<p>My D is a Junior and we are trying to fine tune our list for next year’s applications. Can someone speak to the culture of the program at IU? I know it is an intense program that likely leaves little time for a life outside of the training, but do the students feel a part of the larger community or very separate? Do they get involved in any other activities? Go Greek? Attend sporting events? Do they all room together?</p>
<p>Hi Shaun - Terry L. from the MT faculty here. Yes, IU is a big school, and yet the Theatre Dept is cozy socially. Its kind of like having both - the big 10 experience AND the smaller liberal arts experience. The theatre students (and those in dance, and also Singing Hoosiers) seem to hang together a lot. Many MT students are in sororities, tho not fraternities so much. They go to games, wear school colors sometimes, and socialize a lot with people outside the program. They always live in the closest dorms to the department (two of the dorms even have practice rooms), and sometimes in a rental house with friends (not always other MT students). Because the campus is not landlocked there is a lot of rental property nearby. In general, I find they feel very much a part of the whole University. Perhaps more than the music school which, though larger, can be confining. And yes, we have a great rapport with the music school - they have several special courses that have been crafted just for our program. I hope this helps! Visiting the campus would really answer any other concerns of this nature. The MT students are friendly and open and love to answer pointed questions! They even dress up on audition days, though we have never asked them to do this. Best wishes on the year ahead! Oh, one more thing…we have recently hired a new full time MT dance professor/choreographer who has many Broadway credits…Liza Genarro. Her father was a very famous choreographer (Peter Gennaro), and she is a wonderful authority on the entire history of Broadway dance. She knew Agnes DeMille, Bob Fosse and all the others personally and was a member of American Dance Machine as a youngster. She is so new she’s not on the website yet - this is the first time I’m writing about it!</p>
<p>Terry,</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your reply and big congratulations on hiring Liza. It sounds like she will be a great addition to a team that already has a great reputation!</p>
<p>It does seem like the IU program is truly the best of both worlds, intimate within the department yet with the benefits of integrating with the rest of the campus. </p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>
<p>Very thrilled to hear the news about Liza Gennaro; I know she has taught at Princeton, Hofstra and has worked everywhere from Goodspeed, to the Muny, to Broadway. But just as importantly I heard a youtube interview with her where she said her dad taught her Steam Heat when she was 5 (and he was on stage in the mid 1950s) in the famous dance number under Fosse’s direction. it’s like getting someone with the history and evolution of Broadway dance in their DNA. so exciting.</p>
<p>@TEELABEE- Hi Terry, My son is considering attending as an MT major. He also has some aspirations to conduct. He did some work with Stephen Zegree in New York this past March, and wouldn’t you know it, Stephen is now at IU. </p>
<p>I see that the students interact with others at school on a social level, do they also on an academical level? Is there time for an MT student to take classes outside of the major, or is that discouraged, or just plain impossible considering the course load?</p>
<p>Thank You</p>
<p>@BigShoes - I’m just seeing this…sorry. Yes, we’re excited to have Stephen here as the new conductor/head of the legendary “Singing Hoosiers.” It is possible to have music studies as some kind of secondary field. I’m afraid I haven’t been here (just 4 years) long enough to REALLY know the ins and outs of those minors in Music. But I do know the Jacobs School (music school) has many opportunities outside of the traditional “performance major” on a selected instrument. I would suggest contacting the “BFA Liason” in musical theatre - Scott Jones (you can find him at the Theatre & Drama website) - he has been around much longer than me and he knows lots of the academice questions like that…and knows the curriculum inside out. You might also want to find my email on the website as well…and write me via email. I don’t seem to get notifications when someone posts here. Best of luck and please keep me posted! -Terry L. PS. (I’ll try posting the link…not sure if its allowed) We can all be contacted from this page: [People</a> | Department of Theatre & Drama](<a href=“Indiana University Bloomington”>Indiana University Bloomington)</p>