<p>We just came back from attending one of the accepted students days at Syracuse. D was able to sit in on a dance class, musical theatre performance class and a freshman acting class This enabled her to get a pretty complete picture of the MT/Acitng program. All of the students were welcoming and very friendly and were most willing to answer any questions she had. The atmosphere was extremely positive and upbeat- this positive tone is set by the new department chair-Ralph Zito (formerly of Julliard). All of the students seem happy with their education and feel they have close relationships with the faculty and administration. D thought the classes were top-notch and the students EXTREMELY talented. The teaching facilities were also quite nice with three theatres available for performance space.
In general, there is an excitement about the program, the students are very proud of their department and the rest of the campus is aware of how hard the MT’s/Acting majors work The main campus (up the hill) is quite beautiful as well with lots of green space and a mix of architecture- buildings range from ultra modern to Hogwarts style spires and towers! There is a small shopping area just off campus with lots of reasonably priced dining options.<br>
It seems the students really love being at SU Drama -despite the snowy winter weather! Ralph Zito says the weather is their common enemy on campus so it binds them together! After this visit Syracuse has become D’s top choice -</p>
<p>Thanks for the report! Yay for having a top choice!</p>
<p>Glad to be of help. It is a difficult decision for them to make and the pressure to choose the “perfect” program is really stressful. But it just seems like they know if a school is a good “fit” once they visit and spend time on campus. She should trust her instincts. Best of luck to your D- she has fabulous options I am sure. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.</p>
<p>Thanks for the report. I wonder about the weather too.</p>
<p>My S is a rising Sophomore BFA student. If you watched NBC Nightly News this past winter, you may have noticed that occasionally Brian Williams reported on the weather in Syracuse - and may have called it “The Snow Capital of the Country.” My S says that there are 3 jobs in Syracuse: the University; services, such as restaurants; and snow removal! I believe Syracuse received over 180 inches of snow last winter - and school was closed just one day for snow. My husband visited over Parents Week last year - which I think was around the end of September - and by that point my S had sent all of his shorts home for the year. His dorm closet was not very big (he was in a Learning Community in a smaller, older dorm) and it seemed that quite a bit of closet space was devoted to winter coats. The school is on a hill so the trip down in the morning to the Stage is not so bad if you are bundled up, but I don’t think that the sidewalks are always cleared. My husband and I plugged Syracuse weather into our phones - and it always seemed to have snowflake symbols from winter through the beginning of April. However, the kids manage to make it through the winter. My S never really complained about the weather and indicated that most kids take it in stride. Like many communities that receive a lot of snow, the streets generally are plowed relatively quickly and the kids can get around. Also, the BFA kids are so busy, they don’t really notice the weather!</p>
<p>As the mother of a rising sophomore daughter from Southern California, I too have heard little in the way of complaint about the weather or any aspect of the program. My D loves the program and her classmates and she is getting a great education. She is currently performing in two shows at Merry Go Round theatre in Auburn NY and getting paid, plus earning equity credit.</p>
<p>I didn’t believe it when people told me not to worry about the weather issues, but it seems not to have been a huge problem for my D. Although I miss her, choosing Syracuse was really the right choice. Best wishes!</p>
<p>Sooooooo … my D, a rising senior, loves the program AND hates the weather!!</p>
<p>Well my D just got accepted in to the MT program and we live in Syracuse (Manlius to be exact) and yes the weather can be tough! Just make sure your kids dress warm and good boots. The city does an excellent job of plowing! My kids never get a snow day unless it’s 30 below zero! My D felt it was so worth staying here for the program! She is so excited! And @ MTMummy is your D in Hairspray and Anything Goes? Heard the shows were awesome!</p>
<p>I think the weather in Syracuse is less of an issue than in other cities, where they are not so accustomed to handing large snowfalls. They do manage to get the sidewalks and streets cleared pretty quickly. My D, who graduated last year, didn’t complain much about the weather – we’re from the Northeast, so are used to cold weather and snow. However, its interesting to note that she is currently employed by Carnival Cruise Lines, and last year spent the winter in California and Mexico, where she didn’t see a single snowflake!</p>
<p>@ Onstage, so glad to hear she is employed!! ;)</p>
<p>Congrats to your D, Lulu63!! So exciting – she will love the program!!</p>
<p>Thanks for asking! My daughter was in Anything Goes and she is home for two weeks before returning to do 42nd Street (she is the Peggy understudy). There are at least two Syracuse MT students in Hair Spray and one of them is playing Penny. I saw Anything Goes and it was fabulous.</p>
<p>It is great to hear that current and former Syracuse students have been able to find acting jobs! My mother recently went to see My Fair Lady at the Mt. Gretna Playhouse (in PA) and she called me excitedly to let me know that the young woman who played Eliza Doolittle graduated from Syracuse a few ago. My S, who generally is not the effusive type, still comments on how great the student production of Cabaret was this past year - he still says that it was as good as, if not better, than any Broadway production that he has seen. MTMummy, I am sure your D and my S know each other. When I asked him what his classmates were doing this summer, he told me that some of his MT female friends had found summer stock jobs in NY state.</p>
<p>I just saw the national tour of Wicked in DC a week ago and 2 Syracuse grads were in it; one young woman graduated about 3 years ago and is in the ensemble. The young man graduated about 10 years ago and had one of the leads, Fiyero. I’m always seeing SU grads in shows, including NYC, national tours and in Washington DC where I live.</p>
<p>Yes, it’s so great to hear that SU students are working! It’s kind of nerve wracking letting your daughter follow her heart! @ MTMummy, hoping to see 42nd St. and so sorry I didn’t get to see Anything Goes! I heard it was wonderful. I have just been too busy with my D’s graduation and parties. She is doing a local prod of West Side Story and then on to Forbidden Broadway. She never sits still! Hopefully I will get to meet some of you moms in the near future!!</p>
<p>The girl in My Fair Lady at Mt. Gretna was one of my D’s roommates at SU. The girl who plays Amber at Merry-Go-Round is another of her classmates. Others in her graduating class (2010) have been in: West Side Story (Broadway), Chorus Line, Spamalot, Fiddler, Wicked and Grinch national tours. Another is about to take over the lead in the tour of Rock of Ages. Not to mention many summer stock theaters and various cruise lines. And I’m sure there are many others working that I’m not aware of. There are no guarantees in this business, but SU grads do very well.</p>
<p>I believe that my S told me that a guy who recently graduated from Syracuse has a role in War Horse. One of the many things my S likes about Syracuse drama is that he feels that the program is preparing him to enter the acting world when he graduates. I know that a number of parents can be skittish when their child very much wants to pursue a degree in drama because steady employment as an actor can be elusive. But I am confident that, with his training at Syracuse, my S will do fine when he graduates. He has had some good resume building experiences this summer - and I think the fact that his resume notes that he attends Syracuse has helped him obtain these opportunities.</p>
<p>Just heard that a recent grad is now playing Nessa in Wicked on Bway.</p>
<p>Glad to hear that!!!</p>