CAP21 Is Still VERY MUCH around

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

<p>I thought, being on the inside, it was important to bring to the attention of parents and students alike who have been wondering what is going on at CAP21 (formerly part of the studios of NYU/Tisch). Rumors have been floating around that they closed their doors but nothing could be further from the truth. </p>

<p>CAP21 has instituted a 2 year professional training program that offers students a chance to get the same training that used to be offered for Freshman thru Junior years into just 2 years - with accreditation (pending) that will allow students to complete a BA or BS in Musical Theater in affiliation with over 1500 colleges and universities throughout the US (and abroad). Upon completion of the two year program, students will have earned 73 transferable credits toward their degree (or they can complete their degree if they transfer in from another affiliated institution). </p>

<p>Students work with the same (now expanded) faculty as before, when under the umbrella of Tisch, but they are now actually doing 30 hours of studio per week as opposed to the 18 hours (12 credits) the NYU students were allotted. The disciplines include: Acting/Vocal Technique/Ballet/Jazz/Tap/Musical Theater Dance/Hip Hop/Yoga/Total Body Workout/Voice and Speech/Dialect/Music Theory/Vocal Performance/Musical Scene Study/Audition Repertoire and Technique/Script Analysis as well as 12 hours of Private Voice and Coaching per semester for the entire 2 years and guest artists workshops throughout the year. Unlike the fledgling musical theater studio that Tisch is developing, our dancers are leveled in classes based on experience and ability. There are also developmental and books shows built into the curriculum which allow performance opportunities each semester as part of the mandatory training. Believe it or not, it is possible to be a drama and/or musical theater major at Tisch - complete 4 years of training - and never be cast in a single show! Now that CAP is it's own entity, that is out of the question. Unlike the former agreement with NYU, CAP21 Professional Training students cannot refuse a role and are never denied one.</p>

<p>PLUS, CAP21 has DOUBLED it's studio space. They now have twice the space (2 theater/production spaces) and double the dance and acting studios - they had to - in order to accomodate the kind of demand this new studio has created among students who always wished to study at CAP and either weren't accepted by NYU, were relegated to another studio or didn't have the money to do so. AND....the tuition ($24,000) is nearly 1/3 the cost of a full year at NYU and students are able to accomplish in 4 semesters what it used to take 6 semesters to do. There is an industry practicum offered to students who complete the training but they must be invited to participate. Here they work for an entire semester one on one with industry professionals (casting agents/agents/directors) and then present a showcase at the end to dozens of potential agencies.</p>

<p>Accreditation will take place in the fall of 2011, allowing students to not only complete a degree (unlike AMDA) but also to qualify for state and federal loans. Any current Professional Training student can apply accrued credits toward this (retro). Scholarships based on financial need are available - as is a work-study program - unlike the NYU days where the most that was usually offered was enough to cover the cost of books.</p>

<p>CAP21 helps students and parents become acclamated with the neighborhood and work in helping to secure housing for the students (no dorms at this point).</p>

<p>So...
For those who are wondering, CAP21 (Collaborative Arts Project for the 21st Century) is still very much alive and well as is their Theater Development program where new works (both plays and musicals) are produced year round. They are now entering their third decade as training and developmental entity.</p>

<p>I urge you to look into all that is new about one of the most respected training programs in the world.</p>

<p>[url=<a href="http://www.CAP21.org%5DCAP21%5B/url"&gt;http://www.CAP21.org]CAP21[/url&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/p>

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<p>BDTeach, </p>

<p>Thanks for sharing about this great program. It would be better if it were in the Musical Theater Majors Forum most likely as this is the Drama (acting) majors forum. </p>

<p>First, let me say that I have a daughter who graduated from NYU/Tisch/CAP21 and loved it. I have nothing but good things to say about CAP21. My daughter is even professionally affiliated with CAP21 still in several capacities and so believe me, I am a STRONG supporter of CAP21!!</p>

<p>As well, as a college counselor who works with many musical theater applicants, and as someone who has participated on College Confidential for almost nine years, I have recommended Tisch/CAP21 when that was an option and have also recommended the 2 year Professional Certificate Program for those seeking that sort of option and have recommended the CAP21 pre-college summer program to many people. Keep up the great work there.</p>

<p>There are a couple things in your post that I think would be good to clarify. One is that you mentioned:</p>

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<p>I think this is a comparison of apples to oranges. You provide the TUITION to CAP21 but that is without room and board (which students secure independently of CAP21) and you compare just the tuition ALONE to the FULL cost of a year at NYU (tuition, room and board). While the TUITION to CAP21 ($24,000) may be a percentage of the TOTAL COST of Tuition, Room, Board, Tisch Fee at NYU ($58,005…not counting books and personal expenses)…and by the way that is not “one-third”…that is not a comparison that means much. One must compare apples to apples. The TUITION to NYU/Tisch is $43,998. This is twice the tuition to CAP21, not three times the cost of tuition. That said, while it does cost more, it is a BFA program and college degree and CAP21 itself is a two year certificate program, not a college degree, though can be applied to a college degree elsewhere. CAP21 is the conservatory aspect, but NYU is both conservatory training and liberal arts and so they are not totally the same thing (one is not more worthy than the other but just not the same “product”).</p>

<p>While you mention that it only takes 4 semesters to complete what took six semesters at NYU/Tisch/CAP21, that is because at CAP21’s Professional Certificate Program, it is ONLY the conservatory training five days per week, whereas Tisch/CAP21 trained three full days per week and the students also studied Theater Studies and Liberal Arts and so one can definitely fit the three years of acting, singing, and dancing training into two years when that is the totality of the program five days per week. One is not better than the other, but again, just different types of programs and degrees. </p>

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<p>I think it is unfair to refer to The New Studio on Broadway for Musical Theater at Tisch as “fledgling” as I think it is a very good program, just as CAP21 is. From my understanding, by the way, starting this semester (spring), the freshmen at New Studio are being leveled in dance classes (something that I also think is important and was a very positive aspect of CAP21!!). </p>

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<p>While not every NYU/Tisch student receives scholarships, many do and they cover more than the cost of books. My daughter received a $20,000/year scholarship, plus smaller scholarships in her senior year on top of that at NYU/Tisch and I know many who got scholarships in the vicinity of $9000/year or so. They don’t have great financial aid but some do get scholarships.</p>

<p>I think CAP21 is a wonderful conservatory and it is great that it is an option now for those not attending NYU/Tisch and for those who may not want a four year college degree or even already have a degree in something else and then want to train in MT or for those who may attend CAP21 and continue with earning a college degree elsewhere afterward. I highly recommend CAP21 and am very grateful for the opportunities my daughter had there as a student and now as a professional who has worked for CAP21 and other opportunities they have afforded my daughter in a professional capacity. I cannot recommend it highly enough. I will continue to champion CAP21, but I thought it was important to clarify the two things above for the many people reading here who are seeking information. I also think that CAP21’s new program is wonderful as it is without comparing it to Tisch. :)</p>

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<p>By the way, I want to add that based on your College Confidential member name, I’m assuming you are a particular teacher at CAP21 with whom my daughter trained. She has spoken very highly of you and I have recommended you to others as a voice teacher / vocal coach. You are one of many fine faculty in this program. My daughter learned a great deal from you in her freshmen year.</p>

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<p>Do you recommend the Cap 21 program for pre college students over the STI at Julliard? My daughter has been admitted to both and we are trying to decide?</p>

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<p>Thank you all for posting this information. MY D was accepted there at her recent audition. We are waiting to hear back from some 4 yr programs she applied to but she really wants to be in NY. My major concern is no financial aid and housing?Not sure how to find housing and what to expect for cost and finding roommates. Does Cap help with all that and when they do get accredited what does it mean that they can apply for the costs retro? thanks</p>

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<p>@mainelymom–my D is considering the non-degree conservatory route as well (Stella Adler and Atlantic Theater Acting School) and I have some of the same concerns as you, i.e. housing, roommates, etc. She has been accepted at Fordham (BA) and Marymount Manhattan (BFA) and still waiting to hear from NYU, but really wants to be in NYC and is ready to get some training and get out there and give it a go. Have you had any success in finding additional information about housing? The other concern I have is the average age of the students at these other programs; not many kids right out of high school.</p>

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<p>hi looks like nyc, we are now trying to decide between cap and hartt…and the housing thing is still my issue. i got a list of places to look from the school, but that is overwhelming…was hoping for a list of current students with housing looking for roommates. we may plan a trip to check it out. let me know how you are doing with it all! best, Mary</p>

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<p>Hi, BDteach. I am wondering if there is any update on schools, other than the New School for Public Engagement, at which CAP21 will be inking continuation agreements for an MT BFA? Having met with your wonderful rep three times (at OCHSA, NACAC and the Intl Thespian Fest) my son is interested in undertaking MT studies at CAP21 and then continuing his MT studies at a four-year school. Thanks!</p>

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<p>brendansdad,
This thread is more than 2 years old and BDteach may not be looking here anymore. Perhaps you would be better off if you started a new thread asking for information about CAP21.</p>