Last year my D accepted a place with TSU Acting. It’s been a great year and I feel like we’ve discovered a diamond in the rough. MT at TSU gets a great deal of attention (and yes it is an amazing program, run by Kaitlin Hopkins). But Acting (run by Lauren Lane) is also spectacular and closely integrated, as are the PNP students. Like MT, Acting only takes 12 students per year, so they get very closely evaluated and trained. They all end up in plenty of productions together – let alone some class overlaps. Feeling for all the parents who are in the MOST stressful time with their students!! After this it gets SO much better – I promise!!
Thanks @achooblessyou for offering to answer questions. My D did not get accepted into the BFA Acting program but is trying to find out more information about the PNP program. Do you happen to know how many new PNP students there are each year? Do they ever get to take acting courses with the Acting students or at least with the BFA Acting faculty…or are those courses limited to BFA Acting students only? How likely is it that a PNP student would get a substantial role in a production? Does your D know of any current PNP students that my D could contact to get more info? Thanks again!
Oh my goodness, sorry I am so late seeing your post. Yes, the PNP students are very much a part of the theatre department. A PNP student can be cast in any show – and are cast in shows. I don’t know details about their curriculum, but they are shoulder-to-shoulder with Acting students in auditions. The main stage shows are only part of what is available to perform in, there are also a myriad of student productions which MT, Acting and PNP students all audition for and are cast in. It’s a very level playing field – whoever is right for the part. I did not realize this until experiencing this year, but some of the student productions are brilliant, and very well attended. What’s more, they are often directed by students who are close to graduating and pursuing their careers, or by MFA directing students, or MFA Playwriting students. The connections and collaboration opportunities are many.
Thanks @achooblessyou for replying! That sounds great regarding the auditions. My D is hoping to sit in on an acting class later this week. She is trying to decide between the PNP program vs. the BA in Theatre at UT Austin. There are pros & cons to both schools so it’s been a tough decision. Have you heard anything about the program at UT? She’s also a First Alternate for Pace’s BFA in Acting in Film/TV/Voiceover/Commercials. It doesn’t seem as though TX State has a film program other than an Acting for Film course and a few others.
Afraid I know nothing about UT Austin. I know of a couple of kids that went to Pace and are happy. NYC is an awesome place to be, but expensive – although I’m told Pace does get them discount tickets to some Broadway/off Broadway shows. It seems there are several different specific categories of major in the theater dept. there – I do not know anyone in the one you mentioned (Film/TV/Voiceover/Commercials). All I can really speak to is the TSU Acting program experience. Good luck, curiousMom234!
@achooblessyou , my S is still in middle school, but he knows 2 males who go to TSU. Not sure if they are in the MT program or Acting program. He knows them through area productions they have done together. The school is high on my S’s “way-too-early” list! What is PNP? Sounds like a great environment there!