<p>Well, I just got back from Boston. Not too bad coming home, only 4 1/2 hours. Going up there? Forget it.....6 1/2 hours! Ugh....</p>
<p>Anyway, Boston Conservatory seems to be like a second home for my D. It's (hopefully) going to be a perfect fit. Her dorm is beyond beautiful. It's in a brownstone and the ceiling in her room is at least 12 feet high. Beautiful crown molding. Her room used to be 1/2 of the library in this home, therefore 2 walls are floor to ceiling glass bookcases with wooden trim. Unbelievable is all I can say. Then, there's another little room attached (kind of like a butler's pantry?) Also loaded with glass shelves and a large closet. That room houses the girls' dressers. There are three girls in the room with a bunkbed and one single bed. They stayed up all night and decorated putting vines and little clear Christmas lights all along the top of the bookcases. It looks like a little Italian restaurant or something.</p>
<p>She's been busy with group activities and will start placements this week for piano, tap, ear training and auditioning for the Fall musicals and shows. Actual "school" starts on September 11th. I wasn't sad leaving her, because I really felt like this is where she belongs. She got a little emotional just because she said we've been through so much this past year in order to get to where she finally is today. I'm so happy for her, I really feel at peace tonight.</p>
<p>Lynn, I'm especially glad you wrote because I think your D has had quite the journey and I'm real happy for her that she landed at this place and wish her all the best. My D thought it was a cool place. Besides kids she knows that already go there, there are two girls she spent many summers with, including as roommates, who are in your D's class and I imagine they will meet. Initials are K.A. and S.V. The latter girl is from your neck of the woods.</p>
<p>Hey Chris, ya havin' fun it seems! Ah, my D wishes she was there! Everyone is there but she can't arrive until Monday because she is still obligated to her summer theater job until then. I'll be there then too. I hope you figured out who she is because last Sunday, she arranged to travel to NYC to perform for you guys at your welcome to Tisch opening whatever that is called that was held at Skirball. She was the soloist for the last part of Madonna's Like A Prayer (their encore). I hope you are having a blast. Hope you guys will meet at the CAP21 studio. I think you both have studio overlapping on Fridays.</p>
<p>lynnm
Your d's room sounds amazing, how exciting for her and chrisnoo to be in the big city too! I can definitely relate to the feeling of peace you spoke of, let's hope it lasts :)</p>
<p>Hi, I'm a senior in highschool and i would love to hear about what songs and monologues that you (or your children) did for your auditions. I'd love to hear what worked, but also what didn't work, specifcally for females. I'd be so greatful for any advice/suggestions/opinions on what works for an audition as well as any tips on approaching the auditions. It's scary!</p>
<p>Lucie, don't sing ANYTHING from Wicked..also want to stay away from any recent musicals out right now because auditioners often find themselves referring back in their mind to the current famous brilliant actor/actress on broadway playing that role right now. A comparison that you do not want to go up against.</p>
<p>Lucie- If you use the search engone on the main musical theatre thread you will find pages and pages of discussion about audition materials. Nobody can tell you what to use, because they don't know your vocie or anything like that. But there is detailed information regarding songs to avoid (anything currently a hit on Broadway) and more discussions about monologues. Use the search terms audition, and do not use to find out what types of material to use and to avoid. Remember each school has different requirements, and eacgh person will have material that speaks to them personally. Good Luck!</p>
<p>I moved in at OCU on August 14th, and started classes the 21st as a theatre performance major. I'm still adjusting to the CA v. OK difference, but I'm having a good experience overall. I got called back for Cosi and Crucible, though I didn't end up cast in any production so far for this semester. My acting class is pretty interesting, my voice teacher is super nice and I'm looking forward to working with her, and the homework load isn't too unbearable. And the dorms are nice. I'm in a double, but there's a wall down the middle, so you have more privacy, and we share the bathroom with another double, so it's really more like a sweet. And there are so many places to put things - I love organization! </p>
<p>So overall, it's been a good experience so far, and I'll continue to update throughout the year. </p>
<p>Also, for current seniors or juniors considering OCU, they are looking to turn the theatre performance major into a BFA starting next semester, I believe.</p>
<p>Update on Jess...she called to let us know she is "reprising" her role as the second "Silly Girl" at the community theatre...she played the same character (and a few other parts--cutlery, etc) at our dinner theatre earlier this year but from what she tells me her "additional roles" in this production will involve more dancing since the stage is larger, etc. She also says that the instructor in her dance classes is "kicking her butt"! Just what the doctor ordered!!</p>
<p>I hope I got the profile change right - I'm very technically challenged.</p>
<p>Our D is entering her 3rd week of classes at Webster Univ. and still LOVES it. Yesterday there were a few laundry questions but that has been the only advice she's needed from home. It sure does make it easier when they are so happy. She really seems to love the challenges and opportunities that this new atmosphere has to offer. </p>
<p>It sounds as if a lot of the the freshman from this forum are doing so well. I'm hoping she will have time to write about her experiences soon!</p>
<p>My son has had a great first few weeks at Miami! </p>
<p>Freshmen are not allowed to audition for shows - but he is part of a Freshmen performance group called "Ovations." All proceeds from this group go toward funding the Senior Showcase.</p>
<p>He loves the school and everyone he's met. There are only 3 freshmen in the Musical Theatre program within the "theatre" department. There are several more Musical Theatre freshmen in the Frost School of Music. (They are getting BM's as opposed to a BFA.) Evidently, the programs are very similiar and they take most of their classes together. The big difference is that the BFA's take more acting classes and the BM's take more music classes. </p>
<p>Each dorm on campus has a faculty advisor that lives in the dorm (in an apartment) with their family. The director of the Theatre Department and his family live in the freshman dorm! He's very friendly and the kids all love him.</p>
<p>As I learn more about the school, I will be able to give more information.
So far, so good!!! :)</p>
<p>I have been a "lurker" for almost a year now. So I thought it was high time to share our story! We just dropped our S off at BoCo this weekend. Both my husband and I were thrilled with everything about the school and it's surroundings. More importantly our S seems to have settled in quite nicely. I never imagined my S at a conservatory as he has always been very strong academically and we just assumed that he would go to a university to pursue his MT degree. But one thing we learned this past year is that what we want for our children is not always what they want for themselves!! Our S applied to 8 schools. All the "biggies" so to speak. Ithaca, CCM, UMich, Syracuse, CMU, NYU, Penn State and BoCo. He was deferred at Umich initially, but ended up not getting in. He did get in to Syracuse and BoCo. Although he was offered a nice scholarship at Syracuse, his heart was set on BoCo. And after doing a lot of deliberating, my husband and I decided it WAS the right choice for him as well! It really was a heart wrenching year. No one can really understand how grueling the process can be unless you go through it yourself. (As most of you already know.) Although I thought we were all well prepared and organized, we were extremely naive about the whole process. I am by no means trying to scare prospective students and parents, but PLEASE have your child apply to some so called safety schools. As the rejections started rolling in, I was seriously afraid that he would have no where to go to college this year. But thankfully, things do seem to work out for the best and we could not be happier that he is were he is! </p>
<p>So thanks for listening! Hopefully our story will help some people who are starting the process. Just believe in yourself and don't give up hope:)</p>
<p>Welcome CT Mom (lurker!!) Don't you feel relieved to have your son settled into college? I know that I felt even better about BoCo once we were up in Boston and felt the warmth of the school personnel during parent orientation. My D called yesterday to say how great the division meeting went, how really excited she is, and that they made her feel like they really, truly care about each of them.</p>
<p>Soozie, Please do contact us if anyone has questions re American. it continues to go well. She auditioned for a student run group that is doing scenes from Shakepeare and was chosen to do Cleopatra's death scene and is auditioning this week for Perf 101 which is a musical done by the new performing arts students. I think BA programs can be made into what you want. If you are willing to carry fairly heavy course loads you can pack a lot in. She also got really interested in play writing as well as performing and realized this left her room for that. She does have gen eds but there is a lot of choice and she is choosing ones that may inspire her play writing especially history. My son stayed in Providence all summer and is happily back to school. He is auditioning for Much ado About Nothing and will be directing Henry the 5th in the spring so theater remains a major part of his life.</p>
<p>Yes, it does feel great to have him settled. We drove up the night before we moved him in to his dorm and stayed in a hotel. The next morning when we were getting ready to go, it reminded me so much of the audition process. It was nice to be on the other end. I am sending positive thoughts and well wishes to all the students and parents who will be going through the audition process this year. I give all these kids AND their parents so much credit and wish them the best.</p>
<p>Welcome CT Mom, wish I woulda known you sooner...we could have carpooled :) Glad to hear your son is adjusting, and I know how relieved you now feel that he's happy.</p>
<p>I haven't posted in forever, but I think this thread is a great idea, so I will update. My d recently started her sophomore year at OCU. She did not get cast in anything as a freshman (freshmen ARE required to audition for all MT shows and operas), but that is not unusual. She got her first callbacks after auditioning for Music Man and Urban Cowboy this year, but did not get cast (a step in the right direction, though). She WILL be featured as a baton twirler in the finale of Music Man, though, so she is excited about that. Today, she called me and told me she got a callback for the operas she auditioned for earlier this week, so things are looking up and she is getting noticed (although she "swears" she is not an opera singer!) Positive thoughts and prayers sent her way would be greatly appreciated by mom! Anyway, she loves the new music building at OCU and her classes are great, but OK can not replace NC and she is a little more homesick this year than last, but so busy she probably doesn't noticed too much! I would love to hear how everyone else's S or D is doing (since I followed their every move during the audition year in 2005!) Keep us posted!</p>
<p>It sounds like everyone's S and D's are adjusting extremely well, maybe that's because they soooo want to be there! My S is loving it, the campus, the other kids, his classes even the cafeteria! He's been called back for a few things, no castings yet, but he is a freshman (as I keep reminding him), but I'll let you know if he gets in any shows.</p>
<p>Congrats to all parents and students alike, it's been a long road. And to all of the parents just starting out on this adventure, If I can do it, you can too.</p>
<p>srw, I hear your S has been called back for every show. That is quite an accomplishment for a freshman, even if he isn't cast! Way to go!</p>
<p>lexasmom, I tried to PM you, but your box is full. I am excited for your D's callbacks. I didn't know she was going to twirl. I was trying to decide if I wanted to go up to see Music Man, and now I think I will just to see her! Sounds like the girls are doing great! Maybe she will get so busy she doesn't have time to be homesick.</p>
<p>Since this thread is for updating, I will tell you that my D is also a sophomore MT major at OCU. She has not been called back, but she likes her classes, and I haven't heard any complaints about anything so far. She is starting a job next week as a waitress at a restaurant chain (don't know if I can say names on here), and will be gaining invaluable experience waiting tables. Oh, and she and lexasmom's D are roommates, along with two other MT girls.</p>