Help with a major?

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>I know that this may not belong here, but you guys seem like people who understand what you are talking about in this sort of area, so please hear me out.</p>

<p>My dream is to be a professional musical theatre actress. I performed in many different plays and shows throughout high school. Because of a family problem, I was not able to audition for any musical theatre or theatre programs this year. I ended up choosing a school where their theatre/music program is good, but not amazing (so that it would be (hopefully) be easy to work within their programs). Now, I know that that is not the traditional way to approach this, but it was the only way that I could do it, with my circumstances. My initial plan was to take a few classes, and then kill myself with transfer auditions this year. </p>

<p>Here's my problem - my parents have said no to a musical theatre major. They refuse to pay if I transfer (and, with the cost of college like it is, I don't think I'll ever be able to it). So, my choices now are declare a theatre major or declare a voice major (yes, I know there are other major combinations and choices that I could do, but my parents demands go a little farther than that). Even though they have said no to a musical theatre major, I don't want that to stop my dreams. I still want to perform professionally. What major would help me get there?</p>

<p>If I do theatre, I'll have good acting background, but not as good of a voice training and vice versa. (Also, In my school's program, the theatre program does the musical theatre shows)</p>

<p>I don't need a speech saying that a musical theatre major will be the only way for me to get where I want to be. I get that I'm not going the traditional route, and I get that what I'm doing is going to be very hard, but I don't care. It's all in the pursuit of a dream, and in the pursuit of what makes me happy, and that's what I truly care about.</p>

2

<p>When my son was starting this process he was very upset because we could not afford to send him to NY for school and he would have to stay in the midwest. I told him I thought there were people on Broadway from all different schools with all different types of backgrounds. I ask him to bring down some of his Playbills, and guess what? There were people from all different schools (some none) and people with all different degrees, and by this I mean there were people with degrees in English, History and Psychology, etc.
I don’t think you are going to get “The only way to work in MT is to have a BFA”, on here.
We all know there are many roads to Rome. Start reading these threads. Good Luck!</p>

3

<p>If Theatre majors perform in M.T. shows it sounds as if you could get good experience that way. You can also take private voice lessons on your own time. I know a professioal actress with extensive musical theatre experience including Broadway- she was an acting major in college!!! Perhaps you could compare the two programs and figure out which would give you “more” of what you want out of the next four years. Good luck!</p>

4

<p>I would suggest a theatre degree with perhaps a music or dance minor Private voice study thru the music department, dance classes, participation in choir, etc could supplement the theatre degree.</p>