<p>Today I realized how long a drive Valencia was from San Diego, especially with Nervous Nelly seated next to me. </p>
<p>I decided to save a little money, seeing as how we have the unifed weekend coming up, and me and my D decided to do the up/back drive thing to CalArts for her audition for the BFA acting program. We got up early just in case we hit traffic on the 405. We didn't. We got there obscenely early, but better early than late.</p>
<p>The whole way there my ears were assaulted by my D's playlists hooked up to the Cal car's IPOD (It is known as the Cal Car because I am a very proud Berkeley Grad.... the car is Berkeley blue and adorned with all manner of Cal stickers, etc... and of course, is a hybrid.) But I know that music helps my thespian "get in the moment" so I dealt.</p>
<p>We took the opportunity to walk around the campus. A number of the art students were putting up installations, which was kinda cool. I don't think we saw the entire school. What I did see kinda looked like a large, Southern California public high school, to be honest. Maybe we are spoiled. My D's high school has a 450 seat proscenium theatre, a 150 seat black box, and an outdoor theatre, student art rooms, dance studios, music rooms... you name it...</p>
<p>I left her alone to "get connected." (Whatever.) I sat outside next to some students getting ready to audition for the music program. I am the sister of a professional classical musician and pleasantly familiar with many guitar pieces. This young man sat down and while his friends chatted next to him, took out the most beautiful guitar and proceeded to pay a Vivaldi concerto with a touch I had not heard before. He pulled back just at the right times. I must have reread the same word in my novel 30 times. I was mesmorized. It was beautiful.</p>
<p>Eventually, my D came out approximately an hour after going in. She said they took them in (about 10-15 students). She thought overall the students who were auditioning were more put together than the students at Emerson when she auditioned there (less talking, more preparing, better dressed.) She really liked the grad students who visited with her before it was her turn. Before they went in, the three (yes, 3) adjudicators spoke to the students about the program. Two were formerly of NYU, which impressed my daughter. They told them they want to make CalArts the premiere acting school in the country, which is why they left NYU. Two of the adjudicators had studied at Yale, I believe. </p>
<p>When it was her turn, she did her modern and then her classical piece. They then had her perform her classical piece in a very amusing way which I won't reveal, but was most intriguing and enjoyable for my D. They had a heart to heart with her about the differences in the various programs she was auditioning for (telling her that at NYU should would have more classwork, less acting and CalArts was a true conservatory environment and how would she feel about that...etc.) [They knew what programs she was auditioning for because they have you fill out this form before you go in and give it to them.] After many other interesting discussions (about my daughter's comments on what she wants to work on and their assurances they could fulfill that need), the head of the program told my D she gave a "beautiful" audition and strongly suggested my D come back for a tour with a prearranged mentor. They invited her to visit some classes to see what they were like, etc. </p>
<p>My D left feeling very positive about her entire CalArts experience. She thought the adjudicators were really creative at pulling different things out of her monologue and she enjoyed talking with them. She told me that regardless of whether they accept her, she hopes that all her auditions continue to be as positive as both this one and Emerson were. (She was admitted to Emerson.) She told me if this is how her auditions keep going, regardless of the result, she will feel very good about herself. </p>
<p>So, CalArts has some definite positives. My D was extremely impressed with the faculty and their tactics. She really liked the students she met. And I loved just sitting outside hearing tremendously talented kids playing beautiful music in the sunshine.</p>
<p>So thanks to y'all on CC for recommending my D apply to CalArts.... good idea!</p>