<p>If you don’t want la or NY (tisch would be cool) then consider Boston. You don’t have to go to Harvard to be involved in the theater scene happening between all the student actors and theater arts kids in the greater Boston area. MIT has a drama major that’s impressive. Tufts is good. There are theater companies made up of kids from these schools and dozens of other colleges in the Boston area. Essentially Boston is college :)</p>
<p>I heard Boston does have a good program so I’ll have to look into that too… thank you !!</p>
<p>In addition to the suggestions above – if you are looking for an auditioned BA take a look at James Madison in VA. A LOT of students come down from NY, NJ, PA. </p>
<p>Other more mid-atlantic-y schools to look at include: University of Maryland (BA), University of West Virginia (BA and BFA degrees), Catholic University, American (BA) Virginia Commonwealth University (BA and BFA degrees)</p>
<p>In PA Muhlenberg, DeSales, Goucher, and Gettysberg are BA schools with strong theatre programs. Would have to see where your end of year grades and scores are. </p>
<p>Little further south … Coastal Carolina and East Carolina Universities.</p>
<p>Good luck :)</p>
<p>Thank you very much, KatMT!! And my brother goes to WVU… I believe you don’t need to audition for that one. So that will be one of my “safety” schools in case I get rejected from all other auditions. In which case… that’d be pretty demoralizing and I probably would conclude that I’m not good enough to really continue serious theatre training. Haha! Thanks!</p>
<p>
Good girl! That’s what it’s about and you can do it anywhere. Acting is also an ART and a CRAFT. Do it to feed your soul. If it also feeds your wallet, that’s a plus; but, don’t let anyone reduce it to a mere capitalist venture for you before you’ve even gotten started. </p>
<p>There are a lot of what I call Hacktors walking around New York and LA who’ll crow about how “it’s show BUSINESS, not show art;” but, they’re typically waiting tables just like everyone else. The difference is that those who actually have the horse in front of the cart and see it as ART business are feeding their souls through a love of it while the former are waiting around for toothpaste commercials, U5s and whatnot. There’s no joy in that. Don’t drink the Kool Aid. </p>
<p>Instead take your cue from great actors like [Dustin Hoffman in his answer to why he does it on “Inside the Actors Studio” at 10:08.](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpEkiP1OA0A”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpEkiP1OA0A</a>)</p>
<p>Thanks, fishbowl. You are always so helpful.</p>
<p>Also, paige, you’re going to have to deal with what every student on this forum deals with, if they don’t get accepted into auditioned programs: how to keep going with this love of theatre regardless. Someone can get rejected from everywhere and still “deserve” to act and be involved in theatre. Every theatre student has to prepare for rejections from schools (and of course from any other audition they go to) and have their next plan ready.</p>
<p>There are many, many respectable non-auditioned BA (and even some BFA) programs that will give you an excellent education and preparation in theatre. And there are of course innumerable BA programs in other subjects that will educate you, prepare you for a variety of careers, and support you in your further pursuit of theatre.</p>
<p>I know you were kind of joking up there, but please don’t even entertain a single thought that being rejected from auditioned theatre schools will be any real judgment on your “right” to act. It’s a question of timing, and preparation, and personality, and a million other factors you can’t control. Do your best to get experience now, prepare for your auditions well, and have several non-auditioned programs on your list that will guarantee your right to study theatre as you wish to. In a year or so you should have lots of great choices, if you continue to do your research, ask good questions, and make a good list for your needs.</p>
<p>A life in the arts is very personally defined, and as fishbowl says above, based on one’s own personal joy and dedication. If you have that, you’ll find many, many wonderful opportunities.</p>
<p>Paige: I’d add to fish and emmy’s comments that there’s “art” to doing it well and loving it. Just like any trade or profession, such as there’s an art to being a great surgeon over just cutting where you were trained to. </p>
<p>And unlike all the other arts (painting, music, sculpting, etc…) acting is the one art that requires an audience for the artist to do her thing. Without a camera following you or people in seats you can not act. Without the feedback of the director, crew, or audience you’re only rehearsing, not acting. The audience is a “required” ingredient.</p>
<p>And kids in an acting class clapping for you is not real, that’s still rehearsing. So getting work (which means getting paid) in LA or NY is key to becoming a real actor, with real audiences who are there because they paid to see a real actor perform.</p>
<p>And don’t be scared of the big city, LA or NY. If you love to act I’d go there now!</p>
<p>As I said above there are plenty of colleges in both places that will fit your needs (academic and cost). And the dramatic “art” opportunities are endless!</p>
<p>pacheight - There is planty of REAL acting going on outside of LA and NYC! Austin has a very vibrant theatre and film scene with lots of opportunities. Just like lots of other places in world. LA and NYC are NOT the end-all and be-all of the “acting” world.</p>
<p>professional regional theater is great fun. however, many of the companies showing up in Chicago, Boston and San francisco were cast in NY. I think Chicago has the biggest home grown theater scene outside of NY and LA. And the thrill of 1st preview and opening night with a thousand people waiting to see you is way, way better than a catered lunch at a North Hollywood studio. Although the actors have just as much fun at a TV/film studio together around the dressing rooms and green room, just like theater.</p>
<p>One big problem with many regional theaters is they are insular and clubby like a lot of college MT programs, and friends are getting cast over talent in the sense that the creative director doesn’t really put out the effort to find/cast the best for the role, they cast the actors that are part of their fan “club”! their little drama circle:) Most regional theaters survive on donations, not capitalism! So they don’t cast with a drive to make money and survive, they cast their friends. In a big way that’s why regional theaters is just OK, not great.</p>
<p>I don’t know why an actor would start out in any city other than NY or LA, you’re just limiting your opportunities. The demand for actors is huge in LA and NY compared to these other cities.</p>
<p>Paige, be great! go for it!</p>
<p>although I gotta tell you the catered lunches are amazing! way better than the deli food or sushi in the theater district between shows:)</p>
<p>Pacheight, you keep mentioning college MT programs. Perhaps you attended one? There is an MT forum on CC. This is the Drama/Theatre Majors forum. </p>
<p>My son attends a conservatory style theatre program where there is guaranteed casting for all students in one production each <em>quarter,</em> starting in the second half of sophomore year. Freshmen are not cast because they are training hard in the basics.</p>
<p>Each year, some of the students in my son’s program are cast in professional Equity productions in the city where the school is located. They are not paid, but they can become Equity Candidates and earn Equity points. </p>
<p>The students audition at these professional theatres through the intermediary of the school. Sometimes no students are cast in the professional productions, sometimes several students are. If a given student is not cast in a professional production, he or she is cast in a school production.</p>
<p>Note: This city is not New York or LA.</p>
<p>sorry DT then, and good to hear there are programs that don’t force musical theater on college actors, MT is an exhausting thing to put actors through. I know singers that love MT but not many actors:)</p>
<p>college is important and Paige should absolutely get a degree. But I think advising a young actor to start working outside of NY or LA is bad advice. And more importantly I think that if you want to learn acting you should get cast in a paid acting job as soon as possible, go to college acting classes or private acting classes but also get real work. You learn to be a good actor, to be an “artist” working with professionals as a professional. A good example of this is child actors, they didn’t go to college:)</p>
<p>And I do think the MFA (or undergrad) programs that put you on stage with professional (paid) actors and an audience that’s forking out $85 for an orchestra seat is excellent training!!! Almost like getting a paycheck to act.</p>
<p>Pacheight,</p>
<p>Are you implying that the casting in New York and LA is not clubby? Are you kidding me? Moreover, there are many, many actors all over the country who could totally school your average one trick pony TV and film actor who have absolutely zero interest in pursuing what they see as the dreck coming out of New York and LA. In fact, some stay put in the regionals because they dont want to deal with the ridiculous stunt casting of TV and Film stars on the Broadway stage who clearly dont have the chops to do the work justice in the name of capitalism and putting butts in the seats like in New York. The straight theatre work being done in regionals like The Guthrie and even out-of-the way places like the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (10 month contracts) is often FAR superior to that being done in New York because of this. Ive not been to LaLa Land enough to comment first hand on their theatre scene, but what Ive heard from those who can is that its bad. Real bad </p>
<p>i guess everything is a little bit clubby even at the pro level, in a sense that’s how all deals are done. The difference between pro and regional theater/college productions is that clubbiness only gets you the audition in pro, not the part. Casting is answering to the producer and the producer is answering to the investors, it’s driven by who could do the job best! Who can deliver and make the production a financial success!</p>
<p>So yes talent agents know some casting agents better than others and therefore there’s more opportunity to audition with certain casting agents, but believe me casting is selecting the best person for the role. They want to continue to get work from their boss, the producer! They do that by casting the best actor for the role.</p>
<p>I know a lot of great actors, I have yet to meet one who says, “no, I’d rather stay on the stage at the Geary Theater than sell out to LA for millions”, like Denzel or Annette Bening from the Geary. Denzel lasted about 6 months in the MFA program before there was nothing more he could do there or be taught artistically. Unless of course you think they are hack actors. The best actors in our country end up in LA or NY, no one chooses to stay in Austin or anywhere in Oregon.</p>
<p>Not everyone can be excellent at their profession, I understand that. But I think Paige deserves a shot at it! If it doesn’t work then she moves back to the farm and the local theater.</p>
<p>I suppose in your book the guitar playing singer at the local club chooses that over recording for a label in LA, NY, or Nashville as well, you know for the sake of the art you wouldn’t want to go to LA and corrupt your art.</p>
<p>pacheight - If you really think no one chooses to stay in Austin then I suggest you have never been here and met some of the wonderful actors (and musicians, directors, etc.) who make this their home. My D just worked - right here in Austin - with Robert Rodriguez. But I guess he can’t do any better… Poor guy.</p>
<p>Some of the best actors end up in New York or LA. But that doesn’t mean there are not plenty of excellent actors elsewhere. </p>
<p>A life pursing fame and money in the arts is very hard and it is not for everybody. Along with the stars who are great actors, there are also huge stars who have the drive, and/or the looks, and/or the ability to play the same type of character over and over…who are lousy actors. Success and excellence are not necessarily the same thing. You can see this in the music world as well. </p>
<p>Who knows, Paige might end up being a very happy English teacher and a star in local community theatre productions. You sound like you think that would represent failure, Pacheight. I think it represents one of a number of very nice outcomes that are possible for her.</p>
<p>Whoash! I have missed a LOT since I last checked this! I am going to respond to all of you since you took the time to respond to me. Thanks for all your responses… they are seriously so helpful you cannot even imagine!</p>
<p>@Fishbowlfreshman: Yes, I do view as acting as more of a hobby or love for me. I really do not enjoy when people (esp. those who are very famous) say it’s something they do for money and stuff. For me, acting is an ART much more than a BUSINESS. This is one reason why I’m going to get a double major in English education and acting. I’ll view my theatre major more as something I will enjoy and be able to learn a lot about and the English education as my job-type degree. :)</p>
<p>@EmmyBet: I am definitely prepared for rejection. I just recognize that there are plenty of other people out there in the world who are probably WAY better at me than acting. I have started a youtube channel where I do monologues so that people can help me and give me feedback. This way I can get some tips to improve and maybe even discover ultimately what monologues I might do for college auditions. I have decided that I am going to audition to a butt-load of schools (although I do feel bad for making my parents have to pay for all the applications and taking me… I’m getting a job soon so I’ll pay them off for all that!) and hope that some will accept me. And if not I’ll definitely look into non-audition programs. Thank you for your help and advice! I believe that I love acting so much that even if I’m rejected many MANY times my love will continue on. :)</p>
<p>@Pacheight: I definitely get what you’re saying about how for acting you have to perform it in front of others or record it and have others see it. But I wouldn’t exactly say you can’t be called an “actor” if all you ever do is inside your acting classes. I mean, if you love the art and really realy enjoy doing it, then I’d call you and actor. If all you ever do is make monologues for youtube, I’d still call you an actor (hehe, hopefully that won’t be me in a few years :X ). I think it all depends if you want to be considered an actor or not. And I don’t know what will happen in six years when I graduate from college – if I’ll move to NY or LA or if I’ll choose to go into teaching straight away. But whatever happens, I hope I can look back and consider myself an actor 
(…technically, actress).</p>
<p>@NJTheatreMOM: That sounds awesome what your son does! I am not in musical theatre and not interested in it… for I am VERY uncoordinated (well, not very… but still) and sound like a dying cat when I sing. What, it’s true! But I wish your son all the best will all the performance chances he gets and such :D</p>
<p>@Austinmtmom: Yeah I agree with you that people can get performances outside of LA and NY. To be honest, some of the stars in today’s Hollywood world just got there in looks or famous parents! If I ever end up in Hollywood, I will know it is because of my talent rather than my face (HAHA, let’s be real here) or my famous parents (my moms an elementary teacher and my dad works with computers? Yeah, no fame in my family.) But I know if I never really get a shot at Hollywood and end up in some random city doing theatre or perhaps a nice city like Chicago doing theatre that I’ll be very happy. :)</p>
<p>Whoa, I posted the same time you did, and you ended up saying almost the same thing in some of my message, NJTheatreMOM! Yeah the last paragraph really wouldn’t sound like a bad life if you ask me :)</p>
<p>Pacheight,</p>
<p>Why the continued implication that regional theatre is somehow not “pro?” And clubbiness in New York and LA can certainly get you the part probably moreso than other places. Hell, for the supporting roles it often comes down to outright nepotism or who slept with whom. And no. It doesn’t always come down to who can get the job done best at all. Not even usually. You’re right about the chain of command in these decisions, but the producer may decide to “go another direction” because the actress sent up by the CD reminds him of the girl that broke his heart in 8th grade or some such. It’s ALL about relationships and sometimes doesn‘t even have anything to do with the relationship at hand. Especially in the TV and film world where I currently make my living. </p>
<p>Also, Denzel got a BA in Theatre Performance from Fordham before he ever attended ACT and Annette Bening finished her MFA there after getting her theatre degree from San Francisco State. She still does theatre in the regionals, too, as does Kathleen Turner who fired her Big 4 agent and moved down a notch just for that purpose. Then there are also people like Amy Morton who’ve spent time in both New York and LA and were doing quite well, but went back to Chicago because it’s “her city.” Even David Mamet stays there, now. I suppose you’ve never heard of actors like Robin Goodrin-Nordli at Oregon Shakes who could most certainly school your average celebrity, but have chosen to stay out of the mess that is LA. For some, it really is all about the art and they do choose to stay in place. </p>
<p>Before I say anything else, answer me this. Are you even an actor? What is your relationship to this business besides “knowing a lot of great actors?”</p>
<p>regional theater is professional! And some of it is very good. But it’s not where the most opportunity is…not by a long shot.</p>
<p>you can be an “actor” and only ever be on youtube or in local theater, of course…you don’t have to be a pro to act. Or think of yourself as an actor.</p>
<p>and college is very important, you should get a diploma! And I think Annette and Denzel are better actors because of their education.</p>
<p>“reminds him of the girl that broke his heart in 8th grade or some such” this is complete BS, the best person for the role gets the job, the entertainment industry is big business with big money, people get roles because they can deliver, not because of any other reason. And producers, directors, and casting agents are professionals doing a serious job, they’re not playing games. And this, “supporting roles it often comes down to outright nepotism” tells me you have no idea about the entertainment industry and are clueless about acting. The only nepotism I’m aware of is Opie casting his brother, and his brother is a damn good actor!</p>
<p>“Success and excellence are not necessarily the same thing” this is the worst advice I’ve seen in awhile, paige don’t listen to it: whether you choose teaching, acting or something else be excellent at it, success only comes from excellence! I can’t believe that statement, maybe in Oregon or some other rural area you can be successful yet not excellent at your job…geez</p>
<p>and Rodriguez may live in Austin but he works in LA! I like visiting Austin, it has a good music scene, but the whole vibe down there is a bit to religious for me. Texas that is:)</p>
<p>Paige, acting is a great profession. It’s a profession that welcomes everyone, from the very good looking to the ugly, short, fat, tall, and thin. Everyone from actors, to agents, to all the people behind stage or on set are great people, friendly and helpful. And sure you can find this in small scale in Austin, or Ashland, or San Francisco but the majority of “actors” and the entertainment community are in LA and NY.</p>