<p>Just a thought - after numerous discussions this week with my D- it might be a good idea to add a column onto the spreadsheet - those of you who are a little OC like me have every fact possible in Excel! The column might be labeled:</p>
<p>Freshman Performance Options</p>
<p>I think whether or not a school allows, requires or does not allow freshman to audition is important to note. My D has already been cast in a straight show and in a 24 hour festival ( 24 hours to create and perform in a 10 minute original show). SHe has auditioned for musicals, operas and straight shows and will be required to do so again in spring. </p>
<p>I know several schools which do not allow this but I think perhaps it should be a consideration when reviewing programs. I know several of D's friends who say "NOPE- not having to audition is ok by me" but others are not so happy about that. I am not saying one way is better than another but it IS a consideration....IMHO, the more times you audition the better!!</p>
<p>So - yes, no or maybe....seems like it might be another factor to consider going forward.</p>
<p>Good luck class of '08....you'll be starting soon!</p>
<p>There are quite a few schools that have rules about fresmen auditioning. There is one school -- CMU -- that doesn't even allow sophomores to audition! It's certainly another factor to consider when choosing a school; however, I would strongly suggest that it's really a minor factor, and shouldn't be the "straw that breaks the camel's back", so to speak.</p>
<p>My D was accepted at several schools, and ended up at Syracuse, which does not allow freshmen to audition for shows. The official explanation the MT department gives? They want to have that first year to familiarize students with their teaching methods, and correct any bad habits they may have developed. </p>
<p>Well, at first D felt pretty negative about this policy, but she loved the program and the school, so that's where she ended up. As the year went on, she began to change her mind about the issue. Not only was the freshman schedule very demanding (as described in other MT threads), another surprising thing developed: without the pressure of direct competition, the students in the class of '10 have become extremely close and supportive of each other. Maybe that would have happened anyway -- who knows? But when the fall auditions happened, the whole group sincerely celebrated with those who were cast -- and equally sincerely sympathized with those who weren't. As both a performer and director, I've rarely seen that happen!</p>
<p>Anyway, the point is -- by all means, take this issue into consideration. But your gut reaction to a school is probably a much better way to choose the right program.</p>
<p>There are legitimate arguments either way for freshmen auditioning/appearing in shows. I think knowing the school's policy is good, just as one more piece of the puzzle. For some kids, however, who have strong and adamant feelings on the subject, it may weigh more heavily than for others.</p>
<p>Onstage is right in that CMU doesn't allow freshman or sophomores to audition for it's main season because they are firm believers in the students having the opportunity to work tech and really learn the behind the scenes stuff. I thought my daughter would mind this but with taking 13 classes this semester she seems to stay pretty busy. Also I do believe that freshman and sophomores at CMU can audition and be cast in many of the student written and directed shows on campus (but I could be wrong about that).</p>
<p>I agree with Mikksmom too when she said the more auditioning the better. Even though my daughter isn't auditioning for a show, doesn't mean she isn't getting practice with auditioning. She is constantly auditioning for the faculty and students in her classes, but just doesn't get cast in anything as a result. She gets graded instead. But still gets to utilize that same practice.</p>
<p>So I agree not to give this too much weight in your excel spreadsheets because you never know...just because your kids can audition for shows as freshman, doesn't necessarily mean they will be cast in anything either. Keep it all in perspective.</p>
<p>Congrats Mikksmom to your daughter on her accomplishments so far! That is awesome! :)</p>
<p>I think freshpersons should be allowed to audition, but I would suggest that it's best to attend a school in which they are rarely, rarely cast. It is not a kindness to allow an unprepared person on stage. It is not a kindness to be put into a situation in which you are the weakest link in a stage show. I've seen this too many times.</p>
<p>Obviously, there are first years who are good enough and can benefit from being on stage. I have it from a close friend of Sutton Foster's that she left CMU, in part, because of limited performance opportunities. I'm quite sure she would have been perfectly capable of blowing most of the CMU upperclassmen off the stage even when she was in her first year.</p>
<p>But Sutton Foster is an amazing talent. Most people aren't.</p>
<p>Great discussion! Some would say that there is no substitution for performing, but I think that the folks at SU and CMU know there stuff, so I wouldn't worry too much about it!
My D is a freshman MT at Drake University. She was allowed to audition as a freshman and to her amazement, she was cast in a great part this fall. She does NOT, however have 13 classes this semester! There is no way she could possibly be rehearsing for a play with that kind of course load. Here again, you need to look at the curriculums of the different schools when you are doing your comparison shopping.
Another thing to ask; are grad students going to be competing with you for roles as well as the upperclassman? It's also nice to know if grad students would be teaching classes.
Much to consider, all important stuff!</p>
<p>I am chiming in cause this was something I considered last year when making my decision. Now I realize it really doesn't make much of a difference at all because although I am at a school that allows freshman to audition, not one freshman made the fall musical and only one sophomore. I have friends in many programs such as NYU, Elon, Syracuse and Ithaca to name a few who have still yet to get a part in the musical and they are sophomores and juniors. So truthfully just because a school says you can go out as a freshman it doesn't matter.</p>
<p>I know this isn't quite on topic, but regarding "columns"... what is your excel sheet set up like? I really need a new way to organize all my info.</p>
<p>Holly, I think that MichaelNKat was generously offering to share his D's spreadsheets (the ones she used last year ... she is now a very happy freshwoman :) at UArts!) with anyone who asked. Maybe you can PM him.
Just want to chime in on the original topic of kids being aware of each school's policy on auditioning/performing before they apply. I realize that there are fabulous schools with very differing policies, but as a parent, I have to say that I fall on the side of thinking it is a good thing for freshmen NOT to have the pressure of auditioning and being cast in musicals and plays that first year, at least. Having at least that first year to get accustomed to college life, living away from home, the pressure of classes and being independent (and it's exhilarating great side, too!) seem to me to be enough, without adding in worrying about auditioning and being cast! Plus, not auditioning allows the freshmen MT and acting classes to "gel" as ensembles without that extra sense of competition? (Of course, there is always competition, but I think you guys take my meaning.) This is sort of the system at my D's arts hs (freshmen don't do any shows or scene nights, but sophomores and juniors do, and seniors do two full-blown shows) and it works very, very well. It enhances the kids' sense of camaraderie right out of the gate, which is a fine thing, I think.</p>
<p>I think UMich allows freshmen to audition during the second semester. Not the first. I guess this is to allow them to get used to college life in MT.</p>
<p>At UArts, freshmen can not be in school productions but can be in student productions that students put on as part of class assignments.</p>
<p>Starting with 2nd semester Freshman yr, all students are required to audition for school productions. For freshmen and shows staged during the second semester of their freshmen year, it's an exercise to gain experience. 2nd semester freshmen can, however, participate in auditions held towards the end of the semester for roles in shows that will be staged in the fall of the following year. The reasons for this are the same as have been stated for other schools - getting accustomed to college and classes, getting a foundation and focusing on studies, class cohesion etc.</p>
<p>Students are also not permitted to audition for outside professional productions until their senior year. Then they can audition for professional productions at any of the myriad of theaters in the Phila area. UArts' philosophy is that they want students to be 100% committed to their classes and not miss class time due to the demands of professional theater. The senior year curriculum is designed, however, to provide time and leeway to participate in outside professional productions.</p>
<p>Given the intensity of the program, I think this makes sense. Freshmen have more than 23 hours a week of class time alone each semester freshman year. Sophomores and juniors about the same. Add to it the time required for practicing, reading assignments, written work/papers, searching for songs and monologues to build a repertoire and rehearsing them, serving as crew etc - the weeks are pretty full.</p>
<p>To add on to what MichaelNKat said, I think it is a really good philosophy that UArts does not let first semester freshmen be in shows (we always have auditions the semester before, so when the freshmen arrive, the first semester shows have already been cast). For me personally (and yes, I know everyone is different), I would have been very overwhelmed and confused to be in a show first semester freshmen year. All the bfa programs I'm sure throw a lot of new techniques at freshmen right from the start. I would not have known what to do because I would have wanted to try to use these new methods I was learning, but I wouldn't have understood them fully enough to apply them properly. As a result, I would have gone back to my old habits that UArts wants to break! Separately, I think there is so much going on in a first semester freshmen's life that they need some time just to ADJUST to college. And I certainly can say that freshmen at UArts get a ton of work (even though as a sophomore, the freshmen curriculum seems easy hahaha). We don't start crew until second semeser freshmen year for the exact same reason. They have enough on their plate.</p>
<p>In December, freshmen do audition for second semester shows. It is very mixed as to how many freshmen get in. I think of my MT class of 20, 4 or 5were cast (but 2 were in Equinox, which is a student-directed, student-written, student-produced, etc show)....A lot more members of my class were cast for this current semester. It's still going to be overwhelming. I have 30 hours of classes this semester, not to mention I start crew next week, but at least we've now been here a year and have a grasp on SOME of the methods we learned haha.</p>
<p>What I like about UArts is that the school does not REVOLVE around the shows. I am ecstatic to be in a show at school this semester, but that is not why I love UArts. The training is so phenomenal, so getting cast is kind of just a little extra bonus. Of course we all want to get cast and we all want good parts, but there is so much else to gain in the school.</p>
<p>Sounds like I have it a bit wrong. Are the December auditions for Freshmen mandatory? I thought the mandatory auditions started 2nd semester Freshman year. Thanks for any clarification you can offer!</p>
<p>Indiana University has tons of performance opportunities for freshmen. Although the theater department is huge and offers few spots for freshmen in their mainstage season, there are also Union Board shows, University Players shows, community theater, playwright masters student projects, directing projects, etc. We've all only been here for 3 weeks and we're all quite busy.</p>
<p>The auditions that will be held in November at UArts are mandatory for everybody who is a Musical Theater or Acting Major. From then on, all semester auditions are required, to teach people discipline and to not flake out on the fact that if they haven't rehearsed their audition material or they don't like the material in the upcoming shows. The only exception to this are the people who are going into the second semester of their junior year or seniors. These people are allowed to put themselves on casting exemption as long as they are approved by the school. Second semester juniors are also allowed to audition outside of the school, though many tend not to have room or time in their schedules.</p>
<p>Audition processes worked a bit differently this semester, as we usually have our student-written-directed-produced Equinox pieces in the spring. The pieces were not ready to be auditioned for until the fall, so the auditions took place with the student-directed scenes and replacement auditions. Replacement auditions are usually held every fall semester and are to replace cast actors who are no longer able to attend the University. It's a great opportunity for freshmen and uncast upperclassmen alike to get even more audition practice. For these auditions--which took place this week--freshmen have the OPTION to audition, but any other uncast member of the school (who hasn't put him or herself on casting exemption) MUST audition for these pieces.</p>
<p>My D just started school at CCM last week, and her first actual classes were today, so I didn't know enough about how it was going to post yet. The CCM students had to attend a full week earlier than the University kids for their diagnostic and vocal, and dance class placement and registration, and audition for two of the upcoming musicals which started rehearsing before school started! Another audition is coming up in 2 weeks, for I believe, a totoal of 6 shows per year.
She is very happy with the classes so far (as of today), and her placement. She did not get into any of the first two shows, but is pleased by the feedback she did get about why not, and feels this is why she is going there, to know what she has to work on.
I personally think it is a good thing, because of the initial adjustment, and carrying 18 credits per semester is a very busy schedule as it is without the added pressure of the shows. They also started meeting already to work on the freshman showcase, so there seems to be plenty of opportunities to practice, practice, practice.
So so far, so good.</p>