<p>As we start this audition/application season, it seems obvious to me (as a parent interested in seeing his kid ultimately employed) that one of the best ways to judge a program is to look at the success of its graduates. I have been able to piecemeal together some info from alumni sites and from other CC threads but it would be nice if those in the know from the schools on CC would post specifics-if known. For instance, how many of the class of 2007 are already working in theater-Broadway, regional, tours, etc.? The big name alumni are more easy to spot on the college pages but it is more difficult to discern the theatrical employment of those who havent hit stardom but are still working on a regular basis.</p>
<p>To be honest, my child, nor I, ever looked into this aspect in judging a program, but I realize from reading CC, that many do. I think the best way to find this information out is from the school.....either on their website (many do list where either well known graduates are working OR many also have updates/lists on where recent graduates from the last several years are working) or find out at info sessions at the auditions or on visits, or by contacting the school directly as many have published newsletters about alum and so forth. Ask about the general rate of employment for graduates (and I am not talking of how many go to Broadway, which is not the realistic goal or marker of success which so many seem to have as THE goal). Also, when you go to regional shows, tours, or on Broadway, look at the playbill credits/bios.</p>
<p>Example of what I meant above at some college sites where you can read updates/lists about alum...</p>
<p>go to:
<a href="http://www.ithaca.edu/hs/depts/theatre/alumni/%5B/url%5D">http://www.ithaca.edu/hs/depts/theatre/alumni/</a>
When you get there, clik on the pdf file for July 2006 and that newletter gives updates of what alum are doing.</p>
<p>Another example of alumni news:
<a href="http://www.ccm.uc.edu/musical_theatre/alumni_news.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.ccm.uc.edu/musical_theatre/alumni_news.htm</a>
(further links on that page to more alum news from various years)</p>
<p>The honest answer to that question is, "Not make a full-time living." I've discussed this at length with my kid and the soon-to-be-spouse, both of whom are 5 years beyond graduating with MT BFA's from different programs usually included in the top three in the CC MT threads. Both do earn a full-time living in the theater business in New York, one as an actor and the other as a coach/director/teacher. Their generalized conclusion boils down to the number 3. Their opinion is that regardless of the size of the graduating class only about 3 people will be making a full-time living in the theater craft within 5 years of graduation. Whether the average number is really 5 or 2 or 6 or 4 is immaterial, what stands out is that most of the graduates from the programs recognized as being at the top of the game..... the kids who made it through the hypercompetitive auditions and then survived the rigors of the programs....... do not end up making their living working full-time at their craft. I'm very glad I did not know any of this back when the kid started down this road..... I'd have had much more parental angst.</p>
<p>While of course we all hope our kids will get to work in their chosen profession, many will not. The way we look at it is this:
-there are many ways to work in theatre, music or opera
-They will have a degree
-We understand that people with theatre backgrounds do well and are well received in many fields, because they are so comfortable giving presentations, etc.
-Just like the person with a degree in medieval literature, what are they going to do with it, besides teach, well they do have a degree.....</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply-I have seen most of these. I guess I was hoping for the inside scoop from those who are attending or who have children affiliated with some of these programs that are not forthcoming with this information.</p>
<p>srw....I completely agree with all you wrote!</p>
<p>Also with regard to work on stage....an actor is basically always job hunting because each job is relatively short term.</p>
<p>MTDad...nice to hear from you. Your D is at least working in her field. That is a success story. It need not mean she is working on stage all the time. Your post is also one worth heeding.</p>
<p>i think it's interesting that so many people do look at alumni lists to judge the strength of a program. on one hand, i do think the list could be a good judge of how well they get their recent graduates into "the business" (if there are a lot of young alumni working). but beyond that, i do think the lists are overrated for seeing which school turns out talented performers-- honestly, i think someone with the drive and talent will ultimately succeed no matter which school they may end up at. they might go a different path, but Mary Louise Parker is Mary Louise Parker, from NCSA or not, you know?</p>
<p>UMich Class of 2007:
- 2 students currently in Bway shows (Les Mis and the upcoming Tale of 2 Cities)
- 1 in an Equity national tour (Spelling Bee)
- 1 in an off-Broadway musical (Walmartopia)
- at least 1 in a NYMF show (New York Musical Festival - some of these are still being cast)
- several in big regional/stock Equity productions - 2 at MUNY, 2 at Pittsburgh CLO, 2 at Goodspeed, 2 recently cast at Westchester Broadway Theatre
- 1 in a non-Eq touring children's show that will take him to Australia for a few months! :)
- 2 students offered roles in non-Eq tours and turned them down to stay in NYC and do readings and continue auditioning
- several (at least 4) have done prestigious readings (including 9 to 5) </p>
<p>CMU MT class of 2007
-1 in a Broadway show (the upcoming Lone Star Love, playing a role - as opposed to ensemble)
- 2 in NYMF shows
- 2 did Pittsburgh CLO this summer
- 2 did prestigious recurring concert gigs this summer as soloists with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra</p>
<p>CMU's graduating MT class had 9 students in it, I believe - no more than that. One has chosen to be in LA. I think UM showcased 23 students - 1 grad is doing grad is doing Peace Corps-type work for 2 years, and 2 are making a huge career as MT composers (Pasek and Paul).</p>
<p>I'll add more if I've forgotten anyone - which I probably have! :) Also, a lot of casting is occuring right now - it's "high audition season."</p>
<p>UMich Class of 2007:
- 2 students currently in Bway shows (Les Mis and the upcoming Tale of 2 Cities)
- 1 in an Equity national tour (Spelling Bee)
- 1 in an off-Broadway musical (Walmartopia)
- at least 1 in a NYMF show (New York Musical Festival - some of these are still being cast)
- several in big regional/stock Equity productions - 2 at MUNY, 2 at Pittsburgh CLO, 2 at Goodspeed, 2 recently cast at Westchester Broadway Theatre
- 1 in a non-Eq touring children's show that will take him to Australia for a few months! :)
- 2 students offered roles in non-Eq tours and turned them down to stay in NYC and do readings and continue auditioning
- several (at least 4) have done prestigious readings (including 9 to 5) </p>
<p>CMU MT class of 2007
-1 in a Broadway show (the upcoming Lone Star Love, playing a role - as opposed to ensemble)
- 2 in NYMF shows
- 2 did Pittsburgh CLO this summer
- 2 did prestigious recurring concert gigs this summer as soloists with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra</p>
<p>CMU's graduating MT class had 9 students in it, I believe - no more than that. One has chosen to be in LA. I think UM showcased 23 students - 1 grad is doing grad is doing Peace Corps-type work for 2 years, and 2 are making a huge career as MT composers (Pasek and Paul).</p>
<p>I'll add more if I've forgotten anyone - which I probably have! :) Also, a lot of casting is occuring right now - it's "high audition season."</p>
<p>Elon posts a quarterly performing arts newsletter on their web site that lists what alum's are doing, along with other departmental info.</p>
<p>Thought I'd chime in on recent PSU news since I'm like the "proud mother" of my class post graduation...:o)</p>
<p>-1 cast in a bway show (Xanadu)
-2 worked at Music Theatre of Wichita and earned their Equity cards playing principal roles
-1 cast as the lead in HS Musical at North Shore MT this summer
-1 cast in Int'l tour of West Side Story, leaving shortly for Germany to rehearse!
-1 just cast in non eq tour of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels covering the lead.
-1 cast in upcoming shows at North Shore MT and Pittsburgh CLO
-1 just finished up a season at Pittsburgh CLO</p>
<p>There are only ten in my graduating class, so everyone is doing very well. Unfortunately, Penn State's theatre website does not update often about alumni so its hard to get an accurate reading of what the alumni are actually up to!</p>
<p>Hey PSUCAT...great to "see" you on CC. Your class is doing great and it has only been a couple of months since graduation. Your name came up recently when my D was home as she said she tried to contact you (as she thinks you are in the city) to cast you in a professional work for which she is the musical director. At this point, they have started rehearsing (she is back in the city for the job). </p>
<p>Hope to hear news of your MT happenings one of these days.</p>
<p>All the best and congrats to your classmates so far.</p>
<p>PS....one of my D's classmates at CAP21 is taking a leave to go on that same West Side Story tour as your classmate.</p>
<p>CCM MT Class of 2007 (15 graduates): </p>
<p>1 cast in Broadway company of "The Ritz"
1 performed with Patti LuPone in "Gypsy" at Encores!
1 cast in off-Broadway play "Morning Star" in Manhattan
1 on National Tour of High School Musical with fellow CCM alum
1 in "Happy Days" at Goodspeed, now moving to PaperMill
5 participated in MUNY's summer season </p>
<p>congrats to all alum of all programs! best wishes for the future!</p>
<p>here is a link to a few more CCM alum updates:</p>
<p>Another UMich 2007 grad just got the TheatreworksUSA tour of the musical The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, for which he will earn his Equity card. He is playing Peter, the High King of Narnia. :)</p>
<p>I would like to add that in addition to whether or not recent grads are working, to me a measure of the strength of any MT program is how many grads are working 5 and 10 years out. As the mother of an incoming freshman to the MT BFA at PSU I was excited to learn that this young program (in its 15th year I believe) currently has 9 graduates performing on Broadway from the beginning of the program through to a recent 2007 graduate and one more who just left Gypsy to finish his senior year at PSU. In addition to Richie in Chorus Line, other shows are Gypsy, Spelling Bee, Grease, Hairspray(3), Rent, and Xanadu. Three more are currently working behind the scenes as well. Food for thought.</p>
<p>*Kirsten Wyatt who graduated from CCM several years ago is currently starring as Frenchy in "Grease" on Broadway with fellow alum Brian Sears in the ensemble.</p>
<p>
[quote]
CMU's graduating MT class had 9 students in it, I believe - no more than that. One has chosen to be in LA.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>OK Coach. Enlighten me. Personally, I can't imagine worse training for on-camera work than MT training. Why on earth would anyone go to CMU in order to take residence in LA????</p>
<p>I'm not Coach C....but my opinion is that CMU is a DRAMA school. The BFA in MT students take the same ACTING classes with the BFA in Acting students. The BFA in MT there is sorta akin to a double major (barely ANY liberal arts courses, therefore, in their program for BFA MT students). So, a BFA in MT student will have trained in Acting similarly to the BFA Acting students, some of whom take up residence in LA. These BFA in MT students will likely have also been in some of the dramatic productions on campus, like their BFA in Acting counterparts. Further, the BFA in Acting students will have been in some of the musicals in the department. </p>
<p>At Tisch....some students who are in CAP21, elect to do their second two years of studio in one of the Acting studios, to obtain both types of training, and vice versa. Many in CAP21 partake in dramatic production work and many in the acting studios partake in the musical productions. </p>
<p>Back to CMU.....their BFA graduates for both MT and Acting do showcases in both LA and NYC. It could be that the student who is heading to LA obtained an LA agent from the LA showcase.</p>