<p>My two passions are Creative Writing and Theatre. Ideally, I want to double major in these two fields. I went to visit Emerson College (I've been accepted to the Writing, Literature and Publishing department) and we were told that double majoring in the Performing Arts and a non-Performing Arts major is impossible. I really, really want to be able to do A LOT of theatre in college. Seriously, this is one of my greatest passions. I asked about changing my major and they said that it would not be possible because I've already been accepted as a writing student. I thought that I really wanted to go to Emerson, but now that I know about this (even though apparently non-majors can audition for shows, I doubt that they get cast as much as theatre majors) I'm really doubting. I don't think that I can reconcile this difference. Can someone who goes/went to Emerson tell me more about this? Please please please because I'm really stressing myself out!</p>
<p>My D is a senior at Emerson. She is a theater major, the problem is that if you want to major in theater you had to apply, audituion, and be accepted in the program. There are lots of clubs and groups that do plays throughout the year so there is opportunity to do auditions and get into plays without being a theater major. I do not know what you mean by a lot of theater, the most you might be able to do is probably one or two plays per semester. Rehearsals go on for months, so do scripting, stage, funding, etc. It is not like in highschool from what I’ve seen with my D students do all the work. By the way she is in the LA program this last semester, and is doing an internship in the Conan show. She has loved her 4 years at Emerson. Here is one of the student groups my D is part of and has participated in their plays <a href=“The New Majority Theatre”>https://www.facebook.com/TheNewMajorityTheatre</a> . Also please note that I think it would almost be impossible to double major, theater just takes long hours due to all the rehearsals. Hope this helps.</p>
<p>@newsdrms, is your D at Emerson in the BFA or BA program? My daughter auditioned for and was accepted to the BA Theater Studies- Acting program, instead of the BFA, specifically so that she could double major. When she went for her audition, I asked that question to double check and was assured that most of the BA students do double major. So glad that your D has had such a wonderful experience! What are her plans after graduation? </p>
<p>Thanks for providing this information, folks! As it turns out, going to Emerson is impossible because of financial reasons, but I’m actually glad about that. I wouldn’t be allowed to switch into the Theatre major because I didn’t audition, and honestly I couldn’t reconcile that. Having to sacrifice one passion for the other is impossible. I’m very familiar with the dedication and time that university-level theatre requires. I really couldn’t just do one or two plays a semester. I need to do more theatre than that. Hopefully, I’ll end up at a school that will let me; it won’t be Emerson, which is fine with me!</p>
<p>@KellyLJ1 D is BA she was doing a minor as many people do, but I think queenofthenorth wanted to actually major in both theater and writing. I think that would be very unlikely theater requires long hours if you want to be involved in plays which of course is what they want to do. D didn’t go BFA route and there is not much difference except longer hours and no minor restriction. D is planning on going back to LA, it seems she might have a job offer by end of the semester (fingers crossed!).</p>
<p>@queenofthenorth From my D’s experience I do not think it would be possible to do more than two plays a semester. They usually rehearse for about three months previous to the show. For show in March they would start rehearsing in October, and that is why I said I would think it would not be possible to do more than two plays per semester not that they wont allow you. Rehearsals go all week and close to midnight, very, very long hours when mixed with the school work.</p>
<p>@newsdrms Agreed. I’m no stranger to long rehearsals and the time spent memorizing lines, blocking, cues, and all of that. It’s exhausting—and that’s not even taking into consideration the rehearsals that can run until ten or eleven o’clock! That’s why double majoring is looking more and more like an impossibility for me, and majoring in Theatre the best decision! Emerson seems like a great school for those looking to enter a conservatory, nonetheless! </p>