Any questions?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
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<p>Hey everyone, congratulations on getting into Yale (class of 2010...wow). My name is Yotam and I'm a sophomore in Branford. I'm majoring in Ethics, Politics & Economics. Outside of class I produce theatre for the Dramat, write news for the Herald, am pledging AEPi fraternity, and do some volunteering. I'll answer any questions you guys might have about Yale life, academics, EP&E, theatre, publications (i.e. why the Herald is better than the YDN), AEPi, volunteering, and seriously anything else you might want to know about this place - even the smallest, most random questions. Fire away!</p>

<p>Yotam</p>

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<p>why is the herald better than the YDN?</p>

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<p>Hey Yotam-</p>

<p>I'd love to hear about some of the productions you've done for the Dramat :)</p>

<p>Also, how do people that you know like the theatre studies major? I've heard mixed things.</p>

<p>Thanks, Danielle</p>

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<p>My friend who will be sports editor of the YDN in the fall put it this way - the YDN is viewed on campus as a necessary evil. Everyone reads it, but few people really like it or feel loyal to it (an important exception is the YDN monthly magazine, which publishes fiction and lengthy features and is very good). Because it's a daily whose primary purpose is to publish the news and let everyone know what's going on, the writing is average to weak. This is excusable for general news, but features, and arts reviews in Scene (the weekly arts & leisure insert) is inexcusably poorly written.</p>

<p>The Herald, on the other hand, has a smaller readership but I think people feel more strongly about it. It's a weekly, so it only publishes say 4 or 5 news stories a week, but those that are published are in-depth (800-1600 words) and much more carefully written and planned. You'll find a much deeper level in those articles. Also, the whole Herald is written in a lighter, more humorous tone, making it fun to read (there are comics, a column called "Around the Ivies" where we make fun of other Ivies, and updates on intramural sports every week), unlike the YDN which sticks very strictly to rules (you can only say "said"; paragraphs are short; etc.). The Herald is more fun and more interesting to read (granted, the YDN has Sudoku and the crossword every day).</p>

<p>A totally different beast is the New Journal, a prestigious monthly magazine that has turned out many of the most important journalists who have graduated from Yale. The magazine focuses more on New Haven and Yale's relationship to it than on internal issues. The writing is the best of any undergraduate publication, but relatively few people read it.</p>

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<p>Hey Danielle,</p>

<p>I can tell you a little about the Dramat. A lot of the information about how the Dramat works is on the Web site. If you're interested in theatre, I assume you've checked out how the organization works: two professional mainstages, three student-directed exes, and one freshman show a year. I'm currently associate-producing the spring ex, "Side Man" (next weekend), and assistant-producing the spring mainstage, "Noises Off" (April). The Dramat is huge and gets wonderful spaces (the Yale Rep - 700 seats - and the UT), and puts on a lot of great shows. But don't underestimate Sudler-funded theatre. Although the infrastructure is more difficult and spaces are in short supply, Yale will give just about anyone $1200 to put up a show. Many of the best shows here are Sudlers that go up in the Off-Broadway Theatre (100 seats) or even smaller venues (like Nick Chapel, 40 seats). A great resource to learn about Sudler theatre is the YDC, <a href="http://www.yale.edu/ydc%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.yale.edu/ydc&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p>

<p>If you're an actor, the best way to get in is to audition for anything and everything. If you're lucky enough, you'll get cast in Dramat shows right away, but most people do a combination of Sudler and Dramat acting throughout their time here. I've acted in one Sudler (Caligula, in October), although I've tried out for a lot of shows.</p>

<p>If you want to direct, my best advice is to start directing as early as possible and don't assume that it'll just happen on you. Get involved by assistant-directing a couple shows (I ADed the very first Dramat show that went up my freshman year), then apply for the Freshman Show and if you don't get it, direct a Sudler show with a small cast and minimal technical demands in one of the small spaces. The producer and director of the Dramat's freshman show don't dictate who's going to rule the Yale theatre scene two years down the line. The work you produce does. The earlier you get noticed, the better.</p>

<p>On the other hand, there's often a hierarchy to staff/crew positions, even if you've never done it before and want to learn. Most people who end up producing/designing many shows go one of two ways. You can either assist on a big technical production for the Dramat, whose producers and designers usually know what they're doing and will be willing to teach you (or work the Freshman Show if you get it), or you can go the trial-by-fire route and just produce a show. I produced a small production of "All in the Timing" last semester without having ever produced before. You learn as you go.</p>

<p>Theatre Studies... I'm not sure. You'd be better off talking to a senior in the department. The introductory survey lecture is great, and many non-theatre majors take it, but I'm not sure beyond there. I believe the teaching is inconsistent. It seems like most great actors/directors were great before they took courses. I do know that the quality of senior projects varies a lot. I think the department probably does a pretty good job of training you, but it won't make or break you. Plenty of people act and direct for four years without ever taking a class.</p>

<p>Yotam</p>

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<p>Thanks for the quick response, Yotam... I have a few more questions that I'll save for later (it's late!)</p>