(Part 2)
There is quite a lot to say about the program. I would say if you’re interested in fine details more about what the experience of it all is like after reading this next chunk, PM me or have your student join this year’s auditioning Facebook group (I think it’s like Crucible Cast Party or something) and post in there (I believe some of my peers in the program are in that group). Some of the details of this could very well change and probably will change by the time your student potentially comes to Emerson.
But based on my experience/the curriculum now, and my understanding of the changes going forward, as a general overview: for the entire time you are in the program you will always have AT MINIMUM a twice a week 1 hour and 45 min dance class, a once a week 1 hour voice lesson and a twice a week 2 hour and 45 min acting class. Those will be your performing requirements.
In the first year the dance class is Ballet I for a semester and Jazz I for the other (dance is not leveled and you cannot skip this class to take the advanced class). The acting is mixed with the theatre and performance majors and is Linklater voice and movement based in a lot of different methods. In sophomore year the acting class, which will just be the MTs in your year at that point, is Scene Study in the fall (which is a combination of exercises to learn technique, and then assigned scenes to apply the concepts) and then a basics of acting through the song class in the spring (we also received early professional orientation such as mock auds, going over contracts, websites, standard email conventions, etc). The dance classes are hip hop and tap that year. Junior year, you make the full transition to “studio” where the acting class becomes 3 times a week for 2 hours and 45 min each. For the fall the two main days are further exploration of solo acting through the song classes and the third day is essentially a technical examination about sound production in singing to effectively communicate the text (this is a very reductive explanation but it’s a summary). In the spring it’s “advanced” solo work, coming to more contemporary material, and musical scene study the main two days, and dialects for the third day. The dance class is a general “MT Rep” class so just focusing the technique you learned through a fine point to look more at style as well as mock auds. If you have the credit room, either from APs or IBs or dual enrollment or waived requirements from test scores, etc, this year is when people usually start to add elective dance classes, like Ballet or Jazz II, or modern, or tap and hip hop (which my class didn’t get to take as sophomores because our requirements were different than what your students now have to take). As well as potentially elective advanced acting courses like acting for the camera, or the chekhov technique, or even playwriting. Usually people will have at least one or two elective spaces to take extra classes like this. Senior year, the main two days of studio will be pop/rock performance and contemporary MT styles for the fall and the third day is Shakespeare. In the spring the two days are called “pre-pro” which is essentially masterclasses, workshops and mock auditions with professionals from Boston or NYC. They also do a reading of a new work by a resident composer. The third day is Sondheim. The dance class is another MT styles/rep class, building upon the previous year.
There are also “academic” requirements for PA classes. In freshman year it is called Languages of the Stage which is essentially an intro to theatre studies class that every PA is required to take. They introduce a common vocabulary to all PA students about theatrical concepts and ideas. It is a one semester, three times a week 1 hour and 45 min class, with a big lecture one day and then break out smaller classes the other two days. Sophomore year it’s a (I believe only one semester now but I could be totally wrong) one semester “world drama” course which is pretty self explanatory but basically just about theatrical history and traditions from various countries and styles around the world. This is twice a week for 1 hour and 45 min. You are also required to take two 2 credit stagecraft classes which range from mask making, to scenic construction, to scene painting to electrics and now they’re offering makeup too I think! These will either be twice a week for 1 hour and 45 min for half a semester or once a week for 1 hour and 45 min for the whole semester. Junior year there is a full year of “History of the American Musical”. This was not in our requirements, but I audited the course and it was fantastic. I am unsure what their plans are to change it because it’s historically (lol) only been a semester long class. Some have told me they are considering adding a “rep” element to the class where there is performance. You would have to ask a younger student or email the school itself. You have none of these requirements senior year.
This is all in addition to the liberal arts requirements that are trademarks of Emerson’s program.
In terms of performance opportunities for the main stage, there are currently two musicals a year, one small cast and one big cast (this coming year it will be Godspell and 9 to 5). Then there are roughly 4-5 main stage plays of varying cast sizes, as well as a new works festival for all of March that includes two fully produced productions, one written by a student at Emerson, and one by an up and coming professional playwright. Last year, the latter was actually a musical. Between those two productions there is also a slew of readings and shorts also written by students. I will say that yes, Emerson has three beautiful old time theatres that are gorgeously decorated and have prob over a thousand seats each. But the Colonial is almost exclusively for out of town shows, and the other two only get one production a year for main stage college shows. Typically both spaces are used for ArtsEmerson (the professional company associated with Emerson) shows which students NORMALLY cannot be in. Not that performing in these gorgeous spaces is the end all be all I just always want to bring it up because it’s what prospective students usually think of as a strong reason to come, and the reality is you may never get to perform in either space (I most likely will not get to before I graduate).
In addition to this there truly is a PLETHORA of other opportunities to perform through the student orgs that the above posts mentioned. There is a student theatre troupe dedicated to doing musicals that produces 4 ish shows a year. There is a troupe dedicated to TYA shows that usually does 1-2 musicals and 1-2 plays. Also other troupes that sounds rarely produced works, or works by writers of color and performed exclusively by woman and non binary individuals of color. In addition to this, there are grad student directing projects, student films for class or extracurriculars. There are also 5 acappella groups and 2 dance troupes that are all student run. There are even comedy troupes. And the list goes on. Truly there is something for everyone in the student org scene if you have time for it in your schedule and if it suits you.
Last thing to clear up that I think most people know by this point but I just want to put it out there: the average class size for MT, unless that changes in the future, is capped at 18 students. When I was applying to MT at Emerson I thought it was more like 20-30, but the class size is actually very small comparatively. My class has 13, the rising juniors has 15, and the rising sophomores have 18. But all three classes above us had 12 or 14. It is a VERY small school and program.
Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy and good luck with your decisions!