<p>Which schools, in your opinion, work heavily on all three areas of singing, acting, dance and turn out talented triple threats?</p>
<p>I know that CCM is one of them and they are famous for that, but which other ones should we look at if that is what we want in college? Thanks</p>
<p>Elon! Many graduates are working, particularly in national tours.</p>
<p>Having just seen ericsmom’s son, Eric, ( lol ) a couple weeks ago in his tour of Chorus Line, I can attest that he, who is an Elon graduate, certainly is proof that they turn out some well trained, amazing artists.</p>
<p>Syracuse. Three alums currently in the ACL tour with Eric, and other grads on tour with Fiddler, Spamalot, The Grinch; other grads in the Bway productions of West Side and Shrek which closed recently; another in Wicked; and lots more with great credits!</p>
<p>My daughter is a freshman MT at Syracuse and is receiving great training in all areas. Unlike some other programs, Syracuse let her take advanced dance classes so that she could keep up her dance skills. She will be working for 10 weeks this summer in upstate NY at a summer playhouse, earning money and equity credit as ensemble and as understudy for the lead in one of the shows. She had to turn down another offer to be in the Producers in Albany. I am thrilled with Syracuse and can’t imagine she could have done any better somewhere else!</p>
<p>Chiming in for BoCo…my D has at least one dance class each day and is always doing new scenes in her acting class and new songs in other classes. Emphasis is on the performing arts…not many gen ed classes. Nick Adams (in Priscilla) and Derek St. Pierre (late of Rock of Ages) are triple threats for sure!</p>
<p>Cannot imagine being enrolled in a BFA MT program and them NOT training you as a triple threat…duh!</p>
<p>Don’t dismiss BA MT majors either. Although there are more gen ed requirements than a BFA, both she and I are firm believers of “life is what you make it”. My D should have most of her gen eds done sometime in her sophmore year and will concentrate soley on theater, voice and dance from then on. She will be able to graduate a semester early if she keeps up at this pace. Even with the gen eds, she is taking every opportunity to perform, audit dance classes, audition in NYC/Philly and network with professionals in the Philadelphia area. She feels that you need to be a self motivated type of individual in this business so has taken it upon herself to explore every opportunity to be educated as a “triple threat” and as a smart, well rounded actor. I’m kinda proud of her! :)</p>
<p>I agree with theatrelver… MT is the combined talents of a triple threat.</p>
<p>At Marymount Manhattan we have morning dance for an hour and a half 5 days per week. 2 ballet, 2 jazz, 2 tap. On top of all of our other MT courses. One of our current students is on the ACL tour right now as well, and that is just one of the many current students/alums that are working!</p>
<p>If any of these programs did NOT train you as a triple threat, I would be concerned about the program!</p>
<p>LOL theatrelvr!! I believe the whole basis of mt is to be a triple threat!</p>
<p>I actually chuckled when I read the question at the top of this thread. The answer is: any good MT training program concentrates on all three areas. My kid is at NYU Tisch in the CAP21 studio and has an equal number of dance, singing and acting classes.</p>
<p>I agree with the last 3 posters! But I have heard there are some programs out there which do not focus equally on all areas – so it’s good to know about the ones that do!</p>
<p>I think the term triple-threat is used too freely today. Triple threat use to mean that when you graduated you were capable of booking jobs as either a dancer, actor or singer. Not just someone who are just good at all three. To be a true triple threat you need to be great at all three. The biggest gap/difference between most BFA MT programs is the dance portion. In order to be a good triple threat producing school you need great dance program.</p>
<p>Elon produces some of the best musical theatre actors I’ve ever seen. The acting faculty is excellent.</p>
<p>Very astute observation from beenthereMTdad. I am not going to be drawn into naming programs - I have too many friends that teach at too many of these schools and can not afford to offend by omission. But, I will agree that many schools have fine vocals and acting and the missing element is dance quality. The quality of a program has not only to do with instruction - but the level of instruction. Simply having courses listed does not alone make for quality acting, dancing, or singing. This is why I am so very much in favor of on-sight visits and possibly seeing performances at schools you are seriously considering - buyer beware!</p>
<p>I agree with mtdog and beenthere – every school is going to claim to train triple threats, and every student/parent is going to vouch for the triple-threatedness of their program. I agree with mtdog that just having the courses listed isn’t enough – but it is a good start. I am amazed that there are MT programs where students don’t study private voice every semester, or don’t dance every semester - I would think those would be a bare minimum, with acting every year as well. There are schools where basic musicianship (theory/keyboard skills) are valued, others where they are non-existent, or unimportant. I think looking at whether dance classes are leveled is important to someone who is entering with a solid dance background.
If you are fortunate enough to live where it is possible to visit some of your prospective schools before deciding to apply and observe classes/see shows, I would highly recommend that. If you are fortunate enough to have choices to make after your audition results are in, trying to visit for the same purpose can be very telling.</p>
<p>Dance was the main reason we chose Point Park… and MT’s do have private voice…</p>
<p>Like the guys after me said, check out the dance classes. Especially the advanced dance classes. If they don’t blow you away, I think you may have your answer. That is even if you are a top dog, dancing since birth, ballet tap and jazz dancing fool. </p>
<p>One of the criteria my daughter had, even though she was a skilled dancer was that she did not qualify for the advanced level. There were several triple threat schools we visited that she felt she could have taught the classes. She decided to go to Boco where she did not reach the advanced until junior year. AND even though she is in the advanced jazz classes with Michelle Chasse, there is still one more level, seniors with a dance emphasis.</p>