<p>Anyone have any information on Christopher Newport University's musical theatre program?</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>Hi andymc! I’m actually finishing up my freshman year at CNU as a Music Theatre major as well as being the Music Theatre-Dance scholarship recipient. I guess the real thing is, what exactly do you want to know about the program? We have 4 mainstage productions a year, 3 straight shows and 1 musical, as well as the annual dance concert, the directors showcase and numerous student run shows. There is also the student run theatre group called Initiative Theatre, which puts on 1 show per semester as well as hosting numerous acting opportunities throughout the year. Lemme know of any questions you may have!</p>
<p>insideoutmnm - I was wondering what a typical semester is like. Do you have equal parts-acting, singing, dancing? Do you have private vocals all four years? Do you dance all four years? Do they showcase in NYC? Are freshman allowed to audition for mainstage shows?</p>
<p>@broadway95-</p>
<p>~CNU isn’t a conservatory program, and so each semester is really what you make of it. My first semester I had all theatre classes, Tap, Vocal Prep, Scene Design, Dramatic Lit. etc. while this semester I chose to focus more on getting my GEDs done. Currently, the classes offered are pretty even across the board in regards to acting, singing, dancing, but I also know that they are hiring a new prof. for the acting dept. next year.
~ For MT students, we are requiered to take Vocal Prep our first semester, which is an intro. to singing/piano basics class. At the end of that semester we audition for a panel of Theatre Prof. that decide whether we are admitted into the MT program or not. If we are, we are then requiered to take private voice for, I believe, a min. of 3 semesters. Ofcourse, many continue those lessons all 4 years.
~Dance courses are open to all students and so it is possible to take dance all 4 years. Personally, I’ve made my goal to take every course offered before I graduate 
We’ve also hired a new Dance Prof. and offer a Dance minor, which many MT students pick up on the side.
~As far as I know, CNU does not currently showcase in NYC, but it is a program that is still growing and so I’m sure that will happen soon. 
However, proffesors at CNU do ensure that students know about audition opportunities that arise and have helped organize carpooling etc. for audition conventions
~YES. Freshman are not only allowed, but highly encouraged to audition for mainstage shows. Once declared a Theatre Major, students are requiered to audition for mainstage productions, but it is wise to begin as a freshman. We just closed our mainstage musical “Steel Pier” in which I ( and 2 other freshman) were cast members. CNU is fantastic about casting based on talent, not status :)</p>
<p>thank you for the reply! all of those are questions I would’ve asked lol.</p>
<p>is there any student-produced work going on too?</p>
<p>not a problem Andymc, I’m glad to help!</p>
<p>We do have student-produced work. Besides Initiative Student Theatre, which is entirely student- run, we also have the Directors Showcase- a series of short scenes directed by students, as well as Senior Thesis productions. Many seniors, acting/directing/stage management majors, produce/perform in a student run play for their senior thesis. These have been original works as well as produced scripts, and vary in length.</p>
<p>great, thank you!</p>