<p>Hey guys! I've been a longtime lurker on this board, and now that I'm going to be a senior in high school, I thought I'd tap into some of your extensive knowledge. :)</p>
<p>I'll be auditioning for several BFA programs in musical theatre and drama this year, and I have one huge doubt about it. I am well aware that show business is, by nature, superficial, but my question is - do highly selective BFA programs place a premium on attractiveness when choosing who to admit? Are there some schools that are more notorious for this than others? I ask because I am not exactly the prettiest crayon in the box, and I'd like to know which schools to avoid.</p>
<p>I also think you are a very beautiful girl and I mean it. I hope you can gain more confidence and self esteem because that will go a long way for you in life but also in an audition. You look like you would fit into any MT program in terms of your looks! You don’t have to be a fashion model to be an actress. Casting involves all types and looks. In your case, you are not even a character actress and have pretty and regular good looks that are versatile. This is not going to be an issue for you and so one less thing to think about! But confidence is very important in an audition and on stage and so believe in yourself. I thought you were going to be very plain or something by reading your post and you are not at all. You look very nice! Please believe it!</p>
<p>That said, it is unwise to post a link to your photograph on this site, even though it doesn’t have your name on it. College Confidential will likely remove it. But I opened the link before it was removed and so along with “wishadream” above, I’ll vouch for everyone else that you are quite lovely in looks. They can respond about the issues you raised even without seeing your photo.</p>
<p>Looks really don’t matter. All types are needed for Musicals and plays. I remember I went to Northwesterns agent showcase and there were all types. At that time I was told that the only girl at that time who got a New York agent was a big not very attractive girl and boy did she have talent. I cast shows for Childrens Theatre and looks don’t matter at all. Talent and fitting the part is what is important.</p>
<p>While “looks” per se do not matter, “type” does matter- and how you look (not just attractiveness, but that may be part of it, depending on the type) is part of your type. Fortunately there are many different types- and they are all needed, some more than others.</p>
<p>Back to the initial question, while it has been admitted to me by a few different professors from different schools that looks sometimes come into the admission decision, I just wanted to point out that confidence goes a long way. If you go into the audition looking professional, neat, put together, and like you know what your doing, then you should be fine. I also struggled with this thought A LOT when I was auditioning, so I completely understand where you are coming from. Prepare as much as you can, and put confidence in your talent, prepare your look for the audition so you look and feel confident and you will shine!</p>
<p>Yes, at any level, musical theatre is superficial and that includes colleges. That said, I can’t think of one female singer that I listen to that is a ‘looker’ and can think of one female ‘looker’ that I’ve gone to see in a show (Ann-Margret, back in the day, BUT she was a heck of a dancer). Do I like Angela Lansbury because she is ‘looker?’ No. I like her because she can own a role and own the stage. If you are worried about avoiding colleges because they might not select you what are you going to do on the professional stage? Avoid them? Go with confidence as the alternative is abysmal.</p>
<p>Be the best you can be. At least one college says in their info - if you need to lose weight, do it now, clear up the complexion, etc. So I’d go for an outfit that flatters your body type that you like and feel confident in, have a good hair cut and style, wear make up if you are a girl, etc. SMILE and be yourself. But you ARE correct in that it is reported that some schools put more emphasis on looks than others.</p>
<p>As far as height goes, college programs want a diverse set of students…many types and heights. Height is more a factor in casting than it is in college admissions itself. I think you are a girl. As one point of reference, I know some petite girls who are about 4’10" or 4’11" who have gone to CCM and Tisch. I saw a musical at BOCO where there were several very short boys in the cast.</p>
<p>mamafrog-- I’m 5’ 10 and just auditioned at a ton of schools this past year. I found that being tall actually set me a part in a good way. There are a TON of girls out there who are 5’5" and ingenue types. As said before, programs want all different types of actors, and being tall can definitely help someone stand out. Just makes sure that your D (I’m assuming she’s the one you’re asking about, but I could be wrong) is confident, stands up straight, owns her height, and picks audition material that matches her type. There are roles (and spots in college MT programs) that fit every body type! Good luck!</p>
<p>I don’t think height is a huge factor in college admissions. At least at Elon, where my daughter is a rising junior. She is barely 5 feet tall (was excited to even hit that height) and her freshman year roommate is about 5 feet 11 inches! Those would be the female extremes in her class which has about 14 girls. Of the boys in her class I can think of a few who are fairly short, 5 feet 5 or under, and yet one of her best friends is 6 feet 4 or more (still growing)!
In the “real world” however, it does matter. My D attended an audition for summer stock work this year, where anyone under 5 feet 4 inches was typed out immediately. She also has seen other audition notices that quite specifically give a minimum height requirement for female dancers, and has been unable to attend those auditions as she is quite a bit too short! However, she was cast as a Lost Boy in Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby, and her “lack of height” was surely an advantage in that situation. So we’ve always told her, and she is quite comfortable with, the idea that you can’t change your height, so you just need to go for whatever roles seem appropriate, and give it your best.
I have to agree that unfortunately looks do seem to matter to some extent it seems, especially in MT. Not that there isn’t room for a variety of body types and looks and ethnicities, but I’ve seen an awful lot of kids who attend a lot of different college programs, and I’m often amazed at how good looking the kids are. Some really drop-dead gorgeous. But presenting yourself well, with confidence, dressed nicely, with manners and personality, I’m sure will serve any auditioning student well!
Good luck to all this year!</p>
<p>Agree with the above. I think many types of looks, heights, etc. will be accepted into college MT programs. Where these issues become of significance is in casting for professional shows. Certain types have better odds than other types. You have to know your type and what you are suited to. </p>
<p>For example, my kid is 5’3". She is not a blonde ingenue type. She is not a tall leggy dancer (though is an accomplished dancer). She is not the sweet legit innocent soprano ingenue (though can sing soprano). She knows what she may be considered for and what is not likely at all. It never came up with regard to getting into college though. But for instance, she is 20 and has graduated college. She can attend auditions that call for teen characters and pull it off. Perhaps a 5’10" young woman could not. She can do rock/pop musicals and perhaps a legit soprano young woman could not. And so on and so forth. Colleges take all these types. They need all these types. But your type will be a big factor after college when it comes to auditions. That’s where it really matters.</p>
<p>I think in the short run (no pun intended) smaller actors will have an big advantage playing younger. I refer to this as the Michael J Fox syndrome. Someone 26 who plays 16. Besides, there is a need for actresses to help their 5’8" leading men look bigger than they actually are.</p>
<p>BoCo accepts all types
Their shows reflect this enormously. Talent counts.
I personally think looks count once you have graduated and you are auditioning for companies.They get the pick of the crop at that stage. Remember colleges are training grounds and they want a mix in their students.</p>
<p>agree with all of the above. D is a larger body type. First time around, her audition material & her outfit did not fit her. Second time around, she found her niche as far as both of those things went and she had a 50% acceptance rate. Hard to say if her looks entered into those decisions. Except for those schools that outright tell you on their website, as was pointed out already or unless you have inside info, there’s no way to tell, right? She just found material that moved her and that she felt she could be most natural with. It worked. Don’t try to figure what’s going on in an adjudicator’s head. Just be who you are and enjoy the process! You’ll do fine!</p>
They can respond about the issues you raised even without seeing your photo.</p>