I know that Roosevelt had a very noteable musical theatre program, but I was wondering if anyone had any more information on the quality of the acting program? Curriculum, performance opportunities, class size, etc.,
Any more info would be helpful!!
@Jkellynh17 has a son there in the acting program. She has lots of good info
Hi, yes, my son’s a senior this year and he’s had a really great experience.
Curriculum this is not complete, just what I remember. I’m sure if you ask Patrick Zylka the conservatory dean of admissions, he can give you a full list.
Freshman year, they take acting, something called creative process with a Linklater instructor, ballet, stage make-up, stage management, professional theater (guest speakers from Chicago theater) and a couple of required academic classes
Sophomore year, more acting (scene study, Shakespeare, creative process), group singing, dialects, circus skills
Junior year: more Shakespeare, more scene study, on camera, comedy/improv
Senior year: early modern scene study, acting, history of theater, on camera,stage combat, directing, social justice in theatre, period styles
There are 13 in his class, though I think the younger classes are in the 20s. (there’s some attrition, but I think this is mostly a function of the program getting more popular).
Performance opportunities. There are 5-8 straight plays a year, usually one per term in the big theater and 2-3 others in the black box. A few acting students get cast every term in musicals, though usually not in big singing roles. CCPA had guaranteed casting for the first two years my son was there and then stopped, so there are people who don’t get cast. However, they’re in Chicago, so it is very possible to audition and get cast outside, as long as you go to all your classes and fulfill a 30 hour per term tech requirement.
Couple of other things. CCPA shows often have outside directors who work regularly in professional Chicago theater. My son is in a show right now whose director is fairly high up in the Goodman’s organization.
CCPA has a great network in Chicago. You don’t see it in those Broadway-focused “where did they go to school” lists, but the kids work very consistently. Some of them start before they graduate. My son will have 18 EMC points and almost a full resume of professional credits (that is, only a couple of college shows) by the time he graduates.
The quality of instruction is very high. I mentioned the Linklater teacher who is one of only a few trained directly by Christine Linklater. My S’s main Shakespeare teacher for three years got poached by CMU last year.
We had no idea what we were doing when my S auditioned and sort of lucked into CCPA because I had a friend whose wife was involved in Chicago theater. I emailed my friend about Columbia College Chicago and he said, why aren’t you applying to CCPA, and that changed my son’s life (I know, sounds dramatic, but true).
Anyway, this is a super long post, but if you have any more questions, hit me up, either here or in a PM.
Wow! I just learned a lot about CCPA. Thanks. I know I am not The OP but I enjoy hearing about different programs.
The Linklater tie is amazing. Very few schools that I know of offer that. Great to know about CCPA. Sounds like a fantastic program with so many great opportunities in Chicago.
It’s been pretty great. I can’t believe he’s almost done.
I forgot to mention one other class they take senior year. It’s sort of a career development/showcase class, where they get advice on headshots, reels, resumes, websites, auditioning, taxes, equity rules etc. and also put on the senior showcase. A guy from one of the leading Chicago agencies teaches it (and his agency comes to showcase, but he is not personally involved in recruiting, because I guess that would be a conflict).
We are attending CCPA’s Cabaret this weekend to check out the show, I’m excited!
One of my son’s best friends is in that (in the non-singing romantic lead role), enjoy!
This was so incredibly helpful!! I can’t wait to hear back a decision. Definitely a school high on my list
@Jkellynh17 one more question! I’ve heard at some schools where the MT program is more known, the acting majors get pushed to the side. Has your son ever had any problems with equal opportunities or with the different majors clashing?
The only thing that I can think of is that MT majors can get lead roles in straight plays but acting majors never get leads in musicals. Other than that, no. He loves his MT friends (though the acting class is a very tight group).