Can someone suggest another school that has a similar program to Emerson’s BFA Theatre (nonperformance) program?
Emerson recently changed the title of all of their theater degrees to ‘BFA.’ They have a rationale as to why they did that here: http://www.emerson.edu/performing-arts/undergraduate-programs/fall-2016-degree-changes
Some cynics say that it’s to make the former ‘BA’ majors more appealing to those students who were redirected to those based on the audition process. Whatever the reason, Emerson has a great program for a variety of students’ needs.
That being said, there are many, many strong BA programs that would be comparable in depth and breadth of course offerings to Emerson’s new BFA track (that used to be the BA track).
What about Emerson’s nonperformance BFA did you like that you’d want to see in another school? Is it a specific focus on the academic theater classes? Is it involvement in a broad array of theater areas? If you can pinpoint what it is that you like (or don’t like) about Emerson, I’m sure you’d get responses from this community to help you out.
Thank you! I didn’t realize this was the old BA program renamed and that makes a lot more sense now. My son is looking for a BA program or very flexible BFA program that involves a broad array of theater areas and doesn’t have an intense focus on performance. He liked the BFA nonperformance track at Emerson because it cut out that actor training core. He wants to pursue other things like writing for television, comedy, directing, etc. He likes the comedic performance BFA or minor at Emerson. He also likes the look of the Film & Television program at Fordham. He’s a little bit all over the place right now to be honest, which is why I think a BA program would be best for him since he’s still figuring it out. The problem with the BA programs that he likes (like Northwestern) is that they tend to be more competitive academically and, although he does have a very high gpa, his ACT score is a 27 (which he’s taking again trying to get up).
BA theater programs tend to have a much lower concentration on the acting core–maybe a semester or a couple of semesters focusing on that, but then they broaden.
I love the new comedy focus at Emerson as well. I think that’s a great addition to their school. My son did a two-week teen program at the Gotham Comedy Club when in high school and it really helped him to think outside of the box of performing someone else’s material. They did a lot of improv and ended the program with a stand-up set. I think many, many screenwriters major in something other than screenwriting or comedy, at least for undergrad. If you want to write, you’ll need a broad perspective of content to pull from, so other majors might be excellent as well. Writing courses are definitely helpful to focus him on writing though.
Another avenue is to find out which colleges have excellent extracurricular comedy or tv/film clubs that he could be involved with. Sometimes figuring out the craft from soup to nuts from other students who know what they’re doing is even more helpful than what students learn in the classroom.
Another consideration is that NYC and Chicago have excellent comedy scenes and there are many opportunities to take summer or weekend/evening classes in writing and comedy.
What about the contemporary theater program at boco?
That looks like a very exciting, dynamic program, but he doesn’t want a conservatory and wants a good amount of regular liberal arts classes.
I have some thoughts for you. SUNY Purchase has a BA. When we visited, we heard from students in the BFA and the BA program and learned about how they’re similar/different. The BA covers more topics more widely than the BFA, which is conservatory in nature. Although my kids want a BFA, this was the first college tour that we took a few years ago that made me feel as though the BA was able to stand alone on the strength of its own program, and not simply a fallback for kids who didn’t get in by audition. (I’m not bashing any other college’s BA program, please don’t yell at me everyone. I’m saying that this was my first personal experience like this).
Another great school that is very broad and fosters out-of-the-box innovation and creativity would be Wesleyan.
Muhlenberg is an extremely flexible program and while the actual acting major has some strong performance classes, your son could combine focused areas and broaden himself.
James Madison might be too performance-based for what he’s looking for, but it offers good liberal arts.
Vassar and Bard (and maybe Skidmore) are liberal arts colleges that have a good appreciation for the arts and provide an excellent education.
If you google any of these colleges and ‘curriculum’ (and ‘theater’ or ‘writing’ or whatever major you’d like to see), you can take a look at whether the types of classes will meet his passions.
Another option to boost liberal arts academics would be for your son to apply to the honors program (or honors college–different names in different schools) in a school that he attends. Check out what those programs are all about. Some have very interesting liberal arts seminars that are out of the box and being innovative helps with future contemporary writing gigs. (shameless plug–check out the honors program at SUNY Fredonia, which my son attends and loves–and also has a BA theater program, but he’s a freshman BFA so I don’t know that much about the BA).
My D is in the BFA program at SUNY Purchase. Over the break, one of her good friends (a BA Theater student at Purchase BY CHOICE - not by fallback) stayed with us for a week. He really loves the BA program. His interests expand beyond performing - he is also interested in writing and dramaturgy. He feels the BA program will give him the flexibility to pursue areas beyond performance that would not have been available to him in the BFA program. He is a freshman so time will tell but for now, he has nothing but good things to say about pursuing the BA route at Purchase.
James Madison can be more performance based for a student interested in that focus, but there are many students who are more focused on directing, playwriting, devising, dramatugy, arts in the community, design and technology, arts management, etc… or a combination so, it may offer the breadth he is looking for in a program. Quite a few Theatre majors also chose to double major in the School of Media Arts and Design, where screenwriting is offered. I am happy to answer specific questions if you PM me.
I did not know SUNY Purchase had a BA program. That’s great info – thanks! Muhlenberg and Wesleyan are definitely on our list, although his ACT score is probably not competitive enough for the latter. I will look at Vassar, Bard, Skidmore, and James Madison today. He feels the same as your daughter’s friend, @artskids. He goes to a PA high school now and has many interests that he wants to pursue beyond acting core classes. Thanks for your help everyone!
Check out Drew University in Madison NJ My daughter attends there and loves it.
Skidmore allows you to take up to 60% of your classes in the theatre major, it looked great and my daughter was very tempted to go there! Also Sarah Lawrence has a great department with lots of flexibility.