<p>I haven't posted on this forum before, and I realize it is primarily about undergraduate programs, but I'd like to get some information about good MFA programs for MT or Acting, and also about professional training programs (e.g., one or two year programs with good reputations/placement records in the industry).</p>
<p>My son is in his second year in an interdisciplinary academic major and will graduate summer 2008. He is constantly involved in many productions each year and all his free time is spent in MT, drama, and his a cappella group. He's very interested in auditioning and applying to performing arts programs. Has begun to look into the Royal Academy of Music MT program (some of his friends are there now), the one-year MFA program in classical acting (GW/Shakespeare Theatre), and the Royal Scottish Academy MT program.</p>
<p>Looking for suggestions, rumors, hearsay, or other tips to get him started. Thank you in advance!</p>
<p>Here's some information from the Big List:
COLLEGES WHICH OFFER GRADUATE MUSICAL THEATRE DEGREES </p>
<p>Arizona State University (MM)
Boston Conservatory (MM)
Oklahoma City University (MM)
San Diego State University (MFA)
University of Central Florida (MFA)
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (MFA) </p>
<p>It sounds like your son is very interested in studying in Great Britain. My D would tell you that London is a wonderful place to study theatre. She just spent a semester there. </p>
<p>I would suggest that in the next year and a half your son read as many plays as possible. It is not too soon to start a search for monologues for his auditions. If your son is serious about MT, voice lessons and dance classes are in order. There's a tremendous amount of information on the MT forum regarding audition preparation. </p>
<p>Are you located in Florida? Pardon my ignorance regarding the Land of the Two Keys, LOL. If your son is a Florida resident, he should be aware that Florida State University has a very highly regarded MFA acting program. I would tell my son to look at FSU's website for info on the MFA programs and the Asolo Conservatory. I won't offer up other suggestions for MFA acting programs since I don't have much knowledge in that area. I know that there are other posters who are much more knowledeable than I.</p>
<p>I have a former student who went to the Royal Scottish Program and LOVED it! She grew tremendously as a performer, and has actually moved back over the pond for a while. She had nothing but great things to say about the program.</p>
<p>Yale and Colombia are terrific MFA programs for acting.... strong professional connections! </p>
<p>The URTA link posted above isa great resource... many of the URTA schools offer tuition remission, and assitantships to their MFA students. </p>
<p>As far as the very few MT programs go... if your son ever might want to teach in college down the line an MFA or PhD is what they call a "terminal degree" (the degree that most colleges and universities require of thier full-time teaching faculty)... many of the MT schools offer a MM (masters of music)... this is not a "terminal degree". Many of the programs that offer the MM offer wonderful training, but if college teaching ever pops up in your son's mind down the road he may have to then go get an MFA, DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts), or a PhD.</p>
<p>NYU (Tisch), Yale are powerhouse places in the Northeast.
Also check out: Columbia U, Brown, Emerson, Boston U, Brandeis, Carnegie Mellon, Guthrie Theater in Minnesota, UCLA</p>
<p>This is great information to get him started, I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>My son is taking the approach that several of his university friends (academic majors, passion for performing arts) are taking - applying to graduate programs as well as to performing arts programs. It appears that he'll take the MCAT and the GRE, and end up applying to as many places as he did as an undergraduate, as well as run around auditioning. </p>
<p>The UK has decent possibilities for transitioning from student theatre to the professional arena - seems there are more opportunities to get in front of the public, scouts, and agents. </p>
<p>Good advice to work on the auditon pieces early! Probably will want to get some specific coaching too for the monologues and the vocal selections. You only get one shot, better over-prepared than under-prepared.</p>
<p>I wanted to give an update on the time I spent at the MFA acting program at Rutgers since I posted a couple of years ago. Best of luck to any who is apply to programs.</p>
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<p>Acting Programs: Juilliard, Northwestern (limited to 100 students-- not sure if this is per year total allowed in the theatre major or per class, though), & NYU Tisch.</p>
<p>To my knowledge, some of the better MFAs for acting are ...</p>
<p>Yale School of Drama
UC San Diego
American Conservatory Theatre
NYU/Tisch
Brandeis
UC Irvine
University of Delaware
Brown University/Trinity Rep
SMU
Indiana University
National Theatre Conservatory, Denver
Harvard Institute for Advanced Theatre Training
Alabama Shakespeare Festival
University of Washington</p>
<p>Oh, thanks for the correction, dancersom. I thought I had seen on their website that they did have an MT MFA :/ but after I rechecked apparently they didn't</p>
<p>Boston and maybe CCM have graduate programs in musical theater, but youth is such a commodity in that market that it's a tricky thing.</p>
<p>to my knowledge there aren't a ton of top-notch mfas in musical theater out there; out of the "top" mfa in acting schools, only Irvine regularly does musicals (and for that the grad students are thrown in the same pool as the undergrads). For acting, there is the book "acting is a job" (forgot the author, but it's on amazon) does a good job of giving some perspective on the grad school process.</p>
<p>I've trained for my MFA from the Florida State University/Asolo Repertory Theater for Actor Training and I LOVE it. My decision to attend this program follows from conversations with staff at Yale, NYU and Juilliard--the training that the Asolo offers its twelve students (it auditions over a thousand) and the benefits that it provides them with make the program one of the top-ranked, best and choice institutions at which to prepare for a life as an actor.</p>
<p>I am writing you because I am having a SENSATIONAL experience here earning, not only my Master's in Fine Art, but also my Equity card, a $400+/mo. stipend and all for no tuition. The small class size (of twelve) allows for plenty of one-on-one contact here with master teachers in acting, voice, movement, text-analysis and skill-specific workshops including Capoeira, certification in stage combat and musical theatre. Instructors are always willing to meet with students outside of class for extended periods of time (for free of course) demonstrating the program-wide devotion to instilling artistic integrity in each student. Each graduate of the program participates in a well-attended New York Showcase held in the heart of Manhattan. Graduates of the program, including Tom Holtz, appear and star on and off-broadway as well as in film, radio and television.</p>
<p>I cannot recommend this program enough to extremely talented, ensemble-oriented team-players. The volume of human-contact that this tight knit community entails is somewhat overwhelming and it is great training for working very closely with others in a community of any sort (a cast, patrons of the arts, theatre personnel, filmmakers etc). Area donors make everything possible, which is living proof of the communal (almost familial) attachment and passion for the Asolo Conservatory and Theater, which is the largest Equity regional theater in the Southeast United States.</p>
<p>At this time when students are thinking of applying to grad schools, I cannot recommend highly enough suggesting that prospective students visit the Conservatory's website and apply for a private interview (and not simply rely on an URTA call).</p>
<p>Im not as familiar with the Masters in MT at Royal Scottish but our son is halfway through his three year BA Acting program and LOVES it! He attended Interlochen Arts Academy and auditioned there. His acceptance came before many of his American schools (CMU, waitlisted). He has been very impressed with the training in accents, voice, singing, dance, microphone work, performance (stage), camera, fencing, movement, etc. He has found the program to be enriched by guest artists from London (Nadine George) and France (Francois LeCoq-LeCoq School) as well as master classes (Richard Attenbourgh, James McEvoy, Robbie Coltrane-Comedian & played Hagrid in the Harry Potter series). There are usually only 5 Americans accepted yearly and each class of 20-24 students are from all ages (many UK students attend other specialized acting program to qualify for acceptance). RSAMD acting program takes a mix of International students and builds on their existing skill level, rather than "molding or remaking them" into their image, unlike typical four year acting programs in the US, which our son is learning from his former classmates at Interlochen. Glasgow has put a lot of money into the ARTS with museums, art galleries and five major theatres. There are 5 universities in the city and numerous film students from RSAMD and Glasgow University audition Royal Scottish actors for their media work. He knew of no limit to the number of times a student could audition, in fact, he has a classmate who auditioned 5 times and is now in a BBC series coming out this year.</p>
<p>If you are interested in a university experience in California, the USC School of Theatre offers a MFA in Acting. It is worth noting a MFA in Dramatic Writing is also offered which is a joint program with the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
On the university website for the School of Theatre are lists of productions, faculty awards and noted alumni. It is USC</a> - University of Southern California. Click on School of Theatre.</p>
<p>Hello, I was curious if anyone could answer the question: How vital/helpful are MFA Acting programs for a future career in film/tv ? I have done loads of comunity theatre and am ready for the next step and am more interested in film now. I wonder how much film training exists or focused in MFA Theatre programs ?</p>