<p>I’d love some feedback from any Hartt freshman in AT program. Workload, social scene, things like that. Thanks!</p>
<p>newbie I will PM you…</p>
<p>I would like more info as well, such as class size, location, etc. Thanks!</p>
<p>Gwen, I’m sure others would love that info as well! Maybe you could post it here, or even in <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1067706-freshman-experience.html?highlight=freshman+experience[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1067706-freshman-experience.html?highlight=freshman+experience</a> thread</p>
<p>Since Tracy asks, I will answer-- even though I’m a mom, not a student. It does mean I have more time to post! </p>
<p>Class of 2012 is 11 AT and 24 MT-- MTs and ATs have acting class together, 10-12 students per class. The first semester is Stanislavsky/Strasberg ‘method’ acting. 2nd is more physical-- ViewPoints, Laban. Actors have Voice and Speech (Linklater etc) and Movement (ballet, Suzuki, Alexander etc) classes. MTs have music theory, ear training, vocal coaching with weekly master class, and Ballet, Jazz dance…etc. There’s also MT chorus (for ATs too) and Stagecraft. AT’s have to pay for vocal coaching…but the coaches are very very accomplished. </p>
<p>It’s a conservatory-- very few requirements outside the dept. Freshmen don’t perform, but have crew assignments on the shows, so there’s a LOT of time spent in rehearsal. After freshman year there’s guaranteed casting and everyone does 2 shows a semester. So your class will function like a repertory company, working together on shows pretty much back to back. The shows are directed by accomplished professionals and they are as much a part of the learning process as the classes. They do a wide range of shows-- this year Antigone, The King Stag, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Light Up the Sky, I Hate Hamlet, The Cherry Orchard, Miss Saigon, On the Twentieth Century, The Drowsy Chaperone, Big River…plus the sophomore shows which I’m forgetting. They want the students to have experience in all periods of theater. </p>
<p>D has had the best year of her life, has felt challenged, inspired, respected as an artist-- all of what she’d want. The students are very close, very friendly, and were welcomed by the upperclassmen and the teachers.</p>
<p>Hartford is not a great city, but it has some great theater-- she’s seen amazing stuff at Hartford Stage, and interned at Theatreworks which means she has Equity points now. And West Hartford, where the college is, is a beautiful suburb with a very nice downtown, lots of cafes and shops. The theater kids stick together and as you can guess they throw a lot of great parties! D says they truly do dance on the tables at their favorite pizza joint…hyperbole?</p>
<p>Academics are hit or miss but the academic workload is light and D’s Modern Drama class is blowing her mind. Expectations in the theater dept are very high and you just don’t miss a class or arrive 3 minutes late to rehearsal. And you are going to spend a LOT of time in rehearsal!</p>
<p>I think the dorms are very nice as college dorms go. A lot of people prefer Hawk Hall which is brand new but D wanted to live in the complexes which are more suite style and she is very happy there. There are buses and trains to NYC, Boston, Providence… if you can get a minute to go. And Monomoy Theater, summer stock on Cape Cod, is connected with Hartt so there are auditions for that on campus.</p>
<p>They just seem to have a lovely attitude, serious and enthusiastic at once. They love their students. Ask more if you like! (this looks about 20 pages long!)</p>
<p>Thanks for posting. 
Where is the best places to stay if visiting? Do they allow prospective students to sit in on classes?</p>
<p>Yes, they encourage prospectives to sit in on classes. I always stay in the Marriott Courtyard in Farmington-- its reasonable and nice, but 15-20 min away. There’s a Holiday Inn Express right next to the Hartford train station, which is closer.</p>
<p>mom of newbieat here…Gwen, thanks for all the info. Another question if you don’t mind. I heard all the theatre students move off campus sophomore year. Do you know about this? I’m not excited about that idea and if it’s true would put my D in an awkward position being the only one living on campus second year…anyone have any info?</p>
<p>D is staying on campus, as are many of her friends. Probably more move off campus than not, but it doesn’t make for awkwardness at all. There are suites and apartments on campus for upperclassmen-- D is hoping for an apt as she likes to cook for herself.</p>
<p>ok, thank you. The ‘apartments’ on campus…males/females together? How many bedrooms? Sorry, not sure if you know this info yet, just trying to get a sense for how it all works!</p>
<p>First years are all in dorm rooms, in doubles. After that there are suite style dorms (mostly 2 double rooms with LR and bath, I think)…and apartments, with 1, 2, or 3 bedrooms and LR and Kitchen and bath. You choose by seniority and gpa, (which is good for Hartt kids who take so many more credits than other undergrads). You can do male/female in a suite. D hasn’t gone through the process so I’m not 100% sure. </p>
<p>Feel free to ask more. I remember a million anxieties! But every one of them was unfounded.</p>
<p>anxieties, yes, both of ours different! One of hers: she has heard that at some schools for theatre arts, they have rules about not dating within the program due to the small size and intensity…I guess their thinking would be it could get uncomfortable after a ‘breakup’ since they are always together. Do they have this rule at UH? Do they have opportunity to socialize with kids outside their department? A ‘relationship’ of this sort is not my top concern, but for teenagers I guess it is part of how they think of college!</p>
<p>D says it’s discouraged–and it can really throw you for a loop because the kids are so close and working together so intensely-- but that it still happens fairly often. They do socialize with kids outside the program-- especially the dancers who share their building. But the program takes up so much time, it’s much likelier to become friends, or more, with other theatre students.</p>
<p>Good to know. My D is a real rule follower, so she will avoid anything ‘discouraged’ - better to focus on the academics!</p>
<p>Haha, newbieat, my D is a huge rule follower too! I wonder if there’s a gene for it (I do not have that gene!)</p>
<p>Ha! I lack that gene also…from the looks of the website, it’s spring break - if your D is home, enjoy!</p>
<p>Hi Gwen. When one visits can parents sit in on classes to? what do we do with ourselves???</p>
<p>dj-- I didn’t sit in on classes and several prospective students have been in D’s classes this year but no parents that I know of. West Hartford is a nice town with cafes and shops-- or there’s a cafe in the Performing Arts building.</p>
<p>That is what I thought. I better bring some good books!</p>
<p>Gwen Fairfax-
Hi we were not going to have our d bring a car to school at least the first year, Do the students need to have one? Also does your d room with kids from the theater dept or is she rooming with a “regular” student? How safe does your daughter feel the campus is? Also we are going to plan a visit, do you recommend flying into hartford, I saw from an earlier post you stay 20mins away is the area fairly easy to get around in? Im sure I will have more questions, so thanks for all your information!!!</p>