<p>My S was invited to attend the UArts Spring Open House on April 10. Is anyone else considering attending? Does anyone know if we will have an opportunity to meet any current MT students and/or faculty? We plan on attending just to get a feel for the place. It would be a great bonus to meet some current MT students!</p>
<p>I believe there will be MT students working the open house as volunteers. Unfortunately, my daughter, if I recall correctly, is working her job that day and won’t be around.</p>
<p>Michael, it is too bad that we won’t have an opportunity to meet your daughter. Shucks. Oh well. We are anxious to just walk around and see what it’s like. I hear congrats are in order for your daughter on her performance on the big show this weekend. I wish we would have been able to get down there and see it. You must be so proud. Congrats again!</p>
<p>Thank you, it was a joy to see just how happy and gratified she feels about the work she is doing in the show. When you are visiting, try to get a tour of the Terra Building (studio classrooms and Caplin Black box), the Arts Bank (main stage and Laurie Beechman Caberaet), the Merriam (1800 seat proscenium theater owned by UArts and used for large main stage productions) and one of the dorms (Spruce and Furness for studios versus suites). These are the buildings where MT students spend the vast bulk of their time. If you would like some recommendations for restaurants and things to do in Philadelphia, let me know!</p>
<p>Thanks for the tips. Will be sure and see all that we can. Would they let visitors into the dorms? That would be great. We are in Philly every year and are always discovering new things to see and do. Just once I’d like to be able to go to Independence Hall…the lines have been soooo long and we’ve never wanted to wait on the weekends we were there. Maybe I will get lucky that weekend. 
Thanks again!</p>
<p>We can’t visit until Spring Break (3rd week in April). Very excited to see the campus! My son auditioned at Unifieds so we have never been to U Arts! Looking forward to checking it out. Right now it is one of his top two choices.</p>
<p>I’m so disappointed. UArts is one of the schools that my daughter is considering and she really needs to see the school, talk to kids, etc. We did take a parent tour while the kids were off auditioning but we only saw the outside of the buildings. The kids just saw the few rooms they auditoned in. The problem is, she is attending a prom on 4/10 and won’t be able to attend the open house. Does anyone know…if we came on a different day (say, April vacation) would we be able see the places that MichaelNKat suggests such as the Terra Building, Arts Bank, the Merriam,and a dorms?</p>
<p>If you contact the MT department I am sure they will be more than happy to set up a visit. We went last April and my S was able to sit in on classes and we both got a tour of the inside of all of the buildings that Michael mentioned. It was a great experience and made us very comfortable in choosing U Arts. We also were given tickets to see a “Bat Boy” performance which was excellent.</p>
<p>vksmom, yes you could - and you could probably arrange for your daughter to sit in on classes (except for acting studio classes which are closed to visitors). The best way to arrange it is to email charlie Gilbert, head of the School of Theater. <a href=“mailto:cgilbert@uarts.edu”>cgilbert@uarts.edu</a> Either he will make the arrangements or will put you in touch with the right person. Now that On Your Toes has closed, you could probably arrange to meet with Patty Raine, the head of the MT program. To see the dorms, you may need to speak to the admissions office or housing office.</p>
<p>Two years ago, I emailed the then head of MT, Charlie Gilbert, to set up a meeting. We were able to meet with him, and he invited my D to visit different classes, introduced us to Patty Raine, who is now, I think, the head of MT. The next day, my D visited the classes and LOVED it so much. We also got tickets to see a student performance in the black box theater in the Arts Bank, and she got to meet MichaelNKat’s D, among other freshmen, and they were so nice to her that with all that info, she decided to commit that next day. We had taken a tour (check with Broadwaywannabe, she used to do them), and then met with the Admissions people and the deed was done. The rest is history. Two years later, with only a couple of months to go in her sophomore year, my D is so much happier then I could have expected. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>Quick update- DS and I attended the UArts Open House today and had a fantastic time! We met several staff and faculty members, including Patty Raine, and met many students! Had great tours of the facilities and dorms, were treated to several short performances by students from several different BFA programs, and overall had a terrific day. DS felt the environment at UArts was very warm, welcoming, friendly, and energetic. He thought it had a really good vibe. I think UArts is quickly moving its way to #1 on his list. It was definitely a great way to spend a lovely Saturday in Philly! Met a great MT gal named Ashlyn. Anyone know if she is on CC? I think she said she’s a junior. LOVELY GAL.
Michael, sorry we didn’t get to see your daughter, but I have a funny feeling that this was only the first visit of many to come. Hope to meet her sometime in the future. Thanks for all your info about everything. It was great! :)</p>
<p>lesmizmom, glad you and your son enjoyed the visit so much. My daughter left at 8:30 Saturday morning for a job in West Virginia with the entertainment company for which she works on weekends when she is not in a show. Hopefully there will be other opportunities for your son to meet her.</p>