<p>We just returned from Chicago 2014 Unifieds. My daughter had call-backs from 2 top-notch schools -- those are the only ones that she auditioned for at Unifieds. We were surprised that so many kids were auditioning for so many programs -- and looking for walk-in opportunities wherever they could find them. She decided NOT to do walk-ins for other colleges, but was interested in Broadway Dreams and set up a time for a walk-in audition.</p>
<p>Her first college audition had a break so she scheduled her BDF audition during the break. She was super pumped up because the first portion of her audition at the college had gone so well. Turns out that one of the folks at BDF knew one of my daughter's best friends. The rest of my daughter's BDF audition consisted of 2 themes: "Your friend is incredibly talented! How does it feel to have a friend as talented as she is?" and "You aren't bad, but you really need to take our intensives if you want to have ANY chance of passing any of these college auditions". </p>
<p>The whole thing was VERY unprofessional -- and my daughter left her audition crushed. Fortunately, she is made of pretty sturdy stuff and was able to rebound in time to perform her monologue and song for the prestigious college that had invited her to audition because of the talent she showed in her prescreens! </p>
<p>BDF might have a good program -- we will never know because there is NO way I would allow her to participate in a program that 1) was so interested in trying to sell their expensive program that they were willing to undermine my daughter's audition process, or that 2) would pit one young performer against another.</p>
<p>Auditioning at Unifieds is hard enough! Avoid auditions for programs that are trying to sell you something extra!</p>
<p>Ugh! So sorry your D and you had such a bad experience. I appreciate you writing your story for others to read. I had never heard of BDF and googled them after I read your post. Break a leg to your D!!!</p>
<p>Thanks entertainersmom! These kids have a tough enough time going thru this process – they don’t need anyone undermining them when they are at their most vulnerable!</p>
<p>I don’t recall ever hearing about this group, but I’m curious why they would be at Unifieds. I didn’t realize that Unifieds allowed this type of group to participate. Nancy, sorry your D had this experience with some clearly very unprofessional individuals. </p>
<p>All know about Broadway Dreams is that I get a lot emails from them which I’m pretty sure date back to a brief encounter with a coach some years ago. But, I will say some of these training programs do make a point of telling a student how much they have to learn. Unifieds would be a very bad place to get one of these presentations. Sorry.</p>
<p>That is so interesting how we can all have such varied experiences and perspectives from the same, or similar experience. I also attended Unifieds , with my child, who also experienced this group Broadway Dreams Foundation. But we have not just visited them for a 5 minute audition. My child has done some of the actual summer intensives and has been blessed beyond what any highschool, community theater or college prep class has ever done. It is a group that has always put kids first, for instance by, scholarshipping countless students who couldn’t otherwise afford such an intensive. BDF exists to assist kids in finding their voice, their path and passion…and in helping connect them to their future ,by way of introducing them to true Broadway professionals, casting agents, directors on Broadway. My child has considered it an honor and a blessing to have been introduced to BDF, and I think if someone can make such a rash statement , and smear it over social media,where countless others can read , blindly interpret and never really know their own truth, is juvenile, irresponsible and petty. I’m sure your daughter had a good BDF audition, and I’m quite certain the auditors did not spend the time raving over her best friend other than to be kind and complimentary. They have never ever made it seem to us or others I know, who have participated in BDF, that one cannot be successful in auditions or career without BDF. What a bold,broad, and rude statement. Please consider your thoughts and words, and your intentions. It always comes back around…</p>
<p>Beware of Broadway Dreams? More like RUN to Broadway Dreams. I am a high school senior about to head to my number one dream school for musical theatre, and Broadway Dreams is the reason why. I have taken the program for 5 years and it has given me every single tool I needed to get into college. I am very close with the staff at BDF and know none of them to be demeaning to any student that walks into an audition. They are the FARTHEST from “unprofessional” and they do everything they can to build up young performers. Sounds like a misunderstanding on your daughter’s part and I hope you can change your mind and reconsider the benefits of this amazing organization. It does wonders! GO BDF!!!</p>
<p>My D has a very good friend who has attended their intensives and loved them. She has worked with a number of Broadway professionals who really care about their students. It is apparently a wonderful program with many very well connected teachers (google them). There are a number of summer programs that are similar, and I know that there were several at Unifieds this year. The kids at Unifieds are who they want at their intensives! I hate that someone felt they had a bad experience, and agree that making a blanket statement about a group where multiple people will see it and not know anything about it is probably not the best choice. I do think that it is a very good program, and I know they also give scholarships to many students.</p>
<p>Hi Nancy, I am the person who spoke with your daughter, from Broadway Dreams. I’m so sorry to hear that she felt ‘crushed’ by her audition with us. That’s never ever our intention with anyone. I know exactly who you are, as there wasn’t anyone else we saw, whose friend was waiting outside, someone I had auditioned previously in Dallas and I was so glad to see when we opened the door to leave and I did say, OH MY GOSH so great to see you, you have a very talented friend…. I should have told you, as you were there also, how well your daughter had done, that’s my mistake. She did great. She’s wonderful. We wish her well in her endeavors and are sure she will do well at college. So sorry for the misunderstanding, and we will take your feedback seriously.
Please feel free to contact me directly should you have any further comments <a href="mailto:annette@mybroadwaydreams.com">annette@mybroadwaydreams.com</a></p>
<p>Very classy @mybroadwaydream I have a dear friend who has worked as one of your professionals and has had nothing but wonderful things to say about your organization. </p>
<p>It’s always interesting when a post like this is made and, almost as if by magic (especially late at night!) new members arrive to tout the program. I have no knowledge of this particular coaching group, but I still have to wonder why this type of organization is attending Unifieds, and also why anyone who is auditioning at Unifieds would be interested in participating in their program. Shouldn’t the focus be on students who are not in their senior year of high school?</p>
<p>I respectfully disagree that the comments made about Bdf were petty or juevenile. I also do not believe they were a “smear” against the organization as claimed by the very 1st posts of two attendees of this program who raved about BDF. I have no awareness of this organization and cannot comment on them individually.
But my understanding is that this is a forum where parents and students can openly share their experiences and perceptions with others- good bad and the in between. what I’ve experienced over the past three months is that there will be good and critical posts about nearly every program. For those of is on here regularly we realize that it’s a data point. I am however acutely skeptical of such glorious rebuttals from 1st time posters. Thanks nancy for your post and thank you bisouu for sharing your experience. </p>
<p>I agree this should be an open forum. However, I’d like to address the skepticism mentioned by Sguti40. I read CC regularly (at least 3-4 times/day for several years), but very rarely post. My children are just now approaching HS graduation so I have been using it to gather information, and just haven’t had much to share. This would make me appear to be a newcomer, when in actuality I’ve been around longer than many. In addition, the original poster only had one post, which should make you just as skeptical of her as you are of “the glorious rebuttals”. In fact, I am usually more skeptical of posts on open forums when a person’s only post has a title bashing something/someone (that just screams agenda to me), rather than like the subsequent first-time posters that came to the defense of BDF.</p>
<p>While we have never had any first-hand dealings with BDF, I have spoken with one of the Board of Directors (for a totally different matter), and he was a wonderful gentleman. After discovering that we had a common interest in theatre, he told me all about BDF, what the students gain from it, and how much is given back to students in the theatre community. One look at the website will tell you that. CC is usually very happy to discuss another option for intensives and master classes from such top notch faculty as Rachel Hoffman, Mary Anna Dennard, and the many others that BDF makes available. I think we should be happy that a few new posters took the time to speak up in their defense, and hopefully encourage a few others to look into the program more closely. We have considered it but the timing has never worked out for my child.</p>
<p>And finally, thank you Bisouu for speaking up. Your opinion is one most everyone on here respects.</p>
<p>I have also met many parents whose children have attended BDF for years. They have been very well prepared this audition season and they get to work with people who are on Broadway right now. There are juniors who came to Unifieds to audition for summer programs, hence why it is smart that the programs are represented there. I think it very classy of @mybroadwaydream to respond. She certainly didn’t have to.</p>
<p>I think the two posts that should most be considered here are the original poster and that of mybroadwaydream who was the person who conducted the audition being discussed. NancyGF is certainly entitled to share her experience which sounds like it wasn’t so great. But I also appreciate the auditor reaching out to her in an attempt to explain what happened. I would encourage NancyGF to take her up on that opportunity to clear the air.
Our D has never auditioned for or participated in this program, but our D knows a number of kids who have. All are immensely talented. And all are big fans of Broadway Dreams. Based on their favorable experience, I think the program itself is worthy of consideration.<br>
As to why they are at Unifieds, I think it only makes sense. they are trying to make it as easy as possible to audition for their program. And obviously there is a big group of people at Unifieds who might find their program of interest. so it is a Nice option for them to be able to audition at that time. They are not part of the official Unifieds, just like many of the schools there are not part of the official Unifieds. But they all are there at the same time to make it easier on us to learn about them and audition.
Bottom line is we all have a choice of auditioning for this or any other program. I appreciate hearing about NancyGF’s experience. And I would love to hear others’ experiences as well to determine if this was one person’s feeling or something that happens often. Judging from mybroadwaydream’s response, I feel this was just an unfortunate individual experience. And I appreciate broadway dreams reaching out to explain. And whether first time posters or not, I also appreciate those who feel strongly enough about the program that they felt a need to speak on their behalf. Their opinions should not be discounted either.
So everyone’s opinion in this matter is valued. I would encourage anyone interested in further training and opportunities for their aspiring Broadway pwrformer to research Broadway Dreams. I think you will be impressed with what you find. And to NancyGF, thank you for being willing to share your experience. Not everything about this process is all roses, and hearing about situations like yours can help us in our decision making and also help auditors do better. If you hadn’t spoken up, Broadway Dreams would have never known it was an issue.
Good luck to all as you finish up the audition season! Can’t wait to see where all your children decide to go!</p>
<p>It is clear to me that many of you have had excellent experiences at Broadway Dreams. It sounds like they have an excellent program and that many young people have benefited from their training. </p>
<p>My comments reflected our own experience with them at Unifieds. I appreciate Annette responding and will respond to her personally. </p>
<p>My closing thoughts: Unifieds are TOUGH! Hundreds and hundreds of beautiful, smiling, hopeful and talented kids pursuing their dreams and vying for a very few coveted spots. You are at Unifieds to audition for COLLEGES and that should be your number one priority. Be wary of any other distractions while you are there. This was a curve ball that we did not expect and certainly did not need.</p>
<p>For the record, the National Unified Auditions are officially for member-only BFA college programs. However, there are many other audition opportunities available at the hotel during the week, including non-Unified member colleges, non-degree granting conservatories, overseas study programs and summer performing arts programs, including The Performing Arts Project, Broadway Dreams Foundation and others. Most students use these as opportunities for walk-in auditions.</p>
<p>I’m still not understanding why current seniors would be auditioning for these groups. I understand why other colleges hold regional auditions at the same time and in the same location as Unifieds, same with conservatories, overseas programs, but why summer programs for younger high school students? How many younger kids are attending these college audition events in order to audition for a summer program? What other summer programs hold auditions at the same time as Unifieds?</p>
<p>Some of these summer programs are not just for high schoolers. It makes sense to think they are prep programs for college auditions,and they are…but not exclusively. For example, BTP and PAP both have college students in their summer programs. Broadway Dreams may as well. I don’t know as much about that one. But, both of my daughters attended these programs and there were students from Ithaca, UArts, NYU etc. BAA is another one that takes older students.</p>
<p>And, believe it or not there are juniors at Unifieds scoping it out for next year.</p>
<p>Nancy, I’m sure your D did a great job. You are right…tons of talent,but I discovered there are many great programs out there too! Weski2 was also right, there are some of us that are not new to CC,but have just never felt the need to respond. I was defending BDF b’cos I know firsthand how much they help students/adults/pre professionals, and I would hate others to discount it as a “sham”… In your mind, you were not being petty or juvenile, but I do think it might have been better to start with, to just write the director of BDF a personal letter.I understand your D’s feelings may have been hurt and that’s always hard! Hope she hooks up with the right program for her and finds a wonderful path to her future!!</p>