NYU or CMU, unless I can get scholarships that pay for absolutely everything, incuding transportation.</p>

<p>I can definitely say that I have the drive to pursue acting in college and beyond; I’m just afraid that I’m unprepared, and I have no idea how to get started.</p>

<p>Basically, what can I do to better my chances of being admitted to the schools I listed? Are there colleges I’ve overlooked? Am I on the right track, or do I need to do more?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

9

<p>And all that jazz</p>

<p>You sound wonderfully prepared if attitude and work ethic were all, and certainly that is a large part of being competitive. Others on this site may have better advice but I’ll put in a few thoughts:
There are summer programs that have scholarships, I know for a fact CalARts summer institutes do, I’ve written letters of rec for students wanting to attend, they all got the scholarships Travel $ can be earned this summer if you have a job, plan for next summer. Just one summer program in a large metropolitan area can expose you to a higher standard of work that would be enriching, so don’t give up on that idea.
Even in small town you can educate yourself very well. I always recommend reading at least one play of each great American playwright, including absurdist pieces such as Ionesco, very inspiring. Many stage performances can be gotten on DVD or video, or online if you search. I’ve ordered them from the main library in LA, it takes a while but they can be transferred locally. Short of a trip to NYC, it’s a great way to learn from major stage actors.
I also suggest reading books by and about proven acting teachers such as Uta Hagan and Stella Adler. PM me and I can give you a more complete list of ideas.</p>

10

<p>You might want to look at UArts, too. I’ve heard that their theater program’s quite good.</p>

11

<p>andallthatjazz,</p>

<p>Jbinca has given good advice, but I’ll add a little.</p>

<p>There are some other things you can do to prepare yourself for when you do find a teacher. Work on your body and voice which will be a big part of your training. Are there any Tai Chi or yoga classes available to you? If not, check at your local library and see if they have any instructional videos. Dance, gymnastics and martial arts will also be a big help. Also, check around and see if there are any good voice/singing teachers around. Even if you’re not a natural singer, taking lessons can go a long way towards helping you with diction, proper breathing and projection. Maybe look into this at your local churches. There are a lot of choir directors with Masters degress and whatnot who would be well qualified to help you with the basics in that area.</p>

<p>Don’t give up on finding a good acting coach in your area, either. Remember that there are a lot of trained actors around who now do something else or may have moved to where you live through a spouse being transferred for work etc. Ask around. You might be surprised what you find.</p>

<p>As for seeing plays, there’s a nice free resource available on YouTube right now. Look up Shakespeareandmore. He/she has loaded a bunch of classic plays in film format. Many of those are from the BBC collections and feature some now legendary British actors having a go at the classics in their younger years. We’re talking people like Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Judy Dench, the Redgraves … Check it out. There’s some good stuff there.</p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

12

<p>Thanks so much to all who gave advice. It’s all incredibly helpful!</p>

13

<p>Hello, All! And first, as a Mom of a 2009 grad about to apply, thank you, thank you, thank you for these threads. We are just about to head out on college tours (leave the 23rd for NYC and Boston.) My daughter is at a public arts emphasis high school in San Diego and has been taking acting/voice since 6th grade both in school and at a local repertory theatre. She has the bug, bless her. Both being lawyers (blech) we encourage our daughters to do something that gives them joy. My daughter has a 3.87 unweighted and a 4.03 weighted. SAT is 1730 combined. She is going to try again. (Math not her friend or mine… I always tell her the limit of my math skills is thinking in quarter hours to bill. haha…) </p>

<p>Last week, we had the pleasure of sitting in on the Carnegie Mellon presentation in Pasadena and she was quite taken with the school. We won’t be able to get to Pittsburgh this summer, though. Her application list so far is as follows: UCLA, USC, Juilliard, NYU Tisch, Carnegie Mellon, BU, Emerson, NCSA, UConn, CCM (drama), UCSD, UCI, SF State. We may add U Minn. We will visit UCLA, USC, UCI, Juilliard, NYU, BU, & Emerson this summer.</p>

<p>Any glaring omissions? I told her after college visits, I want her to narrow it down. Here are some more stats on my daughter. She has won two National Youth Theatre awards. She was in the La Jolla Playhouse Conservatory. She has been on the stage of the Old Globe. She has a great singing voice, but isn’t planning to do musical theatre. She has done countless plays in school and at a local community rep, studied with instructors from Univ. of CA San Diego, San Diego Opera, La Jolla Playhouse, etc. People tell me she is very good, but I’m a lawyer… What do I know?</p>

<p>Also, any thoughts on how best to use our time in NYC and Boston and at those schools? (love Boston…)</p>

<p>Thanks for everything and keep those posts coming!</p>

<p>Chrissy</p>

14

<p>Don’t forget Purchase…if you like Juilliard, NCSA, it’s training/environment is very much the same style…and it’s up there with those two in prestige & competitiveness.</p>

15

<p>Chrissyblu,
I second Purchase and recommend taking the train ride north for a visit when you’ve in the city. You might also want to take the ride south to visit Rutgers/Mason Gross while you’re there if your daughter thinks she might want a low Gen Ed/high contact hour conservatory type environment. I believe they have a slight math requirement, but understand it to be fairly easy to test out of. Since you’re from Cali, I assume she has already for some reason ruled out CalArts, but I understand that to be a very good program as well.</p>

16

<p>Chrissyblu, let me tell you what we learned this year: Find out as much as possible about all the schools (SUNY Purchase is Awesome) but find out as much as you can about your D, too!</p>

<p>Her grades are good, her SATs pretty good, her experience vast. But what does she want, and how will she thrive, at a college? Your list has names in all levels of prestige, ease/difficulty in getting in, combinations of conservatories and liberal arts schools, etc.</p>

<p>Find out about the conservatory experience at various schools and determine if your D would blossom or wither in that environment. Are there cuts, are there performance opportunities, does this matter to her?</p>

<p>We had to understand that although our S was not that academic, he wanted a degree, and though he got into one of the more difficult schools to get into, on audition, he could not succeed there. So, we had to triangulate, and then, choose, from schools that had all different ranges.</p>

<p>We chose MMC, because he would get a degree, have a huge amount of support, some academics without their being excessively demanding, and an intensive, audition-based BFA program in New York City.</p>

<p>So, ultimately, you and your daughter need to assess who she is, what she wants, and bottom line, where she would thrive. Enjoy the search!</p>

17

<p>thanks, All… </p>

<p>Little bit of ignorance here, so pardon me…</p>

<p>Cal Arts. I have heard this before but no nothing about it. Can someone fill me in? Sorry for sounding ignorant.</p>

<p>MMC? I may not be familiar with the initials. Where? What? Info? </p>

<p>I heard that SUNY Purchase was more difficult to get in that Juilliard even…My daughter had some friends who tried for it, but didn’t get in.</p>

<p>My daughter is doing that pondering process right now. She had a heart to heart with her drama teacher (who teaches at UCSD as well) and he is pushing her towards less of a conservatory and more of a general program, telling her she probably would want to get a masters anyway. One thing she liked about CMU was that they require you, nearly every term, to take a “non drama elective.” This would give her a chance to study things like psychology and history outside of drama programs. She does like that. But, as you can tell, the idea that she would never have to take math again is a big plus for her (ha ha.) </p>

<p>As for performance opportunity, she does understand most programs don’t let you do anything till Junior year. This will be hard for her, but she can deal with it. She does says she “isn’t alive” unless she is on stage (drama queen…) Performance will be big for her. She has also just started directing and really enjoyed it. She doesn’t want to give up acting for it,but will look for some program that gives her a chance to work on directing.</p>

<p>We are heading over to UCI tomorrow to check it out. This is Dad’s idea… USC is on the 23rd before we head to NYC/Boston. Then UCLA on July 8th. Our days are pretty full, but I’m interesting in seeing if we can pack anything else in…</p>

18

<p>Chrissyblu, sorry, when I edited the post I took out the original reference, leaving the initials. Marymount Manhattan College in, well, Manhattan…</p>

<p>CalArts is in Valencia, just south of Tejon pass off 5. (Fellow Californian, here!) It is very hard to get in to, as is SUNY Purchase. </p>

<p>Some schools do have lots of performance opportunities for freshmen and sophomores, others don’t. MMC does, so do many others. But some don’t… Bears a great deal if investigation. </p>

<p>Finally, check out the musical theater threads on this site. There is an incredible amount of info there, even for an actor non-musical theater.</p>

19

<p>Chrissyblu,
CalArts is also know for being very “cutting edge” in their approach to theatre. Some may like that but others might be uncomfortable. If she considers it, she really should visit. Purchase isn’t harder to get into than Juilliard percentage-wise, but not much easier. We’re talking the difference between like a 1 and 2% admit rate to my knowledge. Then, all the top BFAs are really difficult odds although it sounds like your daughter’s experience and prior training are actually somewhat better than par for the course compared to many entering those programs. </p>

<p>Also, considering what you’ve said about what your D wants in a program, I’d now recommend that she look into SMU, Otterbein, U. Evansville and maybe Chapman. UM Guthrie also sounds like it might be a good fit as long as she doesn’t suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder like I sometimes do even in a temperate climate. :)</p>

<p>I just looked back at the state BA programs that she is considering. I assume you realize that UCSD and UCI are two of the absolute top of the popper MFA programs. In considering those, she needs to look closely at what quality performance opportunities there really might be for undergraduates at those programs. A lot of the time at that type of school, the major mainstage roles will literally be reserved for the MFA students leaving the undergraduates playing a very distant second fiddle if they play at all regardless of how well they auditioned. Also do a BS check no matter what you’re told by the departments. Look at their programs for the past several years and see how many undergraduates have actually been cast and in what roles. I know that the State U at which I spent second semester of my freshman year flat out lies to potential undergraduate students about their entire policy on that. I was already “in” with the local professional scene so it wouldn’t have mattered much to me had I stayed, but my chances of getting anything major on the school’s mainstage were pretty much nil. I suppose it might not matter as much with your D at UCSD since she has already worked a lot locally. Would she still be able to do plays outside of school if enrolled as a student there? Are those high quality productions?</p>

<p>As far as the rest … </p>

<p>Realize in picking between the various paths and types of programs that there really isn’t a perfect answer. We Americans in general like to think we can have everything and that extends to drama training as well. We can’t! No matter which path you choose, you’re going to come up wanting in some area. So, I’m gonna rant a little … not at anyone in particular but just because I feel ranty today. ;)</p>

<p>Suppose you get a BA and follow it up with an MFA like many in the educational theatre establishment recommend … You have the best balance you can have in the US between education and professional training. You should be the ultimate optimally trained actor, but guess what? In most cases you’re going to be too damned old to be starting a career! Twenty five is ancient to be starting - especially if you have any interest at all in doing commercial work. Moreover, you probably won’t be twenty-five, anyway. Many of the better MFAs now prefer to take students who have been out of school for awhile because they not only want to see a great education, but more life experience, so that leaves you what … twenty-seven to thirty and God only knows how deep in debt before you first start beating the streets looking for work? Normal people are married and popping babies by then!</p>

<p>Now let’s suppose you compromise and choose to attend a liberal arts college/university BFA. Okay. You’ll get get something of a balance between the liberal arts and professional training. You’ll know enough about some random subjects to hang yourself and in acquiring that knowledge, you’ll also miss out on some of the training you could have gotten in an MFA or a BFA conservatory because of that evil old ticking thing we call “time.” Twenty-four hours in a day, right? Your body needs to spend at least seven of those hours sleeping in your late teens and early twenties, too. It should be enough to potentially get you some work in light drama and commercial work if you have the right look, though. Just don’t expect to be ready to play Chekhov with the big dogs … but that’s okay. Maybe you don’t have any desire to reach that level. If you change your mind, you can still take three years off to get an MFA and be too old. LOL</p>

<p>Now we come to what I do … A BFA conservatory. You’ll be trained to the level of someone with an MFA, but what will you have if you don’t come in already possessing a decent amount of education and some life experience outside the parents’ nest? Empty technique? “Highly polished, but sterile?” “Hollow?” “Shallow?” Those are all criticisms I’ve seen of graduates of my own program and some others like it and, in all honesty, I can see the validity although there have been and are notable exceptions. I mean, how do you dig deep with no ground beneath your feet?</p>

<p>So … No perfect answers. Pick your poison. Just know which poison you’re picking and which parts will hurt when it kills you.</p>

<p>Obviously, I’m no final authority on this. I’m just a dumb conservatory student, but maybe it’ll spark some of the truly knowledgable faculty people to start participating here again before I do any serious damage. :)</p>

20

<p>Fishbowl: You sound like an incredibly intelligent freshman to me… where are you now? I’m impressed at your wisdom. I’d like to know what Conservatory has thoughtful folk like you…</p>

<p>Checkbook mom… thanks for the insight. I’ll have her check out the CalArts and I know where you are talking about, location wise… I have really lived this whole state…I can see a trip to Sam French in LA, staying at Grandma’s, and then a ride up North to see CalArts in our future.</p>

<p>Chrissy</p>