Can Someone Testify to These Theatre BA's?

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
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<p>I'm an aspiring theatre major, like many here! I was wondering if anyone could give me some background on the theatre programs at these schools so I can focus my list a little more. I'm looking for a good BA program AND plenty of performance opportunities or chances to participate in productions and on-campus performance groups.</p>

<p>Any information--good and bad--is appreciated! </p>

<p>Brandeis University
Connecticut College
University of Virginia
Barnard College
College of William and Mary
UNC Chapel Hill
Wesleyan University
SUNY Binghamton</p>

<p>If anyone could offer some recommendations to me as well, that would be appreciated!
I have a 2040 SAT score (CR: 670, M: 620, W: 750) and a 93.6 UW GPA.</p>

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<p>triforceofsara (neat name, by the way) - You can search some of those schools in this forum, and you’ll find comments on some of them. I know people have talked about Brandeis and Barnard, and I think also Conn College and maybe Wesleyan.</p>

<p>My D applied to Brandeis and was accepted. She had about a 3.65 GPA and a 31 ACT - so similar stats to you. She was originally waitlisted but was offered a place quite quickly, in the first week of May. That has been a pattern with Brandeis in recent years, to accept only a small number and use a big waitlist as students turn down spots. It’s not such a bad system; in fact, many BFA programs do this, too.</p>

<p>I can’t tell you a lot about Brandeis because in the spring of '11 we heard that they were changing their theatre department drastically, which is one reason why my D turned them down (the main reason is because she was accepted into an auditioned BFA that she preferred). </p>

<p>Your questions are good, and I appreciate that you listed some of your criteria. I will say that most schools will have, in a general way, what you describe. Many BA programs have a lot of performing opportunities, especially in student-run productions. What it would be nice to know is what you prefer in terms of curriculum. BAs differ mostly in what courses they offer. Some offer more academic courses - literature, history, theory, etc. - than training classes - Acting, Voice/Speech, Movement. With any BA, you should ask about or look at their course list. Other factors include whether they have other learning opportunities, such as directing, playwriting, design, etc. It depends on what you are interested in. Other questions would include whether they have study abroad options, good connections for internships and career planning in theatre, and what other experiential learning you can do.</p>

<p>As for your list, I would think you would be able to be confident to get into a few of those schools and that others would be reaches (which you probably already know). My only other comment would be that if you are looking at SUNY schools, ones that are better known for theatre would be SUNY Purchase (both BA and auditioned BFA) and SUNY New Paltz (auditioned BA).</p>

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<p>Thank you for responding! Yes, there are a lot of factors to take into consideration…especially when it comes to career placement, available courses, and cost most of all. Barnard I think is especially good in the internship department and its productions, from what I’ve heard, are fantastic.</p>

<p>I’ve heard some sketchiness about Brandeis’ department, especially with the cutting of aspects the graduate program. Graduates, from what I’ve heard, have trickled down into Undergraduate shows and opportunities are limited for theatre majors. I was hoping this wasn’t true, but it unfortunately might be…</p>

<p>I’m considering SUNY Purchase as well, but I’m just not into the proximity to home (it’s about 30 minutes from where I live). I do know some students who have attended Binghamton and had a very nice experience with the theatre department, but only so far as “the productions here are solid.” They do have a great deal of theatre courses, but I just wanted to see if I could hear any more first-hand information.</p>

<p>Thank you for your advice!</p>

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<p>Muhlenberg, top notch theatre program.</p>

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<p>James Madison
University of Maryland College Park
Skidmore
Vassar</p>

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<p>Definitely take a serious look at Kenyon College also.</p>

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<p>University of Virginia has a MFA program and I have heard that it is difficult for undergrads to compete for performance opportunities. We visited the theater program at William and Mary and saw a show there. The show was entertaining, but we were surprised to see that the leads were kids with whom my daughter had gone to high school who were only college freshman. Neither of them were theater majors. The facilities were quite run down and we didn’t see many students hanging around the theatre dept. You can interpret that information however you want, but my daughter walked away not that excited about their program. :-)</p>

<p>My daughter was also looking for a BA and ultimately ended up at American University in Washington, D.C. where she recently completed a very exciting freshman year. I would highly recommend that you investigate their program; she has loved the program, grown close to all the very talented faculty and students and performed several times her freshman year. We live in the D.C. suburbs and actually drove into the city last night to see some of her friends from AU performing in the Capital Fringe Festival. You can’t beat the connections to the D.C. theater scene, in addition to a world class university and diverse student body. She has enjoyed her classes outside of the theater department as well and is getting a double major in Theater Performance and Public Communications. Your stats would be a good match for American as well.</p>

<p>I would echo KatMT’s recommendation of JMU as well. We were EXTREMELY impressed with their program. In fact, the best college theater performance I have ever seen was at JMU. The facilities are state of the art and the faculty we met were extremely warm and helpful (including KatMT who posts on this forum.) Only the DC location ultimately convinced my D to choose American instead. I am about to start this process once again with my younger daughter and JMU will be at the top of our list as she begins the process of exploring theater programs.</p>

<p>If you would like any additional info about American, feel free to PM me. Hope that helps!</p>

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<p>Having seen productions at two of those in-state schools and after listening to theater majors or potential actors at all three, I would definitely echo KellyLJ1’s endorsement of JMU. We also saw a superb mainstage production there, as well as a very good student-directed show in the studio theater. I’ve lived in Charlottesville for years and have completely given up attending UVa productions because they are generally…just meh. Auditions are open not only to graduate students but to the entire university and local community, so that’s something important to consider about UVa. W&M used to have a good reputation (although it seemed to be mostly based on the existence of a handful of professional alumni, like Glenn Close) but from recent/current students, I’ve not heard great things about theater. I teach in the fine arts department of a C’ville high school, so I hear from a lot of OUR alumni who go to in-state schools.</p>

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<p>For what it’s worth below is our impression of W&M from our visit last summer. At that time we could not tour the main theater because the roof was literally collapsing, but it was under repair:</p>

<p>We did visit W&M and attended a production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona. The play was terrific! Very creative with 1920’s costumes.</p>

<p>But, I gather from the festival program, that it would be unlikely that undergrads would be cast in the festival. </p>

<p>We made the mistake of visiting W&M in the summer, which I will not do again - especially at a smaller liberal arts college. We had just come from UNC Chapel Hill where an acting professor gave us an extensive tour of their facility (which, in my limited experience, seemed exceptional). In contrast, the next day, at W&M, the theater dept office manager gave us a tour. The facility seemed very dated. During the tour the office manger bemoaned the department’s lack of funding. It was a bad impression for us.</p>