<p>Hi, I would like to major in Musical Theatre, but I would like to be able to act in dramatic roles for professional plays . Will AEA and directors take me seriously for a role?</p>
<p>I’m not sure why everyone thinks this… majoring in musical theater just means you will develop a larger skill set, and that’s a good thing. Just because you can sing and dance doesn’t mean you can’t act dramatically- directors know that.</p>
<p>Thanks. It’s just not that clear even with help. If I do major in MT then I will just take some extra acting classes or private lessons just in case. Are there any good MT programs with a good acting portion of it? Sorry if this is overasked</p>
<p>Any “good” MT program should have a large acting component, and that’s why I chose the program that I will be attending next year- it is strongly based in building “actors who can sing and dance” rather than the other way around. The only way to find out which program is best suited to your goals is to do some research.</p>
<p>mema123’s point is well taken. There are very real differences in the structure of many MT programs regarding how time is allocated between acting, singing and dance. If the MT program is through a music department as opposed to a theater department, the difference in structure can be even greater because of the time many music department based programs may allocate to music classes. In addition, there can be significant differences between the acting components even at schools that seem to give the same weight to acting. At some programs, acting in the MT program is an entirely separate structure and curriculum with different instructors from acting in the acting program. At others, acting and MT students take the same acting classes but not with each other and at others, acting and MT students take the same core acting studio classes together with the same instructors. It’s very important to look closely at the structure of the curriculum at each MT program you are considering so that you really understand its balance and approach to acting and whether it will provide you with the acting opportunities and training you desire.</p>
<p>As an example, at my daughter’s school, acting and MT students take the same core acting studio classes together 6-7 hours a week for 3 years. Acting and MT students all audition for the same shows - both musicals and straight dramas. The acting and MT programs are very integrated in that regard. They even take a couple of the same speech and movement classes with the same instructors but these may not be mixed classes. They differentiate with the MT students also taking many classes on acting songs and the specialized needs of MT performing while acting students take additional specialized acting classes not available to MT students. Then, of course, the MT students take a lot of classes involving singing. To fit this all in, the mandated dance classes for MT students are limited to 2-3 classes a week (although students can elect to take more). Acting students can, however, take a minor in MT. The bottom line is that there is a lot of overlap in the programs. This approach is very different than what might be found at other schools. You need to ask a load of questions to make sure a program’s balance and approach meets your needs and desires.</p>
<p>Hooke - you have gotten some good advice above as to evaluating different MT programs to acquire the best training and preparation in acting. To answer the last sentence of your question honestly - there is a prejudice. You will run into Directors that believe that MT actors are not “real actors” and if they look at a resume full of musical performances may not give you a break. I personally feel that graduating from college with a resume that includes experience in straight acting and musicals is the best as you have expanded the possibilities of getting jobs. </p>
<p>Now at the risk of this thread going for 40 pages arguing how and why MT performers are “real actors” or beating me over the head let me state for the record I do think successful MT actors are “real actors” who additionally sing and dance. I’m just pointing out to Hooke the reality that if he has heard there is a bias in the industry he is correct.</p>
<p>There is a prejudice I think, but it depends on the school you go to. If you graduate from say CMU or a program with a similar structure, you would have gotten the same core acting classes (which includes speech, movement, and voice in addition to the acting), so you will be taken seriously as a straight actor.<br>
But I know of someone who graduated from another one of the big name MT schools who wouldn’t be taken seriously at auditions for straight plays and film/tv, so they are currently in grad school pursuing an MFA. Their school where they got their BFA in MT is AMAZING for MT, but the acting training they got there was very minimal…just enough so they could do MT acting, but not enough to prepare them for Shakespeare, etc. There are many wonderful MT schools out there that will prepare you just for that, but oftentimes do not include the full range of voice, speech, and movement that is necessary to study in addition to acting to be fully prepared to act in straight plays. Lots of times, voice and speech is replaced with singing and movement is replaced with dance. Or sometimes you will get some of those classes, but only every now and then…not every semester.
My advice for you is to look into MT programs with a heavy emphasis on acting where you would basically take the exact same courses as the actors, but will just have extra dance and singing/music classes. Also look into straight acting programs that have singing and dance in their curriculum. UNCSA, for example, graduates some wonderful MT performers even though it is straight acting program. I attended their showcase recently and was really impressed by the kids who sang as well. And there’s the other option…go get your BFA at an MT school and then go back to school to get an MFA in acting after. That is what I would had done if I had decided to go to one of my MT options.</p>
<p>Just throwing another scenario out there that my D did…at Tisch, you can study in more than one studio during your four years. She did five semesters in the MT studio and three semesters in an Acting studio. Also, her MT studio taught voice/speech (for acting). Just another option that exists.</p>