<p>hi all! just beginning this search process, thought you guys might have some input for me...</p>
<p>i'm looking for a really comprehensive straight theatre program that will allow me to try out everything (acting, directing, experimental out-there stuff...) but also have some room to keep academic classes. i don't need an actual double major, but i want room to take things outside of theatre, though theatre is my first love. so in any case, no straight-up conservatories for me.
ideally this might be an urban-ish school not farther west than chicago and not farther south than VA? i like big but am definitely willing to check out smaller as well.
about me: white boston-suburb girl from a big, pretty rigorous HS. 3.71gpa, 2270 sat's, a mix of AP&honors/regular classes. tons of school theatre (we have a strong program), walnut hill summer program, and a decent amount of outside classes, community theatre, etc.</p>
<p>so far--
-i'm in love with nyu, specifically playwrights, which seems absolutely PERFECT for what i want to do. (also applied to etw summer there)
-northwestern looks amazing, i don't know if i could get in academically?
-my dad teaches @ bu, i will definitely apply there, but i am worried that i might not have the academic freedom i'd like? (slash, i'd like to get out of boston)
and also, intriguing-schools-i-know-nothing-about:
vassar
fordham
umaryland
tufts</p>
<p>how does this list look to you guys? info on any of these places, or other places i should look at (bfa OR ba)?
thanks :)</p>
<p>This is not an in-depth search, nor do I know a lot or enough about you. But just off the top of my head....given what you shared...</p>
<p>I agree that NYU/Tisch at Playwrights or ETW sounds like a very good fit. </p>
<p>I also agree with Northwestern, BU, Vassar, Tufts (I'm an alum), Fordham. I don't know much about UMD with respect to theater, sorry. </p>
<p>I think you need to apply to some BFAs and some BAs. I also think you need to balance your list even though you have good stats...you need reach, match and safety schools. So, with that in mind, in addition to the schools you mentioned, check out:</p>
<p>BFA:
UMichigan (not much further than Chicago and really worth a look)
Emerson
Ithaca
Syracuse
Rutgers
SUNY Purchase (you'd have to check how much academics)</p>
<p>BA:
Conn College
Skidmore
Boston College
Brown
Sarah Lawrence
Swarthmore
Brandeis
Middlebury (not a city though)
Cornell (not a city but a city in itself, lol)
Indiana (good safety, about as far as Chicago)
Yale</p>
<p>I know some of these are in Boston but they are just real good options anyway.</p>
<p>I would highly recommend DaPaul university. I don't know everything about it, but I believe the acting program is a conservatory inside a university. Plus, its in the heart of Chicago and is strictly theatre and acting.</p>
<p>We also recommend Tufts and Northwestern. We visited Tufts a few years ago and were very impressed with the theatre dept, faculty, and the show Noises Off, which is a challenging show for anyone to do and these students were Excellent! Our son has a friend in Acting at Northwestern and she seems quite happy so far, she has also been cast in two plays as a freshman, this spring with a substantial role. It sounds like a demanding, but rewarding program. We don't know much about the other schools for acting, but good luck in your search.</p>
<p>I think your list is great. You may also want to check out University of Minnesota/Guthrie. As Soozie indicated, Yale is also a possibility and has an excellent School of Drama. However, from what I understood from my son's friends, the actual training program is geared toward the graduate students. While there are plenty of opportunities for undergraduates to perform, the undergraduate program is more theory-based than training-focused. But you might want to check it out for yourself.</p>
<p>What manuelo says about Yale is true. However, I know quite a number of highly talented actors who chose Yale over BFA programs and get to do a lot with theater at Yale. I think it is one still worth looking into as a BA school for you, though it is a reach for anyone, no matter how qualified. </p>
<p>I might suggest Wesleyan as another BA school except it doesn't meet the city preference. Still worth a look on the BA end.</p>
<p>I agree with Soozie. Anyone with your stats and an interest in acting plus strong liberal arts would do themselves a disservice NOT to check out Yale. But as she says, it is a reach for everyone.</p>
<p>thanks so much for all the suggestions, guys!!
i did check out yale, actually- my parents are alums and we visited on the way home from an nyu visit...it just didn't 'click' with me, and it seemed that the balance between undergrad and grad was too far on the latter side for my taste.<br>
manuelo, i agree, yale did seem theory-based to me-- is this the case with theatre at all the ivies? (i'm interested in brown, and i'm going to take a look at cornell too.)</p>
<p>You've gotten some great suggestions, but you might want to PM WallyWorld to ask him about Rutgers. I know absolutely NOTHING about the program, but his daughter was just accepted so it may be worth it to ask him about the program. I'm sure he's done his research!!</p>
<p>deenierah....Brown is fabulous for theater (a BA). I know many who have chosen to attend Brown instead of a BFA. I have a daughter who attends Brown but is not seeking theater. You may wish to contact a CCer who is currently a freshman at Brown for theater, MattyB. However, he is away at the moment on spring break. I am sure he'd be happy to tell you more. Another boy I know well at Brown is about to graduate in theater. In fact, he just returned to Brown for his final semester after two semesters off which he took to play Mark on the National Tour of RENT. My kids are friends with these kids and have done a lot of theater with them in the past. I know plenty of others who have chosen Brown for theater. The department is very good. They put on plays. However, they just put on a musical, Merrily We Roll Along (both these boys were in it, the latter one as the lead). There are also student run musicals. I saw a play the theater department put on and it was excellent (Anna in the Tropics). Those from Brown's department have gone on in the professional theater world, as well as to fine MFA programs. The lead in Jersey Boys went to Brown. So did Duncan Sheik who did the music for Spring Awakening. The performing arts are big at Brown. There is also Trinity Repertory Theater in Providence, which is very well known. Check it out. If you need someone to host you, perhaps my D can help as she loves Brown and has enthusiastically hosted others, including CCers, or shown them around. She is also a tour guide at Brown. She is not studying theater herself, however. She is currently in a Theater Tech class though. They are on break now and she is away in CA and not online. Feel free to email me if you need a contact at Brown. I really think for a BA, you should check out Tufts and Brandeis. Also, all students need safer schools and in that regard, I think you may wish to look into Skidmore and a harder school but may be able to balance your list, Conn College....both are excellent in theater. If you want a BFA program in a more challenging university and besides NYU/Tisch, look seriously at UMichigan.</p>
<p>update: my list has changed a lot, and I'm wondering if someone can advise me on balancing things out...I really want to make sure I have a decent mix of crazy Ivy reaches/BFAs with more realistic BAs. I learned that I probably need a school that's pretty close to a city-- I visited Vassar and it was beautiful and friendly but seemed like too much of a 'bubble' for me. Although a middle-of-nowhere school might be OK if it's big enough...I'd have to check it out.</p>
<p>NON AUDITION BAs
UMaryland
GW
Ithaca (the theatre arts BA program- does this get pushed to the side in favor of the other theatre degrees, or is it OK?)
Sarah Lawrence (small, but NYC is very close by- I'm gonna look at it)
Brown (saw this and liked it a lot)
(Yale)
Northwestern</p>
<p>AUDITION BAs (how selective are these??)
Emerson (visited this not expecting to like it, and I was actually really impressed)
American</p>
<p>BFAs
NYU
BU (after doing a little more research, this has gotten much higher on my list, but isn't the theatre school extremely difficult to get into?)</p>
<p>Does anyone know anything about:
Indiana (their website was rather cryptic as to what degrees they offer)
SUNY Binghamton
UVA
UMich's BA program? I got the impression that it's VERY different from their more practical-oriented BFAs, and their website said something along the lines of it being intended for those who want to go into arts admin or teaching only.</p>
<p>Ithaca BA - when we visited, we were told not to choose this option if the desire is to perform. BA is more for directing, tech, theatre management, etc.</p>
<p>Catholic U. - might meet your needs for a BA program, probably not edgy or experimental though.</p>
<p>University of Maryland is an excellent option that I hope you will explore. Each year, several talented kids from my D's arts hs end up there and have had nothing but great things to say about it. I am told that there are numerous opportunities to perform there, and the academics are excellent.</p>