<p>Hi guys,
I'm a senior applying to Fordham Theatre and I'm wondering what are my chances of getting into the playwriting track? I hear it's very selective so what would I need to get in?Also, I think I should note that I am an existential playwright, dabbling in absurdism as well. Many colleges seem to like that aspect of my work, including UArts which is one of my other top choices due to the awesome playwriting program, however will this go well with Fordham seeing as their Jesuit? Thanks!</p>
<p>Admissions decisions are not based on religion or religious views. Program decisions are no different. </p>
<p>Theater program at Lincoln Center is absolutely highly competitive. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Hi, ScriptCrow.</p>
<p>My S will graduate this May with a double major in Performance and Playwriting and to be honest, the Playwriting program is what brought him to Fordham. I don’t think there is an undergraduate program that can compare and it’s even better than some graduate programs that my S has looked into.</p>
<p>You will attend a writing seminar twice a week with majors and non-majors. And you will get three FULL productions of your work…my S was lucky enough to get four, his senior thesis goes up next month, but they have since changed that due to scheduling issues with the theaters. </p>
<p>When you are producing, you will be given a budget up to $500 by the Theatre Department and you will hold auditions and cast your show, find set, costume, sound and lighting designers and a stage manager. A director will be chosen for you…for my S’s shows, three directors were working professionals and one was a Fordham senior directing major. You will also attend a weekly production lab and rehearsals so you can rewrite scenes that aren’t quite working the way you envisioned them. And finally, it’s show time! Usually, a dress and invited dress rehearsal, then three performances. My S has even done some rewrites in between shows based on audience reaction.</p>
<p>This practical training is what separates Fordham from other Playwriting programs IMHO and this is where my S has learned the most. He has also enjoyed the writing seminars which have been taught by various professional playwrights and now that Fordham has a MFA program, he will spend his final semester in the graduate writing seminar so he is very excited about that if a little intimidated!</p>
<p>I can’t tell you how your style of work will impact your admission to the program but I can tell you that it is HIGHLY selective. My S wasn’t offered a spot when he was accepted to Fordham, he got in for Performance and was deferred from the Playwriting program initially presumably because others in prior classes who attempted the double major had crashed and burned (it IS crazy hard) but also because the writing seminar doesn’t begin until second semester so it gave Matthew Maguire some time to come up with a plan for him. As far as I know, there were no Playwriting majors in the Class of 2013, none were initially accepted but 2 were later accepted for the Class of 2014, 1 was accepted for the Class if 2015, and I believe that 3 were accepted for the Class of 2016. My S will not be in the Writing seminar with the undergrads so I have no idea how may were accepted for the Class of 2017. I don’t know exactly how many applicants there are but the unique practical program and NYC location are becoming more and more well known so you are facing some stiff competition but don’t let that discourage you! Why shouldn’t YOU be one of the few???</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about Fordham’s Jesuit identity restricting your work…the Theatre Department and LC student body tend to be quite liberal. And as to whether they will like it…they certainly don’t like everything my S has written but he is still getting a lot out of the program and is very happy he came to Fordham.</p>
<p>I will quickly point out that one of the disadvantages to having such a small group of Playwriting majors is that there is only one section and so you are forced to build your schedule around that class. And in the Fall 2012 there was not enough registration to hold the class because the new Class of 2016 majors hadn’t started the writing seminar yet. So this was a concern because six semesters of the seminar are required for graduation but it worked out and my S took an English class called Plays and Players and developed such a wonderful relationship with the professor who has remained in touch and come to see everything my S has done, in and out of school.</p>
<p>So that’s really all I can think to tell you right now about Fordham Playwriting. Glassharmonica’s D is also a Performance/Playwriting major, Class of 2016 so please let us know how your interview goes and feel free to ask away if you have any other questions! Good luck! :)</p>
<p>My daughter is also a double major in playwriting and performance–and, like SandKmom’s son, the playwriting program is what brought her to Fordham. In face, we first learned about the program here on CC from SandKmom, and meeting her son in person at an info session helped to push Fordham to the top of my daughter’s list. </p>
<p>My daughter is in the class of 2016. There were initially two majors but a third has been added as a double major in performance and playwriting after an internal application, like SandKmom’s son. I’m not sure how many freshman playwrights there are–I think one. </p>
<p>My daughter absolutely loves the program. Her first production was last semester. Although she has had work produced in other venues, nothing compares to the experience of producing and casting your own work. For this production she had a professional director, hired in by the school. He was phenomenal and very supportive. (The $500 is for props, costumes, etc. The school covers the salary of the professional director and other amenities. It was pointed out to them that the actual cost of mounting such a production would be closer to $25,000. </p>
<p>The only other thing I can add to SandKmom’s excellent description is that if you are a double major you cannot act during the semesters you’re producing. That is probably obvious, but the reality hits when your friends are all auditioning but you need to sit out. Of course, you will continue to act in your acting classes.</p>
<p>Hope this helps! </p>