<p>My son's passion is not performing in musical theater but producing/directing. He loves to oversee the whole event, getting involved in everything from the script, to costumes, technical aspects like lighting, etc. Where do we go to make sure he gets the education needed to get a job in this area?</p>
<p>My Son was into this too and was told that NYU and CMU were the two best for that. Other schools ( Syracuse, Emerson, BoCo I specifically remember) told us that there are opportunities for the student to shadow a director but NYU and CMU had an actual track where they veer off from acting and actually take courses specifically geared to the director. I don't remember what it was for NYU but CMU only took 6 students in the program. I would suspect that NYU is pretty selective too.</p>
<p>Oh, I forgot to add in the previous post that Webster was also supposed to be ranked highly but we were interested in staying on the eastern seaboard so didn't really look into that one but you can check it out.</p>
<p>I would see substantial differences in producer and director in terms of educational background. In addition to looking at schools which have a specific track for directing, you may want to look at places that have theatre or arts administration programs, or theatre tech, beginning in a stage management track, or a BA program, to get a broader basis.</p>
<p>I think Wagner has an Arts Admin program. It is close to Manhattan, and apprenticeships are a big part of the school's curriculum. I have heard the students there make good connections due to the proximity to Broadway. I hope I recall correctly, but if so, it's worth a look.</p>
<p>I do know that senior year at BoCo, you can choose a track that you would like to persue and they do have a director's track. A director whom I met through an actor friend of mine graduated from there and chose the directing track and now owns/runs an Off-Off Broadway theater company and directs the shows there.</p>
<p>What seems to be common with becoming directors is basically interning and doing apprenticeships with a director and slowly moving up the ranks from ASM, SM, AD to director. I'd definitely look at strong programs with tracks in stage management. I know Fordham has a great theater program and a lot of their students often work for theater companies at the NY Fringe and other festivals to gain experience and network.</p>
<p>Take a look at NYU, Tisch, Playwrights Horizons Studio. In the 1st year, students study acting directing and design. They learn to do virtually everything connected to mounting a production. For the second year, they elect one area (or sometimes combine two) for more intensive study. As you'll see if you check out the curiculum (<a href="http://www.phtschool.org)%5B/url%5D">www.phtschool.org)</a>, more options emerge in the 3rd and 4th years. My son acts, directs, and has been asked to design for productions as well. It's giving him an amazingly diverse set of skills.</p>
<p>laurie, here's another NYU option
<a href="http://www.nyu.edu/tisch/drama/tech.track/%5B/url%5D">http://www.nyu.edu/tisch/drama/tech.track/</a></p>
<p>You've gotten great advice already on this thread. I just want to second the suggestion of Playwrights Horizons Studio at Tisch Drama (NYU) for your son's interests. Many kids I know in it have similar ambitions. </p>
<p>Right now, my daughter who is a BFA in Musical theater student at Tisch's CAP21 studio is the musical director for Into the Woods at Tisch. But the producer, director and choreographer, all friends of hers, all are in Playwrights Horizons. These three kids I've known for many years as actors on stage, but have gone with the directing/producing interests in college. My daughter is going for performing, however. But she also does work directing, musically directing, arranging, accompanying and choreographing. </p>
<p>Your son sounds like he'd be best in a program for directing or perhaps a tech track or theater management major with producing in mind. Look into Playwrights, and also the other link Jasmom gave you.</p>
<p>The University of the Arts has a program called Applied Theater Arts and it essentially encompasses all of that and more. Many people who attend the program want to be directors, stage managers, technical directors, management, etc. There is also a Design/Tech program for people who find they prefer design.</p>
<p>Your son may want to look at a BA program where he can focus his energies in his different areas of interest.</p>
<p>When I advise students I often suggest that students interested in producing take on a business minor or double major, and that students interested in directing take on an english or an art history minor or double major.</p>
<p>I went to college with a number of very successful NY theatre producers. One majored in design and technology and interned in NYC every summer with a production company. Another majored in Musical Theatre Performance and later went to Law school for his masters. Another majored in theatre and went on to get his MBA. They all interesed with theatre producers while they were in college or once they had graduated.</p>
<p>Penn State is a strong BA program in a department with MFA actors and BFA Musical Theatre Performers, Designers, and Stage Managers. There are many opportunities for students to assist directors on productions, and direct and produce for one of the many undergraduate student theatre comapnies.</p>
<p>James Madison University offers a BA program... there are concentrations in Theatre, Musical Theatre, and Dance. Students often have the opportunity to assist faculty and guest directors on the main stage. They also have a VERY active student theatre group that is part of the theatre department. The student gorup produces 10 - 12 production per year in an experimental space. Students propose, direct, produce, design, perform, choreograph, musical direct, etc... Because of this experience, many JMU graduates have gone on to start their own theatre companies... </p>
<p>Hope that this helps a little.</p>