<p>I am looking for a college with a great theater program that actually allows freshman to be on stage. I've just realized that big schools such as NYU and USC have great theater programs, but they also tend to show major favoritism towards the grads. I don't plan on sweeping stages for 4 years. I also don't want to be forced into a technical school that has an awesome and program. Does anyone know where i should go? Think big city, little school, great program. Please help!!</p>
<p>You should definately look into BoCo. The Boston Conservatory. It is located in Boston (Great city). Entire student body is in the 500s including grads (little school). And it is a top tier school for Musical Theatre. (number 1 last year). Check it out. <a href="http://www.bostonconservatory.edu%5B/url%5D">www.bostonconservatory.edu</a></p>
<p>You asked for Theater and not specifically Musical Theater, so you might want to check out the nine-part Theatre/Drama Colleges Thread. Make sure to check out the Big List with links at the beginning of Part 8. </p>
<p>Off the top of my head, I think freshmen can perform at Otterbein, SMU, Evansville, Florida State, Elon, Emerson, Utah, Hartt, Catawba, and Central Florida. (I'm up way too early and operating off memory, so please correct me if Im wrong. ;)) Do remember, however, that something would be amiss if the average upperclassman isnt a damn sight better than the average freshman so getting cast could be tough at some. Theres a downside to open casting, too, because its possible to go through all four years without getting much stage time as opposed to schools that limit public performance to upperclassmen or operate on a studio system where plays and musicals are selected to include everyone in those groups. You might also want to look into BA programs that dont have an MFA in the same school. Its hard to recommend those because there are so many and appropriate ones depend so much on your academic stats. Its safe to say it would be the case at most of the Ivy League schools and top liberal arts colleges. </p>
<p>Also, at NYU, the grads are a totally separate program from the undergrads, so theres no preference there, but you dont become eligible to perform publically until sophomore year. I dont know what the situation is at USC except that they have a huge BA program, a small, highly-selective BFA, and an MFA that is apparently starting over after somehow being restructured. Hope this helps!</p>
<p>P.S. Nuff about rankings, already ... ;)</p>
<p>Shenandoah has freshman performing in their shows. (As a matter of fact, you must audition) They have several productions a year..two MT, operas, childrens theater, straight plays, student productions....they want you on the stage! If you are not in a production, chances are you will be working behind the scenes.<br>
I agree with what fishbowl said in the fact that upper classmen are ready to be launched...so to say. The chances for a freshman to perform in any large production, I would imagine, should be slim. ALTHOUGH...I do know two freshmen who were cast in the musical and opera last year. (boy and girl) So, it is possible, but I would imagine not likely.
Good Luck!</p>
<p>Freshman can perform at OCU. My son was in two productions last year - a mainstage opera and one stripped production.</p>
<p>Thanks Chrisr..you are absolutely correct! At Oklahoma City University, all students, no matter their class, audition for shows and are cast in shows. There is no "waiting" period. It gives talented freshmen a chance to be exposed to the workings of professional theater.</p>
<p>Check out Wright State Univ. in Ohio. Freshman are allowed to audition and perform.</p>
<p>Thank you guys for responding so quickly. I had to rethink my entire college list this summer so thanks. Continue to post please.</p>
<p>Muhlenberg allows all students to audition.</p>
<p>Be aware that a lot of schools that allow freshman to audition and perform might not have garenteed casting for anyone. You might have the chance to perform as a frosh, but you may end up hardly performing at all the whole time you are there!</p>
<p>As someone who just finished my freshman year at a school where freshmen can perform and not everybody gets cast, I say that I like that kind of program better. It is good to be at a place where you are not guaranteed casting. It will prepare you for what the real world of auditioning is like. Needing to make your audition better than the other people. The casting decisions created no animosity between students as we are all working toward the same goal. I was personally in 5 shows (not including the freshman review) during the year, of which 2 were mainstage productions. I was not cast in as big parts as some of the upper classmen, but that is how the theatre world works. You pay your dues while you learn everything that you can and eventually you will book the parts that you want. We were also competing with grads for roles and I found it a wonderful real life experience.</p>
<p>Ps. BoCo Rocks!</p>
<p>I don't think guarenteed casting doesn't prepare you for the real world, because you are not guarenteed good parts, yet you ARE guaranteed EXPERIANCE, which is what you drop 40K a year for, and you don't want to graduate from school and not have an awsome resume!</p>
<p>ooh. Is there tension? My major concern is not about experience. It is seriously about getting the chane to audition and at least having a fair shot.</p>
<p>Freshman being able to audition and perform is a valid point to consider when selecting colleges to audition at. But don't automatically eliminate those that don't allow freshman to audition either. There are so many things to consider in the process that this should be one of many (and possibly more important to some prospective students than others). My D is going to a college that will let freshman audition, but she was seriously looking at some that did not allow freshman to audition. Good luck with your search!</p>
<p>One of the first things they told my son at Emerson College was to audition for everything. They said the only way to learn is by doing and they can fine-tune in class. My son is now a senior (can't believe 3 years has flown by so fast!) and has had incredible learning experiences, including having major parts in productions at Harvard when he wasn't cast in the Emerson Main Stage as a sophomore, and directing a production in Holland.</p>
<p>
[quote]
They said the only way to learn is by doing and they can fine-tune in class.
[/quote]
That's a valid philosophy as long as there are enough productions and roles to go around. On the contrary, the philosophy at the schools where you are not allowed to perform publically early on is that you should be working on fundamental technique instead of reinforcing bad habits in public performance. There is also the belief that you get more than enough closely supervised performance time in class. Interestingly, the majority of the conservatories and university BFAs that are generally considered "Ivies" seem to take that stance.</p>
<p>The school I was at first semester had open casting. From hearing some of the upperclassmen grouse, a problem seems to be that those who are cast early on tend to be the ones who are repeatedly cast throughout their time there while others who appeared to me to be quite talented had an on-and-off again experience. This snowballed for the few on the "A list" and they got major roles over and over while the rest seemed to wither on the vine. I knew a senior who had only been cast mainstage once sophomore year and a junior who had played major roles every single semester who didn't seem to me to be any better than the other except that she had a distinct look and her roles seemed fairly repetitive - i.e. lots of typecasting. Some of the upperclassmen said they could easily narrow it down to a few people who would get each major role as soon as the shows were announced with the only wildcard being a freshman sneaking into the mix. Needless to say, I sensed a lot of resentment and jealousy and heard a lot of talk about "politics." </p>
<p>I suppose it might not be like that everywhere, but it's something that should be looked into if you come out of auditions with choices. You won't hear anything about it in the schools' recruitment dog and pony shows, either, so you'd best talk to some upperclassmen "off-the-record."</p>
<p>At OCU (and, I assume, many other universities), the audition process is taken very seriously. At OCU, every music voice student, no matter their grade, must audition for every show...be it musical theater or opera. Now, most schools are not like OCU and require students to do this. However, as was stated in a previous post, the audition process is one that all students should be exposed to as many times as possible. It's something you can't learn in the classroom.</p>
<p>Fishbowl is very right about having lots of time performing even if it's not for a show. At my school you performed every day in at least 2 of your classes, and then once a quarter we had a showing of some kind for the faculty, ending with a final show put on by your section (of about 13 students). Also second year we do "intros" which are plays with limited set and costumes to get you back in the swing of things after they strip us of our bad habits. I would be disturbed if I went to a school where the freshman were as good as the seniors. To me, there would be no point if you were already "better" then them.</p>
<p>But I completly understand the desire to not take a year off from performing, it can be difficult not to be in a real show for a year...but with all of the amazing things we learn, it was worth it. It's a time where your imagination is set free.</p>
<p>Hey, its not so much me as it is CMU, CCM, Michigan, Juilliard, NCSA, DePaul, Cal Arts, Boston U, Minnesota, Purchase, Tisch, Syracuse, Webster, Rutgers, UCLA, Miami I imagine the list goes on and on I think all the European conservatories do it that way, too. Students at the British schools apparently don't start performing publically until the end of second year and they're three year programs. A kid might have been in a hundred plays and musicals since she was knee high to a grasshopper, but unless she's been working under the close supervision of some very watchful eyes and ears, chances are she's a museum of bad habits. No offense to anybody. I dont consider myself exempt from this, either. Just sayin The graduates of some of those programs also seem to be doing quite well with their auditions considering their massively long lists of working alums.</p>