Liberal Arts School with strong theater program?

<p>Hi I am a Senior and I am having a tough time finding colleges for me.</p>

<p>Me: I have a 3.5 average and a 27 ACT score. I am in a very rigorous highschool right now and while I am looking for a good college to go to, I don't want to be completely swamped with work and always studying. </p>

<p>My interests: I assistant-direct (and stage manager) theater at m school and I absolutely love it. It is definitely my passion. </p>

<p>What I am looking for: I am definitely interested in being involved in theater in college, whether or not I decide to go into it as a career. (I am undecided in my major) But I do not want to go to a arts school. I am looking for a small (maximum around 7,000 ish) liberal arts school. My parents are conservative christians, so the will not let me go to any politically liberal schools. </p>

<p>Where: I live in Chicago. I am looking for schools in the midwest, no more than a days drive. I would prefer it to be near a big(ish) city so I can have internship opportunities.</p>

<p>Advice, suggestions or insight appreciated. Thank you.</p>

<p>Finding a conservative LAC, even in the midwest, is not easy: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1539181-liberal-conservative-spectrum-midwestern-lacs.html?highlight=conservative+lacs[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1539181-liberal-conservative-spectrum-midwestern-lacs.html?highlight=conservative+lacs&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Ok, well, let me rephrase. I am looking for any schools that match the above criteria, liberal or conservative. I need to find a few good schools that I really like to try to convince my parents to let me go to a non-christian school.</p>

<p>What about some of the colleges in Ohio like Denison University, Ohio Wesleyan University and College of Wooster? While they are located in relatively small towns, Denison, for instance, is not far from Columbus. </p>

<p>Or Butler University in Indianapolis? It’s a bit bigger and I have heard good things about the theatre program. </p>

<p>Would your parents consider catholic schools? DePaul has strong theatre. Marquette in Milwaukee and University of Dayton in Ohio might work. I don’t know about their theatre programs.</p>

<p>Look at Muhlenberg in Allentown, PA. Not technically Midwest, but lovely school, great theatre program, close to Philadelphia.</p>

<p>If you’re looking at small Ohio colleges, Kenyon has a superb and well reputed theater program and is 45 minutes from Columbus; most kids don’t have time for internships during the school year, but the faculty are well connected and can help you find excellent summer opportunities. Although you can’t characterize it as conservative, there are active spiritual and religious groups on campus.</p>

<p>I thought OPs stats might be a little light for Kenyon but perhaps it’s worth a shot.</p>

<p>Would you consider an all-girls school? Stephens College in Columbia, MO has a very well regarded theatre program. From wikipedia:</p>

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<p>Good point, momofzag; still might be worth a shot, as you say. Wittenberg would be in her range, and their department also has a good reputation. Another possibility would be U. of Evansville, which has a variety of degree options and a great program.</p>

<p>You might want to look into Knox College in Galesburg IL. They have a very solid theatre program with a special program every three years where you create a production from start to finish for the whole term, no other classes, just this production. It might be called “Rep Term” but I’m not sure. My younger daughter attends and absolutely loves it there and while not a theatre major has participated in a few productions in various capacities. They also have an amazing improv group.</p>

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<p>I don’t know anything about Stephens College but I would not rely on the above for any influence in determining the quality of its theatre program. That ‘best college theatre’ list was a result of a survey of current students and what they thought of productions on campus.</p>

<p>Maybe Lake Forest, right near home? There are so many theater groups with internship possibilities right on the North Shore.</p>

<p>Conservative is the issue here. Theater and conservative are not usually in the same sentence. Maybe St. Olaf?</p>

<p>You should consider my alma mater, DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind. It attracts a lot of students from Chicago.</p>

<p>Emerson College!!!</p>

<p>I would recommend Denison University - beautiful campus with a solid theatre program.
Kenyon may be a reach but worth looking at. U of Evansville is another midwest school with a solid theatre program but plenty of academics. Muhlenberg is a great theatre school as is Butler but they are not conservatories, so there will be more core academics which it sounds like you may be looking for.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>Case Western, with 4500 undergrads, has an excellent theater program and you will get a great general education. It doesn’t lean in any particular political direction, but it is diverse.</p>