<p>I was wondering if anyone knew much about this program. There is much discussion of the MT program at U Mich, but the straight acting seems to end up on "top" lists but I was wondering if anyone had details. Size of the program, how many audition vs. how many they take, etc. My D is an actress who sings well and has had some dance training but will probably apply to a combination of BFA acting and MT programs as well as some non audition BA's. I don't feel she is a good match for UMich MT because it seems to be very musically driven and although she reads music and had five years of piano she does not really play an instrument and is not a good fit for any program with a heavy music theory component. I realize some of this may have been covered in the past, so if anyone has links to specific threads I'd appreciate it. One of my specific questions is if the Acting students can get any MT experience at UMich because I would think that even if they have an open casting policy that the MT kids would get cast in musicals and my D would like to continue some dance and especially vocal training. Thanks!</p>
<p>I know that the two programs (mt and acting) are completely seperate at umich. I do not believe that the acting majors are allowed to participate in any of the mt activities</p>
<p>My niece is a sophomore in the BFA Acting at UMichigan. She is not a MT performer and so what your D is looking to do was not the case with her. That said, I think there are other schools where your daughter, if in an acting program, may have more chance to be in musicals than is the case at UMichigan (though at UMichigan, she likely could be in the student run musicals). For example, the acting students at Tisch are cast in the mainstage musicals, and even some of the acting studios put on their own musicals. So, I am not sure that an acting student at UMich could take the more MT courses or do any of their mainstage musicals, as much as would be the case at schools like Tisch, CMU, Ithaca, or Syracuse.</p>
<p>Thanks soozievt, I suspected as much with regards to UMich.</p>
<p>She is really struggling with whether or not to audition as an MT at the various places where you can audition that way but also be placed into straight acting. Depending on the program, there is a part of me that worries, completely apart from the getting in part, whether or not MT training might be too specific for her. One thing she has really enjoyed at her high school, for instance, is appearing in student films and I am wondering (okay, I am going off subject now) whether MT students would have as much time or opportunity to appear in student films at places like Tisch or USC as the straight acting students. I would love for her to graduate with some skills in film/TV acting as well as theatre, I just think it keeps more doors open. Would love to hear other’s view on this.</p>
<p>HSN, I can’t speak about USC but I do know that there have been CAP21 kids who have participated in film students’ projects. My D knew a couple of kids who did this when she was at Tisch. The CAP21 kids are not in studio classes for any longer than the students in other Tisch studios so having ‘as much time’ is not an issue. Class scheduling, for the most part(varies a bit studio to studio but the MT kids are not in classes any longer just by virtue of the fact that they’re in the MT studio), is the same for all primary studios.</p>
<p>^^^Agree with the above. The MT students at Tisch are not busier than the Acting students. Further, a student can choose what to audition for. Conceivably, a MT student could opt to just audition for student films, though that is not too common since they like MT. Also, a MT student could study in CAP for two or three years and then apply to Stonestreet Studio to study acting for the screen. When you attend Tisch, you can do a a little of everything if you want. My own kid did the MT studio for five semesters and is now in an acting studio for three semesters. Or one could opt to stay in the MT studio the entire time.</p>
<p>That’s helpful info soozievt. I have heard at some programs that MTs are busier than the straight actors with extra dance and music classes, but I assume that with CAP21 it’s a sort of all inclusive situation. I was also interested in you saying that MT students normally don’t audition for student films because they like MT, and it kind of confirms my feelings that they really are different art forms. Obviously MT actors have had great success in TV and film, so I would think that they would want to keep their hand in it. I think it takes a while for MT people to learn how to “dial down” therir performance, what works in a big theatre looks ridiculous when the camera is inches away. My D has found it really interesting, such a different experience, and at this moment far prefers theatre. It is also VERY time consuming to have a major part in a student film. On the other hand, it can be very collaborative, because often young student directors are more receptive to their actors because it’s all new to them, too. In any case, I am rambling here!</p>
<p>HSN, I am afraid you misunderstood one thing I wrote in post #6. I was saying that conceivably, a MT student could opt to JUST (emphasis on the word, “just”) audition for student films. I meant if that was what he/she wanted to do, she could, and never do a play or a musical. I was saying the options are up to the student. And that a MT student would likely not choose to ONLY audition for student films. But they may audition and participate in student films, as well as dramas, and musicals. It is up to the student. My feeling is that someone interested in MT would not forego all plays and musicals just to be in films, in other words. But they might choose to be in some of each. My own kid, who went to Tisch for MT, has chosen to be mostly in musicals but she also was in a workshop production that was not a musical that was self scripted by the cast and directed by Moises Kaufman. A well known actress came to Tisch this semester who auditioned kids for a workshop that was not a musical and my D was cast in it but the reason she didn’t do it is she has way too much on her plate right now and also would have had to give up the academic classes she wanted and find something else due to schedule conflicts. But she would have done it otherwise. So, I can tell you that many MT kids are in dramas. Many of the acting students are in musicals, as well, at Tisch. Many MT or Acting students opt to audition for student films. My own kid did not audition for student films but has been actively involved in one performance project or more at a time while at Tisch. Each student can pursue whatever types of performance opportuntiies she wants. For example, my D is very heavily involved in musically directing and performing in a coed a cappella group at Tisch. But she is music oriented and so loves it. Many of her MT friends are in plays. She opted to do an acting studio for three semesters and loves it. Options of all sorts abound at Tisch, and in some ways, it differs from other BFA programs this way in terms of the flexibility of these options.</p>
<p>HSN-
Hi. My D seems to fit the description of your D exactly. She is a strong actress who sings and dances. I think most of this has been covered, but my D auditioned for UMich BFA Acting last year and was accepted. They were very clear that MT and Acting are totally separate and that the two divisions can not audition for each others’ shows. At her audition, we were told there were approx. 450 students auditioning for BFA Acting and that they would take about 45 to yield 20-25. We had a great experience there. She loved the instructors and the audition experience which involved group work where they could observe you in a class-type atmosphere as well as the individual auditions. She had great respect for the head of the dept. as well. They were also very clear that they give NO money to freshmen. There are several scholarships available to upperclassmen though. The cost was one prohibitive factor for D. The cost was $40,000 and no financial aid at all was forthcoming, even though my husband is a school teacher and I have health issues. Her desire to be able to keep her “finger” in muscials also played a part in her decisions. Hope this helps.</p>
<p>You’re right, soozievt, I did misread your post. Sorry! And thanks lauriemom for telling of your D’s experience with UMich BFA acting. All so helpful!</p>
<p>HSN, your D may like a BFA Acting program at a school that also has MT and where there are cross over opportuntiies with courses or at least with production opportunities. That may not be the case at UMIch but would be more the case at say, Syracuse, Ithaca, CMU, or Tisch (those are not the only ones). At Tisch, there are a lot of kids with a MT background who wanted an acting studio but still take voice and are in musicals (or even in my D’s a cappella group).</p>