Colleges for Musical Theater Major - Part 32

College Majors Musical Theater Major
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<p>I know this is sorta off topic and not about colleges but most of the adults on here share the role of "stagemom" with me, that I know. So, for a little lighthearted diversion NOT about colleges...I share this vignette from tonight....</p>

<p>Tonight was opening night for an adult musical my sixteen year old daughter is in. This is at a major theater 50 miles from where we live. It has been (and still is) a grueling week with every night home well past midnight (tonight alone was 1:15 AM), one 16 hour tech day, school each day, home just to sleep (not much of that), plus I am driving anywhere from 100-200 miles per day as is my husband for all this. </p>

<p>Tonight I was driving my D to the city where her show is for her call. My husband works near that city and was meeting me there for dinner during her call. Twenty miles into the 50 minute trip , I was stopping at a gas station to pick up a close friend who is in the cast (his parents were going up later for the actual show). While waiting for him to be dropped off at this rendezvous point, I filled my car up with gas (a daily occurence lately, lol). In my state, you pump your own gas. My D was sitting in the front seat and I left the keys in the car as I stood pumping the gas. As the boy drove up to meet us during this time, my D (who was on her cell phone getting "break a legs" from out of state theater friends) got out of the car to switch to sit in the back seat with this boy who was approaching the car. She realizes the back seat car door is locked and asks me how to unlock it (yeah, I know, you would think she knows how) and I tell her of the unlock switch in the front door that unlocks the entire car. So, she switches the switch and slams the door and next thing I know, she has switched the switch to "lock" instead of unlock and now the car is locked with my keys in it, along with everything she needs for the show (shoes, etc.), my money, my cell, my tickets, etc. I just about died. We are now 30 miles from the theater and I had no idea what I would do. I knew I had a second key back home but that was 20 miles south (opposite direction) and a 50 minute roundtrip, NO time for that (nor way to get there). </p>

<p>The boy's step dad was way calmer than me (he drove up as this was happening and I called to him not to pull away). We knew that he could take the kids to the theater if it came to that but my D needed what was IN the car to do the show, not to mention that my tickets (to sold out show)and everything were needed as well. He called locksmiths and none were available (plus we live in a rural area!). He got hold of a mechanic he knew who said he sometimes deals with lockouts and he was willing to come to where we were once he heard of the urgency for these cast members. He gets there and it is like watching someone break into your car...he has this long wire and he kept trying to fish it into the car, hoping to push the button in the door. It felt like the longest time and he was having trouble and it appeared like he might not be successful and I had no idea what we would do. I also had no way to contact the theater and I was thinking, I can't imagine what the director and stage manager must be going through to not see these two teens there (the rest of the cast are adults and drive themselves, plus do not live as far as we do from this city). The mom of this boy got a call to someone working backstage on his cell who was supposed to inform the stage manager that we would definitely be getting there (though later found out they never got the message). Finally, the guy got the wire to push the button and I wanted to hug him for dear life and pay him my life's savings, lol. At the time, it felt like a nightmare. </p>

<p>Before this happened, I was telling my D that a two hour call seemed like a lot but now I am glad there was a two hour call and they only were 35 min. late for that so it worked out. My husband who does not have a cell was waiting for me and also wondering where we were and decided to go to the backstage of the theater and told me the stage manager was worried, and by the time he called me, we were driving up to the stagedoor. I must have a bad track record there because the last time my D did a show there many years ago (Baby June in Gypsy), I recall on my way into that city heading toward this theater, I had a car accident and I remember that time also thinking, I have got to get this kid to the theater, the show must go on. I think I must be jinxed with this theater. </p>

<p>Anyway, it has been a long night but a great opening night....thankfully, these actors did not miss their show. There are no understudies. Whew. So, five more shows this weekend, and hopefully no more last minute "dramas". </p>

<p>Susan</p>

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<p>Will anyone else be at ASU tomorrow?</p>

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<p>Chrisr--We won't be at ASU then, but we are visiting there a week from Monday (not for auditions yet). Do you know what building(s) the MT program is housed in? I'm looking at a campus map and trying to get organized ahead of time. I hope things go well and can't wait to hear about the audition. I'm sorry I can't keep everyone's name clear and don't know if it's for you or a son or daughter.</p>

<p>Susan--Sorry about the situation you had and glad you got the actors there on time. The stuff we go through IS amazing lol. I'm also glad the show went well. I bet your D was fantastic!</p>

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<p>MtMommy,
I have a map, but will explain the buildings after we get home. I think it will make more sense to me then. Thanks for your encouragement. I am taking my son and a friend of his to audition.</p>

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<p>Son auditioned for music performance last yr at ASU. From the web site, MT is part of music and auditions are same day-so I am guessing you sign in at school of music. If so, hope I can add a bit of info. On map is F1 I believe. (SW corner of the school) The "cupcake" is part of the music school. Parking was free and convenient on audition Sat at the auditorium across the street from the school of music. This avoids the meters. For music performance majors, practice rooms were not assigned or reserved in any way last yr-one student took pity on son and I roaming the halls and found son a practice room. The meetings for parents included MT so again I guess you would be in the same place. The lady in charge of everything was very nice and competent but I think it was her first year there and a few bugs needed to be worked out. After audition and before a meeting w/Jazz director we just walked downtown to a chinese rest-can't remember the name but is very well known. At the sign in table, students were available to answer questions and light snacks/water was available free.</p>

<p>Good luck. We didn't think to make dinner reservations for Sat night and the wait would have been very long for the steak houses. We did find a nice Italian restaurant. </p>

<p>Good luck to all, I cannot imagine the intense stess involved with MT audtions-Music performance was almost too much for me.</p>

<p>Susan-glad it was a happy ending.</p>

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<p>Well, ya know, I wrote last night's saga being a mom or stagemom. I thought that was enough "excitement" at the last minute. Tonight, was totally not a smooth ride either! (I must admit, the show is great and that part is real positive). Tonight my 18 year old college freshman was traveling home for the weekend just to see her sister's show on Sat. night. She has not been home since college started but is a very supportive sister and does not want to miss the show, plus all the grandparents are also arriving from out of state tomorrow. This daughter goes to Brown. She has never truly traveled totally alone like this. She was taking a train from Providence to Boston and then getting on a bus from there to Vermont basically all afternoon and all night. </p>

<p>I went back to the city my younger D's show was in and this night my hubby was not seeing the show (there are six performances and we are going four times each) and he was going to pick the older one up later at night in another city in our state. I was just pulling up to the stagedoor to drop my D off for her call and park when my older one rings my cell. I had found out last night that an 18 year old boy my younger D knows from our state through theater who is spending two years attending Walnut Hill (school for performing arts) and is now applying for BFA programs in MT, was going to be on that same bus from Boston to Vermont (does not live near us) as he was coming home to see this production that my younger D happens to be in. My D who goes to Brown is his age and has met him a few times through her sister. She got to Boston and she did run into this boy. This boy has taken the bus from Boston to Vermont many times, though my D has never done anything like this. So, they were waiting for this bus (due to leave at 5:30 PM) and the boy told my D that they usually announce that people can board the bus. They were where the bus was but nobody announced that. The bus said "Montreal" on it. Anyway, that bus pulls out. They realize soon after that THAT was the bus to Vermont! My D, being inexperienced, must not have realized that the bus can say Montreal, though it obviously makes stops on Vermont and she just figured the boy knew what he was doing as he had taken it before. The only other bus to Vermont was leaving at 12:45 AM through the night and she was considering riding that to his city (where the show happens to be), spending the night there at his house, and then meeting us at the theater tomorrow (we live far from there). That was not too great and I am only going to see her one day basically in the first place. So, my hubby got in the car at 7 PM to make a 6 1/2 roundtrip drive to pick her and this boy up in Boston! He will stay here late tonight and go with us to the theater for the matinee tomorrow (which we are not seeing as we are then going to the airport). And to think my hubby thought he had a "night off" from all this driving (he already drives 100 miles roundtrip to work each day). </p>

<p>I shudder to think what will happen on my way to the show tomorrow. Wish me luck!</p>

<p>Susan</p>

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<p>I like to check in on this thread from time to time--it is just such interesting reading! Susan. Wow. Drama offstage and on! Hope things go smoothly for your family for the rest of the show and then some. Good luck!</p>

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<p>My college counselor and I finally came up with a list today... of 17 schools. I'm probably going to narrow it down to about 15 or 16 to visit, but here's what we've got so far: Cornell, University of Michigan, NYU, Northwestern, Syracuse, Penn State, Emerson, Ithaca, Yale, Brown, Vassar, Sarah Lawrence, Brandeis, Boston University, UCLA, Duke, Stanford. Anyone have ideas on how to structure trips? Thanks, dani.</p>

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<p>P.S. I told my counselor I was looking for a STRONG theater program, but that still enabled me to take a variety of classes in science and english and had an excellent academic record... i couldn't do the Carnegie Mellon 95% thing... I have too many interests, even if my heart lies in theater: doesnt matter whether BFA or non-BFA. If anyone knows of any programs I've left off that fit this bill, please tell me. What's ASU like, for example? I know nothing about it. Thanks!</p>

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<p>I'm finally home long enough to post the promised trip report on our visit to Otterbein this past week. This was our second visit but the first while classes were in session. In short, our positive feeling from this summer's visit was reinforced and amplified by our day at Otterbein. </p>

<p>My daughter (a junior), who wants to pursue a B.A. in Music and is also interested in political science and/or communications, had a full day arranged. We arrived just in time for her first appointment, a meeting with a communications professor. I did not sit in with her, but she felt her questions were answered clearly. What struck her most, however, was his understanding of her nervousness...about meeting with him, as well as her concern about her next appointment, a lesson with a voice professor. (This visit was her first "official" visit not only to Otterbein, but to any college.) While she was meeting with the professor, I sat in the reception area of the Communications House and chatted with the department secretary, as well as a student aide who had come in. During our summer visit, I had been struck by the friendliness of everyone we met, and this was to become a reoccurring theme of this visit also. </p>

<p>Our next stop was to the music department and my daughter's appointment with a voice professor. We were walked over to this appointment by the communications professor, and he waited with us until we were "handed off." I, again, chose to meet briefly with the professor before leaving the room so my daughter could have her lesson. My daughter was very upfront with the professor, explaining that part of her reason for wanting the lesson was to find out if she was even of the caliber of student that could/should be pursuing music at the college level. (My daughter has confidence in her singing and training but really has no frame of reference outside of her "little pond.") The lesson lasted for about an hour, during which my daughter sang a French song and an American art song that she has been working on. The professor then asked her if she had anything in Italian prepared, so my daughter also sang an Italian piece. In retrospect, I'm very glad my daughter had brought her entire book bag of music; we thought about just bringing one or two books, but she never got around to sorting out her material so just grabbed the whole bag. It certainly worked out for the best to have a range of material to choose from. </p>

<p>The lesson was a resounding success on many different levels. My daughter was positively glowing when she and the professor came out to find me afterwards. My daughter's comment was to the professor was, "You didn't eat me alive..." which, after the laughter, caused the professor to observe that she, herself, had known voice professors who were very good but very scary, and she chose to avoid the scary route because she felt it was counter-productive. And she was very complimentary of my daughter's voice training, telling her to stick with her teacher because she was definitely doing things right. My daughter told me that she was surprised (and pleased) at how much fun the lesson was; her "eaten alive" comment was indicative of her concern that studying music at the college level might somehow suck the joy out of the music. She is now much more confident about her plans to pursue a B.A., as well as her chances of fitting in to a music program. Her comment to me to me was that she had so many other interests that she didn't think she could commit to a B.M., but she was also now feeling good about pursuing a double major that included music. "I can't imagine college, or a life, that doesn't include music" were her exact words, and I believe this was an epiphany of sorts for her.</p>

<p>We then met with the admissions counselor and went over some of the nuts and bolts of applying, financial aid, student life, etc. One concern I mentioned was a statistic I found in the USNWR Ultimate Guide which said only 31% of the students stayed on campus over the weekends. The counselor was surprised by this number and agreed that while there are students who go home on weekends, she never had the sense (or had been told by students that they had the sense) that the campus felt deserted on weekends. There is a large percentage of Ohio students at Otterbein so going home probably is feasible, but not one student we talked to felt as if the campus died on weekends. </p>

<p>We then went to lunch on campus, a prospect we had been initially dreading. Our guide during the summer had mentioned "bad food" as the one negative he could think of about Otterbein, but the admissions counselor told us they had a new food service which was being well-received. And for good reason...lunch was quite good, and the array of choices was just short of overwhelming. My daughter was able to see firsthand where the "freshman 15" could come from (we were in dessert heaven!), but there was also fresh fruit, a great salad bar, and lunch choices that would keep everyone from a confirmed vegan to a 100% carnivore happy.</p>

<p>Next stop was a political science class for my daughter, a 200-level class called "The Presidency." Although my daughter didn't talk to the professor at length, she was made to feel welcome by the professor and the students. One of the students lent her his textbooks for the duration of the class so she could look them over, and my daughter told me that she felt so comfortable that she found herself ready to join in the discussion (she didn't since she wasn't sure of the "protocol.") I asked her if she felt she would be challenged in such a class, and she said, "Challenged, yes...overwhelmed to the point of anxiety attacks, no." This is precisely the atmosphere she's looking for...</p>

<p>Our final stop of the day was a visit with Doctor John. Even though my daughter is not considering MT, she has been involved with theatre for years and hopes to continue in some capacity. Doctor John did assure her that auditions are open, and there is always the possibility of a role for someone, particularly if the role calls for a legit voice. My daughter fully understands that the MT and theatre students, by virtue of their ongoing training, are going to be in a far better position to be cast, but it was nice to hear that the door wasn't totally shut. She would be thrilled with a chorus role in a production, so I don't think she's setting herself up for a huge disappointment. And the vocal opportunities are so great at Otterbein that it may turn out that she doesn't even pursue the acting opportunities. Doctor John also was able to quell my concerns about graduating in less than a decade ;) if one is a double major. He spent a great deal of time with us constructing a sample class schedule, so that my daughter (and I!) could get a sense of how she could meet her core requirements as well as her major requirements. Good grief, what did we all do, back in the day, without spreadsheets...?! </p>

<p>Now for some general observations...</p>

<p>The niceness factor at Otterbein is as huge as we remembered from our summer visit. Staff, students, professors...everyone...were just as friendly and as helpful as can be. Is it something in the water? </p>

<p>Students were working everywhere we looked. Every one of them I asked said they worked limited hours on campus (I think there is a limit of 10 hours per week for work-study but don't quote me on that), which was enough to help them out financially but not too much for them to handle. This was something my daughter and I had discussed on the drive down; I told her that employment during college was probably going to be necessary for her, but I didn't want her working off campus or for more than 10 hours per week. It was encouraging to have my viewpoint validated by the college's position on work-study.</p>

<p>The students who took us to lunch were both varsity athletes but spoke of the theatre and music departments with obvious pride. Productions are free to students, and they both said they tried not to miss going to the plays...they were too good to pass up. I got no sense of "us" vs "them"; all their references to Otterbein and the various departments were "we." </p>

<p>Although my daughter still has other schools to visit, she came away from Otterbein knowing that she will apply. She obviously needs to look at other schools, but she told me that she can't see anything knocking Otterbein off her list. She's even considering scheduling her audition at Otterbein for earlier, rather than later, in her audition schedule when the time comes. When I pointed out that the conventional wisdom was to schedule schools that are lower on your list earlier so as to gain audition experience before going in to your dream schools, she agreed but pointed out, "I can't see anyone at an audition at Otterbein being anything less than supportive and encouraging. I think that's how I want to start out my auditions." I suspect that the knowledge that talent auditions are on a rolling admissions basis is also a factor in her thinking. Time will tell...</p>

<p>I didn't think I would go on like this...so much for a short report. If anyone has questions about our impressions, just ask...</p>

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<p>We have survived the first round of college visits. We were happy with both Muhlenberg and Elon, but East Carolina University was taken off the list. ECU is a large campus and after visiting Muhlenberg and Elon, D is sure that she wants the smaller campus.
Elon and Muhlenberg both have their strong points. The facilities at both were excellent. The programs are different with Elon having a BFA MT and Muhlenberg not having a MT program (except as constructed by student). D came away feeling good about both schools.<br>
Weds. we leave again, this time for Ohio and Illinois where we will visit her first choice.
I promise to write more, but with only 3 days between trips, I need some down time.</p>

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<p>A heads up for those of you who have an audition for CMU.....
This only pertains to, if you recall, some of us registered our kids' auditions for CMU the day their webpage for auditions finally went up (that is how you register for an audition at CMU, it is all online). I was one of the folks who registered within an hour or two from the time the website became available and I recall some others on here got a heads up that it was finally available and did the same. I printed out my D's audition reservation as well as receipt of the credit card payment for the fee. I assumed all was set and never gave it another thought. </p>

<p>A few days ago, my D got the typical letter from CMU that acknowledges receipt of her paper application and materials. Included in that letter is a website address and student ID number where the student can check on the status of their admisisons documents. I just went to it and it showed everything being received and said that her application was complete. It lists item by item everything received (i.e., SAT scores, teacher recs, etc). One line item was "audition not reserved". That baffled me, though it says application is complete. I looked in the folder my D keeps for this college and I have the printout of her audition reservation. I decided to call admissions and they looked my D up in the computer and the person in admissions says she never was sent an audition reservation from the drama dept. for my D and has none on file (I was dying a little inside knowing how hard it was to line up all the dates for 8 schools and we are done with that and this school we coordinated with PSU dates for one weekend in fact). I told her that I reserved it the very first day possible and I had a print out of the reservation as well as of the payment being transacted and she was as NICE as can be and told me to fax her the reservation and she would enter it in the system and it would NOT be a problem. I was thinking until she said that, that I would be told the slots were all taken or some such, but nope, she said that once I fax this, it was all fine and she would have the time she registered for. </p>

<p>I am ONLY posting this because I recall some other people registered that day (we were talking about it on this forum) and I guess it pays to CHECK on everything even though one would assume a receipt in hand would be enough. If you registered that day, you just might wanna check on it that it went through or got to admissions. This was back on Oct. 7, btw. </p>

<p>Come to think of it, when we were visiting UMich this fall and my D had an appointment with an admissions counselor in the School of Music, I had a printout of her scheduled appointment and when we got there, the person who had even made the appointment with me on the phone and confirmed in email, had down a DIFFERENT time in the appointment book. Again, they were as nice as could be and while they had another girl down at that time, they doubled up the meeting with both girls with the admissions counselor (and invited both moms into it). I guess confirmations in writing are not always a sure thing, so check! In the case of CMU, it was all an online deal so who knows what happened there. If you registered for one, particularly that day, maybe you should check or if your kid has sent the application in, check the status with their student ID. </p>

<p>Susan</p>

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<p>We also had a confirmation on paper and then got an email and a phone call stating that they'd have to change the time. This was a shock as we had travel arrangements all set for weeks, etc etc. </p>

<p>So I'm just echoing the alert that one has to check , check, and check again. And even if you check, you may still find out that the audition arrangements differ from what you've been told. I'm grateful that at least we were notified of the time change in advance.</p>

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<p>Thank you ladies!!! I just read your posts about CMU foul-ups--and I called admissions to check (I couldn't find my paper copy) and sure enough, they had us down for the date we wanted (we're also the 2/26-27 PSU-CMU weekend) but didn't have the time. By the way, the woman I spoke with was lovely, said there is supposed to be a paper confirmation and that it is definitely was too check and recheck(!)</p>

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<p>I'm a new poster but long time reader. Thanks to you all for the great information you have provided. I have a S who is a high school sophomore and looking to go into MT. He has attended the UM 2 week summer program for the last 2 years (once at Interlochen and once at the UM campus). Does anyone have any information or experience with the NYU Steinhardt 3 week summer MT program? Thanks.</p>

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<p>hey everyone its that time of year - I have come down with a cold/a touch of the flu ( i think) and when that happens my voice is always the first thing to go. I have a performance of "I never saw another butterfly" as Raja in two days and the role involves a lot of intense scenes with yelling, etc. Any quick remedies?? Would be much appreciated!</p>

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<p>Aspiring--Throat Comfort by Yogi Tea and Throat power spray by Vitastic are both indispensible. Best wishes!</p>

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<p>Simplifying suggestion/Summer Intensive Info</p>

<p>Hi gang!
Long time no post-been a busy fall with D starting HS. Anyway...</p>

<p>As I was trying to catch up on all the millions of pages of this thread I had a thought. To help those of us who have to skim to catch up and to help find the info that is already here without asking the same question over and over, could we try stating the main idea[s] of our comment first like I have done above? I am on a gigantic voicemail system that blasts upward to 100 messages a week and some just don't pertain to some of the people who get them, a couple years ago we all started stating the main point first and this streamlined everything enabling people to skip to what was of use to them when in a hurry. Just an idea.</p>

<p>Last month, about 15 pages back :o) someone asked about summer intensives. I would like to plug my D program, Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School & Camp in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She attended their 4-week intermeadiate program last year and is auditioning for the 6-week HS/College program this coming summer. I could go on and on but I won't because you can check their website just as easily: <a href="http://www.perry-mansfield.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.perry-mansfield.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I was very impressed by the instruction as well as the productions they put on. Numerous working professionals from around the world instruct and there are classes in everything performing arts: instrumental, creative writing, dance, MT, drama, voice, auditioning, set-design, fine arts & horseback-riding. The setting is incredible, you may have even seen their new dance pavillion as it is featured in a print ad for Andersen Windows. Most of the studios are log & timber construction with walls that open up to the aspen & pine groves. Saturdays are the only full day off and they offer everything from rafting trips to shopping in town.</p>

<p>Deadline for audition videos is February 1st, I believe. E-mail me direct if you want more info.</p>

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<p>Tomorrow night I fly to Dallas for the auditions at CCCC (Collin County Community College), then Thursday night to Lakeland, Florida, for the Florida Thespian Conference. Shauna, if you're still reading this thread, I'd love to see you on Thursday in Plano if you can get away from school. And I'll be very happy to see any readers who will be in Plano or Lakeland. Please come by and say hello.</p>

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<p>Obviously the best thing is to not talk and rest. You might also try making a tea from marshmallow root.</p>

<p>One thing you should make sure is that you have a humidifier in your bedroom. Dry air is really bad for your throat.</p>

<p>Take very steamy showers--that will definitely help.</p>

<p>And if you don't like Throat Comfort tea, try Throat Coat.</p>

<p>Good luck</p>