CAP21 Cutbacks/Crisis

<p>I read on Facebook walls that due to cutbacks in funding, CAP21 won’t be doing any shows. Is this true?</p>

<p>Sounds too kooky to believe.</p>

<p>claydavisdbc - before I go into a bit more detail, I do want to point out that my own D picked NYU CAP21 for the exceptional training she would get. Shows were not really a consideration for her. I know that this may be different for other applicants and so I want to point this out. Historically CAP21 has not been all that "performance heavy" with one studio wide musical in the fall, and class MT productions in the spring. NYU as a whole, and Tisch in particular do offer literally hundreds of productions a year that many CAP kids can try out for and can be involved with.</p>

<p>In regard to your specific question, it is my understanding that there is some restructuring going on at NYU, where it concerns funding the drama studios. As you may be aware, some of the studios, including CAP21 at Tisch operate on a contract basis. This contract covers training only. Some studios opted to adjust their curriculum and use some of their allocated funds for productions. Others did fundraising on their own to subsidize their shows. However, all funds for shows (considered extracurricular) are now mandated to be funneled through NYU. </p>

<p>At the end of the day, I am sure that one way or the other CAP21 will be doing shows :D.</p>

<p>claydavisbc - it is true, and it is very disappointing. The class of '10 at
CAP-21 is down to 46 students this year (originally 65 I think). Curious to get all of your input on what's going on.</p>

<p>Jashner, you bring up an entirely different point. The numbers in the junior class any year at CAP are lower than the freshmen. That is true for my daughter's year too (she is now a senior). That is because, as you likely know, at Tisch, after two years of primary studio, one can opt to do an advanced studio and some take that option EVERY YEAR....now is NO different in that respect. In fact, my own daughter, after 2 1/2 years in CAP, is now doing her final three semesters in ETW. And let me tell you, her decision had nothing to do with CAP. She LOVED CAP21. I think most fourth year classes in CAP are more like 40, and not the original 65 due to students opting to take a different advanced studio at Tisch, or of course, there are always some that leave school all together (some are cast, some just leave college). I realize this is not the topic of the thread, but I am simply responding to the linkage of the numbers in the junior class vis a vis their numbers when freshmen. It is unrelated to anything else going on at CAP. In fact, the issue that is the subject of this thread, became known when the school year started and everyone's choice of studio was already in place. Again, it is unrelated.</p>

<p>I was just wondering if lack of performances and lower class sizes were related, and that is why I included them in the same "CAP21 Cutbacks/Crisis" thread.</p>

<p>Which studio students were going to be in for this current year was established before the latest events at CAP took place. Students chose their upper years (advanced) studio based on whatever was in place at CAP21 before this latest development. Further, the lower class size for the third and fourth years in CAP compared to freshman/soph year, has been the case for a very long time and is not new, for the reasons stated.</p>

<p>Example...my D entered Tisch with the current fourth year Cappies. Along with herself, she has several friends from her original CAP class now finishing up Tisch in a different studio. Their decisions to do that came BEFORE any of the latest happenings at CAP (topic of thread). My daughter, for example, moved into ETW Transfer Track in Jan. of last year, her junior year. Several of her friends from her CAP class made a change to an advanced studio at the start of junior year. I should add that the class also went down as some left to do Broadway shows or tours.</p>

<p>OK, not intended to continue "off topic", but my own D actually opted for CAP21 so she could eventually also "dabble" with Film & Television" once she made it to Advanced Studio (unless she changes her mind in the interim and decides she wants to try out something else, which is entirely possible too :D). </p>

<p>Either way, and if I understand things correctly, all the kids graduate from Tisch with a BFA in Drama, and so there is not really a Class of Studio per se, but there will be a Tisch Class of '10, '11 etc.</p>

<p>What exactly* is *going on with restructuring and performance cutbacks???</p>

<p>Hm, like I mentioned earlier, my D is at CAP for the training, and as a freshman, she is not supposed to do any shows other than work on one 'behind the scenes' in her Production class. I know that, through the mailing lists she signed up for, she is getting loads of audition email notices about shows and other performance opportunities at NYU, so I really don't know exactly how to answer.</p>

<p>May be a Tisch representative could chime in if they have any pertinent information?</p>

<p>My daughter is a junior at CAP and after the original stink about cutbacks, they are currently auditioning for 2 spring plays. This year they are mixing the sophmores and juniors to audition for both plays instead of separating the plays for each grade. The two plays are State Fair and Bye Bye Birdie. The seniors are planning to have their play in a bigger studio downtown. Freshman don't perform in CAP 21 plays. The other posts are correct in describing the differences in colleges. Cap21 is stronger on studio scene studies than big productions. I feel that if you have to choose one focus over another, the actors will benefit more from the studio work as they will get to play many more parts and learn how to shift gears more (needed for auditions) Again, there ar many other NYU performance opportunities. I'm afraid the economy is hurting the entire theatre world. The arts depend on charitable support. Pray for a speedy recovery!</p>

<p>The seniors don't truly have a "play". They have a senior showcase. I happen to just be speaking to my D on the phone and while she has opted to not do her fourth year in CAP (she is in ETW but did CAP for five semesters), her classmates who are still in CAP have the showcase this semester and she was telling me she is attending a fundraiser late tonight (after attending the musical that ETW is putting on) as the CAP seniors are trying to do their showcase at a venue downtown and need funds to secure renting that space.</p>

<p>SoozieVT, do you know when and where the showcase is? I'd love to go see it, if there is room!</p>

<p>RossJi, I don't actually know because I don't follow this stuff that closely as my D is not in the CAP showcase (will audition for the Tisch Industry Night for MT next semester). My D may know. She just happened to mention she was going to her classmates (from CAP)'s fundraiser late tonight to raise money for the showcase at an alternate venue outside of CAP. I could find out. I imagine your D, though traveling, could also ask our girls' mutual CAP classmates the date and place. I think it is in January, that much I know. It could be during the winter break.</p>

<p>Susan, is that the party at Calico Jack's tonight? We know a couple of the kids who are going, too. I hope they raise lots of $$, I think this is something that Cap grads have been trying to do for a while now. I'm pretty sure the venue they're hoping for is in midtown, though, not downtown.</p>

<p>AlwaysAMom, I did not ask D where the party was at (she mentioned a "bar"....and the one you mention is one I think she has been to before btw). Her day is so full that I did not get into that nitty gritty. Her a capella group is performing this afternoon at a venue in the village with Juilliard dance students dancing to my D's group's singing. Tonight she is attending her own studio's musical, Oliver, which she opted to not audition for as she preferred to be in Moises Kaufman's show and she got into that and is rehearsing for it. AFTER all that, she is going to the fundraising party for her classmates from CAP (her old class basically). I think it is good they are raising funds as I think another venue would be best for the showcase, other than CAP's space. I agree that it will be in midtown but I just used "downtown" which is the term someone would use in a "city" in my area but that doesn't fit Manhattan, I know.....and the venue is uptown from where NYU is located! My D opted not to do the CAP showcase and chose to train for 8 full semesters (CAP has six semesters of training and then one showcase semester) and so she hopes to get into the Tisch MT showcase (truly called Industry Night). So, my D likely will be at the party the kids you know are attending later at night eventually. She wants to support her classmates.</p>

<p>The tentative dates for the CAP showcase are Jan. 14 and 15. This is dependent on them getting the theatre they want. Will let you know when I hear anything else, rossji.</p>

<p>Yeah, I also thought it was over the winter break. My D's a capella group was going to go on a vacation together but many could not do it because several are in the CAP showcase. I just did not know the exact date.</p>

<p>Thanks, alwaysamom! I sure hope there's room for me!!</p>

<p>rossji, here's the showcase info. </p>

<p>Wednesday, January 14th 7:00pm</p>

<p>Thursday, January 15th 3:00pm & 7:00pm</p>

<p>TBG Theater</p>

<p>312 West 36th St, 3rd Floor</p>

<p>I'm not sure what the situation is for tickets for the general public but you can contact Kate and inquire.</p>

<p>For Reservations: </p>

<p>Please Contact Kate Guyton</p>

<p>212.807.0202 ext.21 ~ <a href="mailto:kguyton@cap21.org">kguyton@cap21.org</a></p>