<p>I am looking for schools, preferably in a small city to urban environment, that offer a strong BA Directing program, that can easily be part of a double major with say, communications or education. I'm really looking for a school that will offer many opportunities for hands on involvement and project-based learning, in terms of directing. </p>
<p>My unweighted GPA is around 3.8, weighted around 4.1, SAT is 680 for both Reading and Writing, and 670 for Math (combined total of 2030). I'm taking it again this weekend, so it may go up a little. </p>
<p>I've already looked at Pace in NYC, which seems to have a very unique directing program, but they only take around 5 new directors a year, so I am looking for additional options.</p>
<p>I’m always curious why people are interested in double majors. Theatre Directing AND Education suggests to me that you are interested in being a theatre teacher? But remember that it is almost unheard of for a school to have a dedicated theatre teacher, most schools have theatre handled by either the English department or Music department, which would imply a degree in English or Music respectively.</p>
<p>Pizaamonster, as drama is becoming a more mainstreamed class, schools are indeed hiring drama teachers. My two theatre kids each went to different high schools and each school had a drama teacher. My son’s teacher was a theatre major who had just finished getting his MFA in drama. Other private schools in our area also have dedicated drama teachers and we are by no means a large, cosmopolitan city. Most of the teachers have degrees in drama, not in music or English. Drama is becoming a huge part of our school’s curriculum. They are all putting on full stage musicals and straight plays and many are developing middle school programs as well. It is an exciting time in the theatre world for kids.</p>
<p>I think drama/theater teachers might not be as unusual as you think. My children attended NYC public schools. Their elementary school has a dedicated drama teacher. All elementary schools have to have a certain number of “specials” classes and teachers so that the regular classroom teachers get their “preps”, periods outside of the classroom. At our school, drama is one of the specials. Their middle school has an “arts focus” and students can choose drama as their art. This used to be taught by an English teacher, but is now taught by a drama teacher. Two of my children went to a big performing arts high school, where, of course, there is a theater department. My other child went to a more standard high school and theater was an after school activity, run by an English teacher. </p>
<p>I’m not saying our experience is universal, but I imagine not so unusual.</p>
<p>All of the public high schools in our area have a dedicated drama teacher, as do most of the independent schools.</p>
<p>In schools where this isn’t the case, it’s usually very manageable to become certified in an area other than your college major as long as you take the relevant coursework.</p>
<p>Both the University of New Hampshire and James Madison University have interesting BA theater programs that offer a teaching strand; bear in mind that internships and student teaching often require an extra one or two semesters, though. These aren’t in the kind of urban environment you’re looking for, but they are lovely campuses with vibrant school cultures. Two great theater ed. master’s programs are at NYU (Steinhardt, I think?) and Boston University, which offers an MFA in theater education. </p>
<p>And, D’s public high school here in Austin has a one full-time and one part-time drama/musical theater teacher. (the part-time teacher is also a teacher in the special ed department and does theatre with her kids there, too.) Before school budget cuts a few years ago, we also had a full-time tech theatre teacher.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies, everyone! However, let’s put the education path aside hypothetically…which schools have a reputation for having good DIRECTING programs? The conversation above tended to go towards a “is theatre education alive?” discussion, which was interesting, but I really want to learn more about the directing aspects.</p>
<p>Aside from “urban” environment James Madison had the directing opportunities you are looking for as well as a Theatre Ed track. The program is part of the “Theatre Studies” track. Students have the opportunity to Assistant Direct for faculty and guests on the mainstage and propose to direct in the studio theatre, where there are 4 - 5 student directed productions each semester. There is also a 10-minute play festival that is produced by the directing class.</p>
<p>^Thanks, KatMT, I guess I didn’t make that point clearly enough in my earlier post when I cited JMU and UNH as potential programs. PizzaMonster, I’m assuming that you’ve searched this forum for posts that discuss directing? If not, that would be a good start.</p>
<p>It may not fit everything you are looking for, but Columbia College Chicago has a BA program in Theatre Directing. It certainly has a major urban setting (Chicago, just south of “the Loop”). And it has TONS of hands-on opportunities, as a directing student in the late 90’s I directed a total of FOUR plays–one short one act, and three full length. Every directing student has the opportunity to direct this many plays. And I also worked on other plays in other jobs. I wasn’t focusing on acting at the time, but if I had wanted to I could certainly have had the opportunity to act as well.</p>
<p>Just thought of another one–Muhlenberg provides a lot of directing opportunities, though it isn’t a degree in directing specifically. It is possible to direct a mainstage there as an undergrad.</p>
<p>Look into it. It fits what you want in a program almost exactly. It’s an intense BA program, directing being one of the tracks. In you first year you do a series of classes called collaboration in which you literally create pieces every single week. As of your second year you would complete ‘Intro to Directing’ class and from then on you direct studio shows each semester for the rest of you college experience. The amount of experience you get is almost unmatchable. You can certainly double major in something, especially in communications. I know many people who are doing exactly that. I also kno people doubling visual arts, english and even psychology. </p>
<p>Fordham is located in one of the nicest parts of Manhattan. There’s also an additional typical college campus in the bronx where you can get the ‘traditional college experience’ as far as sports etc are concerned. </p>
<p>UNH and Muhlenberg come to mind. Check out Emerson, I think they combine education and theatre and offer directing opportunities.</p>
<p>My D is very excited to be a freshman acting student in the BA International Ensemble program which offers the unique environment for directing students to work with the acting students creating hands on a new piece of theatre to perform abroad and then again in NYC. I wasn’t aware that they had the number of 5 directing students that they take but if this is what you are interested in, I suggest you make your strong interest known to the university by showing your genuine interest. A student with your high stats may receive a nice scholarship from Pace as well.</p>
<p>I think its very smart of you to be casting a wider net.</p>
<p>You have very strong stats and should have lots of good options. NYC does not really fit your description of the environment you say you want though. There are a number of phenomenal programs there of course, but it would help to know more about this aspect of your preferences. Boston, NYC, and Chicago have many fantastic programs, but if they are too urban then posters can give you suggestions that may be even more useful. If you want to be near the city, but not IN the city, then choices like Montclair, Rutgers Mason Gross, Ithaca, Hofstra, etc; might be good to look into. Your academic stats already appear great for those schools. You haven’t told us about your current experiences- are you working on productions and beginning to prepare a portfolio or other materials to bring to your interviews? I am not as familiar with the interview process for directors and I am guessing it’s slightly different from designers, but it’s a good time to also start looking at the department websites and learning what they want you to bring so you can work on that over the summer. I don’t know if George Mason has a directing track, but that’s an up and coming in a lovely suburban setting but essentially a suburb of DC. For that matter, you might want to also look into American Univ, George Washington and Catholic. More info on your geographical preferences and current involvement in theatre will help us also.</p>
<p>Thanks for the wonderful suggestions! In terms of geographical preference, my first choice would be a large urban environment (NYC, Chicago, etc.), but am also open to schools “just outside the city” and in smaller urban environments.</p>
<p>In terms of my directing experience and portfolio, I have directed 3 one act plays, and am slated to direct a full-length play next year at my school. There is also a possibility of me directing one or two competition pieces. </p>
<p>Many of the schools mentioned I had already been looking into, so thanks again! If there are any other suggestions, please post!</p>