<p>My son will be applying to MT programs next fall. He has wanted to do this since age 5 and acted since that age. He will not consider alternative majors even within theater.. perhap acting but not convinced.All our other MT friends keep saying it will be easier for him to get into a program than girls. I say the odds are still great for boys.
What do you all think? Are they looking for triple threats for boys as well?</p>
<p>The odds are still great for boys - but it appears to still be better odds. There are fewer boys going into MT then girls - so the percentage odds are better. If they are a Bass - and probably Baritone too - I would say the odds are even better. The auditions we’ve been to so far, a large majority of the boys have been Tenor. My S who is a Bass/Baritone - that can get well into the Tenor range also, seems to be rare. So far, that combined with his height (6’2") and the athletic side of it (played football for 3 years - dropped out senior year because he got a part in a local community theater and couldn’t do both) seem to be helping him. They need a certain amount of each type - and he seems to have a less common type for male MT majors -so his lack of dance training doesn’t seem to be hurting him yet. That’s our experience anyway.</p>
<p>I read somewhere that, while there are less boys, the boys on the whole are more talented. Not that they are more talented than girls (before I blow up this thread)… that they don’t stay with this and pursue it as a career… no Glee or American Idol affect… if they are not talented. So while the odds are better… it is still hard.</p>
<p>^^Thanks for saying that–I’ve heard it too, and my son has noticed it in general. He’s doing straight acting, but at several schools they’ve done group warmups or exercises, and at Otterbein they watched each other’s auditions (both MT and acting together, and he loved it). So he’s had a chance to gauge the competition, so to speak. We’ve also noticed that even for straight acting, the boys who are very musical and who have dancers’ builds seem to be getting the early acceptances. It’s tough for boys despite the lower overall numbers.</p>
<p>My S has been in the business since age 8, dancing since age 3 (although how much do they really dance at that age?). I also have an older D doing MT in college. Yes, there are fewer boys auditioning, and yes, they seem on the whole to be more talented than the girls, on the whole. BUT, in professional casting, the boys are expected to be able to dance much more than the girls and, especially, tumbling and tricks. My S is now calling it the Newsies effect! A lot of casting calls (like Newsies) specifically call for dancers, and then singing is a plus. Dancers who can sing, rather than singers who can move (like for many girls’ calls). </p>
<p>I’m not saying that great dancing is absolutely necessary to get into a BFA - but it will definitely be required in the real world. If you kid doesn’t have a strong dance background, I would be looking for a strong dance BFA (OCU comes to mind). Since strength is required for male dance - boys can pick it up later than girls. Concentrate on technique. It will be a great advantage if your child wants to do cruise ships, Broadway, etc. right after college.</p>
<p>The schools that are interested in looking good statistically want dancing boys.
The schools that are interested in educating kids aren’t as concerned.
There are a lot of boys. The numbers have changed drastically.
If your boy wants a spot in a non university/conservatory have him start dancing ASAP.
It’s product vs process for a lot of these schools now. If your son enjoys a university setting concentrate on everything but the singing and a world view is much more critical.
There is not a thing wrong with schools concerned about the product. It’s a different approach and much more business focused. Know what your son is looking for and prepare A LOT!</p>
<p>Having two sons and one daughter involved in theatre, I would say that it is easier for boys, simply in that the odds are better - it’s still difficult. Both our sons are MT trained. As for the numbers, many musical casts of characters and straight plays have just as many male roles as female, so, if a program is considering trainability but also casting of their season, the amount of auditioning males will likely be fewer but the amount of boys chosen will be equal or higher than females. If the boys have some movement/dance ability it definitely elevates them toward being accepted. Regarding talent, I personally believe this question is more geared towards which boys surface through the years with the desire to take MT or Acting or Dance as their training in college. With society generally still thinking the way it does, it takes a certain fortitude and skill to make it worth it for most boys to pursue this field over sports, straight academics, etc. I am not saying that the girls don’t have the drive or passion or skill - remember I have a daughter ( and she is nothing if not driven.) However, it’s possible that the smaller group of boys auditioning are also more of the very driven, talented nature by the time college years arrive. So again the majority of boys auditioning will fare better than their girl counterparts. Still, with the economy being what it is, we are finding more boys taking the leap of faith to train for MT in college. I guess they see that many of their older friends who went strictly academic in college are struggling mightily in the work world, so theatre doesn’t seem so unique a long shot anymore. In this case the numbers will increase even for boys auditioning, so any movement/dance ability will become more crucial. If there is a boy fairly strong in voice, dance, and acting a program will see that they can potentially develop them towards all opportunities in theatre - musical and straight plays. If there is little vocal or dance skill or ability in the student, that development of the student will be tougher for the program. If you do your research on schools that offer acting and MT programs you will most likely see that the Acting programs take fewer students. The program might believe an MT student could be the best fit for a role in a straight play, but it’s less likely that an Acting student will be the best fit for an MT role. Hope this makes sense - it’s just what we’ve seen in our experiences.</p>
<p>^^exactly.</p>
<p>redheadlady, sounds like you are suffering from that ever-present parental angst: “does my kid have what it takes?” As parents we can’t be objective about our kids, and I don’t know where you live, but if your kid is a big fish in a little pond (like my kid is where we live), perceptions can be skewed. If I were you I’d get an audition coach or send him to somewhere like ArtsBridge to get some objective feedback. But regardless, it sounds like he is determined!!! If he won’t even consider an alternative then it sounds like you just need to let him go for it or risk having him always wonder if he could have succeeded if he had followed his dream. You’re sunk, Mom! These MT kids who want to do nothing else HAVE to do it. You know they always say that if you can imagine yourself doing ANYTHING else, do it. But it sounds like your son has already answered that question. Good luck.</p>
<p>Recent list for an audition day on campus—30 girls and 4 boys. This isn’t always the case, but it gives you an idea of what it’s like out there. We’ve also been in a room with about 50 girls and maybe 10 boys. It is easier for boys, but you still have to train and have what it takes and have what they are looking for.</p>
<p>The mom of a NYU acting grad S explained it to me like this. The odds, though great, are better for boys getting into university programs but once a professional, the odds are equal and then get greater for the guys. She attributes this to more women than men leaving the professional field after a few years so the pendulum swings the other direction later in their careers.</p>
<p>Ewanes - that’s interesting… our experience has been very different. There’s definitely been more girls than boys, but more along the 60/40 line… As the father of a boy, I was frankly hoping for better odds than I’ve seen.</p>
<p>We were at an on-campus audition for MT at a school in the south in January. Of the 60 kids, only 6 were boys! It felt more like 70/30 at the NY Unifieds, but I don’t have any actual statistics. Of course boys must be talented and prepared, but those who have what schools are looking for are undoubtedly going to receive more offers, and because they will be in more demand, schools will likely try to lure them with scholarships. I have a senior D so this is all just supposition. To the OP, have your son work on dance skills if he want MT. Even the basics will help him in auditions and it will show the auditors he is committed to the work.</p>
<p>Not only are there fewer boys auditioning for MT schools but in the “real world” there are far more roles for males than females. And, yes, txtxyeha said, women drop out professionally at a younger age because there are far fewer roles for older women (40 and up). So boys have it easier but that’s like saying winning a marathon is easier than winning a triathalon - both are incredibly difficult. Okay, not sure that’s a great analogy, but you get my point.</p>
<p>There were definitely more boys at Unifieds which makes sense as it’s more practical to audition there from an expense and convenience pov. 70/30 does sound about right for Chicago Unifieds, too. And I’ve also heard that there are more roles for men later on. But it’s all a long shot for everyone now and in the future. Still, they have to major in something for undergrad, so it should be something they are passionate about!</p>
<p>amtc, I completely agree with you. Just to add to your thoughts–not only are there FAR more parts for men, and FAR fewer for women over say 40, but women drop out also because raising a family is not easily compatible with being an actor unless you’re extremely fortunate to be married to a well off person who will support you. It’s the same problems women face in MANY careers. Sort of another topic! Finally, men not only get more parts, but there is a far wider range of ‘acceptable’ types, looks, and body types for men than women. I’m not an expert, but my impression is that stage theatre is still more welcoming to women than Hollywood–Sexism and ageism in Hollywood is a very well known topic. It is what it is. Good to know some of the hurdles and plan accordingly, in my opinion.</p>
<p>Btw, our own experiences were that girls outnumbered boys considerably in all the auditions we went to. (We didn’t go to Unifieds in Chicago though) </p>
<p>All in all, great for my son, not so great for my daughter… Again, it is what it is.</p>
<p>One of my best friends just went to his top choice school’s auditions for MT. He was one of over 700 boys, just for the one day. Can’t imagine how many girls but definitely think it must have been at least twice that. He is so nervous. When you are auditioning, I don’t think it is ever easy. Good luck to all.</p>
<p>Wow - that’s a lot. What school?</p>
<p>Do tell - Enquiring minds want to know!</p>
<p>How can that possibly be? 700 boys? Where would you put them all? I am hoping there’s an extra zero in there!</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you factor in the application fees and the audition fees, it could be quite a lucrative racket.</p>