<p>Hi there guys!
I've been reading these forums for a while now and I thoughtit was about time for me to chime in...well...actually...more to ask for help! I'm a junior in HS and want to major in directing, but from what I've read on these threads a BA or BFA isnt very well respected, but I can't see myself spending four years waiting to do what I love. Some of the schools I am looking at are BA theater majors and some film directing since I've had a lot of experience in that too. I still plan to do an MFA in directing (for theatre) afterwards anyway!
So question #1:Is this going to be a huge mistake?
and for #2...These are the schools I'm interested in and any information anyone has anymore information on them I would be unbelievably grateful!
Otterbein College=>BA Theater
Elon=> BA w/ design/production/directing emphasis
Baldwin-Wallace=>BA Theater
Catawba College=>BFA Directing
College of Santa Fe=> starting as arts management major then transfer to documentary filmmaking
Emerson=>Theatre Education
Carnegie Mellon=>BFA directing
UArts=>Applied Theater Arts
Wagner=> Arts Administration</p>
<p>So I guess my question is should I find more BFA directing programs or should I stick to my list and wait for my MFA? I really love Carnegie Mellon's program so if anyone as any info on that I would love them forever!!!!1
thanks for any and all the help!
Carrie</p>
<p>I want to be a directing major too. But every school i look at I have the same problem. I don't know if doing JUST DIRECTING would get me a good enough job. But I think you should do what you love. Thanks for the directing schools really helped out!!!!</p>
<p>"I don't know if doing JUST DIRECTING would get me a good enough job."</p>
<p>I am very interested in Carnegie Mellon as well (for their acting program, though), so I am familiar with the School of Drama on the whole. Just looking at the alumni of their directing program (which I think is one of the few true undergrad directing training programs) its clear that they go into ALOT of different jobs in showbiz -- all of which the directing program helped them to achieve probably. Directing takes bits from all of the different aspects of the school (this is probably true of other directing programs as well - directors need to know how to do EVERYTHING, right?!), so graduates go into not only directing, but also producing, casting, management, writing, script supervising......</p>
<p>I have been looking at that school actually, and it sounds pretty good but I will have to look into it more extensively now. Do you know of any other good directing schools?</p>
<p>And another thing is that if your not sure what you want to do, which is my problem kinda as well, is to be a directing major at the college you choose but your first year take some other courses that you think that you might be interested in then if you like that you can just change majors. Everybody in college does. I wanted to be an interior designer, now I want to be a director, but I may change it tomorrow.</p>
<p>Otterbein's BA in Theatre, while not a BFA in Directing, is actually designed for students who eventually want to direct. We decided not to make it a BFA because we believe that directors need as much work in other fields as they can work into their four years--art history, psychology, literature, etc.--in addition to a solid grounding in theatre. If you'll write to me (click on my name to get contact information), I'll put you in touch with our directing teacher and some of our BA's who are active in our "Director's Circle" program.</p>
<p>For theater directing, take a look at NYU Tisch, Playwrights Horizons Studio. My son is getting excellent training and opportunities there (and he loves it).</p>
<p>Jasmom: Thank You Thank You Thank You! I just looked into that program and fell in love!</p>
<p>All you cc folks: Thank you times 99,999,999!!!! I am so grateful for all the information provided on here! I now feel like I have a good list that will allow me to do what I love! If anyone has anymore information, I am extremely grateful for your help! Keep 'em coming!!!</p>
<p>Another school that I am looking into is Savannah College of Art and Design. It's one of the top schools in the nation for the arts. And it's beautiful there!</p>
<p>I just found this site, and I am a Junior directing major at The University of Michigan. If you have any questions about this program, I'd be more than happy to answer them. </p>
<p>I have a lot of friends who want to be directors in the Theatre Arts program at DePaul. I notice that quite often when I skim the list of "What alumni are doing now" and see something that sounds really interesting, its quite often a Theatre Arts graduate.</p>
<p>wandergirl: I don't know much about the program at DePaul, Is it very selective? Are there opportunities for student directors on campus?
Thanks so much! I'm getting such a strong list now!!!</p>
<p>DePaul is very selective, they accept about 50 actors (and cut half after freshman year) and 5 designers/techs in each area which leaves about 20 spaces for dramaturgy/criticism, theatre management, playwrighting and theatre arts. If I had to guess I'd say there are 12 Theatre Arts majors in the freshman class. You can deffinitely assistant direct on campus and you can direct Wrights of Spring projects which are written by students but you won't be able to direct a mainstage show. </p>
<p>Also in the Chicago area, Northwestern has excellent programs in both film and theater, more student run theatre than any campus I've ever been too and more students turn out for the shows. Whenever I visit friends up there we go to like three shows in a weekend. Its a BA, not audition based and you get a lot more flexibility in regard to what classes you can take than at DePaul.</p>