<p>Hi everyone,
I’m a current musical theatre major at UArts who used CollegeConfidential to help pick my school. I just got a job with the School of Theatre Arts helping to curate an official youtube site for the school with informational videos about the school, shows and various programs, as well as performance videos and lots of other cool content. We’re in the process of creating the page and, as one of the first original videos, I thought it’d be cool to get questions from people on this forum about the program, city, their experiences, musical theatre in general, or anything else you might want to ask. So help me out and hopefully this info will help you pick a school that you or your child is happy at (whether it’s UArts or not)! I’ll be interviewing MTs, actors, techies and faculty, so almost any question is appropriate.</p>
<p>So… leave any questions you might have as a reply in this thread OR email me at <a href=“mailto:gnix@uarts.edu”>gnix@uarts.edu</a> OR send me a PM. Thanks!</p>
<p>I don't want to encroach on sweetclyde's thread or its purpose, but since the YouTube project will probably take some time and you may want a more immediate response, here's where you can find some of your answers in the interim. On the Uarts' website, if you click on "Academics" at the left side of the home page and then click on "The Study Abroad Office" link, again on the left side of the next page that appears, you will get to the page on study abroad programs. In a nutshell, UArts does not yet have its own study abroad program but has an affiliation with Arcadia University which has tremendous study abroad opportunities in general. In addition to the info there, at a presentation given by Charlie Gilbert (interim head of SOTA), he advised that UArts is in the process of developing its own focused study abroad theatre program. Further, if you navigate to the UArts MT page, on the left there is a link to the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, with which UArts has an exchange program that usually occurs, I think, during the winter break.</p>
<p>For what it's worth, when my daughter was looking at schools, we were initially dazzled by certain of the schools on her list that had well established semester long study abroad programs in theatre or MT. While such programs are certainly wonderful learning opportunities and experiences on many levels, there are some countervailing considerations. In looking at such a program, it is important to understand and think through how it will impact on you sequencing through the very structured curriculum at your school. BFA programs usually have a very defined sequence of courses that a student takes to meet very specific training goals and objectives that are built into the BFA curriculum. A study abroad program pulls you out of this sequence. So you need to explore what this really means at your school and how it may impact on you. It's not the same as if you were a liberal arts student who is meeting liberal arts requirements during a study abroad. In addition, at many BFA programs, by the end of your freshman year, you end up in a cohort of students who will progress together through the sequence of acting and certain other studio courses. Taking a semester abroad will pull you out of that cohort and you could end up with another group of students or will have missed a semester of working with your cohort upon your return.</p>
<p>After giving it some thought, we concluded that the availability of study abroad, while enticing, was really secondary for BFA programs and that the nature of the on campus program was far more important. The availability of summer study abroad theatre programs, for us, removed the semester based study abroad factor from our list of criteria in evaluating schools.</p>
<p>I just recently read in another post that U of Arts does not offer classical voice is that correct? The only voice program is in jazz…is anyone out there in the know?</p>
<p>Not entirely correct. While there is not a separate major or dedicated program for classical voice, the voice program within the School of Music is diverse. There are several courses involved with opera staging and performance. Also, there are several voice teachers both within the School of Music and School of Theatre Arts who are trained in and have performed classical repertoire (including performing with professional opera and light opera companies) and students can receive varying degrees of classical training from them depending on the student’s interests and the particular teacher. I think it would be fair to say that the program in the School of Music is jazz oriented with many opportunities for classical, musical theatre and to a lesser extent rock while the training in the School of Theatre Arts is musical theatre oriented with many opportunities for classical, jazz and to a lesser extent rock. Within both programs you will find students who gravitate towards legit classical style singing and who get good training in that style. Both schools turn out vocalists who have versatility.</p>
<p>That being said, if you are looking for a focused program dedicated to and based primarily on classical/opera training and repertoire, there are other schools in Philadelphia worth looking at.</p>
<p>I’ve always been curious to ask; Are only MT and Acting students allowed to be in major UArts performances, or are auditions open to the whole school?</p>
<p>auditions are open to the whole school, but it is very rare that someone outside acting or MT gets cast in a production. in my time at uarts, twice has an applied theater arts major been cast in a mainstage show…but i’m sure if they were doing a show that was dependent on more of some type of person (talent, race, etc), they would try to use people outside the department if our department did not have enough people.</p>
<p>We are flying in for literally 1 day to tour and check everything out. D has been accepted for MT…besides the tours and chat…who would be the best person to speak with to get the best feedback on the department. She has 2 friends there who love it…and pretty sure it will be a yes.We’ve done our research and it seems right…thanks</p>
<p>Congratulations on your daughter’s acceptance. Charles Gilbert, Interim Head of School of Theatre Arts and former Director of MT program, or Patricia Raine, current Director of MT Program and former head of the MT vocal program. They would be the logical faculty members to meet with to get your questions answered.</p>
<p>My daughter has been accepted into the UArts MT program and is very excited about being admitted and about visiting UArts on April 20th and 21st. Is there by chance a current MT student who, in addition to their busy schedule, could talk with her while she is on campus?</p>
<p>Hi, Oregon mt mom. Congrats to your daughter! That week is a little insane for me because Bat Boy opens that Friday on the 24th (ahhhh). But I do give tours for admissions on Monday at 1 PM, so if she took that tour, she could talk to me more specifically!</p>
<p>That is a wonderful coincidence because we are already signed up for the 1 pm tour on Monday. Looking forward to it! Any suggestions you have about other things to do while we are there to get to know UArts are welcome. She hopes to sit in on a class, see a dorm,… I know there’s no production that week - wish we could stay til Friday and see Batboy! But unfortunately we have to fit in a short visit that week. Thank you so much for your response.</p>
<p>haha no problem! Well, I definitely recommend sitting in on some classes. If you contact the School of Theater, they will let you know what your options are as far as classes to sit on in. Just walking around the area is really nice. Hopefully it will actually be spring weather by then! And I’m sure you can make a meeting with Patty Raine or Charlie Gilbert who can talk to you in more detail about the program too! But I’m happy to help in any way I can. I’m trying not to think that far in advance because that means Bat Boy will be about to open haha!</p>
<p>What’s the best way to get from airport to school…for a student on a budget?
Taxis seem to be $25…shuttle?? How does the train work?
Thanks in advance</p>
<p>The Septa regional rail line R-1 route would be the cheapest. See <a href=“http://www.septa.com/service/sched/pdfs/R1Airport.pdf[/url]”>Septa.com; for the schedule. The Suburban Station is about 4 or 5 blocks from the Terra Building and is closer than the Market Street East station. The train will take you directly to or from the various airport terminals to Suburban Station (or Market St East). I don’t recall what the fare is (its Zone C) but it is on the Septa website (go to the main Septa Regional Rail site and then navigate to fares).</p>
<p>After my son was accepted last year, we made a quick visit to the city. While there I made sure, we rode the bus, took the train to the airport, and hailed a cab. He grew up in a very rural area and had never taken public transportation. When he came home for Christmas, the train was how he got to the airport and back. If I remember right, I think the fare is around $6. Easy, cheap and convenient.</p>