I wasn’t going to do this. just felt funny about it,but I think it is a great way to provide closure to what was an enormously exhausting, stressful, yet inspiring journey with my D. This year in particular , with all that’s going on in the world, feels extra tense and to know a decision is made, programs released, and D is excited just brings a smile to my face and some peace and tranquility to our home. So here goes…
Applied: (Probably missing some) - BOCO, Emerson, Marymount, NYU, Molloy, Wagner, Syracuse, Nazareth, SCAD, Pace, Point Park, CCM, Roosevelt, Ithaca, Ball St, Viterbo, BW, Western CT, Hartt, UCF, UNCSA, Texas St, CMU, Coastal Car,
Prescreens Passed: Emerson, CCM, Syracuse, Point Park, Roosevelt, Ithaca, Hartt, Wagner, NYU
Direct audition : SCAD, Marymount, UNCSA, Molloy, BW (probably more, don’t remember)
Accepted: Viterbo, NYU, SCAD, Nazareth, Roosevelt, Molloy
Background: D is an artist, not just a performing artist, but an everything artist (painting, drawing, crafting - made me a great Game of Thrones platter for Christmas “House XXour last nameXX, Dinner Is Coming”. She’s a very clever kid. Has been in theater since she was 4 or 5. It’s really all she’s ever wanted to do. In my life I’ve known two people who knew what they wanted and never veered from their goal, a family friend who wanted to fly jets and my D. Our family friend is living his dream serving our country flying fighter jets in the Air Force. My D is about to embark on the next stage of her journey. She is also a gifted writer - more on that in a bit.
She attends a Performing Arts magnet HS. It was an audition in program and she was certain she wouldn’t make the cut. Well she made the cut and each yr became a more prominent figure in their troupe as both an actor/singer and a leader. Although quite talented, hasn’t had her fare share of parts at school which always blew us away (probably because she had/ has been the lead of virtually everything in her community theater group for many yrs.) This became difficult for her as she knew she had the talent to star in HS, but for whatever reason (I think her versatility actually hurt her) others would get leads and she would get a small but important character role - which generally was the most memorable. The scenario would constantly be, "Hey you were great, Best part of the show…can’t believe you weren’t the lead, " from many parents, students, etc. But just didn’t happen to the tune of really creating some self doubt. She would be told “Do this and you’ll get that” and then she’d do it and never got the follow through. Got to point where she was actually a bit depressed and we considered therapy because she just couldn’t shake free of assigning her self worth to the opinion of a few important people (to her) in her life. Program in general is not a nurturing one, much more tough love (which can appreciate to a point). Anyway, lots of character parts. In addition to performing, she connected with the local media and ultimately was asked to start writing theater reviews at a few professional theaters in town. They would give her free tix, sit her up front, buy her dinner, and have her attend shows with the rest of the media (with credentials). She created her own blog, connected with many of the professionals in the shows, and had a nice following (don’t know how kids know how to do this stuff). Often she would be in a show, rehearsing for another show, and writing reviews. All theater, all the time.
The person who probably gave her the most confidence was her private singing coach. Has been working with her for three years. Came in as a belter and has become a confident singer. The change has been impressive as her range has dramatically grown while learning to pull back, finesse, build up, etc. It’s a joy to just watch her sing.
Her acting has always been pretty good and many would say that’s actually her most unusually strong quality. Just has a certain knack for it. I think it’s the artist in her. Kind of an old sole. Knows a lot about old music, movies, etc. Loves to read plays.
Dancing was never her thing, didn’t put much time into it, yet has become a pretty decent mover.
Outside of theater, D is a real leader. She has led her HS’s troupe, organized their events, etc. She’s fully engaged. Most importantly, she’s a good fun loving kid. There are some that like to tare you down. She like to build you up and has had to learn how to deal with the other kind.
College app and audition process: Like many parents, we were on her to get her stuff done early without much success. Kept on hounding her, but eventually left it up to her. Prescreens were supposed to be done in August, then September, then October and were submitted in early November. She attended a college audition camp in the summer - highly recommend - and got to sample audition for 10 schools. Essentially all of them questioned her material. She called crying and said “they think my material sucks. What should I do?..” She was really committed to the material however and used it for prescreens. You never know what the results would be if you use different material. Started out getting a lot of rejections but then got some passes at really high end schools just showing how random it can be. Don’t know what created the change, but about two thirds of the way through auditions (after NY Unifieds), she decided to change her material. Looking back at the decisions, this was the turning point. She had plenty of NOs and then all of a sudden the yeses came in, most of them with the new material. To make matters more interesting along the way, right before NY Unifieds, she had a bad fall at dance rehearsal resulting in a pretty bad high ankle sprain. Literally couldn’t walk three days before Unifieds. Her whole world was ending. Got a lot of advice, including from one very kind CCer - you know who you are- and with round the clock treatments, she was able to move with heavy tape and a brace (couldn’t fit her foot in dance shoes but managed through it). Each night in the hotel we would ice it down, tape it up, etc. After about two weeks she was back to normal but it at least 6 or 7 auditions.
So was accepted into several nice programs. Really came down to Roosevelt and Molloy. She has always wanted to be in NY and just felt so comfortable with Rebecca. Never made it to Molloy thanks to Covid 19. Wish we would have seen it while in NY but she auditioned for them in Chicago and NY was pretty booked with other stuff.
Anyway, I’m so happy for her to get this incredible opportunity. I, and she, realize that where you attend is not the be all and end all and that it’s really what you do with it. She’s determined and fierce. I can’t wait to see where this leads.
I wish you all the best and Stay Safe!
but it looks like it’s Malloy College! So happy for your D, I know the kids who attend Malloy/CAP21 love it. I love hearing these stories.