<p>Hi! I’m applying this fall and plan to major in theater. I’ve been looking at schools, and I’m not interested in a lot of the popular choices for theater majors. I find that a lot of programs are focused on preparing students for professional theater, and often emphasize method acting, aspects which I’m personally not interested in. </p>
<p>I’m more interested in programs that are more experimental, emphasize movement, and provide a lot of opportunities for creating original and devised works (especially collaboratively).</p>
<p>I’m looking at Eugene Lang, NYU Tisch, SLC, Fordham, and Vassar. I’m hella into what their drama programs offer, but I have a few C’s on my transcript (~3.35 GPA, challenging classes though) and I know all of those are reaches.</p>
<p>I also love the sound of Coastal Carolina’s physical theater program, but the location isn’t ideal to me. I’d prefer to be in CA where I live now, or near NYC or Seattle (as you can see from my list above, I’m having the best luck with NY schools). </p>
<p>I don’t care if I’m in a BA or BFA program. Of course I want to spend most of my time in college doing theater, but I can be perfectly happy in a BA program at a liberal arts school, as long as I’m working on cool stuff. </p>
<p>Can anyone recommend some other schools I should check out that might fit me? Thanks!</p>
<p>YOu may have to broaden your location if you want something so specific and your grades are not stellar (eg Swarthmore and Williams both focus on the more experimental side, but such schools would be far reach for you, it sounds like). That is, if you restrict location, you may find it much more difficult to get into a program you like. You mention Coastal Carolina–it has a fabulous physical theatre course of study. I realize the location is not what you might want, but honestly, if I were you, I’d broaden my locations in order to get the program that suited me best. At least you have a very clear idea of what you want, which is more than many students!</p>
<p>Take a look at Sarah Lawrence. It’s a wonderful school, just outside Manhattan, and the theater program definitely leans towards experimental. And it sounds like it would be in the right academic range. Also Hampshire. Doesn’t meet your geographic criteria but would meet your other requirements.</p>
<p>Not a degree granting college program for undergrad, but terrific training – [Dell’Arte</a> - Official Site - Home](<a href=“http://www.dellarte.com%5DDell’Arte”>http://www.dellarte.com). You might be able to take course at Humboldt State as well and eventually earn an undergraduate degree.</p>
<p>You may also want to check out the program at Towson. The graduate program is more specifically “experimentally” based… but the undergraduate program has multiple courses in experimental/ physical theatre as well. <a href=“http://www.towson.edu/[/url]”>http://www.towson.edu/</a> Also in Towson, MD is Goucher, which might be worth a look. [Goucher</a> College: Transcending Boundaries](<a href=“http://www.goucher.edu/]Goucher”>http://www.goucher.edu/)</p>
<p>I’ve heard good things about Goucher, in Baltimore. Also, look at what different schools offer in terms of studying abroad - you might have an opportunity to work with some very exciting programs overseas.</p>
<p>CalArts is DEFINITELY the school for you. Their whole entire approach is towards experimental and physical theatre. And they do not care at all what your grades are because it’s an art school. I am most likely headed there in the Fall so feel free to message me if you have any questions about the program.</p>
<p>I normally avoid saying anything directly about my own program. But. Coastal Carolina University is the only BFA in Physical Theatre offered in the U.S. It is a popular way to train outside of the states, but only now is starting to get traction here. Our program spends three years on campus and one year in Italy studying with the Accademia dell"Arte. There, the students will study in Arezzo but will also take master classes in Milan and Paris as well as likely travel to Turkey to present a devised physical theatre piece. If you want a degree in Physical Theatre, CCU is a strong option. </p>
<p>KatMT did put up other training options. I can add dozens internationally to that list. If you are really interested in a taste of Physical Theatre on the west coast, I would highly recommend the Clown Conservatory at the Circus Center of San Francisco. The director of that program is a fantastic teacher and his company is amazing. They are currently travelling the summer circuit in Europe (based in Essex.) </p>
<p>PM me if you have questions about physical theatre at all. Or, put them up here and I’ll do my best to answer. This is my passion, and why I started the program at CCU.</p>
<p>One major alternative to the Lee Strasberg “method” (which you are saying you are not interested in) is the more Chicago approach which is based ultimately on ideas from Viola Spolin. I suggest you might want to contact some Chicago schools and see if that is more what you are looking for.</p>
<p>Don’t be too shy when you contact a school to come right out and ask “What is the theoretical basis of your acting training? Is it Strasberg method, or something else?”</p>
<p>Schools with substantial physical training (as in, Alexander, Linklater, Williamson, Chekhov techniques as well as yoga, tai chi, required dance, etc):
Juilliard
Northern Illinois University
UNSCA
BU
University of the Arts</p>
<p>This is off the top of my head and meant to lead you to do your own research. Look up the curriculum of the schools you’re interested in.</p>
<p>The University of Utah’s Actor Training Program is heavily movement based and Alexander technique-based. They do extensive work in multiple styles of theatre and movement including Butoh, Noh, Tai Chi, yoga, and stage combat. A member of their faculty, Jerry Gardner, is a Butoh specialist and runs his own dance company as well as being a meditation specialist (he was ordained as a Lama) and Christopher DuVal recently joined the faculty and is an expert in stage combat. If you search youtube, you can find a lot of the movement work they do.</p>