<p>I apologize if this has been covered previously (I tried to search for it a bit), but...
D is set on applying for a BFA in MT program, for all the right reasons, but has also assistant-directed some shows and would be interested in an MT program that had the flexibility to add some directing classes to her curriculum. We're not talking about a full-fledged program geared to directing, like Playwrights Horizons at NYU Tisch, but an MT program that has room to add some training in that discipline. Anyone have recommendations? Many thanks!</p>
<p>Well many of the top MT programs let you take fundamentals of directing classes, some mandatory, some optional. I know that in your senior year at Boston Conservatory you can choose a "Directing Concentation" where you study more advanced Directing in addition to your normal MT courses that year.</p>
<p>First, I agree that at BOCO, there is a senior focus and you can opt for that to be Directing. Second, Playwrights Horizons, though you nixed it, happens to be great for MT and for directing. I know several kids in PH who continue to do musicals and continue to direct. PH also has a third year practicum track in MT itself. My D's boyfriend is in it right now. He also was a lead in a recent musical at Tisch and has been in many in the past. Several MT kids, besides him, that I know, CHOSE PH, not CAP21. There is some voice and dance at PH, just not as much as at CAP21 and of course, there are the directing courses. </p>
<p>Another option is to do a program like CAP21 and then after two years, you can choose another studio to get training in a different approach or skill and so like someone else that I know, you can do CAP21 for two years and PH for two years. One of the top talents from SDM, from before your D's time, did that and has since graduated. </p>
<p>Further, even if your D were to do a BFA in MT at CAP21, she could still direct shows. For instance, my D is in CAP21 and she just finished as Musical Director for a GAP show at Tisch (conceivably someone could be a regular director of a GAP show as well). A classmate of hers in CAP21 is a MD for a GAP show next semester. She has several PH friends with MT backgrounds (played leads in musicals at SDM for instance) who have or are currently directing GAP shows at Tisch. Further, as another example, my D is currently working on a show that a senior in ETW wrote the music for (more of a revue style show on a theme) and my D is arranging the music and musically directing. But projects like that go on all the time at Tisch and so even if your D were in CAP21, she could conceivably gain directing experience. Another friend who is from SDM and a senior in CAP21 has written her own MT revue based on the life of a well known singer and she'll be directing her one woman show in that at CAP. There are lots of chances to get engaged in things besides performing at Tisch, even if a MT major. As well, those in studios like PH, have many opportunities to be in musicals and do some MT training.</p>
<p>PS...I was just looking over course offerings in Tisch and there was a course listed as "Directing Practicum" which was not part of a studio core but a Tisch course option outside of studio courses. Students take Tisch courses beyond their studio. For instance, my D is trying to get into Playwriting Practicum as one of her Theater Studies courses (required to take many of these over the four years). Such is the case with Directing Practicum.</p>
<p>Webster University has many opportunities for their MT majors to direct. During Directing I (Junior Year) they direct scenes using each other first semester and then using the freshman second semester. In Directing II (Senior Year) they direct two 25-minute pieces primarily using the sophomores which are viewed every Tuesday by the entire Conservatory. I am pretty sure that is how it works, but some of the other people in the Webster forum can probably give you more specific answers!</p>
<p>BS, also I know you were mostly discussing directing in terms of courses, but at many of these BFA in MT programs, there are student run productions, allowing for work in directing. Actually, my D cared about this when exploring schools because she had created and directed a few shows prior to college and enjoys that process. So, a lot of the BFA schools have such opportunities. For all I know, most do but off the top of my head, I know there are student run musicals at UMichigan, Emerson, BOCO and Tisch. They surely aren't the only places with student run musicals, however.</p>
<p>Many of the programs also have student theatres where the students can direct, cast, etc their own shows. Wright State has one that is set aside just for the students. This fall I know there were at least a couple of student run productions. My d, who is a freshman there, said that many freshman got involved with this because the first quarter there as a freshman is a nonperforming one (although the 2nd and 3rd quarters of the freshman year - freshman can audition and perform if selected). There are also undergrad directing classes in the course catalogue (for upperclassmen probably). You may find other schools with similar opportunities.</p>
<p>Awesome info, thanks all!</p>
<p>When I was a BFA Musical Theatre major at Syracuse I took directing and stage management, and had the option to propose a show to direct for the Black Box Players, the student group.</p>
<p>I did my graduate work in Directing at Penn State... I believe that the BFA musical theatre students there had to take directing (although that may no longer be the case). There are many student theatre groups on campus.. and many opportunites for student to propose shows to direct. </p>
<p>James Madison University is an auditioned BA program in Musical Theatre. There is a very active student group which is mentored by the theatre faculty in the department. The student group usually produces 2 - 3 student directed musicals per year. There is also a directing class where the students present public performances of their plays in the experimental theatre space.</p>
<p>There is also a production minor at NYU Tisch that my friend (who is in CAP) is pursuing.</p>
<p>BoCo has a great directing program. There is an intessive class that is given junior year and your senior year you can do a directing emphasis. This will include directing scenes, one acts, and entire plays/musicals. And it is a really great program. I have seen some amazing shows and amazing directors come out of this program.</p>
<p>University at Buffalo lets students direct. I'm currently a theatre major, not musical theatre, but i'm taking directing 1 next semester (that'll be the 2nd semester of my freshman year), and anyone can propose to direct a show at any time. I'm mainly taking it because I have an interest in casting and my advisor thought it would be helpful to get a new perspective. Anyway, I think MT majors have to audition for all dept. shows and take whatever role they are cast in, so being in a dept. show and directing a student guild show could be tough...</p>
<p>At PSU, the MT students take a directing course in their junior or senior year. There are MANY opportunities to student direct. There are student run theatre groups on campus--No Refund Theatre, Outlaws, Thespians, etc. They also instituted a "Pavillion Projects" program in which the theatre in the round (Pavillion Theatre) hosts student run projects.</p>
<p>Please don't nix playwrights at NYU. My S. was a lead in so many shows both mainstage and others, and now has decided to focus on writing and directing. His musical was just produced in a workshop productin in NYC. The training was great, He is still not the best dancer, but there is still life after a BFA!</p>
<p>I'm a freshman MT at Syracuse and I'm enrolled in a introductory directing course next semester. The other 11 students in the course are all acting majors and are aloud to take the class because of a slightly lighter course-load. However, if you come in with AP credits or are in the Honors Program and petition to take more credits, you can take the class as an MT. Otherwise, you can always wait 'till sophomore year. The class is taught by Bob Moss, founding artistic director of Playwrights Horizons. After this class, I know there's at least one level higher, maybe more. I know there was talk about creating a directing minor, so we'll see if that evolves any. In short, Syracuse is a fantastic place for someone wanting to major in musical theatre, without abandoning his/her passion for directing.</p>