Acting in BFA in Acting vs. BFA in MT Programs (and more)

College Majors Musical Theater Major
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<p>ckp, </p>

<p>Wally World did not come up with the subject heading of this thread. He had started a discussion on this topic on the Otterbein thread. While Otterbein was one school to which his post was referred, the topic really is not about Otterbein itself and so I took the discussion off of the Otterbein thread and created its own thread. I then came up wtih a subject heading. The topic involves a few things and so it was difficult to name it in a few words and capture the essence of the topic. Wally's initial inquiry had to do with if students attending BFA in Acting programs that are located at schools with exceptional BFA in MT programs, would be overshadowed by the MT program, sort of as "second fiddle". This question was in contrast to stand alone BFA in Acting programs where there is not also a BFA in MT program. However, the discussion also has dealt with the quality of Acting training in BFA Acting programs vs. the quality of Acting training in BFA in MT Programs. The subject heading, therefore, was meant to deal with contrasting Acting in a BFA Acting Program as compared to Acting in a BFA MT program, but also "MORE" as I wrote. It deals with Wally's initial question, the comparison I just wrote and more. </p>

<p>WallyWorld, </p>

<p>I am unaware of the post counters being "frozen". I have not heard any reports of that from any posters on all of CC, nor from the team of moderators. The post count increases as you post on most of CC's forums EXCEPT if you post in either the Cafe or Parent Cafe, the posts there are not included in the post count. I hope that explains it. If you have a specific other example to report, let us know. The only other explanation I can think of is if you look at your most recent post and you see "139", for example, and you look at your previous post and also see "139", that is because when your post count rises, the new total appears underneathe ALL of your posts, including your previous one. For instance, if you look at your first or second post ever, it will also say "139" NOW.</p>

<p>Please also be aware that in post #53 when you mention having posted dozens of helpful posts with ideas and encouragement as opposed to MTMommy, that indeed you have, but you have posted 139 posts and she has posted 418 times. She joined CC in either 2003 or 2004 (before you say her profile says Aug. 2004, please be aware that our format changed in Aug. 2004 and all previous posters who had been on CC a long while, had a join date of Aug. 2004 put in their profile from that time forward) and you joined in December of 2005. If you read the body of her total posts, you will see she has contributed ideas, support, and advice, as well. In fact, she recently posted on your thread about diversity ideas for a project you are doing at your D's HS. </p>

<p>We welcome and encourage newer posters like yourself and hope you will continue to contribute to CC's many forums. But please also be sensitive to the fact that there are many posters who have been here for years who have made many contributions over a much longer period of time.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
I am unaware of the post counters being "frozen".

[/quote]
</p>

<p>It appears as though they have been turned off. I have a dozen posts now showing 139. Soozievt has probably a couple of dozen frozen at 5,155. Its easy to look up, why would that be?</p>

<p>So, when that change occured to the forum in August of 2004, where the post counters reset? So, for example does Soozievt really have over 5,000 posts in two years?</p>

<p>Edit; What do you know, back on!</p>

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<p>Since you chose to bring up MY post count as an example, I am responding. </p>

<p>First, the post counts were not turned off and are not back on again. As is explained in post #61, when you post a new post, the post count changes, unless it is posted in any of CC's cafe forums, and that new number then appears on all of your prior posts under your name. So, if you saw 139 under your name on your last few posts, that is because when you posted your 139th post, the post count on the previous posts were also changed to the number, 139. You mention having a dozen posts showing 139. Guess what? You now have more than a dozen posts showing 141 because your total is 141 as of this moment and all of your previous posts all have the number 141 on them. </p>

<p>You chose to bring up my post count and how high it is. As you are well aware, since you contacted me about this, I am a college counselor for College Confidential. I first came to College Confidential in 2002, over four years ago, when my oldest child was looking into colleges. In 2003, I underwent a college counselor training program and work for CC and have been counseling students from around the country. On CC's forums, I am a volunteer contributor and participant. Many of my posts are with my "parent hat" on, and others are trying to help others on CC who are going through the college selection and admissions process. I try to help readers as a volunteer, not just clients. </p>

<p>While you primarily appear to hang out on CC's theater forums, I have been actively participating as both a parent of two children who have gone through the college admissions process and as a college counselor on ALL of CC's forums, not just the MT one. My post count is not from the theater forums only. I counsel students who are in the process of regular college admissions and those involved in the theater admissions process and so my interest in the subject goes way beyond MT Colleges. So, the MT Forum is just ONE place where I participate on CC. I read the forums regularly and participate when I have time. I am online a lot doing my job counseling clients off the forums. I try to volunteer here when I can. As well, like anyone else, I am a parent and went through this with two kids back to back and so came to CC originally for support and knowledge through those processes. While my kids are both in college now, I still participate as a parent who has been through it trying to "pass it on" since many who came before me here helped me when we were going through this, but also because my career is as a college counselor. As someone who works for CC, I try to volunteer often on CC's forums so that we can help readers who are going about this on their own without a college counselor with more general topics that relate to more than individuals, so that many can benefit.</p>

<p>CC's forums are a free service. We hope you, and other readers can benefit from it, and also from any volunteering that counselors, such as myself, choose to do.</p>

<p>If you have further questions about my word count, post count, or something else of that nature, feel free to discuss it with me off the forum. I don't think we need to pick apart each poster's posting style, spelling, word count, frequency of posting, and so forth on the forum.</p>

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<p>Wally, why does it matter whether the post "counter" is working or not? Please know I am not saying this in a confrontational way. I am just wondering why you deem it important that the count is accurate or that one person has less posts than another. Am I missing something here? I am honestly puzzled.</p>

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<p>It's been a long time since I posted on CC, so it may be rash of me to ask this, but: Is it OK if I post something that has at least some relevance to the subject heading of this thread? (That question, by the way, was both facetious and rhetorical, both of which, by the way, are spelled correctly.)</p>

<p>This may not be the best thread for a post about a particular performance, but my comment does go to the question of what-kind-of-program-is-the-best-for-who-to-study-what? I think one general, overall answer is: If the person has sufficient talent and drive, and the program is of sufficiently high quality, things will turn out OK. Anyone who cares to can obviously quibble about specific experiences, but I'm not addressing those.</p>

<p>OK, the specific performance I'm talking about is one I saw this past weekend in NY: Santino Fontana as Matt (the Boy) in the revival of "The Fantasticks." Some of you may be familiar with him, but I wasn't. Here's his background: 2000 NFAA Presidential Scholar in MT and Merit Winner in Voice/Jazz. Also in 2000, named Outstanding Male Vocalist at the national Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. Got his BFA in 2004 in the first graduating class of the Guthrie Theatre's Actor Training Program. Created a theatre ed program for the Guthrie. Spent a year as a company member of the Guthrie in "Death of a Salesman," "Christmas Carol," "As You Like It" and -- at age 23, in his last role there before "The Fantasticks" -- as the Guthrie's youngest-ever Hamlet. And his performance in "The Fantasticks"? Should I just take the easy way out and say it was fantastic? Well, it was. Also outstanding, amazing, etc. If you know "The Fantasticks," you may remember that Matt speaks before he sings, and Fontana's acting made me IMMEDIATELY sit up and take notice. His singing was equally strong. I was with my cousin, who's in the pit of one of the huge Broadway shows and can be a tough critic; she was blown away. "He can do anything," she said. But see? He didn't follow the standard, stereotypical educational route. He started with extremely strong talent and followed a solid route that was clearly right for him.</p>

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<p>Artsymom, that is a great anecdote about the "fantastic" actor (LOL) in The Fantastiks. I also am a firm believer that there is no one "best" or "right" educational path but merely to pick the one more suitable to your interests and goals. Even then, careers do not always follow a linear path. There are crossovers and so forth. Often when one reads Playbill bios, the backgrounds of each cast member are very varied and not all are the "expected" one. </p>

<p>I have not heard of this young talented actor but I imagine we'll be hearing more! Thank you for providing an anecdotal exsmple and also sharing about this actor and show that you saw. As well, I appreciate your efforts to come back on topic to discuss topics/issues/experiences, rather than the posters themselves.</p>

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<p>Artsymom, ley me chime in here re Santino. He was a stand out for me as well. He acted his role so beautifully that it really anchored the whimsical production. Let me add that the Mute was a Steinhardt grad (I presumed in VOCAL performance). He moved beautifully.</p>

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<p>Artsymom,
Whoopdeedoo! You're back, and I'm glad! I've missed you on board. You have succeeded in making me want to traipse all the way to NY to see the show. Sigh.</p>