Hello! I am looking for any information that may be out there on Dean College’s MT Program as well as the college itself. I have searched the board and others have asked similar questions in previous years, in previous threads, however no one has answered, just other folks comments on how they are searching too. Any help would be appreciated. My son (a junior in HS) is interested in their program and tomorrow we will be participating in their Performing Arts Open House, which will allow him to sit in on a couple of courses, meet with admissions and take a tour, he is very excited is this is our first official campus tour for him. We are looking for any input so that we may have school/campus-specific questions for tomorrow. Thank you all for your advice and help so far!!
No classroom experience yet, but we will be taking a ride up there at some point as this is one of D’s acceptances. Despite the website price tag, it’s shaping up to be a VERY affordable option for D. Mandatory rehearsal is keeping her from being able to attend tomorrow’s event so we will be curious to get your impression. So far D has liked the people she met at the audition and things she’s learned online.
@Sitzprobe, I will be sure to share our experience. The slots filled up so fast, so he is only able to sit in on two classes instead of 3 but he will be able to sit in on: The History of Musical Theatre; Science Building 11 with Professor Kozar and Presenting Performing Arts and Touring; Campus Center 204 with Professor Rowell. He is excited and nervous at the same time. We were fortunate enough that it is our school’s break so no musical rehearsal today.
@Sitzprobe, Yesterday was a wonderful event!!
My son was concerned that it was a BA, not a BFA, however that concern was quickly alleviated. He has since made this school a top choice and will be applying and auditioning this coming fall.
There are so many positives to say about our experience. The moment we stepped on campus, we found folks to be engaging, they smiled at us and two students said hello and asked if we needed help. They were heading our way and offered to show us where the Admissions office was. They brought us there on their way to class and wished us a wonderful day of checking out the campus. Registration was quick and easy too. They were prepared and ready. We first took a tour with 3 other potential students, we were all juniors I believe, the others were dance majors though, and our tour guide was a dance major, but very inclusive to my son, the only MT major in our group. We had a very thorough tour with lots of discussions and saw the whole campus. We learned that they have their own Athletic Trainer specific to the Performing Arts students and a smaller fitness center too. Once the tour was completed my son was able to sit in on two classes. The first one he sat in on was The History of Musical Theater with Professor Dan Kozar, he is the program coordinator for Theater and the costume designer in Residence. I sat out in the hall area and used one of their study areas, but you could hear the professor, he was gregarious and engaging. We then went off to his Admission meeting, which was not like any other my daughter was ever on, she always went into an office alone. This one we did right in the lounge with me present. Once he heard my son also runs Cross Country and Track he immediately offered to have him meet with the assistant coach when we were done. He talked to us and asked a few questions then let us ask the questions. They do not have a cap during auditions. They are looking for students that are the right fit for their program and believe that if they see someone who’s personality shines through, they are genuine have a passion and potential, then they want them. He stated that they would rather add additional classes to their schedule to keep the ratios low, rather than miss out on a student due to having limitations. This has allowed them to have 40-50 students in the entire Performing Arts program. There is cross over with dance as well as many of the students’ dual major.
When we headed to lunch we stopped at the Main Theater, there were two young ladies there and asked if there was any way possible to see the theater, there was a class during our tour so we could not enter. Just as they were saying they needed to check if there was a class, Professor Kozar came right up behind us, he remembered Logan from the class he sat in on and invited him to come with him to check things out. He brought us to the upper level of the theater and to look out over the stage, he showed us the set of this weekend’s show La Bete and then brought us down to the costume room and showed us what they were working on and where they store the current costumes. Then he took us further in and showed us where the vocal rehearsal rooms are.
We then went into the dining hall and the coach was down there to talk to logan, he waited while we finished up with the professor. He talked with the Cross Country Coach and he has had and currently has several MT majors that run for him. The MT classes are not scheduled during training time which is generally 3:15-4:30 and if one should be they can show up a little late and it’s not huge. They have 7 invitationals all but one is on Saturday’s.
We also found out during the interview that they run 8 shows a year, 4 per semester and Freshman can participate in all except the Senior Showcase. They also have a Freshman Showcase as well. Joe also mentioned that they conduct Master Classes and Workshops with industry insiders, they create special events to bring them in from NYC, Boston, and Philly. He said their goal is that every student has a very large book of industry contacts so they can make networking connections prior to graduation. They invite the elite producers, directors, and choreographers from the Senior Showcase and it is well attended.
So, he went from, “I’m not sure, this is not a BFA, it may not be for me” to “Mom, I can see myself here! Everyone is so nice and welcoming, they seem like they really want people that want to work hard and they seem to be looking to grow the program.” The other thing we truly liked was that provided you submit your application prior to your audition, you will hear from them within 3 weeks and it will be a combined acceptance should you be accepted. Joe stated that it does not matter if you audition in the fall or take the last audition in the spring there is still opportunity. Due to the nature of course work and Senior project, plus the musical his senior year we hope to have as many completed in the fall as possible, we are aware that some schools don’t even start auditions until January, so those we will work out.
I know this was very lengthy, but there was just so much good to report. Our main concern now is the price tag. It is much more expensive then most schools we are looking at with BFA’s so I did talk to my son and he knows he can not fall in love with anything right now, that it will all come down to the aid package in the end.
Hope this helps at least a little.
Thank you for the review, I have a junior as well and we will now look at this school.
@sonnie323 THANK you so much for the tour description! I had heard of this school by name only over the years, but had no idea they had MT until we started the process. It definitely feels like they are trying to step up their attempts to expose the program on the national level. We were pleasantly surprised to see them at Unifieds.
As far as price tag, I wouldn’t let that deter you or any future folks who will read this from applying. D received a very generous artistic award after her audition that according to her, it can be stacked with her merit awards. The “back of the envelope math” is showing Dean may end up being her least expensive option…even over State.