<p>Without giving you my whole life story, there are a few specific questions I'm faced with at the moment. Last december I resolved that this fall, I would be back in college and finally focusing on getting my bachelor's degree in either Theatre* or Musical Theatre.</p>
<p>*I list Theatre because even though I am completely devoted to Musical Theatre as a performer, I've never understood the purpose of having a degree in 'Musical Theatre' specifically. Its not like training to be a brain surgeon where its essential to get a degree that corresponds exactly to your career. You just need to know how to please an audience. But I digress.</p>
<p>I decided to apply to the Boston Conservatory, auditioned, and was accepted, but have recently decided not to go. Mainly due to the fact that I didn't want to entrap myself in a massive, life-long student loan debt, and because there are so many performers on Broadway (and the vast majority of its stars) who never went through the costly and risky pursual of a BFA degree. </p>
<p>Basically, I believe that it is talent and ability to self-teach that dictates a performer's success, not their education. </p>
<p>However, I do acknowledge that not having a degree at all puts you at a prohibitive disadvantage as someone trying to be noticed by agents and casting directors. So I'm going to go back to the JC this fall and transfer into the best BA Theatre/Musical Theatre program I can find. </p>
<p>As of right now, UCLA would be my first choice, UC Irvine (a distant) second. What other well-reputed BA programs are there out there?</p>
<p>GregoryPaul--Welcome to the forum. This subject has been brought up a lot on here. Check out the Cal state Fullerton thread(s), up where all the schools are listed. I would recommend Fullerton over even UCLA, from everything I have heard in person, BTW.</p>
<p>The musical theatre degree is designed to allow students to train in all three areas of musical theatre: voice, acting, dance. For people who wish to train well in all three areas it becomes very difficult. My personal opinion, having seen my daughter go through this for the past four years in high school is that an education without an MT degree can work out fine for someone who is an actor/singer, but not a dancer, but when you add dance (which is very time-consuming) into the mix, it makes much more sense to train within an MT program. Also, good MT programs provide more music training beyond even voice lessons, something theater programs do not provide.</p>
<p>Point well taken regarding the dance. But that's sort of what I mean.. I'm pretty much your textbook actor/singer, 'park n' bark' type. Even though I do move well, and chronic tendonitis/arthritis is basically whats kept me from ever becoming a serious dancer. I do eventually want to learn how to tap, though.</p>
<p>I've heard great things about Fullerton as well, but from what I understand, they're another BFA program instead of a BA, which I assume means I wouldn't be able to transfer the 2 years of JC credit (without having to still do the 4 year BFA program, anyway).</p>
<p>I was also looking at Oklahoma City U because of the fact that they give a BM instead of a BFA in musical theater, but it's still extremely tricky to transfer there...they only honor music credits from NASM(National Associated School of Music)-accredited schools, none of which are JC's, so the Dean at OCU would have to review my credits individually to determine whether they would transfer, which doesn't seem like a very stable proposition.</p>
<p>I'm already semi-accomplished out here in the bay area, having worked steadily (as a non-equity actor) in equity house musicals for the past year or so with a full schedule for the rest of the summer. But I feel its been mainly my voice (not to mention the rarity of men) that's gotten me so far. What I'm really looking for in a college is new perspectives on acting, because that is where I feel I have the most room to grow, and the key to turning myself into the best performer possible.</p>
<p>Not to mention...I don't want to work at Starbucks forever. :P</p>
<p>Cal State Chico has a fairly new BA in MT program, I know nothing about it, except it is in Chico. The MT programs in the west coast are few and far between, a couple in CA, a couple in AZ, a couple in Colorado, and NM...but if you just want the BA, look at the state schools to get in state tuition.
If you are looking for a straight theatre BA, look at Fullerton too. They currently have a BA in theatre, but are working towards creating a BFA there. Look at the top of the page at specific school info, and look for posts by Professor Himmelheber. She is the person to speak to about your options there. She is a frequent contributor on this forum..</p>