<p>What schools might you recommend for a student with strong academics who loves musical theater but doesn't want to major in it? Are there schools where non-majors can take MT courses as electives? I am thinking of opportunities to learn about and develop in MT beyond just being in a student-run production. Thanks for any wisdom!</p>
<p>Well, if I understand you correctly, I will make a suggestion, but productions would all be student-run if they are college theatre. Unless they have paid professionals on staff. Is that what you mean?</p>
<p>Anyway, I have had two students at Harvard who have really enjoyed participating in their musicals. One got cast as Chava in Fiddler as a freshman and then played Nellie in South Pacific as a sophmore. So there is a lot of opportunity there for even lower classmen. Their productions are first rate and the intellectual climate is obviously there.</p>
<p>Also, I have a former student at Princeton and she is VERY active as an actress and involved in directing. They have extensive playwriting projects promoting the works of young playwrites. Although that doesn't help you with musicals</p>
<p>Also, Brown has an outstanding performing arts program. As does Penn, but I don't think Penn does a musical.</p>
<p>I have heard mixed things about UVA's department from family members who are theatre majors there.</p>
<p>that's really all I know on the subject. I am sure others can help you.</p>
<p>Good Luck and congratulations on being an artistic academic!!!</p>
<p>xxx,Mary Anna</p>
<p>I can think of some schools where students who are strong in musical theater and very into it, have gone who did not want to major in it or do a BFA program. These are not the only schools but these are some schools where there is quite a lot available for a musical theater kid. Also do not discount student run productions because at some of these places, this is HIGH quality with some very talented kids like your D who simply opted not to major in MT. At some of these schools, there is a theater department with theater courses and faculty run productions. As well, there are many extracurricular groups for those who want to do shows outside the classroom as well. </p>
<p>Some to explore further along this vein are:
Harvard
Brown
Yale
Princeton
Vassar
Tufts
Skidmore
Sarah Lawrence
Macalester
Boston College
Cornell
Indiana U
Muhlenberg
Connecticut College
Northwestern
Middlebury</p>
<p>Hope this is a start. I know kids going to most of those who fit what you wrote about your daughter.
Susan</p>
<p>That's a great list.</p>
<p>Wouldn't you add Bard and Bennington, or are they mainly straight theatre?</p>
<p>xxx,Mary Anna</p>
<p>Add Williams, Penn, Brandeis and Wesleyan.</p>
<p>add Kenyon and Oberlin.</p>
<p>Add Villanova, my first alma mater - they have an MA theatre grad degree but no undergrad major and they OFTEN have undergrads appearing in their shows. The head of the Theatre Department, Fr. Peter Donohue, is a passionate and gifted musical theatre director who has his been nominated for several Barrymore awards (the Philly equivalent of the Tonys) in the past several years. If you are passionate about musical theatre, you couldn't find a better mentor than him! </p>
<p>Here is a link to the Grad program page which lists the faculty (almost all of of whom also teach undergrad courses - I actually had Jim Christy as my freshman Greek lit teacher!)
<a href="http://theatre.villanova.edu/Overview.htm%5B/url%5D">http://theatre.villanova.edu/Overview.htm</a></p>
<p>Here is info about the theatre minor and other ways for undergrads to get involved:
<a href="http://www.theatre.villanova.edu/undrgrad.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.theatre.villanova.edu/undrgrad.htm</a></p>
<p>PM me if you would like more info - or contact Fr. Peter!</p>
<p>Thanks everyone - great suggestions for us to check out!</p>
<p>Rutgers (on Livingston campus) has a student group which puts on FOUR full musical theater productions a year, all by itself, casting, directing, publicity, sets, costume, the whole thing. While the talents in the productions run from real potential to "isn't she sweet", the shows are always sold out (held at student center) and enjoyed by everyone. On most campuses it would take 5 full time faculty to put on that many shows, but students at Rutgers (in their very typical "can do" attitude) pull off quite a nice product. These are not theater kids, these are future scientists, lawyers, business majors. It is very impressive.</p>
<p>CoachC is right on about Villanova U. I live near that college and was amazed at the professional productions they put on. It was a little disheartening for my daughter (who plans to major in MT) to see these students who were engineer majors and English majors etc. be so talented without even majoring in this field. Then they were winning the Barrymore Awards!</p>