<p>My daughter was positive she wanted to go to AMDA-it appealed to her as she had understood that she would be working right away. When she went on the tour the students in the dorm (which itself was scary) told her "don't come here". Of course, this was for undergrad but she really was disappointed in her visit.</p>
<p>Lexasmomkbj--Thanks for the warning. We will make sure to bring sweaters and real shoes. We wear sandals year around, but I think we have a couple of prs. of real shoes. Got your note before the final pack. We leave tonight!!!
chrism--Love the videos. We are going to Otterbein next Friday, so I will give you a personal view. They have been the nicest people to deal with for setting up interviews and tours. Get a strong sense of community already.</p>
<p>Timothy, I second Soozievt's negative comments about AMDA and positive comments about CITS. My daughter attended a masterclass in NYC with Bill Reed and was very impressed. I also remember him saying that the average age of a CITS student was in their early twenties. Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>CBS57, I did not know that your D did a masterclass with Bill Reed, small world. I forget where your D goes now, I should keep a master list of posters by my computer, I get so confused here! ;-) Is it at Hartt?</p>
<p>Bill has been my D's voice teacher for five years. I sit in his private little office every Saturday while my D is in his home studio, as it is far from where we live. He sometimes refers to himself to her as her "Uncle Bill", lol. He is an excellent voice teacher. She is lucky to have someone of his calibur in our little old neck of the woods. He goes back and forth to NYC every week to teach at CITS and then has clients here in VT on weekends. In the case of Alan Langdon who teaches acting, my D got to do three intensives with him every June because Bill would bring faculty from Circle in the Square up to VT for a three day intensive CITS program for musical theater kids up here and Alan came up every year. Well, Alan must have loved it because this year, he MOVED to VT with his family and now, he too commutes to NYC midweek and then here for long weekends and this worked out SO good for my D who never had an acting teacher here in VT and now that she has to get ready for college auditions with monolgues, she has this teacher from CITS who is fantastic and right here in our rural area. She lucked out. So, again, I highly recommend these two faculty members at CITS. Some kids here have gone to the summer program and liked it a lot but my D won't do it (much to Bill's chagrin) because she is in love with her summer theater program she has attended for seven years and would never give it up! So, she gets these guys during the school year though. And yes, CITS has students who are not just college aged so it is a good option for our poster, Timothy!
Susan</p>
<p>timothy:</p>
<p>Given that you already have a BA degree, you might want to consider doing an MFA. You have a myriad of choices for Acting, but not so many for Musical Theatre. Here's the list of schools which offer graduate degrees in MT:</p>
<p>Arizona State University (MM)
Oklahoma City University (MM)
San Diego State University (MFA)
University of Central Florida (MFA)
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (MFA) </p>
<p>Another option is to look at schools in U/RTA, the University Resident Theatre Association. Their website is: <a href="http://www.urta.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.urta.com/</a></p>
<p>Application deadlines are soon. The advantage of the U/RTA auditions is that you audition once at a given site for all the schools, who then call back the prospects they are interested in. </p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Two "stupid" audition questions: (1) In a video tape for audition, is the dance combination done with music? (2) In a live audition with taped accompaniment, do you tape your accompanist on piano or use an instrumental CD?</p>
<p>Hoofermom,</p>
<p>Should your dance combination be done with music? Yes</p>
<p>Should your taped accompaniment be piano or should you use an instrumental CD? I should think that either would be okay. If you are in doubt, as usual, contact the school in question and see what they would prefer. I would probably stick with the simpler choice - piano.</p>
<p>General question: does being accepted with an academic merit scholarship help one's chances at all in the audition process? I suppose it varies by school. I was hoping that being academically desirable might give one a slight, teensy edge? maybe? or are they completely separate processes? Does anyone have any information for any of the schools discussed frequently on this thread?</p>
<p>chris, I can't answer for all schools but at Tisch, it won't help you. Admission there is a two part process where the academic review and artistic review are equally weighted, 50/50. You need to have the academic stats to get into NYU that any other applicant would, but you need a great artistic review, too. Carnegie Mellon is another where it presumably will not help you because the audition there is worth even more than at Tisch.</p>
<p>Chrism,</p>
<p>Some schools, the University of Michigan is a good example, require students to pass an academic review before being goiven the green light to audition. My sense is that after getting the go ahead from the Office of Admissions, the students are on an even playing field when they audition for the MT department. I suppose that in the event that auditors were trying to decide between two equal candidates (equal in terms of talent and type), the academically stronger student would get the nod. I'm not sure how often that actually happens in the real world. How often are two MT candidates so similar that academic talent would be the deciding factor? </p>
<p>A scenario I've heard of more often is that students are offered a spot in an MT program and the MT faculty have to try to pull strings to get the student accepted academically by the university. I know that 2 students who were offered places in my D's class this fall were denied admission by the university. Their places were filled by older transfer students.</p>
<p>I'm guessing your child has been offered an academic scholarship. Congratulations! I'm sure that merit scholarship will be a big help when she gets accepted. (Crossing my fingers:) )</p>
<p>Thanks, dancersmom. Now the nail-biting (audition results) begins for real!!</p>
<p>This is a question, or musing, aimed at the more experienced parents - I 've been struck lately by the development (over the past 6 years) in my kid from "acting a part" to being transformed into a role. I'm not sure how to express it in words, but it's sort of like the difference between seeing someone act and thinking "they are really doing a great job acting as _<strong><em>" and seeing someone else and thinking "they are really moving me in their role as _</em></strong>". Often now I have the feeling that I'm watching someone I don't even recognize as my child up there on the stage. </p>
<p>I would guess that the challenge is making that transformation into a role during an audition so that the auditioners see it, rather than seeing a kid 'do a part'. I'd imagine that that is a skill that has to be learned (doing it in a 1 -2 min monologue). How does one learn to do that? If we end up doing the audition thing a second year, it will be because auditioning seems to require a set of specific skills on its own, and this season will be spent learning them!</p>
<p>I found this on a local HS drama web site. Thought it would be of interest.</p>
<p>Sorry I clicked before I pasted!!! Here is the info:</p>
<p>AMDA The American Musical and Dramatic Academy
Conservatory Program</p>
<p>AMDA offers professional conservatory training in Musical Theatre and Acting for Stage, Film and Television. A degree completion option for a BA and BFA is available through the New School University.</p>
<p>Auditions for admission and scholarships are held on the Los Angeles campus in Hollywood once a month year round. You may schedule an audition or tour of the school by contacting AMDA at 1-866-374-5300 or <a href="mailto:ethompson@amda.edu">ethompson@amda.edu</a>.
Contact</p>
<p>Eric Thompson, Dir. of Admission</p>
<p><a href="mailto:ethompson@amda.edu">ethompson@amda.edu</a></p>
<p>1-866-374-5300</p>
<p>6305 Yucca Street</p>
<p>Los Angeles, CA 90028</p>
<p>Cal Lutheran University</p>
<p>University</p>
<p>BA in Drama</p>
<p>Minor: Drama</p>
<p>Scholarship Information:
<a href="http://ww2.clunet.edu/financial_aid/about/scholarships.php%5B/url%5D">http://ww2.clunet.edu/financial_aid/about/scholarships.php</a>
Admission Information: <a href="http://ww2.clunet.edu/index_2/admission.php%5B/url%5D">http://ww2.clunet.edu/index_2/admission.php</a>
Contact </p>
<p>Michael Arndt, Theatre Arts Chair</p>
<p>Theatre Arts Department</p>
<p>Mail Code: 3900
California Lutheran University</p>
<p>60 West Olsen Road</p>
<p>Thousand Oaks, CA 91360</p>
<p>Tel: 805-493-3416
Fax: 805-493-3013</p>
<p>e-mail: <a href="mailto:arndt@clunet.edu">arndt@clunet.edu</a></p>
<p>Concordia University</p>
<p>Concordia University website: <a href="http://www.cui.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://www.cui.edu/</a></p>
<p>Concordia's Fine Arts webpage: <a href="http://www.cui.edu/cui_shell.aspx?id=4%5B/url%5D">http://www.cui.edu/cui_shell.aspx?id=4</a></p>
<p>University</p>
<p>BA in Theatre</p>
<p>BA in Music</p>
<p>Minors: Theatre, Music
Contact</p>
<p>Peter Senkbeil, Ph.D.</p>
<p>Dir.of Theatre Activities</p>
<p>Concordia University
1530 Concordia Drive West</p>
<p>Irvine, CA 92612</p>
<p>phone: 949/854-8002, ext. 1513</p>
<p>fax: 949/854-6893
email: <a href="mailto:peter.senkbeil@cui.edu">peter.senkbeil@cui.edu</a></p>
<p>CSU Chico
University</p>
<p>BA in Theatre Arts</p>
<p>BA in Musical Theatre</p>
<p>Minor: Theatre Arts, Musical Theatre Dance</p>
<p>CSU Fullerton
University</p>
<p>BA in Theatre </p>
<p>(Concentrations: Liberal Arts, Production/Performance, Teaching)</p>
<p>BA in Dance</p>
<p>BFA in Musical Theatre</p>
<p>MFA Theatre </p>
<p>(Concentrations: Acting, Directing, Design and Technical Production)</p>
<p>CSU Hayward
University</p>
<p>BA in Theatre</p>
<p>CSU Los Angeles
University</p>
<p>BA in Theatre</p>
<p>MA in Theatre</p>
<p>CSU Sacramento
University</p>
<p>BA in Theatre</p>
<p>BA in Dance</p>
<p>MA in Theatre</p>
<p>Minors: Theatre, Dance</p>
<p>Fullerton College
Community College</p>
<p>They offer: an active award-winning production program; a playwrights festival; a directing festival; involvement in the American College Theatre Festival; more theatre classes offered every semester than you will find at any community college in the country; current state of the arts technology and instruction; student advisement, scholarships, and alumni support; a proven record of transfer success to Julliard, North Carolina School of the Arts, UCLA, UCI, UCSB, UCSD, Carnegie Melon, and many other fine schools; special student outreach programs, designed to introduce you to Fullerton College.</p>
<p>Irvine Valley College
Community College</p>
<p>Students have the opportunity to take classes from as well as be in productions guided by industry professionals who can guide the student toward discovering a new career path or enriching an existing goal of continued training and experience in the theatre arts.</p>
<p>Pacifica Conservatory of the Performing Arts (PCPA)
Conservatory Program</p>
<p>A 2-year program in conjunction with Alan Han**** Community College.</p>
<p>(Concentrations: Acting, Technical Theatre)</p>
<p>Pepperdine University
University</p>
<p>BA in Theatre</p>
<p>BA in Theatre and Television</p>
<p>BA in Music</p>
<p>Secondary Teaching Credential (English/Drama)</p>
<p>Saddleback College
Community College</p>
<p>Acting, directing, production, design and dramatic literature are all important facets of the Theatre Arts program.</p>
<p>San Jose State University
University</p>
<p>BA in Theatre</p>
<p>BA in Radio, TV, and Film</p>
<p>MA in Theatre</p>
<p>Minors: Theatre; Radio, TV, and Film</p>
<p>University of Arizona</p>
<p><a href="http://www.uatheatre.org%5B/url%5D">www.uatheatre.org</a></p>
<p>University</p>
<p>BFA in Theatre </p>
<p>(Concentrations: Acting, Musical Theatre, Design/ Technical Production, Theatre Education, Theatre History and Dramaturgy)</p>
<p>MFA in Theatre </p>
<p>(Concentrations: Acting, Design Technical Production)</p>
<p>BA in Dance</p>
<p>BA in Music</p>
<p>BM in Music Education</p>
<p>BM (in various performance disciplines)</p>
<p>Minors: Theatre, Music
Audition Info</p>
<p>Actors should present one realistic monologue.</p>
<p>Musical theatre majors should also sing 1 song (32 bars) from a musical; no accompaniment will be provided, so bring your own recorded accompaniment and boom box.</p>
<p>University of LaVerne
University</p>
<p>BA in Theatre</p>
<p>Minors: Theatre</p>
<p>UCLA</p>
<p><a href="http://www.tft.ucla.edu/auditiontour%5B/url%5D">www.tft.ucla.edu/auditiontour</a>
University</p>
<p>BA in Theatre </p>
<p>(Concentrations: Acting, Design and Production, Directing, Musical Theatre, History and Criticism, Playwriting)</p>
<p>BA in Film and Television </p>
<p>(Concentrations: Film Production, TV and Video Production, Screen Writing, Animation, Critical Studies)</p>
<p>MFA in Theatre </p>
<p>(Concentrations: Acting, Design and Production, Directing, Playwriting)</p>
<p>MA in Film and Television </p>
<p>(Concentrations: Critical Studies, Animation, Production/Directing, Producers Program, Screenwriting)</p>
<p>PhD in Theatre</p>
<p>PhD in Film and Television </p>
<p>(Concentration: Critical Studies)</p>
<p>UC Santa Barbara
University</p>
<p>BA in Theatre</p>
<p>BFA in Theatre </p>
<p>(Concentration: Acting) Program Information</p>
<p>MA/PhD in Theatre</p>
<p>University of Southern California (USC)
University</p>
<p>BA in Theatre</p>
<p>BFA in Theatre </p>
<p>(Concentrations: Acting, Design, Technical Theatre, State Management)</p>
<p>MFA in Theatre </p>
<p>(Concentrations: Dramatic Writing, Theatrical Design)</p>
<p>Minors: Theatre, Dance</p>
<p>For those of you still searching for colleges with BFA's in MT, BM's in MT, and other theatre related degrees, this week's Backstage magazine has a comprehensive guide to colleges who offer theatre majors. Hope this helps expand some searches!</p>
<p>For those of you considering Otterbein, I wrote up a trip report from this summer (located in the "old CC" archives). We just visited again yesterday; when I have more time, I'll add our impressions...all VERY positive. My daughter is not pursuing MT, but we did have the opportunity and privilege of meeting with Doctorjohn. Even though my daughter is only a junior and still has other schools to check out, she has no doubt that she will be applying to Otterbein.</p>
<p>chrism,</p>
<p>BINGO! That is exactly what should happen.....they say that some of the better actors are better known for their roles rather than their given names. If you can sit back and be transported into a whole different world and forget who is up on stage then the actor is definitely achieving their goal!!! Congrats to your kiddo....and hope the magic happens in auditions!</p>
<p>SUE</p>
<p>Chrism-
A lot of people get confused by schools offering admission and scholarships before the audition only to find out their child isn't admitted to the MT program after the audition. This happens a lot; we know so many kids that had this experience. (My son had scholarship offers before his auditions too.) They got into the school with offers of money but no option to do MT and that just wasn't going to work. </p>
<p>So while some schools based things on a double "pass" of academics and audition, many go solely on the audition. It's a "don't count your chickens" situation. Here's hoping you don't experience it!
TX Mom</p>
<p>Chrism-no at ASU</p>
<p>We're certainly not counting on anything...just hoping I guess. We've made a Plan B (B for backup) but now I'm thinking we need a Plan C as well. Thanks for the responses.</p>