Hello! This is my first question so please let me know if I’m doing it wrong. I know these two professions don’t really go together but I am very very passionate about musical theatre and also about Law, I know it is impossible to probably major in both law and musical theatre so I also realized that I am most moved to become a lawyer to help with inequality specifically gender inequality and I am very passionate about women’s studies. I am a rising senior looking for colleges and was wondering does anybody know of any colleges where I can double major (one in MT) or major in MT and minor in Women’s Studies or Gender Studies? Thanks!
I recall Ohio Northern having opportunities to double or even triple major w/MT.
Okay, there are several theories about how to “best” train for an MT career. First, go to a conservatory, eat, sleep, breathe acting, dance and voice, to the exclusion of an education beyond one or two university requirements. CMU, CCM, BW all produce well trained soldiers from their MT bootcamps, ready to take on the audition wars. Next theory, do a BFA at a University program - you get an almost consevatory environment, but take 10 or so university requirement classes as well - Elon, Rider, Penn State - also produce good soldiers for the MT audition wars. Finally there are those who think an ACTOR needs to know something beyond acting, dance and vocal technique. Life experience, studying politics, economice, sciences, art, math make one better able to form a character as the actor has experience to draw on, not just imagination. There are a few liberal arts schools with excellent dance programs, excellent vocal deparments and first-class acting programs. Muhlenberg, American…if you want to be an actor, not an MT, think Pepperdine, Bennington. The first group of schools fill one’s semesters with a required progression of conservatory classes, and no room for any extra education. the kids here are single focused. 10-15 total kids get to go to each school, based not on talent alone, but what the school needs for its anticiapted shows (one fat girl, one small blond soprano, one balck girl, one tall brunette belting alto, chorus girls (very tall leggy types who get quickly typecast), a romantic male lead, a shorter sidekick, a fat guy, a muscled guy, a black dude or two, latinos and an asian). look at the pictures of the conservatories’ prior classes, or the showcases on youtube - i kid you not. The university programs make room for general education classes, so you get a little education and alot of conservatory-like lock step scheduling. The last group is far less rigid, and kids do double major, pick up minors, and, if they do summer session or have a bunch of AP credits, triple major. Remember, there is no formula that works for everyone or that offers a guaranty of work on stage, let alone on Broadway. There are Broadway stars who never went to college, and CMU/CCM.Michigan grads who never work on Broadway - so go where you are most comfortable, put out 110% to learn you craft, do summer theatre. DISCLAIMERs – (1) I am the father of a male MT major - he started at a conservatory type school - loved the training, loved the location, not so happy that everyone he saw could only talk about MT/Acting/shows/actors. No politics, no sports (my son is not a sports guy, doesn’t watch games or have a team etc, but welcomed any converation that was not “wow, Patti Lupone is a goddess” and “i saw [insert famous actor’s name] across times square and almost died”). So, he transferred for next year to a BA program at a liberal arts school, great Acting/Vocal/Dance rpgrams, but he can also broaden his studies and meet a kid or two who can see things other than theatre. (2) No, I am not really biased against conservatories, you just need a certain temperment to thrive in that type of environment. (3) i researched every major and most minor programs before my son applied - he selected his schools, i just wanted to be prepared when he had questions. I spoke with the parents of kids at the University BFA programs and at conservatories (interestingly, I did not speak with parents at a liberal arts school, because I did not know any, but i did speak with kids in every type of program.) I am not an expert, but, then, i am just conveying what I know, not selling you a type of school, so take my word for whatever you think them worth; (4) the go where you are comfiortable and give it 110% etc advice, came to me and to my son from a few different sources including (a) a coach with 40 years in training kids (not a college coach, just gives lessons) who has 4 former students on Broadway right now, 15 or so who have been on Broadway; (b) two old friends who are producers - one on Broadway, one in Regional Theatre; (c) a Broadway Actor with 30 years’ of shows under his belt - who majored in voice at an unknown state college becaus it was in-state and he could afford it; (d) two casting directors who do Boradway; and well, a few others who know their stuff. Of course, two conservatory trained actor friends disagreed, but, look at playbill.com for school credits - Lin Miranda went to Wesleyan - not a conservatory, not a university BFA, and his Hamilton is the hottest ticket in NY.
Finally, there is no right major for Law - econ, poli sci, history, english all good, butthere are law students who have majored in math, physics, archeology, Talmud, and, one friend, now a judge, has a degree from Mason Gross at Rutgers (google it - it is a top acting program). So, MT and law are hardly mutually exclusive.
So, find what fits your personality, not the box someone else wants to put you into. Good Luck
From another viewpoint, to get into law school it may help to go to an undergrad program that is also highly regarded for it’s academics - MI, NYU, Northwestern, etc.
Our D is planning to double major at Michigan. She’s coming in with a lot of AP credits so it makes it a lot easier but it is definitely do-able there regardless. Willamette in Oregon is an example of a strong BA program in theater at a liberal arts school. Do well in undergrad, do well on the LSAT, keep your nose clean, cultivate solid references, and you’re in to law school – it really doesn’t matter where you went to undergrad or what you studied.
FWIW, I know tons (not kidding: TONS) of MT/Theatre majors who went on to law school. (Two are judges now.)
You sound a lot like me. I’m a double major in Musical Theatre and Arts Administration at Viterbo University, and if my double major didn’t keep me so busy, I would definitely have a minor in Women’s Studies (which also exists at my school! Although I haven’t picked up the minor, I have been able to take really fascinating classes like Women in Theatre and Race and the American Theatre during my time at Viterbo, the former of which is actually cross-coded as a requirement for the Women’s Studies minor), but I want to be able to graduate in four years, so I’ll have to settle for two majors 
My roommate is an Arts Administration major with minors in Theatre, Pre-Law, and Criminal Justice. We talk a lot about how we want to help the world and use our skills in theatre beyond just creating performance. I’m still trying to figure out EXACTLY what I want to do with my life, but I definitely want to work in the realms of socially conscious theatre and at the intersections of art and cultural policy as both an artist and an administrator. I’m considering applying to grad school for public policy/public administration in a few years. Viterbo has definitely been a good place for me to try out a whole bunch of things, and I think that’s due to the fact that my degree is BFA in a liberal arts setting: it’s the best of both worlds in terms of getting strong professional training with opportunities to broaden your horizons outside your department.
Wow! How cool I didn’t know other people like that existed!
thanks for the info! Also have you heard of “girl be heard”? It’s a political theater group that through theatre explores social injustices. Super cool!
Thank you for your help!!! I appreciate it so much! Yeah i really just want to minor in women’s studies. To go to law school though I’ll have to get my musical theatre degree from a college not conservatory though right?
Wow interesting! Thanks!
You do not need to go to any type school or have any major to get in to a law school, as long as you have some english, writing, history in your credits. I have been in legal practice for 25+ years, am counsel at a Federal agency. One co-worker (also an attorney) has a conservatory BFA in performance - flute. a friend, now a judge, has a conservatory BFA in Acting from Mason Gross. You need to demonstate an ability to think, not lock-step in a particular major to go to law school.
Agree with @Thespiandad – we have a friend with a ballet degree from CCM who is now an attorney. You can certainly go to law school after receiving a BFA degree. To me, your undergraduate years are meant to explore your interests and figure out what path you want to take in life. Many people will start college in one degree program with one idea of what they want to do and will end up doings something completely different. This is not limited to MT majors. We know an economics major who is a dentist. A music major who is a psychologist. Your undergraduate degree will not limit your future possibilities. Pursue your passions. Work hard. And listen to your inner voice to determine what it is you want to do with your life. College may open up a world of new possibilities for you.
Yes, Ohio Northern offers plenty of opportunities to double (or even triple!) major, as well as adding on a minor or two should you choose to do so. Feel free to PM me if you want more info!
I’m a BFA MT with a dual degree in Neuroscience at Tulane. About half or maybe more of our musical theatre majors have a second major its pretty doable especially if you come in with AP credits to get rid of gen ed courses.
It’s doable at Temple if you come in with AP credits! Temple’s program is conservatory style in a large university setting. I’m pretty sure most schools that require gen eds will allow you to minor if you have enough AP credits.
Getting a double major is achievable at most schools in a college or university setting (but perhaps not at a true conservatory). The issue is more about whether it can be done in 4 years. Typically it is difficult to do in 4 years due to required classes for the MT major and scheduling conflicts with required classes for your other major. But it depends on what other major you are pursing and how its requirements and schedule fit with your MT requirements. As has been said above, coming into college with AP credits can help free up your schedule from gen ed classes. You also could see if your school allows you to take any of your gen eds online or in the summer. Be aware if you choose these options there will be additional costs to take classes this way.