<p>I appreciate the idea set forth here that every student is not at the same level, and that there are many paths to take to reach a goal.
My D and I leave early tomorrow, for some auditions at some lesser known programs, and I will post info about those programs when I get back in a week. The thoughtful consideration many of you put into each carefully chosen word you post here reflects the fact that the many exceptional CC kids, come from very exceptional parents, teachers and coaches who have nurtured their talent and kissed their booboos, sending them off into the world with the confidence and skills to succeed, as well as the wisdom to make lemonade from the occaisional lemon.
Thank you.</p>
<p>Geez....just when I was enjoying the simple sharing of feelings and impressions with students and other parents...now I am again being dissected by the forensic experts. I certainly did not mean to mislead or provide false information to anyone who reads this board that might make them think that they can blow off their dance and voice lessons and get cast in a lead in a musical on broadway. I was trying to share a couple of epiphanies that me and D have had while exhibiting a little sense of humor:</p>
<p>Things that we think we have learned:
1) In between trying to get cast as the female lead in a Musical Theater production there is much other work out there which can be just as rewarding and meaningful</p>
<p>2) Having heard first hand from professional actors, casting directors, and agents that they consider MT a sub-set of "theater" and were confused that we seemed to think of them as separate animals, it opened our eyes to a broader view of what D should consider for her toolbox</p>
<p>3) How do we explain Britney Spears, Christina Applegate, Brooke Shields being cast in lead roles on Broadway? What is there to learn from this? Debbie Reynolds was cast as Debbie Selden in Singing in the Rain and she had not had one dance lesson in her life. They taught her to tap for the movie. Renee Zellweger and Richard Gere in Chicago?? Why wouldn't they have used the Broadway stars?</p>
<p>I am sure that my comments seem uneducated to some, but they are what we have experienced. I don't purport to be here to guide anyone.</p>
<p>NOCCAMom </p>
<p>I truly apologize for being the lead forensic scientist responsible for upsetting you! You have obviously collected many valuable impressions and info directly from sources this year, and my goal in responding to your post was to share some other direct-from-the-source info that presented a contrasting/different view of the professional world. Every professional actors experience IS different, and I should have made it clear that I was simply presenting other stories that showed when MT training IS the focus in the professional world because sometimes it is and sometimes it isnt its all very project-specific. I know that was clear to you (didnt mean to imply that it wasnt!) but I also knew that it wasnt clear to all readers and I know this only because I had a student of mine, a dedicated CC lurker who is NOT enthusiastic about dance but who is an athletic-looking guy and therefore needs to be a good mover, since he will be asked to dance often in auditions, read your post call me to say, WAIT!!! Why are you emphasizing that I need to up my dance training if no professional people are going to care???? (Sorry, student o mine, I still say you should dance dance dance! ;) ) I also felt it was important to point out that chorus roles are really valid for the sake of those students (and parents) reading here who are just beginning to get their bearings with MT terminology and the hierarchy of the professional world Im sorry I missed that you were making a joke! (I usually HAVE a sense of humor looooong week! :) ) </p>
<p>On a related note - I know Im not a real mom of an MT kid, but my heart goes through similar stress as all of yours EVERY year (although lesser in degree, I am sure), for each of my students. I am in the throes of it now, just as you all are I feel like I have 15 kids of my own, each walking on pins and needles every day as they await news from their colleges. Each of these wonderful kids truly IS special, and its a huuuuuge responsibility to be charged with helping colleges. (Right, Mary Anna? ;) ) I started this whole coaching deal back when I was a high school drama teacher who was asked by bewildered students to provide some guidance in the overwhelming process, so Ive spent years immersing myself in how it all works both collegiately and professionally. I always find that anecdotes about people currently in college programs or working in the pro. world help me both learn about and teach the realities of the crazy biz (which has changed a LOT since I was doing regional MT professionally, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth), and Im always excited to share those, maybe because I'm such an "MT geek" that I always find them totally fascinating! But again, I should have made it clear that I was presenting other realities of the professional world, not negating those which you presented. I never intended to cause stress, especially on a thread that was truly designed as a celebration of the great kids here my teacher self just got a lil crazy!</p>
<p>Coach C - Hugs to you!! I appreciate that you finally understood what I was trying to say! I completely understand the "long week" thing. I think it is very important that you guide your students in the best way that you can. You and Mary Anna have given us all invaluable professional advice. What is important for everyone to remember on this message board is that some of us are mere mortals trying to help ourselves and others in the same boat by sharing our thoughts and experiences. No one should misinterpret that as professional advice unless it is clear that the person speaking is a professional. I think it is great that your student contacted you to ask about the comments here. That was smart on his part and it gives you the opportunity to explain from your perspective what you think. Through competitive gymnastics, competitive cheerleading and now theater I have often had the discussion with coaches about the role of the parent versus the coach. I have never tried to tell a coach how to teach or coach my children that would be as ridiculous as them trying to tell me how to mother them. I feel my role as the parent is to be an advocate, bring my knowledge of them to help coaches understand them better and to guide them in making right choices for themselves. Along with that role comes the anxiety, helplessness, and heart pain in watching your children experience the process.</p>
<p>I would love to hear more thoughts from other parents and students out there back on track of the intent...which was "EACH of YOU is SPECIAL". I will start by sharing a quick story. My D and S just finished a show at their public high school . They did Beauty and the Beast. 170 kids tried out, 80 were cast, most had never been on a stage before. The guy who was cast as Gaston, is a football player who was in choir but had never tried out for a play before. He was unbelieveable. One of the best performances I have seen in awhile. We are all thrilled for his new found success and love of live performance theater. It was thrilling to see someone who took a risk and worked hard at it, and was rewarded with a positive experience.</p>
<p>Several posts back, babar said: "When I read over and over about those kids who have it all, I sometimes feel sad and wish that my child and all the other aspiring students were wrapped as perfect packages - perfect scores, GPAs, ECs and perfect auditions, too."</p>
<p>I won't deny that some kids can present themselves as better "packages" than others. Some have been able to compile an impressive array of training, performance and academics...while possibly saving the world on the side. Some...an infinitesimal few...have rare, rare, world-beating talent. But what I really want to say is that just as none of us parents is perfect, neither is any kid. And if some parents' posts seem to paint some kids as impossibly perfect...well, just keep in mind that the posters are the kids' hugest and least objective fans. For better or worse, this is not a forum where you'll find parents saying, "My kid is fabulous at this, this, and this, but let me tell you about the ways in which s/he is an all-too-human screw-up." I'm not suggesting people are making things up. I'm just urging perspective.</p>
<p>Also several posts back, actorsdad said, "One thing we found when visiting (over 15 schools) was that almost every student was happy with their school. Even students that were initially dissapointed about not getting into the their first or second choice."</p>
<p>My D always had very good feelings about the school whose MT program she's now in, College of Santa Fe. However, during the application/audition process last year she decided that another program was her first choice. She got into that college but not the MT program, and at first was heartbroken. But when she was home for winter break as a happy CSF student, she said, "Remember how much I wanted to go to....." -- and for a long moment she honestly blanked on the name of the school that she'd thought she HAD to go to. Would she have been happy at that school, too? Probably. She's studying what she loves, and most of the schools listed here could probably present it to her in a way she'd gladly devour...even though each would present it in its own way. I'm guessing that's true for most of our kids.</p>
<p>We were talking on another thread about how this process is about so much more than just the college audition and where your student ends up going to school.</p>
<p>Along the way we learn so much about these children, their dreams and how they are developing into adulthood. Also this process brings us to a new understanding of how the lives of our children and their flight from the nest effects the family dynamic. And how they hope to touch the lives of others. </p>
<p>Also, there are the associations with other families and new found friendships. As parents and teachers learning to trust, learning patience and above all else the love we have for these precious creative souls and how to nurture unconditionally. How to give support AND how to set boundaries.</p>
<p>I feel like these gifted and talented kids give me a life lesson each day and I am grateful for what they teach me. We are all learning together.</p>
<p>xxx,Mary Anna</p>
<p>Great thread, Mary Anna, and much needed!</p>
<p>to everyone who was so kind and wished me luck:</p>
<p>my BoCo audition went very very well. the dance portion was REALLY hard, but i did the best i could and had a really good time. songs/monologues went as well as i think they could have and overall i feel like i did my absolute best.</p>
<p>thank you so much for all the kind wishes, now only 6 weeks of waiting!!!</p>
<p>maggie</p>
<p>Maggie...so glad that it went so positively for you!! Don't worry too much on the dance. I don't know to what degree it counts. I know last year they didn't even include dance at the auditions. We also observed dance classes on a prior visit and it was clear that they had PLACEMENT....various levels, and thus students with varying degrees of experience apparently attend. We observed an intermediate ballet class and frankly many in that class did not come across as having significant ballet backgrounds. So, I think they do take kids who are not dancers. I know some kids who are freshmen this year who I know were not dancers before going. Remember that part of a dance audition besides technique, is also PERFORMING and if you let that come across, it was a chance to show that part of your stage presence. If the songs/monos went really well for you, that is great. I'm glad you got to come away feeling you did your best and that it went well. To me, that is a successful audition experience. While of course you want it to result in an admission, it still was the most you can expect and for that I'm glad. Also, it is tough if you only applied to one place for transfer (that's the case, right?). I'm proud of you and the rest is truly out of your hands.</p>
<p>susan --</p>
<p>yes, BoCo DID end up being my only audition. there was really just no way i could pay for any more app fees/auditions. it's unfortunate, but it's reality for me, i guess.</p>
<p>i'm definitely not worried about how hard the dance was. i definitely feel like i PERFORMED the dance to the best of my ability, and actually did a lot better with it than i thought i would. i guess those few weeks of ballet here have really paid off!! </p>
<p>you're right, the rest is completely out of my hands. i'm not saying i'm not going to worry at all, becaues that's just completely unrealistic!! i'm just saying it won't consume every moment of thought like auditions did (yes, i even DREAMED about auditions). </p>
<p>now i can only hope for the best, and that's what i'm doing!!</p>
<p>thank you for all your help,
maggie</p>
<p>Sporti2005 -</p>
<p>I thought about you on Saturday, really! I am so happy that you feel good about how you did. I wish the best outcome for you! Please keep us posted!</p>
<p>Once again, posting on my d's site...still cannot figure out how to get my own!! This forum has been my therapy!!! I started visiting here over a year ago when I realized MT/drama was the only route my d was going to take. The numbers were numbing to me. Her jr. year was spent researching schools, summer was spent visiting 10 schools, fall spent applying to 7 schools, winter spent auditioning to the 7 schools. Well, in a way it is good, because the focus for me has been getting her into a program and not dwelling on the fact that she is moving on, growing up. Their dreams become ours, don't they? She has recieved one acceptance, and thankfully it was to one of her top schools. We are doing the happy dance...it is such a relief for all of us, especially her. But, today it hit me...she's in...and she will be going. I will miss her painfully-I wouldn't want it any other way though. Crazy, huh? So, we now wait until April, her top 2 schools notify in April. So, thank you to all of the moms out there...you have helped me through some tough times without even knowing it!!! Just wish I would have posted sooner because it looks as though we were at some of the same auditions.<br>
Thanks again!
Julie</p>
<p>Bless you!
I feel your pain. You are a wonderful mother and have done everything right.
Turn the page on a new chapter. It will be a thriller
xxx,Mary Anna</p>
<p>Mary Anna,
(This is InaSpotlight's mom...finally have my own user id-computer genious I am not!)
Thank you...seems like the past year has been a thriller! Time can now slow down for me! But, I have a feeling it is the start of a whirlwind! I am now so wrapped up in the kids on this site...I look forward to seeing how everyone's auditions went, who has been accepted where, and now the final decisions are coming. I can only wish them luck, and keep them in prayers. It is such a stressful time. I am sure they, like my d, all have friends that have known for months where they are going next year... and the most stressful part of their application process was the essay! Please do not think I am taking anything away from those kids! Being accepted to a college for any degree is so much more selective than when I went through-a few years ago!! But, I believe very few can appreciate the magnitude of the three little words more than us..."I got in"! </p>
<p>Thanks once again.</p>
<p>Sporti2005-
BoCo is one of the schools my d is waiting to hear from. She felt the same as you did...and she thought the people were great, dance was difficult, but actually enjoyable. She is not a dancer, just have tried to "cram" as much dance into her schedule the past couple years when she realized there would be dance auditions for her!!! We wish you the best...April 1 is the date, I believe.</p>
<p>Notfromme -</p>
<p>I can relate to your feelings. This is one of the hardest processes that I have had to go through. I have been a professional project manager and I think this process is challenging!! Major kudos to all parents and kids that attempt it, regardless of the outcome. For those who already know where they are going...bless you. My D and I have gone from pillar to post. Just when we thought we knew what the choice was going to be....some new information changed our minds!! I am keeping a list of lessons learned about this process and one on the list is, "Go beyond the brochure and the admissions recruiters. Talk to students, keep your ears open, talk to professionals, get every perspective you can including visiting your final choices." It has made a all the difference in our list. I can't wait for the news to start rolling in!!</p>
<p>Okay, I have been working up the nerve to post something for about 4 months. This seems like the most user friendly of threads. We live in Montana and my D and I went to the Chicago Unifieds. Whew-what fun. A real eye opener. She has one safety school, Nebraska Wesleyan on her list, the others we are waiting on but realistically, well....<br>
Does anyone know anything about Nebraska Wesleyan? Anyway I just wanted to say hi to all of you and thanks for everything!</p>
<p>Welcome, marianne406. It's great to have you here. I wish I could say that I knew something about Nebraska Wesleyan, but I don't. I feel sure that someone here will have something to say, however. This list (and all its threads) consists of some of the nicest, most helpful people you will even encounter. They've been putting up with me :) for several months now, and believe me, that proves their patience! :)
I hope your stay here on CC is a fun and productive one, and that you have some good news about your D's admissions/acceptances to report soon.
Lisa</p>
<p>Marianne406 -</p>
<p>Welcome!! Glad that you finally posted. I don't know anything about Nebraska Wes. but maybe someone else will. Unifieds was pretty intense and crazy for all of us. What surprised you the most? I was very surprised at how many people were there and how many schools were there.</p>