Any opinions on this list for Musical Theater - Soozievt or anyone?

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>I'm helping a student with her college apps. She is uncertain about her major...but she feels she must be at a school with a good musical theater program. </p>

<p>So, the question is, how does this list look (obviously it will be pared down)? Do any stand out as difficult for non-majors to participate? Or do any look really weak? She came up with almost all these schools - I added two or three.</p>

<p>She is so uncertain, it makes it hard! She does not dance, but does voice and acting. She has had many leads in HS plays, but has not had a lot of professional training or camps etc. She has strong stats, and certainly is a match for those schools in that "more selective" category (and she needs merit money most likely).</p>

<p>THANK YOU!!!</p>

<p>Soozievt - I'd especially appreciate your thoughts! Thanks.</p>

<p>Emerson
Beloit
St Olaf
Bard
Lawrence
U Pittsburgh
Duquesne
Goucher
American U
Clark
Ithaca
Wheaton
Western Connecticut State
Western Michigan Univ
Elon
Muhlenberg</p>

2

<p>I know that at Emerson she would not be able to participate in MT training/ productions, and believe this is also the case at Ithaca and Elon.</p>

<p>If she has specific questions regarding Muhlenberg's program, I would be happy to asnwer to the best of my ability.</p>

3

<p>The best bet would be for the student in question to focus on schools that offer BA programs in MT (or acting, dance and voice) and whose theater department has a history of staging musicals. Muhlenberg is a great example of a very well regarded BA theater department with a strong MT orientation.</p>

4

<p>A good question to ask is how often non- majors are cast in mainstage Musical Theatre and Theatre productions.... student directed MT and Theatre productions. Many BA programs have open auditions for productions, however, because so many programs have more women than men it may be more likely for non-major men to be cast than women. This will not always be the case, but it is a good question to ask.</p>

5

<p>Beloit? GREAT private school, but I don't know if I would recommend if for MT (BA)...not with all the other choices out there. I have become friends with faculty there...we only live 20 minutes away. Sorry, as much as I love this school I would not consider it for an MT education.</p>

6

<p>I've had students at a few of these schools: Emerson, Elon and Ithaca are highly selective, and it seems unlikely that a non-major would have much luck at any of them. On the other hand, Muhlenberg and Bard have pretty good BA theater programs, and seem to be pretty flexible about participation of non-major students.</p>

7

<p>Pitt has no musical theatre at all, including student-produced musicals. Duquense has a small student-run group, but the quality of the productions varies. (I actually directed one 2 years ago when I was a first-year grad student there.)</p>

8

<p>Weenie,
You might add Ohio Northern to your list. I know they cast non-majors in their shows.</p>

9

<p>Weenie, </p>

<p>I can't truly help with selecting colleges for this student as it is quite an individualized process (beyond which schools happen to have MT offerings) to gear a list that is appropriate for a particular student. I would need much more information about her background and qualifications, college criteria and so forth. I cannot do that on a message board. I can help in a general way to volunteer to help many at one time with questions that all can relate to, but not really assist with an individual college's process. I need more to go on in any case. </p>

<p>I'll make a few very general comments and throw some schools out off the top of my head but these may be quite the wrong schools for this young lady. </p>

<p>First, there is the BFA vs. BA issue. I don't have time to discuss the differences and you can search the many threads or the FAQ link on this forum that explain these types of degree programs. Suffice it to say, this girl likely is not looking to do a BFA program which involves a huge committment and you have already said she is even unsure of her major. So, already, you need to rule out the BFA programs. From the list you provided, this would mean cutting out Ithaca, Elon, Emerson, Western Michigan. I would not go to those schools to do a BA in theater when there is also a BFA program because I think, generally speaking, that a BA Theater student will be second fiddle. There are plenty of BA schools where the BA students ARE the program. </p>

<p>Next, there is the issue of whether she wants to major in theater or simply attend a school with very strong musical theater opportunities on campus. The latter seems to fit this girl based on the little you shared. So, picking a school on THAT criteria would be different than looking for a school with a strong BA theater program. Also, be aware that there are not THAT many BA programs with a Major in Musical Theater, though there are some (and some require auditions and some do not). There are far more BA in Theater schools and those are good options for this girl if she looks at ones that also put on musicals and double checks if nonmajors can participate in those productions (and they can at many non audition based BA schools). She should look at student groups on campus that also produce musicals and certainly nonmajors can be in those. Do not simply look at the theater departments, particularly for someone who may not major in this area anyway.</p>

<p>So, without knowing this girl's academic qualifications or other college criteria, or even which type of college program is suitable, I will throw out some schools that have BAs in MT and some that have BAs in Theater but with some MT opportunities. This list is not extensive and are just some initial ideas since you asked. I truly need way more to go on, however. I also can't do the kind of assistance that individuals require via message boards. </p>

<p>JUST SOME ideas....</p>

<p>BA in MT - by audition</p>

<p>American
James Madison
Manhattanville
Wagner
Plymouth State
University of Southern Maine
Seton Hill
SUNY-Geneseo
UC-Irvine</p>

<p>BA in MT - no audition</p>

<p>Santa Clara University
Rollins College
Indiana University
Susquehanna
McDaniel</p>

<p>BA in Theater w/ MT Certificate (audition for MT after 1st year)</p>

<p>Northwestern
UCLA
USC (BA Theater with MT Minor, the latter is by audition)</p>

<p>BA in Theater with some MT opportunities - no audition</p>

<p>Muhlenberg
Connecticut College
Skidmore
Sarah Lawrence
Goucher
Drew
Yale
Brown
Boston College
Tufts
Brandeis
Trinity
Hofstra
Emory
Vassar
Davidson
UVA
Goucher
College of William and Mary
Bard</p>

10

<p>Thanks so much everybody for your help!</p>

<p>Soozievt - I tried to send you a PM just to say THANK YOU for your lengthy and thoughtful reply, but your inbox is full. I really appreciate your help, and I'm sure my friend will too. She is a wonderful, smart, and talented girl who, like many kids, has a rather weak guidance office. So I'll send her this link and I'm sure she will find it super valuable.</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

11

<p>I would also like to add my thanks. As a Mom going through this for the first time with my D, this is extremely useful information. Thank you soozievt!!</p>

12

<p>soozievt: "I would not go to those schools to do a BA in theater when there is also a BFA program because I think, generally speaking, that a BA Theater student will be second fiddle. There are plenty of BA schools where the BA students ARE the program."</p>

<p>Are there any schools that offer both a BFA and BA (Ithaca, USC, etc...) where the BA kids don't get pushed aside? I want to be in a school with a really strong program, but I do want the flexibility offered by a BA.</p>

13

<p>Deenierah...while you would want to check specifically with those who attend these schools, I was making a general statement but it could differ from school to school. Without being specific to any one school, my general thinking is that if there is a BFA program and a BA Theater program at the same school, the BA theater kids could possibly be the lesser of the two programs and also be competing against BFA kids in casting and so forth. It seems to me more ideal to go to a BA program (if BA is your chosen path) where the BA program is the "top" program for theater kids and where the BA kids ARE the priority and they ARE the program. You say you want a really strong theater program that is a BA one, and my answer for you (which differs from the original poster's friend who may not even major in theater.....so now I am just addressing YOUR post and your pursuit) is that there are lots of very strong programs and colleges for a BA theater student. If I recall, you are a really good student, right? (hard for me to keep all the posters on CC straight, on top of my actual clients!). Schools like Northwestern, UCLA, Brown, Yale, Brandeis, Skidmore, Boston College, UNC-Chapel Hill, Fordham, Conn College, Kenyon, Rollins, Sarah Lawrence, Vassar, Cornell, Middlelbury, Emory, Swarthmore, etc. have very strong BA theater programs with no BFA program also on campus. You don't need to have a BFA program present to have a strong BA program. To the contrary. If anything a BA could be strong because it is not a secondary degree program in their department.</p>

<p>Just to clarify, I am not saying BA kids are "pushed aside" at schools that also have a BFA. I am saying that you would want to make sure to find out from those who attend regarding courses, casting, etc. It could be fine. I am just mentioning POSSIBLE pitfalls and what you want to check on. I made a broad statement and think it applies in some cases. Generally, for those who want a BA option, I prefer to seek schools where the BA is the big deal in the theater department itself.</p>

14

<p>A follow-up to Deenierah about attending a BA theater program at a school that offers both a BA and a BFA (or even an MFA)....is that the Educational Theater Association also advises what I did above. They state:</p>

<p>"A cautionary note for students who are leaning toward a B.A. theatre major: If you're considering a school that ofers both a B. A. and a B.F.A. or M.F.A., ask some hard questions about the B.A students' performance and production opportunities and exposure to senior faculty. Because B.F.A. students and graduate students require so much of the department's resources, liberal arts students sometimes are relegated to second-class status."</p>

15

<p>We haven't looked at very many of the schools on your list. We did visit Goucher once when in Baltimore. They have theatre, music, and a wonderful dance program, but we understood that they did not have musical theatre at all, except sometimes with student run productions. You could check again, in case things have changed in the last few years.</p>

<p>I think Elon allows anyone to audition for shows, but I also think that getting into a show without being an MT, Acting, or dance major would probably be rare.</p>

16

<p>To follow up on soozievt's posts 13 and 14, at schools that show in their catalogue or website both a BFA and BA, the BA theater performance program may actually be intended as where students who are not making it in the BFA program are placed as an option to leaving the department altogether. I can't remember now which of 2 schools it was because it was in the spring of my daughter's jr year (1 1/2 yrs ago) when we were doing visitations, but either at Ithaca or Syracuse we were specifically told this by the department. So, to follow up on soozievt's advise, it is critical to ask a load of questions about the BA program at a BFA/BA school to make sure that the BA program is intended to be a primary program of study.</p>

17

<p>Ithaca</p>

<p>Actually, I know that a couple of years ago my son's friend, female communications major at Ithaca, was cast in a featured role in their student run show - Pippin. Certainly it wasn't mainstage through the theatre dept, but she did say she competed against a fair amount of theatre kids for the role - not sure if they were BFA or BA. She also did say it was a very heavy committment, but rewarding. So, I think you'll find that the caliber of BA programs, student run theatre programs, etc will vary tremendously. We saw a mainstage straight show at Tufts a few years ago with non majors in leading roles and it was exceptional. I know it's time consuming, but direct questions, conversations with the departments, schools and visits (including a show) might be very helpful in helping your friend fine tune her plan. Good luck.</p>

18

<p>There is a big difference, however, between this situation at Tufts and at Ithaca. At Tufts, I have also seen a student run musical and many of the actors, even leads, were not theater majors. But Tufts is a BA program (a good one, in fact). At Ithaca, a non major surely could get into a student run production but is also competing against BFA students in casting. But that is not the only issue. One issue is the situation for a NON major to be in shows on campus. There are a lot of colleges where this is very possible. But the other issue for the OP, is IF she wants to MAJOR in theater, I think in many cases, it might be better to do so in a BA department that does not ALSO have a BFA program. Again, it will differ from place to place but this is an issue in itself with regard to the academic program and whether it is second tier to another program in the same school, and then there is the casting issues for departmental productions, and lastly there are the extracurricular theater opportunities. </p>

<p>For the OP, I think going to a school where she has the option to major in a BA Theater program, or even minor (where no BFA program also exists) OR major in something else but go to a school with a very active theater scene for all students to participate in, are good options. Issues about casting in campus productions are one thing, but there is also the issue of the major/program if one opts to study theater too, and where department resources are most focused.</p>