I have a friend who has a son that needs school choices ( he’s a unior now) that maybe are strongest in Acting but also offer MT… He is a stronger candidate for acting and then dance and then voice so I’m thinking he needs schools that the singing weakness won’t be a deal breaker, like maybe where the school has strong acting and MT & then he could apply to both programs? Perhaps Ithaca? Any suggestions? Maybe if he didn’t get into MT then acting would still be strong at the school…& he could re direct to acting…
Ithaca’s Acting and MT are very integrated. But if his voice isn’t great, he won’t get into MT. However, if he gets into Acting, he takes the same classes as the MT majors for the first 2 years (minus the voice lessons…but same acting, voice and movement, and dance classes). Plus, all Acting and MT majors must audition for all the musicals and plays…they just cast all the shows for the entire pool of kids. Ithaca will sometimes offer an Acting slot to an MT applicant if they think they would be a better fit for Acting. So he should definitely include Ithaca on his list.
I would suggest he audition for straight acting programs that would allow him to audition for musical shows. Maybe BU - they do a musical every year, even though they are a straight acting program. After having done this process with my D, I feel (and others may disagree) you really have to be a true triple threat for the top (and even middle tier) MT programs. She was auditioning for MT and thought halfway through: “I’m an actor who sings” and then focused more on her straight acting auditions.
OCUs BFA Acting degree is terrific. Recent grads are being cast in TV film and even as leads in national tours of musicals. They also take some voice and dance. And can audition for all musicals if they wish.
I’d encourage him to also check out Wright State, UArts, and maybe Otterbein.
Besides the good suggestions already mentioned…
At NYU/Tisch, whether you major in acting or MT, the degree is in DRAMA. Many of the Acting studios offer singing and dancing and any Tischie can take private voice. Acting students can be cast in Tisch musicals and have held leads in them. I know some Acting students from Tisch who have gone onto Broadway musicals.
My D’s roomie is in Hartt’s Actor Training proram but did plenty of MT shows in community theaters and in HS. She is supplementing her AT work with private voice lessons from an MT voice teacher (additional cost, but can be done) and dance through the community division program (again, additional cost) - AT students don’t get cast in musicals at Hartt but they do routinely get cast in musicals at Monomoy, the summer stock theater that Hartt sposors on Cape Cod. Anyway, it is possible to focus on Acting while also getting some supplementary MT training there.
Oh, yeah, I forgot to add NYU Tisch to my suggestions…
UNCSA’s BFA Acting program includes some singing and dance classes as part of the curriculum. They don’t offer MT as a major, but they consider some MT training to simply be part of being a well-rounded and versatile actor, so it’s part if tbe acting program.
I agree about UNCSA. The curriculum is similar to Juilliard in content and philosophy…they do not have a separate MT program, but rather integrate voice, dance and acting each day into intensive, well rounded training. UNCSA requires a song during auditions…even though it is not an MT program.
Webster also has both programs and they are very integrated…actors and MT students go through much of it together.
I have been told U Arts also has a fairly integrated program for actors and MT (vs. some schools where they are very, very separate).
Oklahoma University has two distinct schools…one for drama and one for MT. However, there is some overlap with the training.
Of course, CMU also has both acting and MT and they clearly say that there is a lot of overlap b/w the two programs. So actors get a lot of dance and singing training. I don’t think the actors can audition for musicals though.
CMU actors can audition for musicals- and are cast. When we saw a show there during D’s auction year (2014) the male lead was an acting major
thanks @toowonderful! So good to know. 
Utah has good cross pollination between MTP and ATP. Private voice lessons with faculty are an option for ATP students and there is lots of back and forth casting. Lots of equity and semi pro theatres to utilize as well.
Northwestern is another school where straight acting and MT are very integrated, and everyone can audition for any of the 60+ shows on campus.
Coastal Carolina is another program where there is a great deal of crossover. You can audition for MT and asked to be also considered for Acting/PT.
Ditto on Coastal @austinmtmom . They have made it very clear to us that it is an acting based program with excellent training in all three disciplines. There have been several musicals in the last few years in which acting majors have had leads and vice/versa. They also have a really unique Physical Acting BFA program.
I think Wright State would fit the bill nicely as well.
A few years ago I would not have suggested Montclair, but the Acting and MT departments have become more integrated, especially since they’ve introduced the BFA Acting major with MT minor. One of the kids who played Max Bialystock in the Producers a few months ago was a BFA Acting major. When they did Whorehouse in the fall, my daughter, who is a singer/dancer BFA MT, had more of an acting role, while her friend who is BFA Acting/MT minor had a singing/dancing role.