<p>I am a high school sophomore and I hope to pursue a career in musical theatre and acting. I am leaning away from a conservatory, but I'm still looking into them. But here's my dilema: I am very involved in extracurriculars at school, like Madrigal, musical, all-state, general choir, Student Council, Cross Country, Best Buddies, Speech, etc. I also do classes at a local professional theatre and have been in quite a few productions there. Ever since I started high school, the local theatre has basically said that I can be in their mainstage, more popular productions, but I wouldn't have time for the majority of my school-extraccuriculars( especially the music and theatre ones). The productions at the local theatre are of much higher quality and probably give a better theatre experience, but should I really put all of my energy and time into this or should I concentrate on theatre and music and whatnot at school, even though the shows are very mediocre and taken less seriously? What looks better on college applications? I'm just very confused by all of this and a little advice would be much apprieciated.</p>
<p>It's pretty simple: What do YOU want to do? Would you miss the h.s. friends & activities? Or do you prefer the company of performing adults? </p>
<p>While everyone applying to arts programs brings resumes of their experience, what is most important is your talent & potential. So not having loads of comunity theater credentials will not hurt your chances in the least. (In fact, sometimes much of the community theater experience has to be "unlearned" because bad habits were part of that training.) Only take that road if it is really what you'd rather spend your time doing these next few years.</p>
<p>You did say that the local theater is a professional one, not a community theater? If that's the case, it would certainly look better on a resume than just high school productions. On the other hand, there is a certain bonding experience that comes with doing a production with all your high school buddies. Perhaps you could work out a compromise and alternate between the professional theater and your high school productions.</p>
<p>Your resume will be a only minor factor in getting admission to a college program. Faculty will be much more interested in your performance at the audition, and what they see as your potential to improve.</p>
<p>Perhaps depending on the shows, the roles, the opportunities, etc... you could choose to sometimes audition for your school show and sometimes audition for the local theatre. This could give you the chance to maximize the potential of each experience.</p>
<p>I think the OP should do what she enjoys most and not try to finagle it so her resume looks best. I understand that he/she is naturally concerned about how it will all play out in college admissions, but as someone else said, it is going to be what you bring to the audition (as well as your school grades and recommendations, etc.) that will count in the end. If this were my own kid talking, I would have her think long and hard about which she loves most and go with that. I hate to see kids living their lives according to what is going to look best to the folks at the next stage of their lives! :) They need to live in the moment a bit more, imo!! :) (By the way, OP, it sounds like you have a lot going for you either way and cannot lose, no matter what you choose!)</p>
<p>There is a young man in my area, currently in HS who had done both, HS and professional theater for, I believe, years. I don't know what his criteria is for how he selects which one to do, probably which potential roles he would most enjoy doing and perhaps which fits into his schedule at the time. I think he gets the best of both worlds that way.</p>
<p>My D has been involved at school with leadership related activities such as peer counseling, and the choir and dance programs. She early on decided that she did not care for the drama/musical theatre program at school, which is in its infancy stages (for the record, she does not attend a performing arts school :) ), and that she'd rather do professional theatre outside of school. Since she is still involved at school as well, she does get to socialize plenty with her friends, and she truly feels that she is getting the best of both worlds, busy as can be, but that is how she likes it.</p>
<p>Usually a high school choir or madrigal group is a full year commitment, right? So it probably won't be possible to alternate bvetween h.s. shows & the professional shows if you plan to stay in your favorite ECs. Again, it should be based on what you want to do. Would you be willing to give those groups up? Expecially any travel experiences & special performances when you are a senior? You won't be able to even audition for any all-state music groups if you are not a member of your H.S. group. Only you can answer those questions. Your high school experience is once in a lifetime. Professional or community theater will always be there.</p>
<p>My son had the same HS experience as MTgrlsmom describes (MTgrlsmom - I think you probably know that our kids knew each other at BTP and I believe saw each other recently).</p>
<p>My son did choir and other activities at school, danced at a local studio, and did professional theatre (and some community theatre) for the majority of his theatre years (junior high and HS). He never did a school play after Christmas his 9th grade year. He had a wonderful experience working in professional theatre with mostly adults and earning decent money during HS in the process. He wouldn't trade that experience for anything. He chose not to do shows his senior year in HS so he could concentrate on dance classes and college auditions.</p>
<p>not that i've gotten the same cool offer, but i'm in a similar situation, having to make choices between school activities and outside theatre. i'm a pretty indecisive person and tried to have the best of both worlds-- i'm now a senior, and i've done classes/shows/jobs/an internship at theatres in the city i live near, but i've also done several choruses and lots of theatre in school. i love school theatre because the experience of doing a show is so different-- people actively make an effort to create a sense of community, because it's a learning experience along with putting on a show-- and i'm getting opportunities that i wouldn't get in prof. theatre, like directing. but i love working outside school too because school can at times be frustrating, and it's wonderful to work with people who are dedicating their lives to theatre, and look up to those adults.</p>
<p>can you try out the prof. theatre for a semester and see how it goes for you? is there any way you can the school activities you love most (anything during the day, or early afternoon) while doing other shows (which in my experience rehearse at night)? the one piece of advice i will give you is to be careful about overscheduling yourself. if it were me in this situation, i know i'd say that i could do all my school activities and the prof. theatre, schedule up my time from morning till night, 7 days a week, and then crash. you need time to do homework. you need time to eat and sleep.</p>
<p>There are some excellent ideas here and I like KATMT's suggestion to try and do some of each. My d is in a similar situation because we live in the middle of nowhere. She is doing lots of school stuff during the school year but auditioning for a late spring production in community theater and another 1 - 2 during the summer. During the school year it is just impossible to juggle all she has going (like you) and do outside productions . I think also that its important to be well-rounded and have other interests, non-theater related, that make you unique. And you need "down time", too.</p>