Interlochen Arts Academy

Hi to who ever replies to this, but I have a few questions about Interlochen Arts Academy. I will be a senior next year (class of 2020!) and I’m considering attending IAA for my senior year. I really want to major in Musical Theatre (BFA) and I think IAA will be great at giving me more opportunities to perform and giving me a wide variety of good theatre training.

So my question is since I’d only be there for one year is it worth it?

Is the Theatre Arts major training good?

Will I get chances to perform?

I heard that IAA doesn’t give full scholarships so I’d have to pay something. To be honest it’s just me and my mother, and I’m not sure we can afford it. Then to turn around and have to pay for college the next few years, but I think this could really be a great opportunity for me. My High School dose one play a year (never musicals), I’m taking voice lessons and I’ve had a few dance classes. I think IAA will help me get to where I need to be. Last summer I went to NYU’s Tisch Summer Progam for musical theatre (NSB) and then I just got accepted into CMU’s Pre-College Program for musical theatre also. I’ve gotten full scholarships for both of these programs btw. So if anyone sees this and has attended or attend IAA please give your input on the questions I have asked above!!! Even if you have friends or family please get them to respond as well I would greatly appreciate it!!

I can’t answer your specific questions about going to Interlochen for your senior year. However, if money is understandably an issue and there is no full scholarship to Interlochen, I’m not sure how necessary it is to go there. Back in August you posted:

It sounds to me that you will have a bunch of training in voice, acting, and dance and a chance to be in musical productions throughout these 2 school years in your local program PLUS you went to NYU/Tisch NSB MT program last summer and will attend CMU’s MT program this summer. All in all, you have pieced together a bunch of training and some performance opportunities. You might want to consider saving what money would have to be spent to attend Interlochen for a year to be used for audition prep, traveling to auditions and all the expenses related to that. Plenty of students (including my own daughter) piece together training as you are doing and end up at BFA programs and have not attended performing arts high schools. Obviously schools like Interlochen are terrific, but not a necessity for you and sounds like it will be a financial burden. I could not have afforded to send my daughters to boarding school, and they made out just fine. I think you will too.

The program that I was supposed to do for my junior and senior years was shut down due to financial issues with the teachers. So that’s not an option anymore. Thank your for your input! I’m still going to audition/apply, but if I don’t get accepted or don’t get enough financial aid your post was reassuring that it’s not the end of the world!! I’ll live and everything will work out how it’s supposed to!

@MuTh2024 You have a great attitude. Sorry to hear about the after school program not working out. If possible, can you arrange for voice lessons and dance classes locally on an ongoing basis? If your school doesn’t put on musicals, are there any community theaters or similar in your area where you can audition?

my daughter’s friend transferred to Interlochen as a senior … she is currently there. I saw her many times at Unifieds and we discussed how much she loves it and feels that she is growing and learning. She is happy with her decision.

I personally couldn’t imagine transferring as a senior but it would depend what the priorities are and I know that finances are tight. However you never know what kind of package they may offer you so it’s worth a shot provided that you understand if the financials don’t work out that you will have to forgo the opportunity. that could be tough on you when the time comes.