<p>Glad to hear your D is happy at Atlantic. My D is at UMich in MT and also very happy. I was interested to hear you mention Practical Aesthetics because I happened to catch William H Macey on Inside the Actors Studio recently (my D and I always laugh about how he seems to be in EVERY movie or TV show we've ever watched!....and we think he is an incredible actor) and his discussion focused on the principles of PA and his role as a founding member of Atlantic along with David Mamet and another actor whose name escapes me at present. It was a fascinating conversation and made so much sense to me (as an ex-theatre major, sometime actress). I LOVED it! I'm hoping to catch it in reruns and tape it for my D. I have no doubt that your D will get great training there. Do keep us posted.</p>
<p>Theatermom...was just checking in here and see that you posted. My D found out tonight that she has made one "small step" in the process...she got past academic review at UMich and got her invitation to audition there. So far to still go in this process with all the college stuff...but that was one bright light. </p>
<p>I owe people email, sorry! and I owe this great forum a little "trip report" from recent visits to Emerson and BOCO....am behind and really overly busy and we are going into hell week now with my D's show which is far from where we live. I will try to participate and write that stuff soon. </p>
<p>Susan--We all know how busy you must be right now with your D's show and applications and gearing up for college auditions. We totally understand. Tell your D to "break a leg" with the show! My D's show started this week--and she's sick with a bad cold. I feel sorriest for the boy she has to kiss several times each night . . .</p>
<p>MtMommy, you're on my list of emails I owe ;-).
Tell your D to also break a leg. My D ALSO has a bad cold now too. She will only be home to sleep basically for the next nine days. LONG week ahead. Production is 50 miles away too. Finishing up fifth application out of 8, so that part is going pretty good. Day after this show closes she is starting the musical revue she wrote and will direct. Never a dull moment. </p>
<p>I hope to get back in the swing here but am reading great things anyway. </p>
<p>I met WNYDanceMom a week ago when she was in my state visiting a college with her third daughter and it was fun! Wish I could meet more of ya!
Susan</p>
<p>All the applications are in and D starts interviews on Thurs. She's got 2 more showings of "Bang Bang You're Dead" tomorrow. If you ever have a chance to see this play performed by HS, see it. It is heart wrenching. Our school did a double cast and at the end of the week will have done 22 shows in 4 days. The male lead in D's cast is such a strong stand-up comic that I had a hard time imagining him in the role. But he found the dark place inside himself and gave a remarkable performance. It has been exhausting for D, but a real professional and personal growth experience.<br>
Comedy Sports Team starts this week and so is Choir Jazz Concert, both before we leave for the East, and it will be good to do something light before tackling the college visits.</p>
<p>Fosselover, wow, what a schedule. I wish your daughter well on what I think you are saying are upcoming auditions? You mentioned interviews so I am not quite sure but I think your D is auditioning for BFA programs, right? Where are you heading? Wow, it is all starting! Would love to hear about it when you get back and wish her a "break the leg" wish. </p>
<p>My D's first audition is in Dec. and most of the rest are in Jan. and Feb. She is finishing her 5th application before going off for basically the rest of the weekend.
Susan</p>
<p>sooziet--The auditions aren't starting until Jan. Since we will be on a super tight schedule then, she is actually doing visits and interviews now. She has applied at the nine schools we are visiting between now and Thanksgiving. Two trips, one next week to visit Muhlenberg, Elon and East Carolina. Then the following week we leave again for Baldwin-Wallace, Otterbein, Ohio Wesleyan, Denison, Illinois Wesleyan, and Millikin. Interviews and tours at all. Most are BFA, but some are schools that have strong programs in Drama, Dance, and Music. Auditions are scheduled for some schools, but some wouldn't schedule until either acceptance or all application materials submitted. Everything we can do is done, so now it is waiting to get dates. A couple of the schools don't require auditions, but auditions are required for scholarships. If we like what we see, we may schedule those. It is intense. We are in S. Calif. and everything is in the East and Midwest. The only way to schedule back to back auditions was to make sure all interviews were out of the way. That way we fly into one city, audition, then fly or drive to the next. All the trips in Jan. and Feb. have to be done in a minimal amount of time due to finals, winter dance concert, musical, and festivals. I'm excited to start visiting all the schools we've been looking at for months. Where is D in Dec.
5pants-If I remember both your S are at Webster. Are they loving it?</p>
<p>You asked if it is an advantage to talk to the school reps at the college fairs. I would not think it would help you in getting admitted to a MT program if that is what you are getting at. Many times the peoply manning the tables at the college fairs are from the office of admissions. They are not usually faculty from the MT department. Also, most kids and parents who ask for information at these fairs are not divulging their names. I doubt the college reps could possibly remember everyone they meet even if people did share their names. You can usually get yourself put on the school's mailing list by filling out a postcard at the fair. What you can gain at the college fairs is some information about different schools' programs. My D and I attended a performing arts college fair when she was a sophomore. Some of things I learned included the fact that Columbia College in Chicago is a non-audition program and that the University of Michigan places a lot of emphasis on academics and wants MT candidates to be musically literate.</p>
<p>Thanks for remembering and asking! Yes, they they love Webster. They couldn't have found a more suitable place to study theatre. Lots of work of course, but it truly is a labor of love.</p>
<p>Soozievt - Happy to hear about the invite to U Mich! Great! Best of luck with this week's shows. </p>
<p>Boy, can anyone else feel the nervous tension starting to form re. auditions on this thread???? We're all in the same boat, which helps! Good luck to everyone!!!!</p>
<p>Fosselover - Is your D auditioning for scholarships on this visit to Muhlenburg? If so, I'd be interested to hear about it and your impressions of the visit. </p>
<p>How do you miss so much school? Our district grants two days for college visit. After that . . . it's unexcused. We will have to trade off - - grades or auditions. Or is it truth or "not."</p>
<p>Hoofermom--We are only missing 2 days for these two trips. They have 2 days off this week for Veteran's Day and Teacher Development. Then she gets the entire week of Thanksgiving. We've never had that until this year, so we got lucky. With auditions we are combining as many as possible into a single trip, weekends if possible, and lots of red-eye flights. I imagine D may miss 2 days for those since some auditions are only on Fridays. Our district isn't as strict, but we try to minimize. In your position, I would probably "not". District guidelines are developed for the "normal" student, not MT. Have you discussed the problem with anyone in the administration? How much penalty does a student receive in grade? Creativity in scheduling is all I can suggest.</p>
<p>We are also headed to PSU this weekend. It is our D's 1st weekend of auditions. Have you visited the campus? We toured in Sept. but did not see the MT department. We didn't think she would feel confortable with such a large campus. PSU is beautiful. She loved all the advantages and that it was such a small MT program. Luckily, our D just finished her HS musical last night. So, this week is a lighter week for her before rehersals start for the winter drama. I look forward to meeting CC people next weekend.</p>
<p>My D's 1st audtion too...just a LITTLE stressed...HAH! Yes we visited. Loved the campus and she too thought it would be too big. But felt differently after visiting. Good luck. We should all meet someplace while they are busy auditioning.</p>
<p>Break a leg to all your kids who are auditioning for college programs this year! Keep us all posted when you can.</p>
<p>I started thinking that we should have a list on the FAQs of non-audition programs. I thought of that when I read about the Columbia non-audition program above. It would be nice to have a list of "safeties" at hand for everyone. Wichita has been mentioned, as well as Drake. Any others? And if anyone has first-hand info about these programs, it would be great if you share it.</p>
<p>The schools on the Big List that have a ~ in front of the name are (as far as I know) non-audition programs. If any of you find differently, please let us know. And yes, it would be great to have information about those programs too.</p>
<p>Doctorjohn--Yes, I'm sure you're right (duh). I can't check the FAQ right now because of technical difficulties, but I remember that those programs were marked. When I can load it I will check out each one of them. </p>
<p>And, yes, it would be great to hear about these programs.</p>
<p>My D was talking about safeties in this way: good BFA acting program, good dance minor, opportunities for musicals, and private voice lessons. Good grief. That's no safety, from what I can see. How have others determined safeties? Theatre BAs? Non-audition MT programs?</p>
<p>I have looked for safeties by looking through the USNWR College Guide for schools that have a big focus on the performing arts (look for the % of kids majoring in the arts--you then have to distinguish betw perf and vis). You then look at what programs and courses are available. For example, though Sarah Lawrence has a strong arts program, they do not have much in music offerings. You then have to hone in even more to see if the departments coordiate. In many ways, MT is a double voice and theatre major with varying degrees of dance and music theory thrown in. You may have more concerns about some areas of the study than others. For instance a heavy dance component might be important to some kids whereas a strong classical bent for others. </p>
<p>Some interesting programs are at the College of Santa Fe, DePaul, Fordham, Hartwick, many of the SUNY schools, American U, Muhlenberg, Catholic U. Some of the programs are outstanding in opportunities and though there may be auditions, they are not as limiting.</p>