<p>Checking something out over here for another poster and saw this thread. We also visited Seton Hill, not for MT though, and just loved the school. Very pretty campus, easy to get to (airport in town with Spirit connections to major airports as well as being close to Pittsburgh). Everyone there is very friendly, very helpful, it felt very comfortable everywhere. We ate in the dining hall, which looks like it was taken right out of an English castle, and the kids all seemed to just sit wherever and talked to whomever. Spied a few classes, one large lecture, only saw 2 computers on Facebook, the rest were on task. Kids seemed very engaged. The President of the college (or Dean of Students??) stepped out of her office to say hi and chatted individually with each student on the tour about where they were from, what they liked so far, etc. She seemed to know something about each state the kids were from. I was very impressed. Our D ended up picking another school but this was one of her top 3. Hope that helps some.</p>
<p>Marymount Manhattan is also a Catholic college</p>
<p>We auditioned on campus for DeSales MT program. My D liked the campus and the area they were located in. They have a great Liberal Arts program. We were able to see a show that evening. It was a good show, and well produced. We also spent some time talking with students. Most of who seemed to enjoy the college and teachers. </p>
<p>I liked the fact that john Bell gave an overview of the program and answered questions before the auditions began. The students and staff were available all day to talk and answer questions also.</p>
<p>DeSales host the Pennsylvania Shakepeare Festival each summer and several of the students participate in this both paid and unpaid.</p>
<p>I agree with everything MTDancerMom said. My S auditioned at DeSales also. He also did the overnight this past Wed night, saw a show and attended some classes with MT students yesterday. He had a great time and thought the teachers and classes were great.</p>
We attended an Open House at DeSales which included a presentation by Mr Bell on the performing arts division. The presentation was a bit disingenuous in my opinion because all the talk about talent scholarships made it seem like they were about a competition for money. It wasn’t explicitly stated that the theatre department requires a successful audition or portfolio review to get in and that “Talent Scholarship Day” isn’t just about competing for money but to gain acceptance by the department as a Theatre major. One has to be accepted by both the university academically and by the Theatre department (dual admission). None of the marketing materials/brochures we received on the Theatre department explicitly explain the dual admission requirement.
Catholic University has a great program, and many other Catholic Schools, do your research:)
I think Catholic U is one of the few practicing Catholic schools with a program. But it is music intensive. In fact, from the information online, dance classes are an extra cost. !!! At 62,000 all in, that is a problem for me.
We found Indiana U to have a strong Newman Center. I second megpmom about Belmont. It’s like Pepperdine a bit.
The other major Catholic colleges like Notre Dame, Providence, etc… don’t really have programs it seems. Look instead online at the FOCUS programs or the Newman centers at your favorite schools to see how active they are.
If you are not of a particular religion, or religious at all, be careful to be deterred by schools with a religious affiliation. Many of our country’s wonderful colleges were founded by various churches and denominations years ago. But today, they may or may not have a strong religious component to their educational requirements. For example, OCU was mentioned earlier as “Christian”. It actually was founded by and is still affiliated with the Methodist church. But this does not preclude them from exploring all types of theater and enrolling a very diverse group of performers. For example, this Fall, the MainStage product was “Rent”. Another Fall production was “Nine”. Neither would be considered something a religiously restrictive place would offer. Really make sure you really investigate each school and understand what it is really like.
At OCU, you are required to take one religion class while there - but the one D took was comparative religions where they studied the differences in things like Buddhism, Hinduism, etc… Understanding other religious beliefs I think is so important in this day and age. So even if you are not religious yourself, I think this is a good class to take. One religion class requirement should not be a deterrent from great MT training.
All of this to say, if you are not religious, I would not shy away from considering OCU or other schools like it. There is a strong religious base there for those who are seeking that. But there are also many others there who are not strong practicers of any religion. It is a school that is open to all thoughts and ideas. And I have a feeling many other schools who were founded by a church years ago are similar. See what shows they do and what their class requirements are. That might give you an idea of what the campus culture is like today.
A little extra FYI - our diocese offers scholarships to local kids who attend a catholic college or university. Perhaps yours does as well. It’s worth checking out. 
@mtmcmt
Catholic University offers four dance levels in ballet, tap and jazz. The dance director of their MT program told us most kids dance about six hours a week, and it’s very easy to add dance classes. Don’t be deterred because it’s a BM vice a BFA, it’s a fabulous, well rounded MT program, and its graduates work in every professional theater in the D.C. area. We saw 110 in the Shade at Ford’s Theatre last week, and two of the three leads are CUA grads.
@Fotokat Is it true that the dance classes are extra?? that’s what it seemed to say on their website in the details.
@mtmcmt I too was under the impression dance classes were extra at Catholic…might be wrong.
As for Catholic school MT programs , we have visited DeSales & Seton Hill.
My D found both to be schools she is interested in. DeSales a bit more. They have the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival on campus in the summer & students can earn Equity points if in a show etc. (they do musicals there too not just Shakespeare)
We also saw a show there in the fall & felt it was well done. Everyone was very nice and I don’t feel the Catholic thing is pushed on you there & I say that being Catholic lol. No one really brought it up unless asked. As for the previous post about the audition requirement being confusing, we knew it was an audition program when we went as my D had already asked. The website is confusing I’ll admit in that respect. I think they just need to re word it or something to make it clear that the Theatre Audition day serves two purposes.
Seton Hill is nice also. The building where the main food hall is is really cool and yes like a Harry Potter building! The faculty was very nice to my D and the MT director took lots of time to speak with her and us during our visit . The theatre space is like someone said down the hill in the downtown area. It warrants a visit probably as I’m not thrilled with the town it’s in. The chapel on campus is phenomenal just beautiful . If you are Catholic you would love it for that reason alone lol. Again no one really talked about Catholic specific stuff unless asked . I actually felt the tour guide was doing her best to not draw attention to it as to not offend someone . It is a small school also. What’s nice is they offer a BA or a BFA in MT. So if your kid is on the fence that’s desirable.
Both schools deserve a look definitely.
I’m not sure where you see that, but isn’t it normal to pay by credit hour for any extra classes? All I’m sure of is that most MT students take more than the minimum required dance classes, and that is encouraged and fully supported within the program.
Molloy is a Catholic school
@Fotokat No, it wasn’t extra classes, it was any dance class you took. It appears that you have the choice of taking class on or off campus but that all dance classes were charged in excess of tuition. If that’s not the case they need to reword their info as it seems to imply that. Anyone else can jump in here.
I just don’t understand where you’re seeing that. Dance is part of the required MT curriculum.
You can read the middle portion of page 18 of this link. Tell me what you think it means. I could be wrong.
2015-2016 CUA UNDERGRADUATE ANNOUNCEMENTS for all information regarding the curriculum and related policies.
Here is what it says about dance where @mtmcmt indicates:
“In addition to tuition, students are required to pay a fee for each dance class taken at The Catholic University of America. Contact the music school for applicable fees.”
Interesting, thanks for sharing. If it’s a school you’re interested in, (and if a Catholic education and MT are important to you, this is a school you should be interested in!) I’d suggest calling and asking about that fee.
Molloy College (of the Malloy/Cap 21 BFA) is Catholic.