<p>So I know this is the forum for the MT, but does anyone know how reputable the BA in Theatre is? I’ve heard a little bit that it is a strong program, but it isn’t as widely talked about as the “big” theatre schools, at least on CC, so I don’t have as much insight. Any info?</p>
<p>The BA undergraduate program is quite large - not only students in drama but the technical fields (particularly stage management) as well. The acting faculty is large and diverse, and while each professor is different in approach to acting (some approach with intellect, others more “organic”), they have a very unified mission with respect to their desire for the students. In other words, over the course of four years, many different approaches will be presented, and through the diversity in training most students find an approach that “clicks.” Another advantage: the annual season includes 6 fully produced plays and two musicals, and BA students are allowed to audition for the musicals and, with permission (or audition) allowed to participate in other musical theatre classes when space is available. (Dance, workshop, etc.) The MFA program in acting is a prominent one, but not huge, so this leaves lots of room for undergraduates to play major and minor roles in the productions. And there are any number of workshops and readings…at least 6 each semester. Also lots of theatre off-campus (and students are allowed to participate in off-campus productions as long as it doesn’t conflict with commitments to the department, which is always a priority). The best way to discover IU is to visit the campus; it is truly amazing. I hope this helps! (Yes, I teach here - I really like it as you can tell.)</p>
<p>Bumping this thread to get some clarification and insight…If my D comes to IU for the BA but wants to continue work on her MT skills, is she able to take Voice and Dance classes? What is the possibility of being cast in musicals? How large is the department outside of MT majors?</p>
<p>Hi! I’m a freshman in the musical theatre program at IU. A lot of my closest friends are in the BA program here and those who want to continue working on voice and dance are able to easily. Most BA students have to look in the Jacob’s school to find a voice teacher as opposed to working with the voice faculty in the MT program. With dance, my current dance class, Musical Theatre dance techniques, is about half and half BA to BFA. With casting in mainstage musicals, there is still a great opportunity for BA students. In our current mainstage production we are working on, we have two BA students in very large roles, and three other non BFA students in the production. IU is also incredible in that if you want to be in a show, it is very hard to not find a show to be a part of. Mainstage musicals included, there have been 10-12 musicals produced at the school or in the community in this past school year. At the end of this year, I’ll have been in six separate shows, which is experience I KNOW I would not have gotten anywhere else I was accepted. </p>
<p>Hope this helps!
nvp</p>