Hello! My daughter is looking to attend a challenging academic school for theatre (and a likely double major). She wants a performance-based theatre program that would include a musical theatre production once a year. What colleges and universities are out there that fit this description? She is planning to audition for some MT programs, but knowing that she might not get what she wants (she is a blonde soprano), she is making sure she has a plan B. Her priority is an academically challenging performance program that includes some musical theatre! Thank you for your help!
Northwestern University is one to consider.
Hey @atypicalstagemom - I don’t know if this helps but most rigorous academic schools produce musicals - the question is, to what level of excellence? When you have an “everyone plays” environment and the school doesn’t have a deep pool of talent, the shows are (imo) of High School quality. We visited one of the Ivies on our student tour and saw clips from their recent musical and it was dreadful, embarassingly bad. You need to really think about the trade off between a school with an MT major (in which case the majoring students have at least an edge at getting cast over non-majors) or a school without an MT major (and look at the quality of their productions). I know Wesleyan has a very active theater community, many shows, no MT major and good academics. I am sure there are others. But I’m not sure if that’s exactly what your daughter wants - most kids who really want to major in MT want pre-professional training…?
NYU mts I believe can double major. Strong academics, and great talent/performance. Admission is artistically competitive however.
UCLA’s BA in MT is also probably a good option.
Dartmouth does a musical every year, but it is better known for academics than theater.
As @CaMom13 says, most rigorous academic schools will have musicals on campus each year, except possibly not small LACs. In looking at academic schools, you should look at student theater organizations in addition to faculty-directed or departmental productions, which may be very limited. This is not necessarily bad, just somewhat different from BFA programs (some of which also have some student-run theater in addition to department productions).
@CAMom13 I hear what you are saying. She does not want an “everyone plays” situation but she also realizes she might not have a choice. What I mean is that she realizes she might audition for MT programs and not get in. In which case, she wants to be sure to apply to schools that have a theatre major and produce a musical. She is a very good student. While she knows there are many, many MT programs out there and perhaps she might get into a less competitive one, she might ultimately decide not to take that opportunity if the school does not suit her academically. Furthermore, as we have another student in college at the same time, we are not in a position to be flying coast to coast. So, we have placed some geographical boudaries on applications. We simply cannot swing it. I would love additional suggestions of schools that are academically competitive regarding general applications that have a strong theatre program if she has to put aside her musical theatre program ambitions for undergrad. She can always pursue dance and vocal on her own – as electives if necessary.
@atypicalstagemom - What are your geographic boundaries? I hear you on the multiple kids in different locales - we’re in L.A., I have one kid attending school in Indiana and another heading to NYC. Happily, I love to fly! 
The good news is, it sounds like your daughter already has her head on straight and there are many programs she’d love.
Syracuse has a very good theater program - and is also very rigorous academically. Both academics and auditions are taken into account for acceptance.
@atypicalstagemom SUNY Buffalo
Honestly, the “double major” portion of this could be a huge hurdle. Will both majors be in the theatre department? If one is outside the department, you’re looking at a different group of schools that will work with her to make that possible. It takes a LOT of scheduling work between departments.
On the other hand, if she’s thinking she might eventually leave the MT department and wants other strong choices for majors outside of that, you’ll find a different, bigger set of universities meeting your criteria. (Note that some majors are hard to transfer into on a timely basis, such as engineering – the sequence is very rigid.)
@CaMom13 Would you mind sharing which school you thought had an embarassingly bad musical?
Hey @janeyM - I don’t think it would be kind. Lots of people read these boards and I’m sure the performers’ parents were totally proud of their kids and wouldn’t like to hear a stranger’s negative judgement of the production! My point wasn’t to share the criticism of that one school but just to say - if you’ve been part of a really good high school theater program your production standards may actually be higher than “college level” for non-theater-y colleges. And that goes for even the most exclusive schools … which honestly surprised us a little.
If your geographic limitations allow LA, look at USC’s BA theatre program (as a back up option). They are beginning a BFA in contemporary MT program next year - she can apply to both. The BA is a back up for kids with r ally good academic stats.
@CaMom13 I completely understand your hesitancy to share more, but many students are trying to tease out exactly the issue you are highlighting–how do a particular school’s productions compare to one’s individual standards based on prior experience, or in other words, what school will provide a level of production that will be artistically satisfying and a good fit? Most schools don’t have clips from their productions readily available on their websites, so unless you happen to visit during the run of one of their productions it’s a fairly difficult task. We are all really seeking each other’s opinions to fill in the gaps since we can’t possibly see productions or even clips of previous productions at every school. If you, or anyone else, has been to a campus with really strong productions (in your opinion) would you share those in this thread?
@JaneyM Something to remember about college theatre productions, some theatre programs intentionally cast people in certain roles which will be difficult for them so that they will learn and grow as performers. So obviously this will affect how people view the production. Not all programs do this but it is done.
I would recommend that particular schools not be identified here re: seeing a production that you didn’t think was up to your standards. Send a PM if you’d like to share.
I agree with @CMB625 . That, as well as the fact that it’s one production. I wouldn’t discount a school based on one show, if in other ways it would be on your list. I can tell you that I’ve seen good, and less good, shows at many of the schools discussed here on CC. I’ve also seen some pretty awful videos on YouTube for several schools, too, but I’d never suggest that a particular school be avoided solely due to those viewings.
@alwaysamom , right. We also saw a video of a school production on youtube and were taken aback by some of the less than stellar performance in it. Then we went to the school to tour and they told us that they do put students in certain roles to help them grow as performers and not because they necessarily fit that role…
I’ve read that one of the points of going to college for theatre was to try lots of things and make mistakes, so that when you’re out in the real world you’ve got more of a clue. So, yeah, I would expect some college productions to have “bold choices” or “interesting experiments” in regards to both performance and tech.
Look into Drew University…they have an Honor’s college and I think are moving to a musical every year.