<p>D is a rising junior, deeply involved in theater since she was 8 and ever more seriously interested. She knows BU and feels that their Theater Arts BFA (as opposed to their Acting BFA) is exactly what she wants-- that is, she is looking for conservatory style training as an actor, but also plenty of design/production classes, directing, dramaturgy....etc. </p>
<p>So--what other programs provide this kind of holistic theater experience, where there's an emphasis on performance as part of a broader theater study?It seems like a lot of schools have performance majors and design/production majors but not a program that combines the two. Can anyone give some suggestions? (Even of another thread that addresses this.)</p>
<p>My D’s first choice is BU as well, and likely the Theatre Arts track. When we visited Adelphi, we saw a lot of similarities in the program, and then they themselves said “We have a lot in common with BU.”</p>
<p>zapfino - my D also has the BA at Minn as a very happy safety! We know people who have had a tremendous experience there.</p>
<p>It is a great help that so many schools put their entire curriculum online. Keep poking around until you find it. You’ll start recognizing the aspects you want to see.</p>
<p>Thanks so much, everyone-- she has also talked about the BA at UMinn, and about Playwrights Horizons, so you’re validating her ideas as well as adding some new ones!</p>
<p>I assume you know, though, that the students are assigned a studio for their first two years at Tisch. If she is accepted there, but not placed in PH, she could switch into it for her junior year. I would also check out all the theater studies and open arts options as well at Tisch to see if she could put a program together that would be of interest, regardless of studio. All students have to take a theater production class anyway. </p>
<p>I would imagine that if her resume shows alot of activity in various areas of theater, she might be placed in PH anyway. She could certainly craft her resume to highlight this theater arts interest.</p>
<p>Look closely at these programs to see if they are really as open-ended as they seem. The BFA in Theater Arts at DePaul, for example, is advertised as a program for people with more than one interest in theater. However, after my D had applied to and been accepted by DePaul, we found it was not quite as advertised. </p>
<p>Theater Arts students take classes in all areas of the theater but not the same classes as those taken by the rest of the conservatory. For example, they never take acting classes with the actors—just with other Theater Arts students. And while they do take the same production classes as those in the tech programs (at least, after the first 2 years), those in the tech programs get priority when it comes to production assignments. </p>
<p>Overall, the program seems a good fit only for those students who are interested in producing and directing. This makes sense because DePaul does not have a producing/directing program. I just wish we had known this up front.</p>
<p>My point here is not so much to avoid DePaul (although, if the shoe fits…). I’m just urging caution. A well-rounded BFA degree is a bit of a contradiction in terms so ask a lot of questions.</p>
<p>UCLA - in my D’s first year as an actor, she had to take lighting design, costume design, and set design. She had to dissect plays (essentially). She took ballet. She took Tai Chi. Now she has to take countless theatre history classes. She has to take classes in other countries’ theatre art forms. She has to work on the set of at least two plays. This, in addition to her voice, movement and acting classes every quarter starting sophomore year, and her “foundations” courses (general ed.) Playwrighting is available to everyone.</p>
<p>SMU offers a BFA in Theatre Studies as well as a BFA in Acting…the Theatre Studies group does writing, directing, etc. as well as the acting. For those who are not familiar…SMU is a “hidden” jewel when it comes to theatre. They take about 12 in acting and 12 in theatre studies each year through an audition process…no musical theatre although they do some student directed musicals that are great. My son is a junior and we are from Dallas and he really did not want to stay here. He got in at several places around the country and looked at them all, but came back to SMU for the quality of the program and he is so happy he did. Former Dean of Yale is on staff here, etc…really great school, tight knit program, but for serious theatre people only as it is all consuming starting freshman year (you do also take the basic liberal arts science, math, history, english, etc. to get your degree). He has friends at NYU, Carnegie, UCLA and some smaller places like OCU, Webster, etc…I HIGHLY recommend SMU based on the feedback and experiences of others and his experiences at SMU. Good luck to everyone…I remember what a stressful time it is from now through April 1:)</p>
<p>While searching for schools with my son over the past couple of years we have found it helpful to talk to students in the prospective program. Students and okay) administrators from these programs talked about the flexibility within their programs USC, CAL ARTS, UNCSA AND SUNY (PURCHASE) - true my son’s interest is cinema - but I would just come out and ask.</p>