<p>I know I haven't posted in a while, but I was browsing the forum and remembering how incredibly helpful everyone here at CC was for me this time last year. I received some truly invaluable advice and information from all of you, and so before I continue, I wanted to give a very belated thank you to everyone who helped me and my dad through the crazy audition process last year.</p>
<p>On that note, last year I wished there were more current theatre freshmen on CC answering questions directly. I'm just entering the last week of my first month as an actor training (AT) major at The Hartt School. I'm more than happy to be here, and find myself inspired in a new way each and every day. I've found a home at Hartt. Anyways, I just wanted to put myself out there as a resource for parents and students auditioning and applying this year. Whether you have questions about Hartt or about the audition process as a whole, I'll definitely give answering them a shot(: My own process had lots of ups and downs, including but not limited to rejection from my ED school, very last minute applications, on campus auditions and a crazy fun time at Chicago unifieds. </p>
<p>Hi Eve! My D is auditioning for Hartt at the LA Unifieds in Feb. Would you mind sharing your auditioning experience? Also, can you give a protective mom a little info on campus safety and housing info? Getting back and forth etc…thanks and congrats!</p>
<p>Hi bisouu! Of course! I auditioned for Hartt at Chicago unifieds for Alan Rust, director of the theatre division, and Kevin Gray. It was pretty standard. I performed my contemporary dramatic monologue, from a lesser known play called Half Moon Bay by Dan Moyer, and Miranda’s monologue from The Tempest. Alan and Kevin were both very friendly, as was the woman taking headshots and resumes outside the audition room. They asked if I had any questions, which I didn’t because they’d held a group introduction/Q&A session prior to auditions. </p>
<p>Then, Alan asked me what one really important thing was that I was looking for in a college theatre program, to which I answered something like, “I’m looking for a program that invests in their students, and has professors that care deeply about each individual as a human being as well as their artistic development.” Kevin Gray replied, “That’s exactly what we do.” They were so incredibly warm, welcoming, and clearly brilliant.</p>
<p>Campus safety. I know this tends to make lots of parents nervous, because West Hartford doesn’t have the best reputation. While I wouldn’t recommend walking around off campus late at night, I feel very safe on campus. No matter what hour of the night, it seems like there’s a public safety officer/car around every single corner, not to mention the blue light safety system which basically is a bunch of emergency buttons scattered through campus that summon public safety. Until 4:00 AM, there are officers at the entrance to the school that make you show school ID before you’re even allowed on campus. As long as you’re using common sense, safety isn’t usually an issue, although regardless of where your school is, you should never walk alone at night.</p>
<p>What sort of housing info are you looking for? All freshmen live in either the complexes or a new installment called Hawk Hall. HH is much nicer and cleaner, but in order to live there you have to attend a smattering of events, meetings, and even take a class or two I believe, on top of a short essay of application. I live in the complexes, and while they aren’t glamorous, they’re more than livable. They’re very typical dorms.</p>
<p>We live on the west coast and she clearly would have to live in on campus housing. Did you visit the school before you were admitted? How are your fellow classmates? How many in your program? Does Hartt offer any merit scholarship monies?</p>
<p>I did visit the school before I was admitted, but it was very early in my college process and the tour I received wasn’t geared towards the performing arts, so it didn’t sell me either way. My fellow classmates are wonderful! The other students in my program are passionate and hard-working. It’s an excellent environment, and such a breath of fresh air to be surrounded by people who care about theatre as much as I do. There are 12 ATs in my class, 6 guys and 6 girls. It was originally 7 guys and 6 girls, but one student couldn’t attend at the very last minute due to financial reasons. Hartt does offer merit scholarships, but not academic scholarships to Hartt students - which is frustrating, given that Hartt students have the highest GPAs/test scores out of the entire university.</p>
<p>Sure, here’s my schedule for this semester!</p>
<p>Monday and Wednesday:
10:00 - 11:20: Acting I
11:30 - 12:50: Movement I
2:55 - 4:10: Honors Rhetoric & Writing I</p>
<p>Tuesday:
8:00 - 9:15: Western Heritage: Humanities
10:00 - 11:20: Voice I
3:05 - 4:20: Music Theatre Chorus Lab</p>
<p>Thursday:
8:00 - 9:15: Western Heritage: Humanities
10:00 - 11:20: Voice I
12:15-1:04: Paranov Performance Hour</p>
<p>Friday:
9:00 - 10:00: Technical/Stagecraft</p>
<p>In addition to this schedule, all freshmen are assigned crew work, which means tech rehearsals every week night and on Saturdays. I haven’t begun my crew work yet, but I’ll be sound board op for the AT4 production of Richard III and ASM for the AT3 production of Top Girls! Once those projects start, my free time will be next to nothing, between class, crew, and homework. SO worth it(:</p>
<p>Eve this sounds wonderful. My D would thrive in this type of environment. Thank you so much for taking the time to share this with us. I don’t think I understand your comment about merit aid. If she is a Hartt student she isn’t eligible for aid? What type of merit aid are they given? Talent?</p>
<p>I’m glad to have been of assistance! There are no academic scholarships available to Hartt students, only performing arts scholarships. Very few receive a substantial amount of money, most receive either a little bit of money or none at all.</p>
<p>Eve848, thank you for sharing!! I see that you are taking voice and a musical theatre lab. Do all of the Actor training students take MT classes? Is that part of your program?
Are you in a BFA or BA? Thank you!!</p>
<p>You’re very welcome SField! Voice I, contrary to its connotation, is not the same as singing/singing lessons. In fact, I think that MTs only take Voice for the first year, whereas ATs take it all four years. Voice is about awareness of breathing and your speaking voice. We study methods of speech according to Kristin Linklater’s technique, which you can find a wealth of information about if you google her name. </p>
<p>MT Chorus Lab is a weekly class with all of the first year ATs and MTs during which we learn, research and perform various music. ATs take it their first year, and MTs take it all four years.</p>
<p>No, not for freshman, besides occasionally sharing in class. We spend our first year breaking down old habits and instilling new ones in preparation for the next three years of non-stop performance. Second year, sophomores participate in shows called projects, which are performances only open to the theatre division, and truly phenomenal experiences from what I’ve heard.</p>
<p>This makes sense to me. I think most programs are like this. Please continue to share your experiences with us. Just a rare treat to hear from the kids who are actually in the programs. :)</p>