<p>For next year's applicants, I thought I'd post details about our LA experience. My D didn't apply to "unifieds" schools, but her auditions were that same weekend. She auditioned for CalArts on campus and Rutgers & CMU acting at LAX Hilton.</p>
<p>Logistics: I am a weakling when it comes to urban driving, but we did the trip without a car and it was easy! We flew in to Burbank and took the Prime Time shuttle to our hotel. Stayed at Hilton Garden Inn because it has a free shuttle to CalArts and restaurants/shopping, as well as made to order breakfast included (celiac and many food allergies mean no regular continental breakfast works for us) in the $99 CalArts rate. Fitness center was closed due to renovations (also happened in Boston). If like my D you kid needs to workout to unwind, I recommend asking if the fitness center is in working order when you reserve.</p>
<p>CalArts: No assigned time slot, audition order posted after presentation. Paperwork includes a couple of short "essay" paragraphs, so get there a half hour early. This is the one audition where we weren't as early and my D was rattled having to write with little time. Going in, we were not enthusiastic about LA, but we were very impressed by the CalArts energy and emphasis on experimental work within classically training, as well as the opportunities for student-generated work. The presentation and audition experience really sold the program and moved CalArts way up on the list. D auditioned for Mary Lou Rosato, Acting Chair and a woman from the Acting faculty whose name I do not have. My daughter was asked to do an adjustment with focus on breathing, and yes, she did receive a business card, although I have no idea whether that is significant or not. However, the candor of the auditors was extremely refreshing and a big boost for my D; they were openly positive in saying she is a fit for the program and invited her back to shadow a student in order to learn more about what CalArts has to offer. Since most auditors are pretty stoic and callbacks when offered are the only feedback, this was so nice!</p>
<p>Vibe: Go to the "sub level" in the main building to see the hallways covered in student graffiti. The integration of other arts, visual arts is fun. Lots of posters exhibiting the cross-pollination of disciplines. Table tents in dining hall advertised CSA subscriptions for fresh local produce. Sunshine & balconies outside the dining hall! I5 traffic noise was not as loud as I would have expected, although it was Sat. morning. Did see some kids smoking pot out on the lawn.</p>
<p>More logistics: We took a taxi from campus (3 miles or so) to the light rail station at Newhall. You can take a bus, but we didn't have time, as train service is limited on weekends. 40 minute train ride took us to Union Station where we took the redline subway one stop to Civic Center. NOTE: we accidentally bought both TAP subway tickets and our commuter rail day pass, which was unnecessary. You can ride the subway using the rail pass. We again basked in the sunshine in front of the Mark Taper Forum and got great tacos from the taco truck and a salad from the little takeout store. We saw Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike matinee (awesome) and then walked a couple of blocks to the Blue Cow Kitchen for a farm-to-table dinner in a fun, hip atmosphere where we had a dancer/waitress serve us. Then from Union Station we took the FlyAway bus to the airport where we caught the LAX Hilton hotel shuttle.</p>
<p>LAX Hilton: Spendy restaurant but healthy easy breakfast options. Third floor has several patios that anyone can get to if you are staying at another hotel but waiting for your kid during audition. Weather was nice and there was an incredibly loud, busy conference that took over all public space, even hallways in hotel. While planes did pass overhead, this was preferable to me than all the human chaos. Key card needed for pool and hot tub. Fitness center open 24 hours. BONUS: There is a Manhattan Beach shuttle that stops in front of the hotel. $5 RT and the trip is about 30-45 minutes (no freeway, not terrible traffic even at 5:30) each way. Great for dinner and it was fantastic to celebrate the end of the first round audition process by sitting on the sand, enjoying the sun and surf!</p>
<p>Rutgers: Assigned time slot for audition was nice. They were running pretty much on time,too. No presentation, but had a rep available to talk about the strength of the program, American Realism focus, etc. Obviously if there is a callback, lots of opportunities to learn more. Straight forward audition, director of the Drama dept. Barbara Marchant and male faculty member (sorry, again no name) who were both warm and welcoming. Both monologues, song, short adjustment, brief interview. She felt good about her experience.</p>
<p>CMU: Check-in was a zoo. The room was way too small, people on the floor, standing along the walls, hyper-nervous chatter, people sitting in their chairs singing their songs, etc. No assigned time slot. 10 acting kids, my daughter was one of the last and she was there 2 hours. Presentation was brief but warm and funny. The musical Theater guy who auditioned singers was hilarious! Re program: I like that actors get dance, a year of ballet and can also place into more advanced dance classes. Seems like quite a bit of integration between MT, Acting & Directing, Writing kids. They had a recent graduate hired to help out and I had a good, candid conversation with him about the program. He said after Showcase the majority of grads have agents. He is now a working actor in LA. Auditions were for Barbara, a MT Drama prof, and Kaf, another Drama prof. Two rooms: 2 monologues and brief interview with Barbara, then sent to room with Kaf. Same 2 monologues plus another Shakespeare and part of another monologue, interview. Then D was asked to sing her dramatic monologue as a melodramatic musical theater number! Hilarious. Definitely the wackiest adjustment of the 6 schools she auditioned for. Daughter said they took copious notes, and faculty explained note-taking, not looking up, does not mean they are not paying attention.</p>