<p>I think I described the professional opportunity in my D’s freshman year a little off. I don’t think the issue was so much that it was a non-school professional job, but the head of her studio (CAP21) told the director/producers that these 2 kids (my D being one) were freshmen and could not perform, even though this was a professional show outside of school and so they did not get to do it even though the show wanted them. The show was put on at CAP21, but it wasn’t with students (they also have professional shows at CAP21). So, the program obviously knew about it. The casting people (producers/directors) had called my D (and the young man, also a freshman) out of class to audition and the head of the program really didn’t want that to happen. Hope that explains it better. It was so long ago, that the details are getting blurry. </p>
<p>That said, in my D’s sophomore year, she did a professional job outside of school. She musically directed a world premiere of an oratorio created by a faculty member who is a Tony nominated Broadway director/playwright. She did not have to miss any school for it. She rehearsed evenings and weekends and was paid. She could not be in a school production that fall due to this commitment. I was amazed at the responsibility given to her as she was just turning 18. She was very lucky to do this and it did not interfere with school. The difference I suppose is that she was no longer a freshman. </p>
<p>I will add that the young man that was in my D’s freshmen class at Tisch/CAP21 is someone my daughter had gone to theater camp with for many years. This Broadway playwright/director had seen these two kids perform there and so knew their work. Meanwhile, the young man got into the workshop of another new musical, Spring Awakening. He tried to work it out with the program to stay in school but they were not keen on it and he left school. He went onto do the show on Broadway and now stars in movies and is on TV and never returned to college after the first year!</p>
<p>@soovievt, I didn’t write anything about freshman year with respect to Tisch. The basic understanding even today is that freshman are not supposed to be in shows. Are people asked to do things outside of studio? Sure they are. If they take on something significant (and professional) as freshman, it’s pretty bold and maybe not compatible with what they have signed up for in terms of school. It is certainly not sanctioned and my guess is the kid drops school for a period to do it vs. expecting Tisch to just fit it in. It is certainly not supported and is highly discouraged if by no other reason than the work load and studio schedule makes it suicide. </p>
<p>Sophomore year? Sure there are examples of kids who left school for a year to do a Broadway tour etc. and I know of at least one example where the student who did that got to come back as a sophomore without otherwise missing a beat so clearly… she wasn’t shunned for it. It happens but I think not really the first year unless the student leaves to do it. How they would survive auditioning for that work never mind securing it while also adjusting to life in the big city as freshman… I’ll never know. I suppose some do. Musical theatre at Tisch hasn’t been about Cap21 for entering students for starting 5 years now so I don’t know to what extent my perspective on what seems to be happening in MT at NYU is a result of the change in studios or differences in the specific experiences of your daughter vs. mine. </p>
<p>Right, I was just clarifying that it wasn’t so much about taking on professional work while in school (the opportunity I had mentioned in my earlier post) but that it was not allowed because they were freshmen and freshmen are not supposed to perform. You had mentioned in a prior post about being allowed to do professional work and that is true (my D did soph year for example) and so I clarified that it wasn’t OK in this instance, because they were freshmen and the studio knew about it because the professional show actually was taking place AT the studio. </p>
<p>I know several peers of my daughter’s who attended Tisch’s BFA program and did professional work and left school, such as for a tour, and then returned to finish their degree. And some leave and never return. </p>
<p>My D never auditioned for any work that would take her out of school as she wanted to stay in studio/college. The show I mentioned that wanted to cast her freshman year, didn’t involve leaving school but was disallowed due to the freshmen not performing policy.</p>
<p>Our daughters were similarly minded when in school with respect to the training. I just cannot compare what would happen in NSB with what happened in Cap21 when considering work outside of studio because I don’t know how things would be handled in one studio vs. the other. Frankly it was just this week that a friend (cc friend and she’ll know I’m talking about her) mentioned that her daughter’s acting studio at Tisch you CAN audition for shows freshman year once you’ve done a volunteer tech assignment. I did not know until she told me that studio to studio, rules were different. I thought all Tisch freshman - actors or MTs, were out. So as Schultz would say, “I know nothing… nothing!”</p>
<p>Anyway back to CMU. Not performing until Jr. year is a “thing”. You can run into the same “thing” in many schools. If you want performance heavy… look for schools that will do that for you. If you want intense training… look for schools that might offer both. But there could also be schools were you will NEVER perform (or at least not much) and have incredible training. Or schools where that your perfromances are in black box spaces and the run is really short and seating is limited. You up for that? It’s not glamorous but it may smack of real world so you decide.</p>
<p>My son, a freshman at UArts, can audition the second semester, but he is so overwhelmed with work that he said he may not do that. He’s fine without performing. I’m the one who will be disappointed. I miss hearing about the productions and how they are going, but I’ll get over it. I’m adjusting to the empty house–I’ll adjust to that too. </p>
<p>I will "fess- it’s my D, in Adler, at NYU. Her class was told this week that once they had completed 1 crew assignment they were allowed to audition for Adler studio shows, with the understanding that it was exceptionally rare for freshman to be cast, and they would not be eligible for leading roles. D signed up for 1st show humanly possible (it will run the week before October break) She doesn’t have any expectations casting-wise, but wants to start being able to audition for the experience. (for the last 4 years most of her shows have been with her PA faculty, even summer shows - she’s interested in some new feedback). </p>
<p>My son was accepted into CMU and did not attend. The policy of not being able to audition for main stage shows was only a very small part of his decision not to attend. But it wasnt a deal breaker. It was explained to us by both faculty and students that this policy put the emphasis on training as opposed to performing early on as students were stripped of their “tricks”, their go to techniques and taught the CMU methods and thinking. It wasn’t because they were not “performance” ready. But they wanted to use the classes and studios for the students to start again without feeling the pressure of falling back into what could be old habits. Yes acting is king there, but that was one of the things we liked. Yes only one musical a year, but that was fine because our son wants to do all kind of performing, straight plays, film, television, etc., but wanted the training in dance and voice too to make himself versatile. It’s clearly a policy that works for them and their graduates. They produce many working actors.</p>
<p>My son is at Texas State. While Kaitlin would like for them to hold off auditioning for summer stock after their freshmen year, it is not a policy. Many kids did audition and several got jobs. All the kids in competitive programs are being sized up when the kids go to an audition and Kaitlin wants them to go out and perform at a top level because they are, whether they know it or not, representing the school when it sits there on their resume.</p>
<p>At Texas State, the freshmen only have to sit out the first semester from main stage shows. The first of two main stage musicals of each year is cast in the preceding spring. So obviously the freshmen of the upcoming school year are not even there yet. And sitting out does give them one semester to adjust to college life. I have noted that because students there are able to audition for 7 semesters, some upper classmen occasionally sit out from from auditioning for a show that may not be right for them or to concentrate on their studies or some other personal goals. That does open the “casting door” for the younger students and maybe matches a student’s type and talent to a particular show since not every show has something for everyone.</p>
<p>That to me is the real Achilles heel in the CMU policy. One main stage musical a year. So only two main stage musicals (junior and senior years) to get a crack at and what if those shows are not a great match for that student? Sure, they can get a “significant” role in a straight play, but they are coming out of the program with a musical theatre degree. CMU’s policy is fine but it would be better if they did a musical a semester</p>
<p>Correct me if I am wrong, but it has been my impression that your college shows aren’t overly impressive on your professional resume- it’s more the PROGRAM that gets the attention. I was having this talk with another NYU mom last night- Tisch is big, and people graduate without EVER having appeared in a mainstage show (let along had a lead in the musical etc). They still get representation and work. I would guess (again, please correct me if someone has concrete knowledge, mu kid is a freshman, and though we have lots of friends who are further along in various programs, I can’t speak with 1st hand experience) outside of college, your role in college shows is not much more important than your role in HS shows was to .the colleges when you auditioned for them. You will be cast (or not) professionally based on your audition</p>
<p>I think your audition trumps all…as I stated previously, many kids have no college at all on their resumes and they are being cast as Broadway leads. Experience, practicing your craft etc are what’s important. If that experience comes through studio classes, main stage shows, student productions, summer stock or other venues I would suspect that is what helps in preparing for representation. JMHO</p>
<p>There are a handful of programs that will get you into the room and maybe into the chorus once or twice. After that, all bets are off. There are also schools that intentionally cast students to resume-build. But, how much that matters is debatable.</p>
<p>Fully agree. While performing in college shows is great (and congrats to your D Bisouu on getting cast right out of the gate) it would be perfectly possible to NOT do shows in college and still do well at afterwards. </p>
<p>I agree…doing shows in college guarantees nothing in this business. For my daughter, studio classes are on the light side so getting as many opportunities to perform is critical for her. Practice, practice, practice, in whatever capacity is key. For example, currently my daughter is in studio classes only 6 hours a week, but with the production those hours have now increased to 34 hours a week in studio. </p>
<p>My D could get on board with not auditioning freshman year if that was the case but she knew that for her getting training outside of the classroom was important. At her school they do audition and get cast as freshman since they do 10-14 main stage productions a year. They are exposed to several different directors which is a valuable experience as well. One of the professors changes his directing style for each show he directs just to expose them to a variety of styles since in the real world they will meet all kinds.</p>
<p>I know that I, personally, and, I’d imagine, many other students would rather there actually be a policy in place saying that I cannot be cast than auditioning and auditioning, and not getting cast because they (unofficially) only cast juniors and seniors. That being said, only having the chance to be in two musicals while getting a degree in musical theatre definitely is the thing that finally crosses CMU off my list- there are certain things you really can only learn while actually doing a show, at least in my experience.
Also, toowonderful, I can’t PM you- I guess because I’m a new member?- but I’m really curious as to what programs you’re talking about. Would it be possible for you to PM me? Thank you!</p>
<p>soozievt and halflokum – My D and I were at Tisch’s info session last Monday. (I was kind of amazed at how much I knew already from lurking around cc for a while… thanks to people like you ) They pretty clearly stated that freshman could not be in main stage productions but that they could be in studio productions. I don’t remember exactly what she said about professional work because I wasn’t concerned about it at the moment… I think something to the effect of it being difficult to do/discouraged… maybe even mentioning taking time off from school. D and I talked and are both cool with the idea of not necessarily performing right away but, not until junior year might be an issue for her. </p>
) They pretty clearly stated that freshman could not be in main stage productions but that they could be in studio productions. I don’t remember exactly what she said about professional work because I wasn’t concerned about it at the moment… I think something to the effect of it being difficult to do/discouraged… maybe even mentioning taking time off from school. D and I talked and are both cool with the idea of not necessarily performing right away but, not until junior year might be an issue for her. </p>