<p>Can any AU students or parents weigh in on the theatre department? We’re planning a college tour for early spring, and my daughter seems like AU material in many ways-- the medium size LAC in an urban Eastern city, a good admissions fit, etc. She wants to study theatre and be involved in plays, with a particular interest in musicals, but she’s not interested in doing the audition-in, BFA musical-theatre conservatory thing. She might want to double-major or minor in history or English.</p>
<p>AU seems to be building a good reputation for theatre. Any opinions? Is it good enough for someone who loves theatre and wants lots of chances to be involved and well trained, but not so good that it is jammed with the biggest stars in the country? </p>
<p>I’m just trying to figure out if it’s worth driving to DC for a tour (we’ll be in NY and PA) – it’s the only school in DC she’s interested in. </p>
<p>And is it so spare on straight boys that straight girls suffer?</p>
<p>First, I’m going to suggest you post on the Musical Theater forum, where one of the regular posters has a lot of knowledge about various college programs. (I think she is a college counselor with a specialty in this area.) There is actually an AU sub-forum there, but it doesn’t get much traffic, so it would be best to post in the general section.</p>
<p>D is a Musical Theater major at AU, but is just a freshman, so I don’t know a lot, just a little. First, be aware that an audition (song, monologue) is in fact required for admission to the program, though it is nowhere near as competitive to get into as the typical BFA program. (We didn’t let D consider BFA programs–wanted her to have a broader education and the option to double major or switch majors.) The audition process is pleasant and low-key, and the nicest part is that each student gets a written evaluation in the mail. I can also tell you that D really likes her theater classes and loves the theater facilities. On the negative side, she took an optional one credit weekly voice lesson with a teacher she hated, and only learned after starting with her that no one wants this teacher and she seems to be foisted on unknowing freshman.</p>
<p>There seems to be very heavy competition for roles in both musical and non-musical shows (non-majors are allowed to audition), and just like everywhere else, far fewer males try out than females, so it is far easier for them to snag roles. I’d say the straight/gay ratio of males in the theater department is just what you would expect it to be. (Add that to the overall male/female ratio at AU, and I guess the social picture’s not too bright for straight women spending a lot of time at the Katzen Center.) D was very excited that she was one of just two freshman girls who got a callback for the departmental spring musical (“Oklahoma!”), but she did not get the part. She’s currently rehearsing for a student-run production (there are quite a few of those, it seems). She also had a fun experience in what I guess you could call an informal internship, where she was assistant stage manager for a very offbeat production by a funky little theater company in DC. (One of her professors had mentioned the opportunity and she applied and got it.)</p>
<p>To be frank, I would say AU is in the second tier of BA programs in musical theater, but according to D, there are many very talented students there (though probably not “the biggest stars in the country”) and she’s learning a lot. However, she has decided to definitely double major. I think the transition from being a big fish in high school theater to being one of many experienced musical theater kids in college has clarified for her that this is an extremely tough field and she’ll need additional skills to be able to make a dependable living.</p>
<p>Hope that’s of some help and that the other forum can give you more info.</p>