<p>Addiitonal schools that will consider a student for Acting on the same audition if not accepted into MT are: OCU, Illinois Wesleyan and Baldwin-Wallace.</p>
<p>I guess you could say that the very nature of the MT audition makes it a more difficult audition because it requires the three elements rather than just the one element for acting audiitons.</p>
<p>HOWEVER, you are right... it all depends on the school. Getting into say, SMU, USC, Cal Arts or Julliard for acting might be more diffcult than MT at Point Park, Santa Fe or Roosevelt. </p>
<p>Please don't bash me for these examples. These are all great programs. I am just pulling these as examples for arguments sake. I am sure anyone could name any particular schools as examples.</p>
<p>Get my point?</p>
<p>xxx,Mary Anna</p>
<p>Mary Anna,
I absolutely get your point. Some schools are definitely more competitive than others. Does that mean that only very prestigious, hard-to-get-into programs are the only ones who graduate people who end up making it (whatever that means!) in the biz? Of course not. It just means that the competition is stiffer to get into certain places than other. Juilliard, for instance.</p>
<p>Lisa</p>
<p>Juilliard - I am by no means an expert, but I know that music students are pre-screened with a tape and drama students are not. I can only speak further about drama. This program is not MT and includes no dance (but has movement classes). The drama students do take 3 years of private voice lessons with the music school teachers (I think starting second year). They audition about 1000 students a year for drama - in NYC, Chicago, and San Francisco. They want a teacher recommendation to apply for the school, but they never want test scores and they only want a transcript if they give you a callback. The callback happens the evening of the audition day. If you are not called back, you know you are out. If you get a callback, you don't know if you are in until mid-March. They take 20 into the drama program (2%).</p>
<p>Ericsmom, thank you very much for clarifying the details on the acting audition process for Juilliard. In an earlier post, I hope I was not too misleading because when I mentioned sending in a tape for prescreening and being invited to audition, I was just thinking about the voice and instrumental music applicants. Sorry about that. I do recall that Jamimom (who used to post here)'s son applied last year for acting to Juilliard and it was just like you are saying. I know an older friend of my D's from her theater camp who is at Juilliard for Acting and she was admitted following high school but remarked she was one of the only 18 year olds in her program and so it might be noted that besides the VERY low admit rate into this program, it likely is lower stilll for an 18 year old. </p>
<p>I agree with Mary Anna that when comparing whether it is easier to get into MT or Acting, that it truly depends on the school. Her examples pointed that out. For schools, however, that offer BOTH MT and Acting at ONE school, often it is a bit easier to get in for Acting, than for MT (examples, Tisch, Emerson, Syracuse, Ithaca). There are also fewer MT programs out there than acting ones. </p>
<p>NotMama Rose....you were asking about Acting students being able to do musicals at their college....usually they can, again, depends on the school. Of course, they are "competing" against MT students but like you say, there are kids with MT backgrounds who ended up in Acting programs. I think at several schools, an acting student can audition for a Main Stage show and also for the student run musicals. There may be departmental shows that they can't audition for. At NYU, I believe an acting student could audition for ANY show except one that is just for a studio....like CAP has a musical JUST for its 2nd year students and another one JUST for its 3rd year students. But an acting kid could audition for mainstage shows and student run musicals, etc. etc. It all depends on the school.</p>
<p>Regarding CCM/Acting...I do not know a lot about it. It is not as "tops" in the field as the MT program there but I believe it is very good. I know a girl in it, might now be a senior, who loves it. She came from a MT background and that's what I thought of her as before she went. I know they do have cuts in the drama program as well. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Yeah With Juilliard, you just have to pay your $100 for the experience of auditioning for them. You shouldnt have any expectations at all beyond that if youre coming straight out of h/s. If lightning strikes and you get a callback great. If it strikes twice in the same place and you get in amazing. If it strikes a third time and you get a scholarship, if you don't go I'll cut you LOL One thing I can say about the kids I know of who got in was that they werent necessarily any more talented than some others who didnt get a callback, but they all did have an extremely unique quality about them beyond just the normal X Factor. Ive also heard some people say that they are looking for certain physical traits, but that doesnt seem to be true at all unlike NCSA which seems to prefer taller girls. Of course, this is anecdotal, but Im 59ish and when I visited my 510 friend at NCSA last year, I was just kind of average height amongst the drama girls. I dont think I saw any who were under about 57 Not to say it's impossible for someone shorter, but to expand even further on my admitted anecdotalness, I know a girl who got turned down by NCSA, but got accepted at CMU and SMU She is only 54.</p>
<p>As for difficulty getting into acting vs. MT programs, when you're dealing with between a two and five percent acceptance rate at the truly elite programs in both, I don't think you can really say one is more difficult than the other as far as getting in. There are more acting than MT programs, but I personally think when you take into consideration that there aren't that many kids who can really do all three areas, it kind of evens out. I mean, I can sing, dance, and act a song, but I wouldn't consider myself a real triple threat at all ... despite my guitar playing buddies who are always trying to get me to be the lead singer for their bands ... LOL</p>
<p>If you have the Bravo Channel check it out at 9 p.m. est. The cast of the Producers will be on Inside the Actors Studio! w00t w00t!</p>
<p>Just one note about acceptances to Juilliard: I think that the trend of not taking kids out of high school must not be true in the dance depart. I say this because a number of kids from my D's arts high school have gotten in (in fact, reps from Juilliard come to the school to look at candidates) and these kids are your average age upon graduating from high school. I guess this is because a dancer's career is necessarily a little shorter than the average actor's, singer's, etc. Of course, we are not talking about dancers here.
But even for dancers, I would guess that the odds are not great of getting in. (Once again, though, <em>someone</em> has to get in, so it makes sense to try.)</p>
<p>Lisa</p>
<p>NotMamaRose, it certainly makes sense to try for programs if you are qualified. </p>
<p>I am not sure on the dance at Juilliard, though know a boy my D used to perform in musicals with at theater camp who got into Juilliard's dance program out of high school. I was ONLY commenting on the ACTING program as not having many straight out of high school. Perhaps in dance it is different and you are right, too, that dancers must start young and often their career is at its strongest when young (though look at Chita, lol). Sometimes, with acting, life experience and growth and knowledge of the world are tools to becoming a better actor. In any case, you may be right with Juilliard with regard to dance. I only knew the comments of a girl IN the Acting program and in fact, she posted here a couple of times, though I know her from elsewhere. </p>
<p>I think with any program, even when the odds are tough ones, if you are an appropriately qualified candidate, you SHOULD try because someone does get in. Counting on getting in is a different story and so one must have enough options, hopefully some viable ones, on their list.</p>
<p>All of you are so correct about Juilliard. I failed to mention that the 20 they take into drama includes grad. students.</p>
<p>Interesting article. It seems relevant given the sticker shock of some of the schools we discuss every week here. </p>
<p>Hi everyone! Thank you for your comments. I can tell you a little about Skidmore, since I am right here in the midst of it! Skidmore definitely has a strong theatre department. The degree you receive for theatre is a BS. A BS is also available in dance. This semester I took courses in theatre, dance, and music, so I got a taste of each department. I took an Intro to Theatre course which is required to study theatre here. This course was not that wonderful. I learned a little bit about various topics in theatre, but unfortunately, my professor was one of those people who likes to talk about their own experiences a little too much. The class wasn't as terrific as I would have liked it to be. There was another section of the same course taught by a different professor, and the students seem to have experienced more in that class and did a lot more work/read a lot more plays, etc. It seems to have been the better section. As a freshman I was required to take a Freshman seminar, and the one I chose was American Political Theater, which was taught by the head of the theatre department. This was an excellent course. I learned tons of things, both about politics and theatre, and everything we discussed was fascinating. I am grateful for that course. As far as music goes, I took a Class Study of Voice, which had only 4 students. I would have preferred private lessons, but they are additional money, which I don't have, unfortunately. Still, the class study of voice was a good option. The class was alright. In all honesty, the course was geared more towards beginners, and I dont consider myself a beginner. It only met for one hour per week, and there wasn't much time to accomplish anything. I suppose my breathing improved a bit more, but thats about it. My favorite class this semester was Jazz Dance. This was also a beginner class, but there were several different levels of dancers in the class. Me and about 4 other girls would consider ourselves fairly advanced. The teacher, once a professional dancer, gave us opportunities to match choreography to our own level, so that the class was challenging for the more advanced dancers as well as the beginners. She also taught a variety of choreography styles, which was a good mix. I took an improv dance class, which was nice, because I got to discover new ways of movement and thinking about space and how to use it. And lastly, I took sociology. So, I got to sample different departments. (Sorry to go off on a tangent about all my classes!)
As far as activities go, I was party of the theatre company, worked on costumes for the two department productions, was involved in an all-female acapella singing group, and participated in Cabaret troupe, the musical theatre group.
I saw both shows the theatre department produced this semester, Top Girls and Burial at Thebes, a version of Antigone. Both of these were excellently done, I won't lie. Both of these, particularly Top Girls, leaned greatly toward the experimental side of theatre. Skidmore is known as being a very avant-garde theatre school. They LOVE experimental work and absolutely crazy things, which are all quite fascinating, but my passion doesn't lie there. I sometimes get the sense that the department really looks down on musical theatre. They seem to view it as a significantly lesser art than straight theatre. The department never produces musicals. Cabaret Troupe does, however, and they are good. Once Upon a Mattress was done this semester, and I was cast in it. The show turned out to be good, but I will admit that I was highly dissappointed with some of the practices of the director and other, which I'd rather not detail. I still wished that I could work with a professor as a director on a musical...because I feel I didn't learn much from my 20 year old student director...although I did have fun. :)
If you are really into experimental theatre, Skidmore is a great place to go. And really, there are so many talented people here. In some ways I hesitate to leave, because the program is strong and presents a lot of good opportunites (for study abroad, internships, etc.), but I know that my heart will never be completely satisfied and happy here. Some may advise that I give this kind of theater more chance. Well, I've experienced some of it, and definitely wouldn't mind doing more, but I want my FOCUS to be on musical theatre. I don't need to stick around, because I know that musical theatre IS and always WILL BE my passion, so I'd better go do something about it.</p>
<p>I should mention that next semester i'm taking intro to acting, jazz theatre workshop, tap, ballet, a class in chinese culture, rudiments of music, and possibly private voice lessons. So we will see how that goes. In the meantime, I want to keep my options open for transferring.</p>
<p>Hope some of this information was helpful!!</p>
<p>That was really great of you to share about your experiences so far for others. Thanks you for doing that! I think I posted that my in-laws saw Once Upon a Mattress and thought it was very good! Sounds like you are taking courses in many areas relating to musical theater so this is good grounding for your plans to transfer into a BFA in MT college. Good luck to you! </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>I was just there at their Dec. 3 audition. I had also been there for an open house in October, as well as a visit in Sept. I would be a vocal performance major, so what I looked into is a little different than what you are interested in. I loved the location as well as the faculty, staff, and students that I met on those two occasions. Everyone was friendly and helpful & the current students seemed to love it there. My audition went well, I thought, but the auditors were impossible to read. Also - I talked to some parents of some kids who go there (for art), who rave about it.</p>
<p>Hey, all, gotta share good news. Finally reached my son (Soph at Tisch) after a week of one word text message exchanges. Discovered what's been keeping him so occupied. His (actually his "team's") proposal for GAP show was accepted. He'll be directing Floyd Collins in Feb. He's (they've) been auditioning this week and have it cast the show. Apparently the composer called, is enthused, and wants to come see the performance. So exciting!</p>
<p>Jasmom, that is fantastic!!! What a great experience to be directing the production and also that the composer is going to come!!!! It IS exciting. My D, when applying to NYU, was particularly interested in the GAP shows, having created her own student run musicals in HS. As you know freshmen can't be in shows but actually she is working on a GAP show that is going up in March (I did not realize there was more than one GAP show in a semester but it is great that there are!). She had been asked to accompany for the auditions for Full Monty. She found it really interesting to see the auditions and also to be privy to the casting discussions/decisions. Several of the leads are older kids she has performed with when she was younger in her summer program. One lead was in a musical with my other D at HER theater camp (a totally different one) and so it is a small world in theater. Now, my daughter has been asked to be the pianist for Full Monty so even though freshmen are kept from being in shows and rehearsing every night, she'll still be rehearsing but not ON stage ;-). I wish my D could have tried out for your son's show but maybe some day she'll get to work with him yet because she is just a year behind him and I have a feeling she'd like to stay involved in GAP shows. I hear they are very good. She saw Bat Boy and thought it was very well done. I am sure she will catch Floyd Collins. I'll have to tell her about the thrilling news for your son, not sure that she knows him (yet!). I think it is very cool for your son to be able to direct this musical as a soph! Good for him! And yeah, my D explained about the different "teams" for each GAP show and it is parallel to a big theater in our region she has worked at that has different teams for each production. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>PS....I am now reminded of something my D said on one of her very brief calls (I know what you mean about THAT) the other night....to do with a very good friend of hers, who like your son, has done a lot of MT, but opted to be in an Acting Studio, and is a freshman. They went to theater camp together and he was Tony in West Side Story when she was Anita. They do stuff together and he is in her dorm. She said that he just found out he is assisting directing (I THINK that is how she put it) a show and I don't know how many student run shows there are but since he just found out and so did your son...hmmm. I wonder if they are working together?? His initials are JF. That would be a coincidence. She was happy for him and that is why she told me. He's a frosh like her. Ask your son if it is the same show! And when she ever calls for more than a minute, I'll ask her if she meant Floyd Collins! :D</p>
<p>Hey SoozieVT, I heard at Tisch that there WAS a freshman in a show that was NOT Tisch; don't know whether it was GAP or one of the other programs there... so I guess freshmen CAN audition for OTHER program's shows?? It was probably not GAP, though.</p>
<p>OK, guys, what's a GAP show?</p>
<p>My ignorance is showing. I found this description on the web site that sounds similar to what my son is doing. </p>
<p>"One of the four theatre spaces in the Drama Department is designated specifically for the extracurricular work of the students. The Shop Theatre is the location of some twelve to fifteen productions annually. The majority of the work is presented under the umbrella of the "Program Board." Each semester a board of representatives from each studio is convened to solicit production proposals from the student body. The Program Board then reviews the proposals, interviews the proposers and selects four or five projects for production in the subsequent semester. Selected projects receive two weeks in the theatre and a small budget to produce their work.
Past projects have included:</p>
<p>Into the Woods
The Night Larry Kramer Did My Laundry
I Know You Opened my Mail, Ralph
Kiss of the Spider Woman
W*nkas
A Ralph Grows in Brooklyn
A Play Without Gravity
Little Shop of Horrors
Godspell
The Oresteia</p>
<p>One may note several unfamiliar titles in the above list. The Shop Theatre and the Program Board Productions are also a great tryout venue for new plays by the Drama Department Students." </p>
<p>He initially used the term "GAP show," but I don't know if that is the same or different from what I quoted above.</p>
<p>Soozievt, I doubt I'll have more than a few words at a time with my son until break, but then I plan to "grill him" for all the details. I'm sure your d and my s will cross paths eventually, maybe even work together.</p>
<p>Lisa, </p>
<p>At NYU, the student run productions, which are supposedly of very high quality, are referred to as GAP shows and I am sorry that I don't know what each letter stands for but that's the name of this student run organization that puts on shows. </p>
<p>RossJi....I have no idea if you are talking about the same girl, but early in the semester, my D told me of a freshman who was doing a show through Hillel, I believe....I can't recall the show, it MAY have been Company but I forget now. I guess that was allowed but not any other productions. Not sure I get it but whatever. It probably is cause it is like a student "club" maybe?? Like you can do extracurricular "activities". This is my conjecture speaking now. For instance, my D is in a coed a capella group. They only rehearse two nights per week, not every night. Maybe if it was some Hillel "club", it was allowed. My D said she was not interested so it did not matter but she did mention that. My D totally understands the rule and has no problem with it because she says in some ways, students aren't ready to do the shows there yet. I presume they also want freshmen to "ease" into the grueling schedule and not add rehearsals every night to all hours. Then again, the schedule is like that now for my D anyway, LOL. And also they do have freshmen do crew assignments so that would be hard to do if in a show. When I asked my D how she was going to now add a GAP show which likely rehearses nightly, on top of the BFA program, crew, a capella rehearsals/concerts/trips, a community service and paid job in MT, etc., she said not only was she dying to do it but "I"m going to have to have that schedule next year if I'm in shows, so what's the difference!" So, while this is NOT the only reason the program doesn't have freshmen perform, many are still involved in something every night ANYWAY! :D For my D, her life was similar to this in high school, classes all day, performing arts classes/lessons all afternoon and evening and rehearsals for a show all the time, and weekends, and plenty of homework. The main difference is being on her own and also lots of WALKING and before it was lots of DRIVING, lol. So, I don't know if that freshman you mentioned is the same one my D mentioned but I guess there are some variations as to what is ok and what is not. I told you that a Broadway guest director of a CAP production wanted to cast my D but could not due to the rule and it was what we EXPECTED, so I do think they uphold this rule (and should stay consistent) but suspect that maybe what that other student did was via a club or organization. Dunno.</p>
<p>Last year, a friend of my D's who was a freshman at the time, was cast in a well known off Broadway play (various known actors in it), and NOT because of the rule we are talking of but just to make it viable to be able to do the show, she switched out of Tisch and into Gallatin which you know is a more flexible program. While it would be VERY difficult to do a show like that while attending Tisch, they can't stop you from doing professional work even with this rule....you just can't do NYU/Tisch shows. Of course, HOW you'd do these is another story. My D's boyfriend did an episode of Law and Order this semester but did not involve that many days and so was able to do it whille attending Tisch (nor does that go against the rules). </p>
<p>Susan</p>