<p>I am new to CC, and am trying to help my 11th grader come up with a list of good colleges with strong theatre programs, not BFA programs, focused geographically on the East Coast including Virginia, Carolinas and Georgia. He is planning to apply to BFA programs (first choice). Fordham U. looked like a good fit however the core curriculum appears daunting.Advice, suggestions or insight appreciated. Thank you.</p>
<p>you need to provide some academic stats (SATs, class rank or approximate, rigor) so that people can help you narrow this down. There’s a huge difference in someone being competitive for a Vassar and someone for whom a Muhlenberg is a stretch! (both schools known for their theater programs).</p>
<p>Hi! Welcome to CC…you’ll be spending all your time on here before you know it! :)</p>
<p>So, mom of HS senior here just finished up the process. S will be going to Fordham for Theatre performance/possible playwriting in Sept so I recommend that you don’t let the core scare you off and go for a visit!</p>
<p>You are looking for LACs and yet you seem nervous about core requirements. I’m not sure if you like the idea of a Jesuit education but since you brought up Fordham…two other schools my S applied to were Boston College and Fairfield University. Both programs offer a BA in theatre within their College of Arts & Sciences and it is possible to double major/study abroad. </p>
<p>Boston College does not audition but they do grant interviews to prospective theatre majors with the dept faculty and asked my S for an additional essay/portfolio/demo to be considered for admission. I don’t think this was required, a person could simply apply to BC undeclared, but admissions are very competitive and I’m sure the additional info gave a more complete picture of my S and his capabilities ultimately helping him to gain an acceptance. </p>
<p>Fairfield does not audition either and did not ask for additional work for consideration but the dept head did meet with us to discuss their philosophy and program in detail including internships at NYC theatres. My S was also able to interview with an Admissions counselor at Fairfield and I’m sure that helped him a great deal when they were reviewing his application for scholarships because they were very generous. </p>
<p>I’m sure you will get plenty of good advice here that will help you form a balanced college list. Of course, you definitely have to keep your S’s academic profile in mind as well as the college budget. Good luck! :)</p>
<p>Purchase College, SUNY - is a decent Liberal Arts College known for their professional arts programs in Dance, Music and Theater Arts.</p>
<p>Anyone here have thoughts to share on the B.A theater programs at Trinity College (CT), Bard or Tufts?</p>
<p>Trinity’s program includes dance, and offers a residential semester working on a Broadway show NYC. Tufts seems to have a really sizable range of student productions. I know fewer specifics about Bard, but their program seems to have a good rep.</p>
<p>Emerson has a B.A theater program in addition to their BFA track - my son was accepted into the performing arts screen writing program, which sounds really terrific as long as he does not change his mind about his field again…</p>
<p>I’m not familiar with Trinity’s Theatre program but the College runs a program called InterArts --From what I read, it benefits all creative disciplines and sounds rather special. It might be worth checking out.</p>
<p>Thank you for the information. Here are some stats;</p>
<p>Small private school (class of 60)- does not rank
SAT 2100
GPA unweighted 3.5
AP(2) this year, (2) next year
Theatre - many productions both at school and our regional theatre
Music -All State Chorus since seventh grade
Dance - just started this year
Two small (very small) parts in movies (Halloween 2, We Are Marshall)
Laid back person who is passionate about his art</p>
<p>Planning to apply next year to;
UNCSA
Elon University - MT
Florida State - MT
Boston University -Acting (hopefully going there this summer)
CMU- MT
CCM ??</p>
<p>We both realize that based solely on acceptance rates that he may not get in to these programs. Thus looking at 3-4 liberal arts colleges with solid theatre programs.</p>
<p>Fordham U. looked great until he looked at the core curriculm. He thought it was a little excessive. He may change his mind as our college counselor has told us not to exclude it as it offers many things that he is interested in. Jesuit education is fine - many family members have attended Jesuit schools.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help.</p>
<p>Hi…you might want to look into Shenandoah in Virginia. I have a friend whose S was accepted for next year and they were very impressed with the program and the school. He also received a few other impressive acceptances, having auditioned at a good handful of schools, but is seriously looking at Shenandoah’s program. CCM is a great program but acceptance rates are very small. If he is willing to come into Ohio, you may want to look at Baldwin Wallace. They have a wonderful MT program, but the school core program and majority of coursework is realistic.</p>
<p>@RELK yes - Trinty’s InterArts looks like a fantastic program - my son was invited and applied. He’s weighing that against the Emerson honors program, and waiting to hear from Tufts and Bard.</p>
<p>OP (djc007) didn’t even mention musical theater in the original post, but then later on says he’s planning to apply to three colleges as an MT major. It seems to me he has no idea he’s in the wrong CC forum.</p>
<p>The MT forum was developed to serve people like djc007, and we should refer them there. Sure he can go back and forth between forums, but one good reason to keep our threads focused on straight-acting is that our schools are different, and our auditions are different. It’s that simple.</p>
<p>I for one, do not want to wade through discussions of Oklahoma City U, Baldwin-Wallace, or Webster. I’m not trying to be mean; I’m trying to be helpful. I’d just like to keep things separate so it’s easier for all users.</p>
<p>By the way, djc007, the MT forum is way bigger than ours; I think you’ll love it. And if you decide you want to research straight-acting colleges, our forum is the place.</p>
<p>^^To be fair to the OP, many people apply to both MT and Acting programs. And the OP’s S is obviously considering straight acting programs if Fordham is being considered and BU Acting is on the list. Perhaps, OP wants to additionally post the question on the MT forum but there is no reason to believe that MT programs are the only ones being considered and that MT is the only or proper forum to use. </p>
<p>Your S posts very nice stats, dcj007, and he is sure to have a lot of options. Great list of BFA programs already. I can see now based on your description “laid back person who is passionate about his art” why the BFA is his first choice and why Fordham’s core may have seemed excessive to him. I would describe my S as equally academically driven (kid would major in EVERYTHING if he could…ok not math!) and passionate about his art and so his college list would probably be very different than what your S is looking for. </p>
<p>I can see why you are looking for some other programs on his list to balance it out so maybe you first want to find LACs that don’t have or have a small core curriculum, then narrow it down based on Theatre department. It is very likely that all the Jesuit schools I mentioned above will have a larger core than what your S is looking for. But I’m sure that there are many people on these MT & Theatre forums who were looking for something similar to what your S wants and can give you some great choices to consider. Also consider posting more specific questions/including the stats and details you just gave in these forums and in the College Search forum so that you can get exactly what you are looking for. Search the forums first…you can get a lot of info from prior discussions. Have fun! :)</p>
<p>BTW, if Fordham is still on the list next fall/winter, I’ll have better info on the program and Fordham’s new core.</p>
<p>sandkmom, I hope you will return to talk about your son’s experience at Fordham. Fordham is high up on D’s list.</p>
<p>OP, take a look at Muhlenberg in Allentown, Pa.</p>
<p>Liberal arts universities & colleges with great theatre training, on the east coast:
Yale
Boston U
Swarthmore
NYU (but it is combined with serious conservatory work)
Vassar
Williams
Bard
Skidmore (pre-professional)
I heard that theatre life (if not training) is excellent in the 5 college area (U Mass, Amherst, Smith, Hampshire, MtHolyoke)</p>
<p>My S just finished the process as an applicant only to B.A. theatre programs. His East Coast applications included Muhlenberg, Skidmore, Vassar, Connecticut College and Brandeis. Your S would be academically competitive at most of them.</p>
<p>You may also want to look at Middlebury, Wesleyan, William and Mary, James Madison, UVA, Gettysburg… although some of the above schools have a larger liberal arts core than others</p>
<p>Are you looking for a non-auditioned, academic safety where your S can study theatre? Often in-state colleges and universities will fit that bill for a strong academic students. It depends on the state.</p>
<p>The University of New Hampshire in Durham is a GREAT liberal arts university with a comprehensive theatre and dance program. Students can major in Theatre with an emphasis in: Acting, Dance, Design & Theatre Technology, Musical Theatre, Secondary Theatre Education, Youth Drama or General Theatre. Students can also minor in Musical Theatre, Dance, General Theatre or Youth Drama.</p>
<p>In the 2013-2014 season we’re performing: OUR TOWN, AIN’T MISBEHAVING, eSTRANGED (a telematic adaptation of Albert Camu’s "The Stranger), SILA (an international world premiere, THE UNH DANCE COMPANY CONCERT FEATURING ALICE IN WONDERLAND-jazz, tap, aerial AND PETER AND WOLF- ballet, and finally, THE JOHN C. EDWARDS UNDERGRADUATE PRIZE PLAYS, written,. directed and designed by students.</p>
<p>We have a new audition and interview policy for all prospective students. Find out more at [University</a> of New Hampshire - Department of Theatre and Dance - Theatre and Dance Home](<a href=“http://www.unh.edu/theatre-dance]University”>http://www.unh.edu/theatre-dance).</p>
<p>Although this is an old thread, it’s great to see the update about UNH; we really liked this program and had heard it would be audition based for 2013-14. Wonderful school with great options for theater!</p>