My daughter is finishing up her undergrad theater studies degree at Brown, and theater there truly runs the gamut. There is a lot of theater and performance going on all the time; and it’s a constant challenge for her to choose what to get involved with and what to pass on. It can range from a lone freshman trying to produce and direct Fiddler on Roof with zero organizational support; to a visiting Yale School of Drama professor directing a well-funded main-stage Shakespeare play; to Emma Watson (long-since graduated) acting in a student-directed Chekhov play. It’s all over the place. From what I have seen and experienced, it’s a very beautiful mess.
Not sure Drew would qualify as academically selective, though to be fair, I know nothing about their honors college. I have seen high quality productions as Skidmore, but have no idea if they do musicals
Skidmore has a well regarded theater program. The program itself does not put on musicals. However, a student run group, called Cabaret, puts on musicals. When my kids were young, they saw many of these, though I did not. I was told they are very well done.
No Drew is not academically selective, but being part of the Honor’s college is very intense. You must right a thesis and defend it at the end of your 4 years. You must also take certain Honor’s courses and keep a certain GPA.
Someone mentioned Wesleyan and I second that. Lin Manuel Miranda of Hamilton fame went there. My D’s good friend will be attending in the fall as a theater major and will also be on their football team…how about that!