<p>Hi, as I am looking through other summer programs like CAP 21 and OCU and stuff, I noticed that they all have auditions. Why doesn't CMU Pre-College have auditions? And Will that affect the students that are there and the intensity of the program? Because if there's a wide range of students there, won't things be very slow?</p>
<p>My D attended CMU Precollege last summer, and even though the program is non audition, believe me when I say that there were plenty of fiercely talented kids with a lot of training there. My guess is that this is because kids who are serious about musical theater and drama and have been doing it awhile are attracted to the program due to CMU's excellent reputation for both acting and musical theater. (In fact, straight actors and MTs were mixed in acting, Styles and audition classes.) My kid was very fortunate in the instructors she got; they were amazing and wonderful and one teacher even had the class do extra sessions on Sundays. I would definitely recommend the program to any kid who is serious about acting and MT. But you should know that you are not working toward doing a show or performance those six weeks: you are working on building skills for your next fall and winter college auditions.</p>
<p>There are very reputable summer theater intensive programs that have very talented kids in them who go onto competitive BFA programs, but do not have auditions for their summer programs. Just for example, this is true at CMU PreCollege, NYU/TISCH/CAP21 PreCollege (not the one solely through CAP21, but the one through NYU/Tisch), Northwestern's National High School Institute (Cherubs) - though there is an audition DVD for the MT Extension but not for the core five week theater program, University of the Arts PreCollege, Syracuse PreCollege, Stagedoor Manor, French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts, and others. Most of these programs are intense and most participants are serious about it. As in any grouping, you do find a range in terms of talent. But top talented students attend all of the above programs and many go onto competitive BFA programs or BA programs. Back to CMU....it IS a very intense summer program.</p>
<p>I believe that the Idlewyle (spelling?) summer program doesn not need and audition.</p>