@jbtcat - thanks for the support! He’s pretty excited about what PH is doing and was able to audit classes and see a production - but after the am session, he was already talking about how well it suited him and what work he’s done to date.
@toowonderful - thank you for your support! He’s excited about the flexibility of working not only within the PH studio but collaborating with others, and one of his current classmates is considering Adler. It would be nice for him to have someone familiar, but if not - he already feels part of the new community.
@jbtcat - and of course, Congratulations to you and your daughter and your family who supported her journey to date!
@anjalu, what a great story! I love the metaphor of being Batman instead of “Spiderman 's brother.” Congratulations to him!
@ANJALU What an amazing story!! I am beaming. Congratulations to your son! CCM!!!
@actorparent and @Janine1 thank you both very much! We are pleased and relieved for sure.
Congrats to your son @ANJALU!
@bfahopeful thank you!
@ANJALU, congratulations! I believe we know your Batman…My D was an NHSI Cherub last summer, too, and she will be at CCM this fall as well! Private message me when you have a chance, please. So very excited for our kids!
@momto2artist I believe she may have posted on his facebook wall!
I have been putting off writing one for a while so hopefully I can add mine sometime soon!
Part 1!
Disclaimer: This will be VERY long. So hang with me. This is my story since I’ve never been able to share it in full with someone. I hope this inspires anyone that’s going to be auditioned that reads this! You got this!
Schools Applied to: Belmont, BoCo, Coastal Carolina, Columbia College Chicago, LIU Post, MTSU, Pace, The Hartt School, Point Park University, and University of the Arts
Prescreens: Pace (BFA Acting, BFA FTVC, BA Acting, Coastal Carolina; Passed all
Acceptances: BoCo, Coastal Carolina, MTSU, Columbia College Chicago, LIU Post, Pace, and Hartt
I did a Musical Theatre Intensive at LIU Post in Summer '16, and two MT intensives at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, TN in Summer '16 as well!
Background: So from a young age, I loved to make music and dance, Initially going into High School I was set on attending Belmont as an Audio Engineering major, to further my career in music and be a jack of all trades. Tenth grade comes around the corner, and my school does 1984 as a play. I put off the audition so I could focus on an album I was making at the time, but when I watched it from the crowd, I reeeeeally regret not auditioning for the show. But, I brushed it off and kept on moving. Spring 2015 was approaching, and my Advanced Acting teacher told me- told, not asked. To audition for Hairspray, or I’d be kicked out of her class! So to prevent all of the latter, I decided to audition and I was cast in the Seaweed’s ensemble as Gilbert. Doing Hairspray changed me temporarily, and I saw how enjoyable Theatre was. So I decided to go back and audition for our Fall play, Taming of the Shrew. I was cast as Curtis! I received a lot of positive comments from audience members and such on my performance, and it made me want to do it again.
So, our spring musical, Godspell was announced and auditions were in late December. I’ve never commit myself to singing before, so I was TERRIFIED because I could barely hold a note and stay on pitch. Auditions were terrible for me. I COMPLETELY screwed up “Beautiful City”. I sang the wrong verse, off pitch, off key, all of that. But somehow… I got a callback? Callbacks come, and we do the dance audition and sing again. I was trained in Ballet for 2 years, so I new a little bit and dance came naturally to me, so the dance cal wasn’t challenging much. But then… the bane of my existence came along again. I had to sing! They lined us up and we all sang different excepts of songs, and I sang “We Beseech Thee”. It turned out a little better than my initial audition, but the nerves were still there. A couple days passed, and I was cast as “Ashton - We Beseech Thee Soloist”! I don’t know HOW I did it, but I completely teared up. I trained and trained and trained. Doing self lead vocal exercises for 30-45 minutes a day up until opening night, and the show was amazing. The love I felt on that stage was UNREAL. Godspell COMPLETELY changed my life and enticed me to dedicate myself to Theatre.
We went on to Nashville’s High School Musical Theatre Awards- The Nashie’s, and won Best Show, Best Direction, a close friend of mine who played Jesus won Best Dramatic Actor, and Best Overall Design Concept! Along with a hefty chunk of our cast and I being awarded in All Star Cast and All Star Crew. I never expect to win anything, because all I did on that stage was pour my heart into every song and break the 4th wall as best as I possibly could. But before we went on stage to close the awards by singing the “Finale”, they called up the Best Actor nominees. I was backstage with the cast, doing lip trills and mentally preparing, but then, they said my name. I was sure, I denied it all but people were shouting at me like “Ashton, that’s you! GO UP THERE!” So I went up on the stage, with the biggest smile on my face just happy to even be nominated. With all the other talented actors I was grouped with, I was honored to even be there. Then, they announced the top five, and I moved up again! I really couldn’t contain my excitement. All of this was unexpected and I was astonished. Let alone to be in the top five. Shortly after, they announced the winner. and I won. I was Best Actor out of everyone in Nashville within an 100 mile radius. I didn’t even know what to do on the stage, like, seriously. I did my little squeal, humbly accepted my award, and went backstage again with my heart beating immensely fast, ready to belt the closing number of the awards. Life, changed.
Part 2!
So that summer, I applied for MT intensives and started seriously developing my vocals and such if I were going to actually pursue Musical Theatre as a career. Fall '16 rolled along, we did Biloxi Blues, I played Selridge and it was a crazy change from my brief MT background. But I loved it!
Application season came and I initially had a list of 16 schools. A bunch of top tiers, like Baldwin Wallace, CMU, NYU, Pace, etc etc. I factored finances into the mix and removed the uber expensive ones, and finalized my list. I had all of my academic applications in by November 1st, and started seriously memorizing monologues and songs, going back and forth to find what would compliment my voice the best. From Porgy & Bess, to Violet, to August Wilson monologues, to contemporary musicals/plays. I was a mess. It took me FOREVER to submit my pre-screens also!
I submit Pace and Coastal Carolina’s about a week before the “deadline” and finally took a rest, but I had a show to do. I was cast as Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys & Dolls. Now knowing my vocal ability at that point, I wasn’t so sure about that casting. My highest note I ever consciously hit was a C5 and I couldn’t accurately belt higher than an F4. So I was completely shook and worried.
But, I continuously sang, every day for hours on end. Pushing myself to be able to belt the A’s and Ab’s Nicely required. A couple months passed, and my range extended BIG time. I went from a A2-C5 range to an E2-G#5 with an Ab belt! (Thank you Jesus Christ Superstar and School of Rock, whew). I was ready.
Unifieds were two weeks away, and I had a COMPLETE change of heart. I thought about this for a solid 2 weeks. I want to sing, dance, and act, but I don’t want to be a phenomenal singer, but not be able to act out a song to the best of my ability. So, I changed majors.
TWO WEEKS before Unifieds in Chicago, I called and emailed ALL of my schools and switched from MT to Acting/AT. (Seemed very stupid at the time, but actually worked out!). BoCo was my dream school though. Their Contemporary Theatre program had this gravitational pull on me. So I called BoCo to switch majors, but the (super kind) admissions lady couldn’t guarantee me an audition spot in Chicago. She told me to come by the table a couple hours before, and see if there are any open spots. Now, hearing that, made my heart drop. I paid $110 to apply to this school, and I wouldn’t even be able to audition. Wow.
So in those two weeks, I learned 4 NEW monologues, and got them ready for auditions.
Fast-forward to Unifieds, my Father and I are in Chicago and I’m walking around the Palmer House with a friend of mine from the LIU intensive, scoping out the rooms for the days ahead, and mentally preparing myself. Side note: The Palmer House is REALLY nice. Unifieds are actually super fun. So if you’re considering not going, please go. It’s an extremely fun experience. Just smile a bunch! (and find someone who has access tot he executive floor if you don’t… it’ll come in handy!)
Onto auditions:
BoCo was first. This was my first audition outside of the high school auditions I’ve done. So I was terrified. But, I had a little ritual I would do in my hotel room before I went to show my work anywhere. Meditate for 10 minutes, a mini yoga routine to get the blood moving and to get me loose, and 30 pushups. Only 30 y’all! Not sure why this was my ritual, but it worked!
I walked up to the table, told them my name, and I was on the MT sheet. Told her about my conversation with admissions, and luckily, the admissions lady walked behind me and was like “Oh! You’re Ashton! Yeah the CT sheet is over there, just write your name and you’ll be good to go!”. So I’m beaming and happy to even be here, I don’t have anything but a manilla folder full of my headshots and resumes, aaaand there was no pen. I see the two auditors, Mark and Wanda, and I introduce myself and get a pen. Fill out the questionnaire they have you complete before auditioning, and start making friends with some of my audition members out there. The audition was amazing. We did our monologues, some AMAZING movement led by Wanda, and devised a piece in 30 minutes from a piece of art Wanda gave to us. Shortly after, we had interviews, I interviewed with Mark, and we really connected. My audition there felt solid. They gave me suggestions with my monologues, I found a paper clip during our movement work and characterized it as Simba, and I loved EVERYONE in the ensemble.
Hartt was next day. The choreographer for the musicals at my school (who is now my advisor and literally treats me like her child, I love her) was a former ballet professor at Hartt before she left to come to Nashville. So she gave me a heads up about how unresponsive Alan Rust could sometimes be. But, I went into that audition ready to show them my work. I made everyone in the room laugh with my comedic monologue (which is a great thing apparently) and Mr. Rust gave me a suggestion with my dramatic monologue, by making it physical. (I had to dig a judges grave while saying the monologue… Interesting choice). Spoke with the auditors for a while, and received some good words from them. and I happily left! 
Part 3!
LIU Post was scheduled for later in the week. But I already auditioned for them twice. Once during the summer intensive, I sent in a video audition (to hopefully receive a quicker response), and again at Unifieds. Luckily, David Hugo had some time to squeeze me in. I auditioned for LIU Post the same day as Hartt, and Dave and I connected again just as we have before during the summer. He told me I didn’t really need to audition, I’m in, but he wanted to see what I had anyway to, I quote, “help me get accepted to anywhere I want”! I did two dramatics, and a comedic monologue for him, he coached me a bit and gave me suggestions, then afterwards we just sat down and talked and caught up with each other. Dave is awesome. If you’re going to LIU, or plan on it, be ready! Dave is loving, but he gives the tough love that you need and will PUSH you to EXHAUSTION.
The New School was accepting walk-ins, so I decided to do one. I was wearing an Amethyst crystal, which was a bad decision. I was so tired come the actual audition (even though I had to wait for 45 minutes past my walk-in time). They asked me to fill out an application and I’d receive my decision then, but I never did. I wasn’t too interested.
University of the Arts was the next day. I auditioned for them, fumbled over a couple lines, but didn’t really connect nor click in the audition room. Once that audition ended, I pulled my application from the school and left that where it was.
Point Park came the next day. Fumbled over my lines as well, but the auditors aura was HUGE. So yellow! But, I pulled my application from there as well afterwards.
Pace was a couple hours after Point Park. So I went back to my room, regrouped, did my ritual 
gathered some more headshots, and went to the Pace audition. I was auditioning for all three Acting majors, so I was ready for anything to be thrown at me. Pace’s audition was set up systematically. Alphabetical order. One monologue, partnered scenework then you get a callback. During the callback, you have movement, some partnership games, and then a talkback. That audition… so beautiful. I received three suggestions from all three of the auditors, for the same comedic monologue! They laughed every time, they loved my scenework (my partner was amazing), and the movement was actually pretty challenging. But nonetheless, I loved it. I actually saw Grant Kretchik in the Freshii downstairs after the audition once I got my burrito. He congratulated me on my audition, and told me to expect to hear REALLY good things come March, and asked me which of the three programs I would prefer if I had to choose. Music to my ears!!!
Coastal Carolina was the last audition I did before I left to fly back to Nashville. Apparently, I was the last audition for the auditors as well! They emailed me and asked me to come audition an hour earlier, so I did. I did my two monologues, and they had no suggestions, which was fine. They asked me to pull up a chair, and we talked for a good 20 minutes. They asked me what I knew about the program, any questions I had, and what attracted me to Coastal. Well, I told them everything I knew about the MT, Acting, and Physical Theatre programs. I told them about the PT work I’ve done, and referenced the videos on YouTube and my IB Theatre Arts class and what not, and they were beaming! Before I left, I gave them the links to the YouTube videos showing my work, and they said “You’re perfect. We want you at Coastal!”. Which gave me the confidence I needed to keep moving on.
The wait was grueling and terrible. I heard back from LIU Post first, I was accepted! I was told I’d been accepted way before, but I never guarantee anything until I have it physically. I got a call from Pace during school, asking me which three programs I would prefer (as Grant did), and told me to email Wayne Petro about my decision. Right as I pressed the end call button, I heard him say congratulations!! My heart raced! Pace and BoCo were my top tier “reach” schools and I had the opportunity to pick from one of the THREE programs! I was blessed. Later on that day, I was the first of the BFA Acting program to receive a call from Grant, personally congratulating me on my acceptance! I was gleaming. Wow. Columbia College accepted me once I sent in my monologues and such, which was awesome! I skipped the Belmont audition because I couldn’t switch from MT to Acting, but I was accepted academically, Coastal Carolina accepted me to their BFA Acting and BFA Physical Theatre program, with a very pretty scholarship of in-state tuition, and Hartt emailed me congratulating me on my acceptance! With a scholarship!
The only school left was BoCo. It was all a waiting game. I’d consistently check Twitter to see if anyone was accepted or to find out about acceptance dates, but finally March 31st rolled around. I was leaving an ITS meeting when I got my “Your application status is updated” email. I was accepted!!! With a HUGE scholarship! I cried in my car and called my parents to let them know the good news.
Decision time, I made an appeal to every school asking for more. Personal finances wouldn’t allow anything immediate. I had to decline Pace, Hartt, BoCo, AND LIU Post.
Final Decision:
Coastal Carolina University BFA Physical Theatre Class of 2021!!!
After this LONG trip, it all took a turn for the best, and I committed yesterday!
So even if you decided you want to do Theatre your junior year of High School, work relentlessly until you reach your goals. The Law of Attraction is real, and its all up to you!!!
@vshtxn- Ashton- LOVE THIS! Welcome to the Family! If you have any questions at all- ask! I can also put you in touch with my D. I have to say that the time Coastal spends with auditioners (even at Unifieds- based on your story) is just really awesome. Love that.
CHANTS UP! #tealnation
What a great story! Congrats and good luck to you!
Beautiful post(s). Best of luck to you at school and after!
Great stories! Congrats to all!
@vshtxn Hats off to you! What an incredible journey and testament to your tenacity. It is refreshing to read a Final Decision post written by a student! Best of luck to you as you continue on your path.
@vshtxn a huge congratulations to you and your parents! What an amazing story. Thank you for sharing.