<p>I am likely going to be a freshman at Lincoln Center this coming fall. Theatre is an important part of my life—about as much as my first creative love, which is writing. I'm planning to major in English and minor in Theatre, unless I can audition into the Theatre department during my freshman year. However, I've heard that auditioning in as a freshman is almost impossible (I'm not sure how true this is; they must let at least a few transfer students in, right?). Is anyone a current Theatre minor/the parent of a Theatre minor? If so, are Theatre minors able to participate fully in the Theatre program? The school website makes it seem like minors can be involved in everything, like mainstage productions, studio shows, classes, and all that jazz, so to speak. But I'm wondering if Theatre Minors are really able to do that kind of stuff, or if mainstage shows and other productions are dominated by Theatre Majors. Also, does anyone know students who have transferred into the Theatre Major? Or is that kind of a myth? Thanks for any info!</p>
<p>There are many posts here on the excellent theater program, just look through here (go back through the topics) and I am sure you will be able to answer most of your questions. Theater minors do get involved in the student productions.</p>
<p>Also, for fun, go to the Wikipedia site on Famous Fordham People for a list of some people who are well known in the theater and movies, most of whom are actors.</p>
<p>@RamRay I know how strong the Theatre department is—and love that about Fordham! I was just wondering how involved Theatre minors can be, because I’ve heard some varying opinions! I’m also unsure of whether or not it’s actually possible to transfer into the theatre program as a sophomore (auditioning during freshman year)! I’ll definitely look up actors who went to Fordham, that seems really cool!</p>
<p>Queen, my daughter is a communications (journalism) major and a theater minor and is a Rising Senior. I just messaged her your question and she said she’s at work now but will answer when she can. </p>
<p>@LeftyLou I really appreciate that; that’s so kind of you! I look forwards to hearing her answer!</p>
<p>No problem! It gave me an excuse to write RISING SENIOR for the First time!! :D/ </p>
<p>That’s so exciting, and great for your daughter!</p>
<p>One of my S’s roommates came in as a Theatre minor who had been rejected for the major. He auditioned two more times but finally made it in 2nd semester sophomore year! He had to take Acting classes with the class behind but caught up and graduated yesterday with the rest of the Class of 2014. There were others who transferred in from other schools as well and they didn’t lose any time either. Good luck and congrats on your acceptance! :)</p>
<p>That’s really relieving to hear! It’s good to know that you can possibly audition more than once! I’m not sure if you would know this, but does being a girl influence acceptance? I get the sense that many theatre programs want male performers, but maybe it’s all subjective. I’m really excited about possibly auditioning in!</p>
<p>I really don’t think admission is easier for one gender or another. Of the Class of 2014 Performance majors there were 9 girls and 8 boys. Diversity might be a plus but these are things you can’t control anyway. You should focus on what you CAN control such as monologue selection.</p>
<p>That’s good to hear! And I’ll definitely prepare my monologues as much as possible!</p>
<p>@LeftyLou have you heard anything from your daughter? I hope I’m not pestering you, just wondering what her thoughts are!</p>
<p>Sorry, she started her internship this week, and she has to move out of her room on Wednesday night, so she’s been packing. I’ll remind her. </p>
<p>Oh, of course! I keep forgetting that for most people, school is already out! I’m not trying to bug you or anything!</p>
<p>You may want to PM @glassharmonica Her daughter is there now. </p>
<p>We toured the department, and a theatre student told us of one kid who was heavily committed and involved, and was therefore eventually ‘adopted’ into the program.</p>
<p>Thanks, @arwarw! I’ve never received so much good advice and support as from the Fordham collegeconfidential community! You’re all so kind and helpful! </p>
<p>I got your PM. I wanted to add that I suspect the creative writing program at Fordham LC is pretty good. I edit an independent literary magazine with a low acceptance rate (around 6% for unsolicited mss.) Over the past few months we have accepted 3 unsolicited pieces from recent Fordham grads. I thought that was really striking. </p>
<p>That’s really good to hear about the creative writing program! Thanks for telling me!</p>
<p>Ok, here is her reply:</p>
<p>I’m sorry I took so long to answer. I’ve been moving between dorm rooms and starting all my summer jobs and it’s been nuts.</p>
<p>First of all, congratulations on your acceptance to Fordham. If you love theatre, you’re already doing this right. Just being in New York City is the best thing you can do as far as getting a foot in the door in this field.</p>
<p>There are usually a few people who audition into the program each year. I don’t know the numbers or the breakdown by concentration but it does happen. Students transfer in too. I have a friend who is now majoring in stage management but did her first semester of freshman year at another school where she was a COMM major. I have another friend who auditioned for the performance track in high school and didn’t get accepted to the program, but came to Lincoln Center anyway. She just was accepted into the directing track at the end of her freshman year.</p>
<p>Everything the website says is true. Most things are open to majors and minors, though majors tend to dominate the main stage just by the nature of them being the actual students studying these disciplines as opposed to the minors who don’t have to concentrate in a particular area.</p>
<p>The majors do tend to be very close and sometimes cliquey, just by nature of them spending so much time together. The best thing to do is to begin your lab hours as soon as you enter school. The lab hours requirement has everyone working in a shop for four hours a week for the semester or on a production and it means that we can afford to do all our studio shows because we don’t have to contract outside labor. Majors have to do this for six(?) semesters so they all start during their freshman year and get to know each other that way too. Minors only need three semesters but if you wait until you formally declare the minor, then it will be really hard to fit it in while you’ll probably want to be getting internships. If you begin your lab hours freshman year, it shows that you’re serious about the theatre program and it will help you get to know the rest of the department. There will be a meeting during the first week of school where this will be explained and you can sign up to work. You should email Carla Jackson to get on the email list so you can find out about it (<a href="mailto:carlaj.fordham@gmail.com">carlaj.fordham@gmail.com</a>) or if that doesn’t work, let me know and I’ll keep you posted.</p>
<p>Involving yourself early is really the best thing you can do. There are minors who other students forget aren’t majors. And there are minors who the majors never meet. It’s really about how much you do and how much you put into the program, especially early on.</p>