Current high school juniors

Does anyone have a spreadsheet going yet for audition information? I sat down to create one this morning, and I am feeling very overwhelmed!

My S is a current junior and is getting ready for this crazy process. As another MT mom said to me, “Happy Hunger Games, everyone!” It is just about our turn now. This summer, we plan on headshots, final polish on resume and film the pre-screens. We are working on rep now. Good luck everyone and I’m sure this will be a crazy, stressful, exciting process!!!

@carriemc95 I have a spreadsheet, it is overwhelming. Not sure how helpful it would be to share since I feel like everyone’s spreadsheet would be different based on which schools they plan to apply to, Although my 1st page called big list has 50 schools or so listed but still somewhat specific to my D as she is looking at schools that offer MT but will also let her take costume design.

Hi there! Jumping in for the first time - My D is currently working on her list of schools and today was accepted into Wagner’s summer program. Has anyone had any experience with it? She is very excited! She is also waiting to hear about NYU’s summer program as well (Steinhardt), so if anyone has any feedback on that I’d love to hear about it too!!

My spreadsheet is pretty intimidating, too. I have shared with a few juniors from my son’s high school with the caveat that they are free to use or trash it.

How is everyone doing?? I’ve been thinking about scheduling auditions. I I just looked at last year’s dates and going based on that. I think we are going to have to narrow things down. Logistically and financially it’s not possible to travel everywhere. We are definitely doing Unifieds… Hoping to get some early acceptances by auditioning early in November. The deciding factor for us is 1) FINANCIAL- I am not even bothering with schools that are 50 K and up. So hoping to find schools that are generous in merit 2)If school has a good film/screenwriting program where student could do student films or minor or take a class it’s a PLUS but we would put that criteria aside if it’s a top dream school. So the schools that only offer ON CAMPUS auditions in which we are interested in but can only pick 2 are: Baldwin Wallace, Elon, Oklahoma City University, Wright State & Texas State University! We love all of these programs for various reasons. I guess we need to figure out which one would be the best fit! Not sure if anyone could help me gain some clarity. DS is strong actor and singer (strong classical singer but can do contemporary), beginner dancer with lots of potential. Great writer and would love to develop this on the side if possible.

Baldwin Wallace does not have a good film/screenwriting program, so that should help you narrow one non unified program off your list @thespis1! My S loves the program for 100 other reasons, but if this is priority I’d skip that audition.

@IfYouOnlyKnew I KNOW! It would be so hard to give up because we love the program. We also think it would be a good fit b/c it’s a BM so they are looking for strong singers that can site read, etc… He plays piano and composes so he is strong in that area. SO tough!

@thespis1 Being able to site read and play piano is a major plus to being in this program. I will say that being in a fully functioning conservatory has provided a lot of opportunities besides theater for my S. The music composition majors are always composing (for class and for themselves) and have constantly provided opportunities for my S to be in new works and re imagined works. The arts administration majors are always organizing events and new student organizations, so they provide lots of opportunities to perform on campus. My S has done some really fun and neat things, plus you never know where the next big idea can come out of this small projects. So no film, but definitely opportunities outside of MT. Feel free to PM with questions.

Thanks @IfYouOnlyKnew ! These little details that you don’t see on the website really help narrow down list and bring clarity. Right now we have 25 schools and we are trying to get it down to 10-15. Do you know if the BM’s are allowed to audition for straight plays? Do they cast in straight plays? I also noticed they have a minor in film studies- not exactly what he is looking for but it’s something.

@thespis1 Yes, they do audition and get cast in straight plays. I will say it seems a few less have been cast since the start of the new BFA Acting major (which makes sense), but I still see them auditioning and being cast.

@thespis1 - you are probably aware of this: Elon and Texas State require prescreens, so whether or not you will have the opportunity to audition on-campus will be dependent on passing the prescreen. Hence, you can apply to both and then determine if you have to choose between them for on-campus auditions after you get your prescreen results.

Good point, @EmsDad! Prescreens will help narrow things down.

@thespis1 We did not use a coach so I don’t have personal experience here, but I believe I heard that BW was at moonifieds this year. I’d check to see what schools were there this past year and see if you could hit multiples from your list there. The catch is that you have to use Audition Coach to be able to attend. Honestly, if I had one thing to do over, I would have seriously considered investing in some minimal coaching just so we could go to Moonifieds - which could reduce your travel costs by enough to more than pay for the coaching.

@thespis1 If you are open to the BFA Acting program at OCU, they did attend Chicago Unifieds last year and I assume they will do so again this year. However the MT auditions are on campus only. The acting program is a great program that has produced a number of actors who have had leads in national tours of musicals even though they got an acting vs an MT degree. It’s worth taking a look at if you can. The head of the Theatre School has a great relationship with all sorts of people in the biz in LA they and they do an LA showcase in addition to being eligible for the NY showcase as well. There is plenty of study in acting, writing for and the tech side of film and TV. One interesting program at OCU is in the music school where students have composed music for film, TV and other commercial purposes. So there is a lot of crossover on projects between a number of the performance programs at OCU. Acting majors do get cast in musicals and MTs do get cast in straight shows. So OCU may be worth a strong look.

@speezagmom Yes, you are correct Baldwin Wallace goes to Moonifieds. The list of Moonifieds schools for 2018 is on the college audition coach website, but I imagine it changes every year

http://nuaregistration.com/ - link with the 2019 unified dates for you planners out there! BAL everyone!

I have the dates, but I’m wondering when they will announce which schools will be there for sure! Or will the list pretty much remain the same?

I have this feeling of being halfway prepared to take on next year and halfway terrified that we are completely out of our league. Ha!

@carriemc95 I’ve been thinking the same thing! Wish I could find a list! I was also curious to find out more about walk in auditions. I hear some schools hold auditions at a nearby location. Would really help with planning to have this infor!

@carriemc95 The list stays roughly the same. However, many schools are in the city at the same time but not technically part of Unifieds. Best to check the websites for each school on your list. I seem to recall one of the coaching services issuing a list of non-Unified schools that would be auditioning at the same time. Maybe someone else will recall?