<p>I did the FAFSA yesterday for my son, who has applied for nine schools. The FAFSA only allows six, but there are instructions on what to do if you need more.</p>
<p>One approach, apparently, is the mail the report (after it's completed by the College Board in a couple of weeks) to the remaining schools.</p>
<p>We picked out the most likely schools for the first six.</p>
<p>Laurie</p>
<p>Jake is going to the NYC Unifieds on February 5-6. Anyone else going?</p>
<p>Laurie</p>
<p>jerrylaurie - We have BOCO on Friday, 2/4 and will be in NY on Sunday, 2/6.</p>
<p>I've got CCM on Sunday, 2/6.</p>
<p>I just thought I'd fill you all in on today's events. As you may or may not know, today was to be Idina Menzel's last performance in Wicked. As an early birthday present, I had gotten tickets for my D and I to attend this show. Second Row, Center. I won't talk about the cost, but let me say that we didn't take a winter vacation this year!!! Last night we hear that Idina was injured during the matinee performance yesterday. Apparently, equipment malfunction caused her to fall through a trap door or something. We were devastated, of course, to hear that she was injured; also devastated that she wouldn't be performing today.</p>
<p>Well we went to the show and it was fantastick. The girl who took over for Kristen Chenowith (spelling?) was really wonderful. I've only seen the show this, one time, so I can't compare unless you count listening to the cd. The new Elphaba started today, instead of Tuesday, and she was really very good. I don't think that she's as amazing as Idina, but she put her own spin on the role and I think will make it her own.</p>
<p>The last scene starts (I don't want to blow it for others who may want to see the show and witness it first hand) and out walks Idina in a red Addidias sweatsuit, red sneakers and red hair rubberband. The audience went WILD. Standing ovation in the middle of the scene for, no exageration, about five minutes. Every time Joey McIntyre tried to start his line, someone would scream "I love you, Idina" and the place would explode again in cheers and applause. Before the scene finished, Glinda was up in her sphere and she yelled, "yes, we do love Idina Menzel!"</p>
<p>After the final bows (Idina didn't take one) Jennifer Laura Thompson (Glinda) made a big deal about it being Joey McIntyre's last show and everyone clapped, etc. (Sorry, I was never a huge New Kids on the Block fan, maybe too old - besides he was a bit tone deaf if you ask me). Mind you, no one has sat back down since Idina first appeared. Then Glinda introduced the director who then brought out Idina. There was not a dry eye in the entire place. People screaming, weeping...She was so modest. All she said was "thank you so very much". I believe she was in a terrible amount of pain. They tried to give her this huge bouquet of flowers and she looked at them and mouthed "I'm sorry, I can't pick them up". </p>
<p>Of course my D had to wait outside the stage door with the rest of the entire New York City to try and see Idina. People were wondering if she'd sign autographs. I thought, boy they are really idiots! Couldn't they see she was not up to anything? Anyway, we got to see her gorgeous husband (he smiled and gave a thumbs up to my D when she called out to him) and then out came Idina. She looked like she had a very difficult time even getting into the limo.</p>
<p>All in all, I am so emotionally drained. It was worth every penny of those tickets that I spent!</p>
<p>Lynn, wow, I can't believe you were there today. What an experience. I had heard earlier today about Idina's injury yesterday. I did not know about her going on at the final show today that you were at until I read your account. My daughter has just gotten in bed but I read her your account cause she has always been in awe of Idina since Rent and all. Poor Idina. And what timing too. It is a shame but today's show sounds unforgettable as an honor to her. Glad she made it on stage for it.</p>
<p>My daughter has always been upset to not yet have seen Wicked, and not to ever see it with Idina in it. She has bemoaned that to me many times ;-). She has never let me live down that I saw Wicked with Idina and Kristen and she did not. I saw the show back in Feb. or March when I took my daughter for her visit to NYU/Tisch. The night we got there, she was staying with friends who go to Tisch and I was on my own until we met up the next day at Cap21. I was not sure what to do all alone in NYC and thought I would treat myself to see a show but it was all very last minute. It took me forever that night to hail a cab to Times Square's TKTS booth and by the time I got there, and it was a Sunday night too, it was very close to show time. The only shows available were ones I had already seen or did not care to see. I had once heard something about last min. tickets if you go to the theater and I just ran and looked for the theater where Wicked was playing and got into the lobby right before the show and in fact, that was a night when there was not supposed to even be a performance but apparently there was a special benefit that night for the Actor's Guild, I think it was, and I was in a line of like three people and I guess that is called the cancellation line (you can tell I am not a New Yorker) and I got the last ticket and it was a great one in the orchestra and got in at the last second. It was a great show and I was able to call my other daughter back in Vermont on my cell as it started and let her listen to the first song through my cell, lol. After the show, all the actors came on stage and talked to the audience as this was a fundraiser. Who knew? I just happened on all of it at the last second, unplanned. When I told my younger daughter (the one going for the BFA and applying to NYU) the next day that I had seen Wicked, she was really upset with me for seeing it without her but I mean, she was doing the dorm overnight thing with all these NYU friends and hey, for once I did something for me, lol. I rarely do! I thought she would be happy that I waited and got all their autographs but the fact that she did not see it was a big deal to her, considering I saw it. But I had no idea I was going to see Wicked. She wants to see it and we just have not been able to since then and now Idina, nor Kristen are in it any longer. </p>
<p>Ironically, my daughter performed Defying Gravity in a show this weekend, though did not fly ;-). </p>
<p>Thanks, Lynn, for sharing that story! </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Great story Lynn. Sometimes you just get lucky to be at moments like that one.... Thanks for sharing.</p>
<p>BTW, Jennifer Laura Thompson, the actress who (bravely) took over for Kristen Chenoweth, is a graduate of the University of Michigan Musical Theater Department, class of 1991. She was also the original Hope Cladwell in Urinetown and the original Ariel Moore in Footloose.</p>
<p>Go Blue!!</p>
<p>We have seen both Kristen and Jennifer in Wicked and each handled the role superbly. Jennifer is not as petite as Kristen and added a level of physical humor to the role. We also saw and loved her in Urinetown...and thus had no doubt that she would do just fine in Wicked!!</p>
<p>For our d during her spring break in late March (she is a junior in a high school in Florida) as we start in Boston and work our way to Ann Arbor: Emerson, Syracuse, Ithaca, Otterbein (a bit out of the way but I think we should check it out) and U of Michigan. Leave for Boston on a Thursday evening, and fly home from Detroit a week later on Friday evening.</p>
<p>Any schools that I should add/subtract? The slate seems pretty full as is but are there any other "must see" programs in that neck of the woods. She does not want a conservatory program so that rules out CCM and Carnegie Mellon from what she tells me.</p>
<p>Thanks...</p>
<p>Hi Susan (soozievt),</p>
<p>I sent you a private message; just wanted to let you know! :-)</p>
<p>Shauna</p>
<p>Scogor,</p>
<p>Based on our experiences, I would stop in at State College and check out Penn State's program. I think it's more well rounded than Ithaca and is really on the way to Otterbein from Ithaca. It is also one of the few really good MT programs that has their students do almost 1/3 liberal arts courses, i.e., not a true conservatory but with conservatory quality training. I'm sure Monkey or PSUCat (who hasn't posted in awhile) could provide more info if you need it.</p>
<p>PS - Is there anybody other than the Munchkins who is the size of Kristen Chenoweth? She's on The West Wing now and when she walks next to Allison Janney she appears to have fallen in a hole! LOL</p>
<p>Theatermom....
you say...."Is there anybody other than the Munchkins who is the size of Kristen Chenoweth? She's on The West Wing now and when she walks next to Allison Janney she appears to have fallen in a hole! LOL"</p>
<p>I know EXACTLY which scene you mean....I was watching in amazement at the height difference myself!</p>
<p>My d is only 4'10 and is a senior in high school. She was just accepted to CAP 21 at NYU and is hoping her height won't be a detriment for all the very tall leading men. She's hopeful since Kristen is her height that all is not lost!:)</p>
<p>Even more Go Blue!</p>
<p>Do any of you (theatremom) know if the new gal who took over for Kristen Chenoweth, Jennifer from UMICH, ever had a role or a lead role in a main stage musical while at UMICH? Do we know if any of the working actors now had many roles while at school? I've heard stories of students never having a main stage role, not even chorus, their entire four years at Michigan. Nightmare-ish, huh? How do they work it at Michigan, I don't think we were ever told? Do they try and give all a part at some point?</p>
<p>Now that acceptance letters are coming out, can we start a school-specific thread? I'm anxious to discuss with others about my d's school - students who were accepted as well as current students and alumni. There are so many questions I need to ask, and it would be very helpful! Thanks</p>
<p>Ross, congratulations to your daughter on her acceptance to Cap21! That is really super. I know a girl in Cap who is also 4'10". Freelancer's (who sometimes posts here) daughter who just got into Emerson is also 4'10". There is Kristen Chenowith. And if I recall, I thought that Kerry Butler (Audrey in Little Shop, also in Bat Boy) looked really petite too. </p>
<p>Theatermom, we are going to Michigan this week for auditions. I feel like we talked about the school way back and now the auditions are finally here. The info. says you can bring tap shoes and so is there an optional tap dance segment? My daughter is a tapper so would like that. She was telling me that sometimes you can only do one of your monologues there? is that so? And that sometimes you can say which you want or sometimes they pick? I mean she has two ready to go as required but just wondering how it actually goes. The info. they have sent is quite comprehensive and sounds like a very well organized day. We decided to spend the night after the auditions as well as you suggested so as not to have it so tight to make the plane out and now that I see her times, this was the right decision .She is hoping to spend that night with a friend in the program, as well as friends auditioning. </p>
<p>Shauna, I got your PM and I have not been able to be online as much and have been backlogged with lots going on and so today I am hoping to catch up and get back to you as well! </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Also saw the scene with Kristin Chenowith where she sneaks up accidentally on Allison Janney! It was really funny to see the height difference and the way they are joking about it on the show. After Wicked yesterday, my D said how excited she was to see a bigger (not big by regular people standards) person in the Glinda role....said it gave hope to the normal people who aren't absolutely tiny, petite!</p>
<p>Susan,</p>
<p>In all honesty, I don't remember enough about the specifics of the UM auditions to answer your questions right away, but I promise to check with my D as soon as I can get hold of her and find out. I think that what you heard about the monologues may be correct, i.e., that you need to prepare two and then they will look at what you have to offer and ask for one of them. They may have asked some kids to do the second as well but I'm not sure. It sounds like your D is well prepared. I'll check on the tap issue. I'm pretty sure that there was an optional tap combination offered for those who wanted to show it.</p>
<p>Gkoukla,</p>
<p>I'm going to email you what I know (and don't know) about the UM casting policies. We'll "discuss"........</p>
<p>Also, belated congratulations to all who have been accepted. It's quite an incredible rush, isn't it?</p>
<p>theatermom, thanks, that is pretty much her take on what to expect at the UMich audition.</p>
<p>I was leaning toward checking out PSU and will ask my D to look at the website and see if she is interested. Not as if I already have enough driving/flying to do that week...</p>