<p>My daughter is torn. She has gotten a few great offers and is now torn as to go for the acting bfa, with a dance minor and take voice lessons on the side or if she should go for the offer she has for mt. She is waiting on a few more decisions, but as of right now has two firm acting offers and one firm mt offer (and a wait list or two). Luckily, she loves all of the schools she has had offers from and would be happy in either major (we have talked about it). </p>
<p>I guess my question is this: any thoughts on which is the stronger way to go? We have tried looking at nearly every angle and are still torn. So any thoughts would be helpful! :)</p>
<p>The difference between going straight acting vs musical theatre is that the mt program would be a more cohesive program for what she ultimately wants. Taking straight acting and adding to it on your own will not give her one whole package. Also, depending on the school and program there might be difficulty getting into or scheduling certain classes if it is not a requirement for her major. The exception to this is probably USC as I believe many kids take that route, but I’m not positive. If mt is what she wants then that is the degree that she should get, since she’s fortunate enough to have that as an option.</p>
<p>I agree with what amtc says about obtaining the MT degree training your daughter(s - jeffandann) in what she ultimately wants to do, however I’d like to defend both routes equally. </p>
<p>For the BFA Acting: does the program offer vocal training? Many of these programs do, and many of them are offered in conjunction with the MTs. There may not be as many music classes, but chances are, they’ll still get some. Perhaps you could email the department and ask what opportunities are available for their Acting kids, and also if music classes could be taken as electives, and/or if acting students could pay a little extra to take private voice (in most cases, I believe you will find the answer is yes). If you’re minoring in dance, then you’re covered there. Keep in mind that musical theatre is theatre, and I am of the <em>personal belief</em> that in order to do theatre of any kind, one must be able to act, and therefore there are many benefits to obtaining the Acting degree. If your kids can sing, keep them singing throughout the course of their degree (and certainly afterward, especially as the years between ages 22 and 26ish, their voices will really come into full maturity). Students with BFA Acting degrees (e.g. Megan Hilty) have been able to find success in musical theatre. Again, just my opinion, and just to add some friendly debate to what amtc said.</p>
<p>Ultimately, I think it comes down to what your kids want to get out of school. Which Acting programs and which MT programs did they get in to? What opportunities exist at each given institution? If your kids are open to both routes, let them take a few days to explore them both, and likely they will have some sort of feeling on what might work best for them. If your kids are bent on receiving the MT degree, as it is the most apparent way to receive the training for what they’re looking to do, then they have that option available to them. </p>
<p>There is a lot more to about this, in my opinion, but it’s hard to say what might work best for your individual kids without knowing their unique circumstances. Feel free to send me a PM if you have any questions I might be able to help with :)</p>
<p>My daughter had to make this choice and while I thought straight acting might be the stronger of the two she decided she basically NEEDED musical theater in her life. Her BFA-MT program has a great mix of acting, voice and dance training. I really think she would have been miserable in BFA-Acting. Her friend however is considering a transfer from MT to Acting. How important is music to your daughter’s life? If she is always singing around the house she may want to choose MT. Good luck deciding!</p>
<p>I can’t give better advice than what everyone above has already stated. Just one observation that my own daughter made early in her program was that there are classes the acting students are taking their first year that she would kill to be able to take. She’s an actor first but also couldn’t live without MT so she went that route but many of the kids that do that and are also strong actors do feel the tug. She will fortunately get what she needs out of her program and may take advantage of switching to an acting studio down the road or study abroad in Shakespeare and classics etc. </p>
<p>I agree completely with MTCoach that theatre of any kind requires strong acting skills. I don’t enjoy watching musicals where the lead sings beautifully but cannot tell the story with their acting. I’d rather watch it be sung terribly (Richard Harris or Burton anyone?) and acted brilliantly.</p>
<p>My D was faced with the same choice. Fortunately she was able to choose a school where she is getting a BFA in MT and has access to amazing acting training. She has always done plays and musicals, and has gotten the chance to be in both at school as well. Can your D sit in on the acting classes at the school where she would be an MT major? Check and see if she will be in the same classes and be taught by the same faculty as the Acting majors? Check and see if there are opportunities in the curriculum for advanced acting classes if she desires those? Congrats on having choices and best of luck in the decision making!</p>
<p>Everyone has great points. My only word of advice is to make sure that if she chooses the acting program, she doesn’t feel in her heart like she’s kind of a “runner up” at the school and always long for the MT program she didn’t get into.</p>
<p>^^^ I’m thinking the acting parents and the MT parents should just meet in a dark alley and rumble “Westside Story Style” or pick your play Marbleheader (Capulets vs. Montagues?) since I’m throwing you our musical. Just play it cool boy… real cool…</p>
<p>Not sure when TVP will notice your post but I’m glad to see the LOL because fo sho… that is no what she is saying. :)</p>
<p>I am not sure the original poster is saying that her daughter was accepted to a straight acting program at a school where she auditioned for MT or not. In that case I get TVP’s post. My D auditioned for both types of program, and has 2 offers, on for BFA MT and one for BFA acting. She auditioned for a few straight acting programs just to check them out and ended up falling in love with one of them and is now leaning that way. Of course, the BFA acting offer is at a school where she can easily take voice lessons and once she gets some liberal arts credits completed she will be able to take dance as well. So for her it’s a win-win. Still not a final decision but she is leaning.</p>
<p>Haha! That is DEFINITELY not what I was saying (I’m sure you know that :)) Just to clarify for those who might misunderstand, if a student auditioned for MT and instead was offered Acting (a HUGE compliment, IMHO) there is a chance that she might **feel<a href=“justified%20or%20not”>/b</a> that she is somehow “settling” for something other than (I won’t say less than) what she wanted. </p>
<p>Obviously if she auditioned for both MT and straight acting, that’s a whole different kettle of fish! The OP did not state which was the case, and my note was intended to address that situation, both for her and for those who are coming along in future years.</p>
<p>Okay halflokum, I’ll bring Equus to the rumble (all those freaked out horses gotta do some damage!).</p>
<p>I knew what you meant, tracyvp, just seems to be a sensitive time right now and thought I’d put the humor spin on it before anyone else thought you meant otherwise (you are, of course, addressing the OP, not the whole MT/Straight acting).</p>
<p>No one has mentioned this fact: in live theater, there are far more audition opportunities for those who have vocal and dance skills. (It’s different if you’re talking about on-camera work.) If your student has an affinity and aptitude for musical theater, go for the MT program, assuming it is one that offers strong acting training. With strong musical skills, he or she will be much more marketable once they get out in the real world.</p>
I’m thinking the acting parents and the MT parents should just meet in a dark alley and rumble “Westside Story Style” or pick your play Marbleheader (Capulets vs. Montagues?) since I’m throwing you our musical. Just play it cool boy… real cool…</p>