<p>CCU offers a a BA in Dramatic Arts and BFA in Acting (as well as BFA in Musical Theatre, Theatre/Phyiscal Theatre, and Theatre/Design & Technology). </p>
<p>Does anyone know anything about their program? </p>
<p>My son might have some interest in this school in-part because they are part of the Academic Common Market (he wants to double major in a something they offer for in-state tuition) and, because the theatre program looks of interest. </p>
<p>But, we know nothing about it & have heard nothing about it. Any info/insight/experience from the CC crowd? </p>
<p>DramaMamma, I expect that austinmtmom and AlexaMT will weigh in here - both are strong advocates for CCU - but you may be able to find some nuggets of info over in the MT Schools forum at:</p>
<p>Hi DramaMama! I am happy to answer any questions you have about CCU! My D, AlexaMT, is a rising sophomore MT major. As a matter of fact, she is at the International Thespian Festival this week with 2 members of the CCU faculty attending auditions and working the CCU information booth. CCU offers BFAs in MT, Acting, Physical Theatre and Design & Technology. The Physical Theatre majors spend 3 years on campus at CCU and then their 4th year at the San Francisco Circus Center’s Clown Conservatory.</p>
<p>Classes are small - they aim for 10 MT, 10 Acting, 8 Physical Theatre and 10 Design majors. There are also BA Dramatic Arts majors in the program. CCU casting is open to all the majors and cross casting is very common. MTs are in straight plays, Acting and PT majors are in musicals, DA majors are in both. The 2011-2012 season includes 7 mainstage shows. Two or three of those will be in collaboration with Atlantic Stage and will be performed at Atlantic Stage. There will also be a couple of student directed shows, plus numerous other performance opportunities - Dance Company, Musical Theatre Company, one acts, directing scenes. Last year there was a Gilbert and Sullivan performance as well. The 2011 Maymester program was a staged musical reading of the new work “Bigfoot and Other Lost Souls” by Mark Hollman and Adrien Royce. Mark Hollman wrote Urinetown (and as my D would be quick to point out was just named to the Tony nominating committee for 2012 The world premier of the show will now take place at CCU, with Mark and Adrien in residence for at least some of the spring semester. The show will be directed by CCU’s wonderful John Woodson. In addition to the Bigfoot premier, the season will include “Lost in Yonkers”, “A Servant of Two Masters”, “Iphingenia and Other Daughters”, “Boeing Boeing”, “Anything Goes” and another American classic play TBA. The choreographer for “Anything Goes” will be CCU’s Alice Oakes, who was the “Anything Goes” dance captain in the Patti Lupone production.</p>
<p>As you can tell, I am indeed an enthusiastic CCU fan. My D had so many great opportunities at CCU as a freshman, including getting to create and direct the inaugural freshmen showcase. The faculty is truly outstanding, the facilities are wonderful and the opportunities tremendous. The school offers good academic merit scholarships plus there are talent scholarships as well.</p>
<p>If you need any other info, feel free to ask here or send me a PM. Best of luck to your S!</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the information. CCU has definitely gotten a notch on my son’s college list. I would like to take him to see the school, but I guess we’ll have to wait until the fall while school is in session. </p>
<p>I was looking at the website & the number of faculty …and, from what your post says…the number of students, does not look that large…but, I have nothing it compare it to. Does your D feel as though she gets wide enough breadth of teaching & experiences to bring her through the program? </p>
<p>The BFA program looks fairly intense…and, it looks wonderful. I don’t see how one could double major with a BFA…and, I know many think it is naive to even ask such a question…but, can it be done or has it been done? </p>
<p>And, are there any differences/advantages to either the MT or Acting programs; and while the BFA is his first choice…since he does want to double major…how would you rate the BA Theatre program?</p>
<p>Lastly, what is the surrounding area around the school? Is it in/near a town or city? My S would like to be in/near a town/city of some substance…doesn’t have to be NYC…just somewhere to get out to & do things.</p>
<p>One of the primary reasons my D chose CCU was because of the faculty! The entire department is only about 100 students. The classes are small and they get lots of individual attention. The newest faculty member, Guy Molnar, is not yet listed on the website. My D has been at ITF with Guy and she really is excited to work with him. CCU also brings in guests to teach master classes. If you read the faculty bios there is some amazing experience on staff. Many of the faculty are working this summer (theatre and film work) so they have current real-world connections. I believe they are bringing in a guest director for one of the shows this year, plus as I mentioned earlier having Mark Hollmann and Adrien Royce on campus in the spring. I know they are looking at doing more Maymester sessions that involve new works like the one they did this year for “Bigfoot.” And keep in mind that the voice faculty are in the music department so they are not listed in the theatre department bios.<br>
[CCU</a> Music Faculty](<a href=“http://www.coastal.edu/music/faculty.html]CCU”>http://www.coastal.edu/music/faculty.html)</p>
<p>The BFA is very sequenced. Last year was the first year of the BFA degree (before that is was an auditioned BA) and no one in the BFA is trying to double major at this point. It seems it would be possible to double major but probably not in 4 years. My D went in with AP and dual enrollment credits so she has more flexibility in her schedule when it comes to the non-BFA classes she takes. You could also take summer classes if those were offered in the 2nd major and perhaps get out in 4 years. It is certainly doable to double major with the BA. I know an incoming freshman who is planning to double major in Journalism. In terms o fthe BA, the BA majors get the same casting opportunties and work with the same faculty. But there are some classes that are BFA only so if he was really interested in the BA then I would suggest he schedule time with Ken Martin to really talk about the BFA vs. BA route to see if HE would be happy with that option.</p>
<p>The school has a really nice campus. It’s fairly small with about 8,500 students. It is technically located in Conway, which is a nice little town (very small town feel to it) but on the outskirts of the town itself. It is just down 501 from Myrtle Beach which is a very touristy area with lots to do. I think the kids steer clear of the beach during high tourist season but they are there a lot during most of the school year. The beaches are great, there are lots of theatres there and plenty to do. Charleston is just a 2 hours drive away and I know they sometimes take day trips there. Plus there are lots of activities on campus - although the theatre majors are so busy that they don’t have much free time. Not saying they don’t have fun though ;)</p>
<p>Let me know if you need anything else. If your S is interested I would encourage him to attend one of the on campus audition days. The are a full day of activities where the students get lots of time to meet the current students and faculty and get to really know the program. Plus make sure you see a show. It’s a great way to get a feel for the work that takes place there. Here’s a link to a post that might be helpful:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12074944-post11.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12074944-post11.html</a></p>
<p>I know one of the audition days filled up last year and I think from the interest they had at ITF this week that there will be even more kids auditioning this year. So I would make sure to get an audition date on my schedule if I were interested in CCU.</p>
<p>Hi all. I’m new to this site, but had to post about CCU. My son is a freshman there (BFA acting), and is LOVING it! What sold him on the school was the workshop nature of the auditions, and being able to see the teachers in action. </p>
<p>We live in VT, so training opportunities are very different than in other parts of the country. He was very conscious of that as he prepared his list of schools for which to apply/audition. Based on phone and FB conversations, he seems to be in a permanent state of exhilaration!</p>
<p>Here are the audition dates for CCU for 2013 - 2014:</p>
<p>The Department of Theatre at CCU is pleased to announce our audition dates for our BFA programs for the 2013-2014 academic year. The dates as well as the new audition form, audition requirements, and pre-screen information will be posted very soon on the new website. As soon as that information is available and the new website has launched, I will also share that here! For now, here are the dates: </p>
<p>Feb. 3-5 (Chicago Unifieds - do not require a pre-screen video)</p>
<p>As always, the on-campus auditions are all day events, including the initial presentation of your “package” in the morning, a student panel, and campus tour specifically for theatre majors. Following this early session, we provide a catered lunch and the afternoon includes 3 workshops with our current faculty, the dance call, and at night you receive complimentary tickets to one of our mainstage shows. If you attend November 16, you can see the closing night performance of “A Chorus Line”. February 8th’s auditionees will see “Into the Woods”, and the February 22nd/March 1st groups will see “Crimes of the Heart”. </p>
<p>I hope to meet many CC’ers in person at our on-campus auditions this year! It’s my last year as the “Student Recruitment Coordinator” and I know it’s just going to be the best yet. </p>
<p>CCU is an incredible theatre school! My D interviewed there last year for the D&T program and was accepted. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work out for us in the end. I will always be a CCU Theatre fan and will always suggest it to others beginning this most interesting journey. Ken Martin, the rest of the faculty and staff, the students, and Alexa are so welcoming and supportive. There just aren’t enough wonderful words to describe CCU.</p>
<p>CCU is an amazing BFA program and I would encourage folks to audition there. My D fell in love with it on multiple levels. She ended up choosing a BA program, but it was a difficult choice for her. If you live relatively close, I’d go to the all-day on-site audition, as you will then see the faculty in action, get to know current students, and get a sense of what makes this program so special.</p>
<p>As people are planning out their auditions, I thought I would bump this thread on CCU. Yes, I am biased about the program but only because I have seen first hand over the past 3 years how really terrific the program is. Watching the now seniors and thinking back to them as freshmen, I just am amazed by their growth as artists. The program isn’t for everyone and they will be the first ones to tell you that. But for those who “fit” it is a great place to be.</p>
<p>I know quite a few of the BFA grads from 2012 and 2013 are working professionally. One just booked Fuerza Bruta about 2 weeks ago and I believe is starting this week in the show. Notices about alumni are often posted on the Facebook page as well.</p>
<p>I’m happy to answer questions from the parent perspective, and there are current students happy to message/email about their experiences at CCU.</p>
<p>Over the summer, I met the wife of a professor at CCU and while her husband is not in the theatre program, she could not stop raving about the quality of the shows, the excitement of the kids and the faculty and the support the school is providing to this program. I would highly recommend looking into this program. I have not heard any negative anything about it.</p>
<p>This program looks really great. I am going to run it by my S tonight. Does anyone know how the BA works? Do you get to audition for shows? I am so far VERY impressed. The app looks easy, and my S is getting his monologues taped tonight to get ready to send to a few schools. How do your D’s like the school in general? I know nothing about it. Is it a state school. How is the housing, etc?? It also looks like my S would qualify for a pretty substantial scholarship with his 1400 CR+M and 3.6ish GPA.</p>
<p>The application is very easy. And academic scholarships are automatic when you apply. They are stats based. Your S should qualify for the Honors program as well if he is interested in that. My D is in the program so could answer questions if he decided on CCU and wanted more info on how that all works.</p>
<p>Yes, the BAs can go through general auditions and they are cast in shows. One of my D’s best friends is a BA and he has been cast in both musicals and plays. The department overall (BFAs and BAs) is small so everyone knows everyone. The BA does require an interview but I believe you can do that via telephone if needed. And the BAs and BFAs do take some of their classes together, although the BA is obviously more flexible and not as sequenced as the BFA. The BAs can participate in Upstage, the student run theatre organization. There are lots of opportunities to get involved in directing, writing, stage management, etc. My D was an ASM her sophomore year and this year is ADing The Shape of Things. There is also a professional Equity house there - Atlantic Stage. CCU students are often cast in those shows, as the Atlantic Stage directors attend CCU’s general auditions. (This year I believe a director who will be filming a movie there this spring sat in on generals as well.)
[Atlantic</a> Stage / Myrtle Beach SC](<a href=“http://www.atlanticstage.com/]Atlantic”>http://www.atlanticstage.com/)</p>
<p>CCU is a state school. The housing is very nice. Freshmen and sophomores have to live in university housing. Most freshmen live on campus, while most sophomores live in the university owned off campus apartments. My D lived in a honors suite (4 bedrooms) on campus her freshman year, then in University Place in a 4 bedroom apartment her sophomore year. The school is adding lots of really nice new facilities. It is very pretty campus, plus it is about a 15 minute drive to the beach. Overall my D really loves it there! Myrtle Beach can be crowded and a bit crazy during tourist season, but it is great during the off season, which is honestly most of the school year. Lots to do in the area.
[2012-2013</a> Viewbook](<a href=“http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/Coastal-Carolina-University-Admissions/2012-2013viewbook/2011090701/#0]2012-2013”>http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/Coastal-Carolina-University-Admissions/2012-2013viewbook/2011090701/#0)</p>
<p>Like any school, there are downsides. My D would tell you the biggest is that there are too many kids on campus who chose CCU so they could “go to college at the beach woo!” Some of those don’t make it past their first semester, because they don’t go to class. And those are not typically theatre majors. </p>
<p>austinmtmom…thanks so much! It sounds like a program that might be a really good fit for my S. We live in CA, so are just not that familiar with a lot of these programs. My S is really undecided on the BFA route, as he feels it is too rigid and he likes all parts of theater. He is actually producing, directing and acting in a play he is doing this year at his HS. He also really wants to be by the ocean if possible, as the ocean is like the air to him, and he would really prefer a smaller program. Do you know if he decides to audition for the BFA, can he decide to switch to the BA if he changes his mind or doesn’t get in the BFA? He likes auditioning, and wants to keep all options open until the end, but this program sounds really exciting. He really is a go getter type kid, and I can see him jumping right in and loving this type of environment.</p>
<p>You can audition for the BFA and if not accepted, request the BA. And yes, you can switch from the BFA to the BA if he gets in and decides he prefers the BA. I believe this year’s class size is around 10 Acting/PT majors and 12 MT majors. I’m not sure how many freshman BAs there are this year but I believe they keep that number pretty small as well through the interview process. This year’s freshmen BFA class isthe largest of all the classes to date, so overall the department is still small and personal. The freshmen do audition and do get cast at CCU. They have tech assignments as well. I know one of the students (a junior I believe) wrote a play that is being produced by Upstage this year. So there are LOTS of opportunities of all kinds to jump in and get going. </p>
<p>There are obviously differences in the 2 degrees beyond just the required classes the BFAs have to take. I don’t know if BAs can participate in the Accademia dell’Arte program in Italy. That would be a question for Ken Martin. There are other study abroad opportunities at CCU, including some short term Maymester programs, if that is something he wants to do. I know one of the MTs did a study abroad in Ecuador which fulfilled his foreign language requirement. The BAs do not get to attend the NYC showcase. CCU does have casting directors and agents come to the school so showcase isn’t the only way students get seen.</p>
<p>In terms of BFA “flexibility,” CCU does have core requirements. But they offer AP and dual enrollment credits. And they make it pretty easy to take core classes via community college while you are at CCU and get credit for those. My D has taken advantage of all of those options to free up time in her schedule to take extra dance classes. It is possible to minor with the BFA and still make it through the program in 4 years if you have those extra credits. </p>
<p>I know there are a few other theatre majors from California at CCU so your S wouldn’t be the only west coaster there :)</p>
<p>My daughter is a Freshman BFA Acting major at CCU. We discovered the program at Unifieds and she was so impressed with the audition she had with Monica Bell, that CCU quickly moved near the top of her list. She did her call back audition on campus on the last available weekend, in the last available audition spot. The audition process alone is very unique and particularly impressive. After the acceptances were in, her decision making process was very difficult indeed. She chose Coastal because of the smaller size of the program, the credentials of the faculty and the way the program functions as a “company” while still addressing the needs of the individual. She also loved that is was a conservatory style university within a traditional school. Everything I have heard from her has been positive. She loves her professors, her fellow students, the campus and the program. She had other options, but Coastal Carolina was the perfect fit for her.</p>
<p>BAs can participate in the Accademia dell’Arte program in Arezzo, Italy. In fact, a girl who had switched from BFA to BA did the fall semester there last year.</p>
<p>I am posting to inform anyone who wishes to audition for CCU at the 2014 Chicago Unified auditions that they technically do NOT need to send in a video pre-screen. If you have pre-screen material and want to submit it for Chicago, you may do so (and it is encouraged), but it is not REQUIRED, unlike our on-campus audition dates. More information on auditions for CCU can be found, HERE: [CCU</a> Department of Theatre](<a href=“http://www.coastal.edu/theatre/html/auditions.html]CCU”>http://www.coastal.edu/theatre/html/auditions.html)</p>
<p>Although I encourage the on campus auditions for all of those who CAN do so and are seriously considering CCU, the faculty understands that it’s not possible for everyone. If you wish to sign up for an initial 10 minute audition slot for Chicago Unifieds without a pre-screen, there is a simple form to use. Send me a private message or email <a href=“mailto:askthea@coastal.edu”>askthea@coastal.edu</a> to access it. CCU is attending on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning.</p>
The world premier of the show will now take place at CCU, with Mark and Adrien in residence for at least some of the spring semester. The show will be directed by CCU’s wonderful John Woodson. In addition to the Bigfoot premier, the season will include “Lost in Yonkers”, “A Servant of Two Masters”, “Iphingenia and Other Daughters”, “Boeing Boeing”, “Anything Goes” and another American classic play TBA. The choreographer for “Anything Goes” will be CCU’s Alice Oakes, who was the “Anything Goes” dance captain in the Patti Lupone production.</p>