Leading non-audition schools

<p>I have read many lists of the top MT scholls all of which require auditions. My daughter is a senior and we are going through the audition process now. Maybe I haven't looked hard enough, but what are some of the leading MT programs that don't require an audition. Are there any?</p>

<p>My S is a junior and we're in the exploration stage. Since I really don't know how his "talent" fares against others, I've been researching potential non-audition schools. His focus is acting, not MT.</p>

<p>What seems to be true so far is that the non-audtion schools have BA programs (not BFA) or they have a non-audition BA as well as a BFA which is by audition. The non-audition schools I have found thus far really don't have MT programs. They tend to be liberal arts schools with strong academics. My S's academics are not impressive (B student) and so it's been discouraging to try to develop a back-up plan if he does not gain admission via the audition route.</p>

<p>Here's the list of non-audition schools in the North and Midwest I've found (don't know if they have MT in addition to their BA):</p>

<p>Columbia College, IL
Indiana U.
Avila U., Missouri
U. of New Hampshire
Marietta College, OH
W. Virginia wesleyan College
Drew U., NJ
Goucher College, MD
Wesleyan U., CT
Muhlenberg College, PA (produce 3 musicals during the summertime)
Catholic U., Washington DC
Brandeis, MA</p>

<p>Elliottsmom,</p>

<p>Also look into University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and DePaul. They have both BAs in theatre/acting along with BFAs (auditions).</p>

<p>SUE</p>

<p>For a kid who wants musical theater but not a BFA program (or even if going for a BFA program but to have other options)...there are not many BA degrees specificially in MT per se but there are several schools where the theater department, plus other organizations on campus do lots in musical theater. Some of these BA's have optional or required auditions and many have none. Again, I am talking about a kid interested in musical theater but the list would be even more extensive if you are thinking of acting. </p>

<p>Some ideas for you to explore:</p>

<p>Sarah Lawrence (BA Theater, but interdisciplinary with theater, music, dance, has singing workshop and musical theater lab)</p>

<p>Brandeis (BA Theater, has acting and dance, and puts on some musicals)</p>

<p>Skidmore College (BA Theater, has interdepartmental major in dance/theater, and can self design a major that combines with music, and there are student run musicals each semester)</p>

<p>Goucher College (BA Theater, which you can combine with a major in music, and they have strong dance there too)</p>

<p>Muhlenberg (BA in Theater, including Performance, has high quality MT training, can major in Theater Performance and minor in Dance or Vocal Performance, put on musicals every semester, lots of dance available, has Summer Musical Theater Program that includes Equity actors and students who put on musicals) OPTIONAL AUDITION.</p>

<p>American University (BA in Musical Theater, OPTIONAL AUDITION into the major as an applicant)</p>

<p>Wagner College (BA in Theater Performance with a MT emphasis, BY AUDITION)</p>

<p>Fordham University (BA Theater Performance, can supplement with dance courses at Alvin Ailey and vocal training at The Singer's Forum, BY AUDITION)</p>

<p>Drew (BA in Theater, London semeter, NYC semester, puts on some musicals)</p>

<p>Indiana University (BA in Theater and Drama with significant MT opportunities, adding BFA program starting fall of 2007)</p>

<p>ALSO, for excellent students, these schools have theater departments and numerous campus theater activities where students do participate in musicals:
Yale
Brown
Tufts
Vassar
Cornell</p>

<p>I hope you find this helpful. Take a look at these options.
Susan</p>

<p>I'm applying to Sarah Lawrence and Muhlenberg as my BA non-auditions just in case, and they both sound great and reputable. Another school that doesn't offer MT (but offers jazz/pop), and doesn't have an audition, but is reputable, is Berklee College of Music.</p>

<p>TCU (Texas Christian University) offers a BFA in theatre with an emphasis in musical theatre and does not require an audition. My son is applying. We really like the head of the theatre dept.</p>

<p>Of the schools on Susan's list (and hopefully she knows that I think she is the best authority out there on all of these things!), we have visited 4 of them, as follows:</p>

<p>Cornell - beautiful campus, great liberal arts, we heard good things about theatre program</p>

<p>Indiana - we are very impressed, and my son has already applied</p>

<p>Sarah Lawrence - highly ranked in all the fine and performing arts areas, but their theatre person told us that they only do straight theatre and no musicals, so it may be hard to really combine them</p>

<p>Goucher - known for its great dance (I think ballet and modern), good music, good theatre, but the theatre only does musicals through student run productions, unless that has changed</p>

<p>Ericsmom, that's just the kind of input we need...people who have visited (or even attended) so that there is first hand information so I appreciate your sharing and adding that. The thing is, there are very few BA in MT programs but what I am looking into are any theater programs where there are SOME courses or SOME productions in the dept. that are musicals, or at the least student run musicals available (along with studying acting/theater). Even at Skidmore, for instance, the musicals are student run by what I believe is called Cabaret Troupe. </p>

<p>It is good to learn if at Sarah Lawrence, the theater person said they do not put on musicals. This I was unsure of. However, their theater program mentions it being interdisciplinary with theater, music, dance, acting, directing, playwriting and that it is conservatory in style. I saw in their list of courses that they have a Singing Workshop and a Musical Theater Lab. This is nothing like a degree in MT but it is at least some offerings in the field compared to some theater departments where there are none. It is not ideal or not quite like a MT Program but that will be hard to find in a BA degree. So, one must look for either departments that have some offerings or combined degrees or at least an active theater scene on campus that includes musicals. </p>

<p>For Goucher, that very well may be so that the musicals are just student run productions. I haven't seen their productions but at many colleges, the student run musicals are nothing to sneeze about. So, at least there are musicals anyway, whereas some places, again, have none. There is no way it will be like a BFA program in this specialty. Their site mentions being able to combine the theater major with one in music. I know they are strong in dance at that college so perhaps someone could piece together a degree and courses to fulfill this interest in this specialty in a liberal arts setting. </p>

<p>Indiana is a better option that way. But also it is a totally different kind of school than Sarah Lawrence and Goucher (or Cornell for that matter) and so certain options fit certain kinds of kids. My girls' good friend from home is in Indiana for this field, having not been accepted to the BFA programs and I do encourage Indiana as a great option for those looking at a BA program with no audition where one can do a bunch with MT. Getting in academically is also not that hard and would be a safety for stronger students. </p>

<p>I really recommend checking out Muhlenberg though. This semester they are doing Cabaret. My D has a good friend who has done LOTS of theater and training and 9 years at Stagedoor who did not go for BFA degrees but Muhlenberg was her first choice and she is now attending. </p>

<p>NewMTMom wrote a bunch last spring about her D not getting into a BFA program but getting into American which also even has a BA degree IN musical theater. </p>

<p>These options are not going to be like a BFA program but certainly are good options for those seeking to study this field in a liberal arts setting. </p>

<p>I also know many very strong students who are superb at MT who have chosen to not even audition for BFA programs and want a broader education as an undergraduate. Some of these kids would be VERY strong contenders for a BFA degree. I can think of a boy who has played several leads at my D's summer program and also has done professional theater and he is looking at some top schools in the country but not necessarily BFA degrees but some of these schools are extremely strong in theater as well as having very active theater scenes on campus in terms of production opportunities. I can say that about Brown where my daughter attends. I know several theater kids who have chosen to attend. My D said that the parents of the boy who played Jekyll/Hyde with my other D this past summer, have contacted her at Brown about Brown. I know kids who have been very accomplished in MT who are now at Yale. Same with Tufts and Vassar. One of my D's theater camp roomies who went there for 9 years and played many leads there and at home is now at Cornell where she applied ED (did not go for BFA programs). So, not all kids are opting for a BFA because they WANT a BA (and then there are some others who may not be competitive for a BFA) either and there are some schools worth looking into where there are some good possibilities for study/training and performing. </p>

<p>I do think that Indiana is a strong option for your son as "back up" and is one he (and others) might be happy at if not doing a BFA. I also would put Muhlenberg out there in a similar fashion though a very different type setting.</p>

<p>If you're willing to go as far as Indiana, go one state farther and check out Millikin University, in Decatur, Illinois. BFA-MT audition program and BA-Theater non-audition program. Although BA's can take almost an entire MT curriculum.</p>

<p>Peg
Resident Millikin cheerleader</p>

<p>ElliotsMom-</p>

<p>Look at this thread from 10/4 --Good colleges for NON-major with strong MT interest. It includes several programs in brought up here and some others as well.</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=102192%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=102192&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>fluffqueen--If you are looking for a "leading" MT program that doesn't require an audition, well, that is harder to find. What DOES exist are wonderful liberal arts programs (from the Ivies to a smaller state school) with great theater and music departments where on can still get a great education and training.</p>

<p>Susan,
Wouldn't yo want to add Harvard to that list? I have two students there who are very active in MT.</p>

<p>xxx,Mary Anna</p>

<p>Lots of excellent advice here. I just wanted to make one comment in response to something which I've seen written a few times lately in this type of discussion. Prospective applicants, please don't be worried if the only musicals which are done are student run productions. This, in my opinion, is not a negative, if you're looking for a program which is non-audition and perhaps not as intense as the "leading" BFA programs (and I use that word 'leading' carefully'). Some of the student run productions that I've seen have been better than the full-blown-bring-in-the-professional-director-and-choreographer-and-stage-manager type productions at other schools. :) Student run productions should not be viewed as a negative and should not be a dealbreaker. The training you are going to get is, first and foremost, the main thing you should be looking at in choosing where to apply.</p>

<p>Mary Anna,
You are absolutely right about Harvard. Thanks to Freelance for giving a link to the prior discussion on this topic. I see my post from that thread and I did have Harvard on it. Late last night I was thinking off the top of my head and not consulting all my resources. But Harvard is one to add to the list of BA schools for excellent students where there is a theater dept. but also active theater scene on campus as well. </p>

<p>So last night I forgot to mention these schools for strong students that also fit the bill:
Harvard
Princeton
Macalester
Boston College
Cornell
Indiana U
Muhlenberg
Connecticut College
Northwestern
Middlebury</p>

<p>As well, I had forgotten to mention Rutgers.
There was a question on the other thread about Bard but it seems more straight drama. </p>

<p>Someone else said that Villanova has strong musical theater productions. </p>

<p>There are many kids who have done lots of musical theater growing up but who have not opted to do BFA programs or perhaps opted to not even major in theater in college but still wish to participate and so many of the productions have very talented kids in them at these schools. </p>

<p>Peggy, thank you for mentioning that Millikin has a BA degree besides the BFA. </p>

<p>Susan</p>

<p>I did not see AlwaysAMom's post when I just posted but I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree about the student run productions. Do not discount these. I have seen many at the college level that rival ones with professional directors. I would not make this a deal breaker either. I would look at the training itself. </p>

<p>Even on the high school level, I recall when my own kid created and directed two musical productions, many community members kept commenting that these were the best productions they had ever seen at the high school which amazed me in terms of feedback. Our school musicals are really good. But I think these revues were more sophisticated and showcased the kids at a high level in terms of individual solos and choreography. I don't know but I've seen some great student run productions. My D just saw Bat Boy at Tisch and it was student run and she thought it was excellent. </p>

<p>Susan</p>

<p>I am curious what you all think will happen to students who enter Indiana in Fall 2006 with an eye to MT, only to have the REAL MT program at Indiana be intiated Fall 2007?? I wonder if those students will be the unfortunte step-children of MT their full 4 years at Indiana or if they will be absorbed into the program.</p>

<p>I agree that Villanova has a strong theater program but anyone looking at the program should be aware that Jim Christy, the man in large part responsible for the program's reputation, is retiring.</p>

<p>FluffQueen: Not sure exactly what the purpose of your original question is, but I'm assuming you want some "safety" schools for your senior.</p>

<p>Last night I was doing some research on Millikin and found their audition information (on the website) to be very interesting. One cannot audition until admitted academically to the Univ. Then they do the audition/interview on campus on Mondays and Fridays. Afterward an exit interview is done to discuss which program they auditors have placed the student (e.g. BFA MT, BFA Acting, or BA Theater). So, it would seem that there is immediate feedback. The website goes on to explain that the student can then transfer into the BFA program during the first week of school if there are any spaces unfilled. This process is based on audition score/rank.</p>

<p>Fluffqueen,</p>

<p>There are alot of good schools mentioned - I just thought I would add Niagara University to the mix. they have a good program with plenty of successful alumni. I believe their degree is a BFA in Performance. They have a lovely campus just north of Niagara Falls, NY. There is an audition - but that is only for scholarship monies (and possibly placement - I'm not sure on that). Best of luck in your search.</p>

<p>(And people wonder why I hang around this group even though my D is a sophomore . . .)</p>

<p>Millikin! You are right; you must be academically accepted before you can audition. However, we discovered Millikin on Monday, started the paper work on Tuesday, and had D admitted by Thursday afternoon. The staff at Millikin seems to bend over backwards for parents. I have never had a bad experience with them. (Note regarding D's admittance. She had a 27 ACT, a 3.8 gpa and was in the top 10% of her class.)</p>

<p>And, yes, they do tell you right then and there if you are accepted. They give you feedback, tell you what your strengths and weaknesses are, and make recommendations.</p>

<p>Daughter is very happy there. She has learned a lot, and loves her teachers. As many of the "old-timers" know, she received several rejection letters before we found Millikin. I have talked to her a couple of times in the past 1.5 years, to find out if she has any desire to re-audition anywhere. And the answer is always NO!</p>

<p>And on a side note, if any of you are interested in Millikin and have stats along the lines of my daughter's, be sure to check out their Honor's program. 50% tuition scholarship, and awesome classes. </p>

<p>Peg</p>

<p>I'm on a roll. Two comments in two different forums on the same day. Anyone want to talk about being a Soccer Goalie's Mom? That's my other area of expertise . . .</p>

<p>I'm a soccer goalie's mom too!!</p>

<p>I'm also a soccer mom. One plays goal and one center mid. :) I've spent almost as much time at soccer fields as I have in theatres! Maybe more.</p>