Colleges for Musical Theater Major - Part 30

College Majors Musical Theater Major
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<p>MTFan...I am proud of you and SO happy for you...what a way to get the season rolling and SO soon. It will feel great that you have one possible program to rely on. Did you have to audition already for it? </p>

<p>Marissal, I really like those pants and they look perfect to me...they are polished professional looking, yet not overly dressy and not even typical black! </p>

<p>The talk about reaches/matches/safeties in regard to BFA programs is boggling to me. Normally I would advise anyone to have a balance of schools in each of those categories. However, I find that standard advice to be hard to apply to MT BFA programs. It seems to me that most of the programs, or at least the 8 that my D will apply to, have acceptance rates in the single digits, anywhere from 5-10% and those make the odds REACHES for just about anyone. In fact, this whole scenario makes my nerves stand on end a bit, not because I don't believe in my child, but because those odds are daunting. The conventional wisdom to have safety schools does not seem to apply to these programs. I only have to hope that since there are 8 programs on the list that hopefully one will work out at least. Also, I would be curious as to which programs some of you are terming "Ivy"....just to get a sense of what others' opinions are who are using such a term in relation to MT programs. </p>

<p>Fosselover wrote:
"soozievt--" My D is not normally happy not being in a show. She is ALWAYS working on a show."
I guess this is part of what I don't understand. If you child is ALWAYS working on a show and is happy doing so, why would you elect to stop. Why is it so important for a student to forgo that happiness?"</p>

<p>I don't quite see it that way, nor do I think she would be unhappy. Of course she wants to do shows and I believe she will do some sort of show each year of college no matter where she goes, if not the first semester, then second semester and if not a mainstage type production, then a student run show or a showcase or cabaret, or some such. But I am confident she would be happy because first of all, she would be reaching her goal to be immersed in an intensive MT training program where she would be involved in theater every day. While she does a lot of it now, this would be even more as it would be a majority of her class time too ,not like high school. She would be among peers like herself, a lot of talent. She has been in summer programs where it is theater stuff all day and night and she is in her element there and lives for it all year (not that she has a dull life the rest of the year, mind you). So, a college BFA program will be a chance to be immersed in theater constantly. Even if first semester had no official show to do, there would be performance type things going on either in class, some showcase, a dance recital, something. That is the nature of the studies. As well, she would even enjoy student run shows. She has created /directed/choreographed/music directed a musical revue style cabaret (last year) and has written another musical show for this year that she will be directing as soon as her current production (adult production) ends. She even loves that sort of thing. She loves ANY sort of theater activities. Now, if we were talking taking away ALL theater, THEN she would be unhappy. But I am sure she would be doing theater in some capacity, show or not, in a BFA program. If she did NO shows all four years, then yes, that would be a problem. Plus I am sure she will do shows in summers. If there is ONE semester with no big show, she would not really be upset, I do not think. She even loved the one musical theater performance class we observed at UM....just doing that sort of thing day in and day out would make her happy so I don't think it is like taking something away from her. It is not like taking theater away, just one season of a major production. Most kids I know in MT programs are working on some sort of show all the time, even if not some mainstage event. Even a class performance is a show. </p>

<p>When I say my daughter is not happy if not in a show....it is more to do with current circumstances of being in high school, not college. If she were not working on a show NOW, it would mean that her life was mostly school, then all her performing arts training in terms of outside classes/lessons. But those lessons are more like dance, voice, acting, ......so it is not like she would be doing "theater" as our high school does not have theater classes per se. So, when a show is not in her life now, it means kinda "no theater" going on, despite her still doing performing arts training. Whereas in a college MT program, even if NOT in a show, you are still immersed in theater activities/classes, unlike at home when there are just lessons/classes in specific areas like voice or dance, but not theater itself. In a BFA program, you are doing theater all the time with lots of kids like yourself. </p>

<p>As I mentioned to you in a previous post, I support that you are trying to find the best match for your child's preferences, which is what this is all about. I was only responding to your concern, if you will, that she find a program due to her extensive training to date...and mentioned that she would find many kids like that in these BFA programs. But I hear you now saying that your D is almost looking to the BFA programs mostly to start garnering performance experiences because to date she has mostly done training, and less performances. So, you are coming from that perspective whereas I have a kid who all along has done both lotsa training AND numerous performances, so is not looking to the BFA program primarily as a way to finally get to do more performing but actually to do more training, PLUS performing. I have always felt that in this field BOTH were important. The training hones your skills and the performances allow one to apply those skills in context. So, I certainly would want a college program that allowed for a balance between training and performing, like she has now. But also remember this is a SCHOOL so a lot of it is training, with performances opportunities mixed in for first hand experiences. I think this issue has not arisen for my D in regard to MT programs so much because her goal is just to finally get to go onto the next step in terms of her growth in her craft. She feels she has maximized on opportunities that one should have prior to college and is just chomping at the bit to rise up to the next level of her training, which of course, includes more performances but the point being she is looking for a college program that will challenge her in this next step of her journey and go from there. I am pretty sure that whoever designs these BFA program has an inkling of what these kids need at this step in their careers. Most kids my D knows who go to MT programs are doing shows of some sort and I imagine she will too. She certainly will get a wealth of classes now too that she can't wait to embark on. Afterall, we are sending them to get an education. If sending them is centered on finding performance opportunities, you could skip college and go right into auditioning for theaters. So, she is going for the whole kit and kaboodle, which hopefully will entail intense training and performing and the benefits of peers like herself to challenge her and to befriend. I know she can't wait to begin. I just hope she has somewhere to begin at. I am surely with ya on finding the best fit though. </p>

<p>Susan</p>

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<p>Susan you have provided a very well thought out response to my question. D and I talked about this on the way home from dance. With some introspection she felt that the process of preparing and developing the performance is when she has learned the most about her craft and herself. The size of the part nor the size of the production matter, it is the process leading to a goal that inspires and enthralls. She realizes most students aren't like this, but is intuitive enough to realize that she grows during the process of developing a performance. Classwork is important and there will be many opportunities to learn in both arenas. She has been fortunate in that our high school has drama, choir, dance, and stage crew. She has been able to participate in 4 years of dance, 3 yrs showchoir, 3 years drama, 1 year stage crew, 1 yr of traditional choir (she did it by going to summer school). The dance troupe puts on 2 full shows each year, plus there is one drama and one musical each year. This doesn't include showcases, winter concert, spring concert, or festivals. After freshman year, at least half of her HS classes have been in performing arts. In that respect we've been lucky. Her ideal would be to continue this balance, plus have all those dance, piano, voice and dance classes be counted academically. We will see. I'm looking forward to visiting the colleges in November.</p>

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<p>Wichita State is a non-audition school, therefore it truly is a safety. The only auditions they have are for Scholarships. I just have to decide wheathr or not i want to travel out there for them.</p>

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<p>mtfan, congratulations! You must be floating with happiness! </p>

<p>marissal, those pants look just fine. I think the key for audition wear is to find something which is so comfy that you don't even think about what you're wearing while doing your audition. When my D auditioned, we saw lots of different choices for clothes. Some looked very comfy in what they were wearing, and others looked like they were wearing something they'd never have worn otherwise. Choose something that's <em>you</em> and you'll do well! One thing that I remember is that not one girl wore a skirt.</p>

<p>Susan, you're absolutely right about your D having the opportunity to perform in many different ways, even if not in a mainstage production, when she first begins college. No worries about that. The type of performing that goes on in class, on a daily basis, will challenge her probably like she's never been challenged before. This is certainly what my D has found, and that after attending an arts h/s, so your D will be just fine. I'm sure she knows from her many friends who are already in these BFA programs that the classes are challenging and stimulating and thrilling (!). Until these kids get into a curriculum like this, or have friends who are currently in one, they can't really grasp what it's like. By the way, lots of luck, and a broken leg, to your D's b/f who is aspiring to Atlantic. He'll love it!</p>

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<p>Fosselover..
Your D is lucky that her school offers so much during the school day. At school, my daughter is also in Chorus and Jazz Band (plays piano and is their vocalist). She is in a select choir as well. We don't have showchoir or drama classes. While the school does have dance, it is geared toward kids with no dance background. In fact, the school contracted my girls' dance studio to bring staff in to offer dance which now some kids are taking in lieu of gym or music. My D never could take it as she has danced her whole life, well beyond what they are offering. In fact, one of her peers who also dances at our studio and happens to attend our HS, is assisting the teacher with that HS class, as a perspective there. We don't have drama classes in school. But our school DOES put on a play and musical each year. The musical happens to be of very high quality and we do have a group of talented kids to play the leads and such and the director has been on Broadway himself (is contracted to direct the musical, is not on the faculty). Our school does heavily value the arts and in fact, our music department won a Grammy Award. But that is where it stops. </p>

<p>So, she has some performing arts in her life associated with school, BUT she spends hours each afternoon and night and weekend augmenting their offerings with outside training and theater productions. Our dance studio is 25 miles away and she takes six classes including being in a select jazz dance repertory company and tap troupe too. In fact, I was thinking of you at dance rehearsal the other day as they just learned a Fosse number! Her voice lessons and acting lessons are 50 miles away. Her current show is also 50 miles away. Her piano and guitar lessons are also private. And the show she created and will direct is after school. So, she has plenty of performing arts going on in her life but it is not all associated with school, nor during school hours, thus making for a very busy hectic demanding schedule on top of taking the hardest classes in school (not to mention college applications and audition prep). Today I am making her NFAA video submission and the ONLY time we can tape it is during her lunch period on the stage and her piano teacher is going to come to school and play for her. Fitting that in has been tricky. We also have all those festival auditions like you have. In fact tomorrow is regional auditions for vocals/chorus and I can't head to Boston for our college visits until she gets out of that audition which makes for a late trip! </p>

<p>I know how it would be much easier in a performing arts high school where a lot of this stuff is right at school, not to mention during the actual school day. We do not have performing arts high schools in our state, and we were not willing to send our kids to boarding school (nor could afford to do so), despite that she would have loved it. I feel that we pieced together all that performing arts training and production experiences here in our corner of the world for her and it has worked out fine (despite miles on the car!), and she also spends every summer at an intensive theater training program where she is in three productions each summer for the past seven years. So, I do envy that your D got alot of that right at school. My D did too to some extent but had to add onto it outside of school. I am looking forward to her having it all in one place next year, just do not know where that will be. </p>

<p>Hats off to your D (sorry for the Fosse "pun") as she has really taken advantage of lots that is offered in your neck of the woods. I am truly IN the woods here, though, lol.
Susan</p>

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<p>alwaysamom--My D has a friend at Tisch in Cap21, so she has had an opportunity to discuss the program there. It has been interesting to contrast it to your D experience.</p>

<p>Susan--D isn't at a performing arts HS, we are just fortunate that they have a strong program. Like your D, she also has outside training and all of her none PA classes are AP. Our dance studio is also about 25 miles away. She is there 5 days a week either in class or as a TA. D is in the jr. company of a professional dance co., which routinely practices 4-5 hrs on Sunday. We're lucky in that music theory, voice and piano are all on a single night and is only 15 miles away. One of the reasons she hasn't been able to do outside productions is the conflicts with school and classes. Her drama class is part of the IB program, so this year she will be doing separate activities with that. She is going to see if she can work her schedule around an outside production of "Sweeney Todd". It is going to depend on how willing people are to deal with scheduling conflicts. Sounds like our D share much in common!!! </p>

<p>Fosse is so much fun. D has done 2 dance solos in the Fosse style-"Blackbird" and "If My Friends Could See Me Now", plus she did "All That Jazz" for a show last year where she was "Velma". Fosse style is much fun to learn and watch.</p>

<p>You've provided your D with many great opportunites. She is luck to have such strong support. </p>

<p>For us "matches" are schools that offer BA and BFA programs that will allow D to audition again during Freshman year. "Safeties" are schools that don't require an audition for MT program or offer BA programs in Acting, Voice and Dance ; are willing to do an interdepartmental degree or a dual major with 1 minors; have strong student run theater productions; summer programs. "Ivies" are any programs that are highly selective. At least that is how we've divided them up.</p>

<p>Good luck</p>

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<p>Marrissel,</p>

<p>My daughter auditioned at NYU last year and chose simple black pants, a beautiful white sweater and black flats. She looked very nice and felt extremely comfortable. It seemed to have worked as she is now a freshman at NYU Tisch.</p>

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<p>I wanted to share a short bit about experience for all of you prospective freshman on this board. As I mentioned above, my daughter is a freshman at NYU in the Strasberg Studio. We're going to see her this weekend for Parent's weekend and I am so excited. We live in Illinois and haven't seen her for seven weeks. Anyhow, we live in a rural area, she took voice lessons and participated in community theatre opportunities and theatre opportunities available through the state university located here in West Central Illinois. She participated in extracurricular theatre at her small rural high school. Her biggest part was as the lead in the musical her senior year. Additionally she attended the Cherubs program, which she loved, in both drama and musical theater between her junior and senior year. She took the ACT, but no SAT. Her score was 32 on the ACT and she had a grade point of 3.89, placing her 18th in a class of 160. As you can see she had no professional experience at all, but was still able to make it into NYU. Not only that she is thriving at NYU; she absolutely loves it and her studio. She is taking Advanced Singing and learning the craft of acting, which was the most important thing to her in choosing the college that would best fit her needs. My point here is that they take all different levels of experience, even at very competitive schools like NYU. So follow your dream and have fun!! I'll post a little bit more after we visit her this weekend. Good luck everybody.</p>

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<p>Marrissel,</p>

<p>My daughter wore pants almost identical to the ones you are showing. She added a dark V-neck sweater with a pastel shirt and black flats. She, too, is a freshman at NYU Tisch. And I have to second what alwaysamom said, all the girls in her group wore pants.</p>

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<p>Sorry about the disjointed posts here, but I forgot to mention one thing above with regard to experience and the audition. My daughter has a lovely voice, but her first love is acting. Unfortunately, there was a communication breakdown when her father set up her audition last fall, and he set her up for a MT audition. Needless to say, she was not very happy as she wanted straight drama. Since we could not change the audition, she went and performed her music choice and monologues. Then when it was time to talk with the auditor she was incredibly frank and explained the circumstance of the audition. She told him that she really didn't want to go to CAP21 but due to her father's mistake and her strong desire to attend NYU she came to the MT audition and she wanted the auditor to know that she was very interested in the Strasberg studio, as she loved to sing, but acting was her passion. When she shared this with us after her audition I was sure it was all over, but I did commend her on her choice of an honest approach. Additionally, I happened to be in the restroom when she performed her piece, and it was probably the best vocal performance I have ever heard her do in her high school years. D has a nice voice and was awarded 4th place at a NATS tri-state competition the one year she attended, but as I said, she did not wish to pursue MT exclusively. I guess what I really learned during her audition experience was that our approach of letting her be the driver of her college choice and experience was a good one as it let her feel the accomplishment of gaining admittance was hers and hers alone. We were just the cheerleaders and emotional support people. So all of you prospective freshman, go for it and break a leg. Don't let a few bumps in the audition process get you down, just follow through. It worked for my daughter and it can work for you.</p>

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<p>fosselover, I'm glad to hear that your D has a friend at CAP21. It sounds as though she isn't happy, if it's a contrast to what I've expressed about my D enjoying Tisch immensely. That's a shame but it happens. Not everyone loves the program they finally choose unfortunately. At a school like Tisch which admits approximately 300 for drama each year, including approximately 60 into MT, it's not surprising that some of those kids might not enjoy their experience. My D is in Atlantic, though, not CAP21. She made the decision, much like theatredivasmom's D, that straight drama was what she wanted to study. She hasn't regretted the decision. </p>

<p>On this same topic, I'll share a story about one of my D's classmates. She was another kid who had dreamed for years of going to Tisch, she had been performing for over 10 years prior to auditioning, taken voice, dance, acting etc. like many of our kids. She and her family made trips to NYC two or three times a year to see shows. She attended a performing arts h/s and was a top student academically as well. During orientation week, she was the one who showed everyone how to use the subway, acted as a tour guide around the city for her studio mates. When classes began, everyone soon saw that this was one extremely talented girl. My D who has many talented friends thought that this girl was possibly the most talented actress she'd ever seen. Here was a kid who had everything going for her, knew the city, was as familiar with the program as she could possibly have been, was well-liked and highly respected for her talent. Sounds perfect, right? Unfortunately, no. She found that as much as she loved the city, she didn't want to live there. She was very unhappy and ended up leaving before Christmas and going home. She started at another university this year and is very happy in a totally different atmosphere. </p>

<p>I think this points to the fact that there are no certainties in this process. "On paper" this girl looked like the perfect kid to thrive and be happy at Tisch. They did their research and chose the 'right' program, and at the time were thrilled. Sometimes things don't work out and there are variables that are sometimes beyond our control. We just have to help our kids find the program where we think they will fit the best. And then hope and pray that we were right! :)</p>

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<p>Fosselover,</p>

<p>At the Hartt School, University of Hartford, freshman BFA students in both acting and MT are not allowed to audition for productions. They do all the tech work their freshman year.</p>

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<p>Newmtmom:</p>

<p>I thought I'd bring back your questions from a couple of pages ago.</p>

<br>


<br>

<p>Of course not every aspiring MT performer has been performing since birth, or even close to it. My own D started performing very gradually. I know many kids in my area who started performing at a much younger age than she. Performing experience is certainly very helpful if one wants to get into a top MT program, but talent and good training are more important IMHO. </p>

<p>When my D was 12 she performed in her 1st professional production with our local Childrens Theatre. At the time her performing experience consisted of two community theatre productions that were for kids only, the leads in her school's 2nd and 5th grade musicals, a stint at the end of 2nd grade as a munchkin in a H.S. production of the "Wizard of Oz", three consecutive "Nutcracker" productions with Cincinnati Ballet, a select band performance, a state children's choir performance, and numerous dance recitals. I'd known from the time my D was 5 that she loved being in the spotlight. My H and I used to jokingly say that it was too bad that we didn't live in L.A. or N.Y.C. We thought our D would be a natural on stage. We just thought that since we lived in the mid-west, she'd just have to wait until she was an adult to fulfill any theatrical ambitions. </p>

<p>I laughed the first time we decided to have her audition for Children's Theatre. The company wanted a headshot and a resume. I couldn't imagine any child in our area having much of anything to put on a resume. I soon discovered that there were many kids that had extensive resumes at very tender ages. For example, when D was in the 6th grade she did a production with a boy her age who'd already done 18 shows, both community and professional theatre! Other parents at CCM Prep considered my D to be a late comer. I was clueless for a long time about audition opportunities in our area. Apparently my family read the wrong newspaper; we subscribed to the afternoon paper, which never had any audition notices. My D was a 6th grader when we finally figured out how to find out about auditions. By that time she was at that awkward stage when taller girls are too big to play children, but look too young to play teenagers or adults. Amazingly, she was still cast regularly in local community and professional theatre productions. (Of course, she was always in the ensembles. There just aren't a heck of a lot of shows out there that have substantial parts for teenagers.) Local choreographers seemed to value her skills as a dancer. She was pleased to get cast on the merits of her voice alone for the 1st time as an 8th grader. (We had to be out-of-town when the dance call-backs for that show took place.)</p>

<p>Over the past 7 years I've met most of the kids in my area who perform outside of their schools in community and professional theatre and the theatre kids at the local performing arts H.S. Some of the kids from the performing arts school and from CCM Prep have been performing seriously since early elementary school. Others did not begin until middle school or H.S. Some kids have extensive resumes in school, community, and professional theatre. I know a few who've done national tours as kids. I have not seen a difference in acceptance into top MT or drama programs based on the size of the student's resume. The differences have come from talent and training. You may be thinking, how could a kid who's not terribly talented have an extensive resume? In my area, there are a very large number of community theatres. A kid who is persistent and has a modicum of talent can be cast in this town. One does not have to have Broadway potential.</p>

<p>My D's teachers told her repeatedly as she was preparing for her college auditions that the size of the resume and/or the size of the roles performed did not matter. What the auditors care about is that ten minute audition. She was told that her resume would be scanned and that auditors would either think, "Hey! This girl's training and experience have helped turn her into an attractive 'package'" OR "Too bad all of her experience and training have not done the trick." D knew that what counted was the talent she could demonstrate at her audition.</p>

<p>Question 2 is a little harder to answer. Perhaps that's why no one has bitten yet. As you've noticed, most of the talk on this forum centers around the "ivies". I do believe that they are harder for kids to get into than other MT programs. Part of it is a numbers game. The top MT programs have larger numbers of students auditioning for them. Schools that have achieved a top reputation are simply attractive to larger numbers of students. I do believe that schools a little farther down in the pecking order can be somewhat easier to get into. As you noted, most MT programs are small. Oviously, the more students that audition for a program and the fewer students they accept, the harder it is to gain admission. A school such as Carnegie-Mellon that auditions hundreds and only accepts 10 is more difficult to get into than a school that auditions 200 and accepts 25.</p>

<p>You asked if the "non-ivy" schools are truly worse or if it is simply a matter of reputation. I don't like the word worse. It has such ugly connotations. Let me state right off the bat that I believe that there are many fine drama, music, and dance teachers at large numbers of MT programs. I do not believe that the "ivy" schools necessarily have more talented faculty or better curricula. Sometimes they do, but sometimes there are equally talented faculty and superb curricula at lesser known schools. What the "ivy" schools have that the lesser schools do not is a heavier concentration of very talented students. </p>

<p>In my own area there are two schools that offer MT programs. One, CCM, is considered to be a top contender. The other is a non-audition program. The non-audition school is considered to have a very fine drama department. The MT program is relatively new at the school. Off the top of my head I can think of two students who graduated from the non-audition school in recent years who are incredibly gifted performers. They could compete with the best of the CCM students. These two kids are the exceptions rather than the norm at the non-audition school. I attend performances at both schools regularly. The talent level at the non-audition school seems to be coming up, but it is still not in the same league as CCM. </p>

<p>How does the talent level of one's classmates affect one's college experience? Books have been written about the subject. The two students I mentioned in the previous paragraph obviously turned out very well trained after 4 years at the lesser light school. One of the students was in H.S. with my older D. Her experience prior to college was not extensive. She had big parts in the H.S. musical every year and she did some semi-professional theatre. She began dance training very late - H.S. She began taking voice lessons her senior year of H.S. I remember her from her H.S. days as a very gifted comedic actress. I felt sure when I watched her perform that she had a great future. She's now a fine actress and has a phenomenol voice. The disadvantages she will have if she elects to go to New York to make a career are that her school does not do a senior showcase and she will not have a prestigious school name on her resume to open a few doors. I think that these disadvantages disappear after one's early twenties.</p>

<p>I've probably ruminated long enough. I hope that some of the other posters will chime in. The subject of reputation is a sensitive one. I think that everyone who posts on this forum has thought about it. I don't want to hog the platform.</p>

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<p>Quick question to NYU posters and lurkers. Who will be at Parents' Day this Saturday?
I'll be there visiting my son who is in Tisch/Playwrights.</p>

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<p>Dancersmom - THANK YOU for your insightful post about "Ivies" vs. "non-Ivies". As my oldest child is a HS sr. right now - trying to find the "right" program - we mull this over regularly. It seems that, naturally, everyone wants to get into the program with the best reputation no matter what their area of academic interest is. Obviously, we all have kids with similar dreams and I'm sure every parent here rightly would assess their child as an over-achiever. You have to be to be pursuing this dream. I would really like to hear from some parents and/or students who have chosen some of the lesser known schools to hear what their experiences have been like. </p>

<p>Soozievt - I am also curious about what schools are considered "Ivy". It seems to me that it is - of course the big names (NYU, UMich, CCM, CMU) and then the numerous schools with hundreds of auditioners and only 15 or so slots available. So, pretty much every school that my D is considering :)</p>

<p>One saving grace is that I know that for every audition where will sit supportively and wait, there will be many of you sitting and waiting at the same time.</p>

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<p>Hi Jasmom - My husband and I are flying out for Parents Weekend. We can't wait to see our daughter. She is in Strasberg and we are also looking forward to the parents' information sessions Saturday morning. I believe we even get to see our daughter's studio. Are you staying in the city and taking in any shows? Have a great visit</p>

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<p>Staying one night. Only catching Sweeney Todd this visit. "See" you there! Enjoy</p>

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<p>alwaysamom--Life's a mystery some times. My D friend is just not as thrilled as your D, her biggest disappointment is the dance component. This is info my D needed to hear since dance is important to her. It sounds as if your D truly found her niche. You are both soooo lucky (well it isn't just luck, you both worked hard).</p>

<p>cbs57--thanks for the info. D wasn't looking at Hartt because she wanted a stronger liberal arts program to go with BFA MT, but I'm glad to know for future reference.</p>

<p>dancersmom--I particularly appreciate your audition advice and the "quality" vs "quantity' aspect. I'm the one who reads this forum, then forward what I consider the "gems" to my D. Your response is a gem!!</p>

<p>momfirst--I too have wondered how many CC parents will be sitting outside during auditions.</p>

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<p>I was going to make a new post about this but decided just to put it here because everyone who might be interested in discussing, reads this thread all the time. Being the crazily organized person I am, I've been starting to come up with good ideas for Christmas gifts for my girls. I usually pick things up as I see them, throughout the year, if I think they might be good for Christmas. I always give books to everyone on my list and my kids know that a selection of books will always be under the tree for them. For my drama Ds, a few books which they've enjoyed, which they think are 'essential', and have been popular to share with friends have been:</p>

<p>Audition by Michael Shurtleff
Act One by Moss Hart
Backwards and Forwards: A Technical Manual for Reading Plays by David Ball
Making it On Broadway by David Wienir and Jodie Langel</p>

<p>Anyone have any others to suggest?</p>

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<p>Thanks Jane</p>

<p>Information was helpful. It seems that with so little time between summer & senior year they need to prepare for audition circuit. A lot of kids from my daughters school attend CAP 21 every summer. They love it but not sure if it is the right program, although she wants to be with her friends.</p>

<p>Thanks again
lexismom</p>