<p>Hi-
I'm brand-new to this forum. My dd is just beginning high school in the fall, so she has 4 years to prepare for college.
Although her ambition may change, right now she is determined to go to college for Musical Theatre.
At 14, she has been in 5 professional (Equity) productions in the last 2 years. We have told her that she cannot do professional theatre while in high school - the amount of school she missed in middle school just won't work for high school. She is not very happy with this decision - I sense battles coming up in the next few years. Because she is (right now) 4'9", she can still be cast as a younger child.
So, the advice needed now is how to not lose the momentum she has gained in the last couple of years? What are the best things for her to do to prepare for college while in high school? Of course she will continue with voice and dance, but any other advice will be appreciated.
Her high school is big and competitive - there are a lot of talented kids there, and I'm afraid she is going to be disappointed a lot her freshman year b/c she will not be allowed to audtion for many things.
Thank you so much!</p>
<p>Merlehay, we were in a similar situation. D is a rising junior now. Halfway through freshman year she was offered a part she couldn’t bear to turn down-- (she hadn’t auditioned for it), and I caved in. Her grades actually went up, and I told her as long as they stayed there she could continue doing theater outside of school. It has seemed to be a big plus for her-- she organizes her time well, and the energy and confidence she gets from theater goes back into her school work. She has done a couple of school shows, with small parts…and I think that has done her a world of good in a social way. I guess my main advice is-- take it step by step. Kids develop and change so much in high school, and learn so much (through the disappointments as well as the victories), that you can’t see very far ahead right now. In my experience the outside theater is a plus (think of all the time kids put into a sport, for instance)-- but every kid is so different! Also, it sounds like you’re in a city perhaps? Where she could have acting/singing/dance classes outside of school? PM me if you like.</p>
<p>Unless your D’s involvement in professional theatre will cause so many excessive absences in HS that she will exceed the number allowed by your district’s attendance policy, I would not pull her away from something that she loves at this point. </p>
<p>First, I am assuming that she is not guaranteed casting in every show. Even if she is the go to girl for all the young girl roles, she won’t be cast in an all adult ensemble piece for example. Second, I find that many theatre kids are well disciplined when they are in a show…they get their HW done immediately because there isn’t any other time for it. If she has always been able to maintain her grades in spite of her absences from class, there is no reason to think that she can’t continue to do that at least for now. It may get more complicated as a Junior with SAT prep, college search, driver’s ed, etc. in addition to classes but as a Freshman or Sophomore it should work. </p>
<p>IMO, there is no reason that she shouldn’t be allowed to audition for the Equity theatre productions. I assume they announce their season in advance so she could limit her absences by only choosing to audition for those shows she absolutely loves and/or with good parts for her. At some point she may grow out of these parts and perhaps that will coincide with an increase in school activities. She may even find herself more excited to be a part of a school production with the opportunity to play older instead of younger and choose that instead of one of the Equity shows. I guess I don’t understand why you would set such limits without waiting to see what all of her options are especially because her EC’s will count for something on her college applications. Unless she doesn’t have the grades. Even so that can be the bargaining chip. If she gets the grades and can maintain the grades, she can continue to perform wherever she likes as long as the absences don’t become a problem. </p>
<p>Whether or not you decide to pull her from the Equity productions, there really isn’t anything you can do about losing momentum. She will likely lose momentum at least at this theatre when she can no longer be cast as a child anyway. And careers go hot and cold all the time. Yes, keep up the voice and dance and see if there are any acting workshops. But also give her time to daydream and read and write and feed her creative soul in other ways. It’s important for you both not to get too caught up in the college preparation craziness at this age. Let her do things she loves just because not because they will look good on an application or resume. Best of luck! :)</p>
<p>I just graduated from H.S. and am headed to college for BFA MT…my advice is to ENJOY HIGH SCHOOL. I think you should let her do what she loves, but keep in mind you only do h.s. once. If she’s gone all the time, when will she go to games, play soccer, be in clubs, and hang out?</p>
<p>I LOVE musicals as much as anyone, but who knows if that is really something she will end up wanting to do for a living. I have a neighbor who was HUGE in hockey and was even going to leave his family and move to the east coast during h.s. for a shot at the pros. Then, he got a special girlfriend, changed his mind, and now he doesn’t play at all. And my sister cried all the way home from quitting her dance classes becuz she loved it so much but wanted to try other things. She never went back to it and says she doesn’t really miss it. She dances in show choir, and that is enough for her.</p>
<p>What I mean is, what is a passion now may become just a hobby, and in the meantime what will she miss? I have been acting since I was 10 but I have never done professional theatre, and I still auditioned well for college. I don’t think she will need to keep her “momentum” in order to be an actress later on. She may not understand that until she has graduated and missed out on a bunch of stuff. IMHO.</p>
<p>As a CURRENT college musical theatre major, I have this advice to offer. I’ve given HEADINGS because of my POOR ability to be CONCISE so…you don’t have to read the WHOLE thing to find what you want. And I find CAPITALIZED letters make it easier to FIND things. Don’t the capitals as emphasized in speech, just important to the cotent of the section. 
Yay skimming!</p>
<ol>
<li><p>ACADEMICS + MT:
A student cannot participate in a college musical theatre program without being ACCEPTED into the college ACADEMICALLY.
Being ALLOWED to be in SHOWS that won’t affect school attendance as a RESULT of good grades is a pretty good incentive for good GRADES (that will get her into college). On the other hand, learning to BALANCE theatre and academics is very good PREPARATION for college life.</p></li>
<li><p>EQUITY V. EDUCATION (COLLEGE AUDITIONS):
Participating in EQUITY productions, while extremely impressive (and I’m sure you’re very proud of her, as you should be), is NOT NECESSARILY what most impresses college programs. That experience will show them that she’s professional and talented. College programs are much more interested in POTENTIAL for development and willingness to LEARN than JUST experience (though it isn’t overlooked). What they look for are students who want HELP from teachers to GROW as artists and as human beings. As I was told at the Michigan audition, ‘if you’re already talented enough to be on Broadway, what more can we do for you? Go be on Broadway.’ (not verbatim, but close enough)</p></li>
<li><p>EQUITY V. EDUCATION (HIGH SCHOOL):
If she’s turned off by high school productions because she’s worked professionally, she should look again. Participating in high school productions with her PEERS, which you say will be very competitive, could be a HUMBLING experience for her. Young and talented artists in a small pond can get overconfident. High school students artists should participate in high school productions just because it’s a WONDERFUL experience no matter how unprofessional (and your daughter’s school doesn’t seem very unprofessional). I had so many FRIENDS in my school productions that made the experience more than just doing what I love–I was doing it with people that I loved too. I NEVER GOT LEADS in the musicals, but only two of us from my high school got into a COLLEGE musical theatre program (the other one was a boy; we weren’t exactly competing for the same parts). That being said, I was less heart-broken to not see my name on a cast list during college. My time will come, and the upperclassmen really appreciate my attitude.</p></li>
<li><p>EQUITY V. EDUCATION (COLLEGE):
Casting in college (and potentially in high school too) is based on MORE THAN talent too. They want everyone to get an OPPORTUNITY to be apart of productions directed by faculty members. And they want student directors to have the experience of working with talented actors. Some schools even give their theatre education majors the chance to be in the main shows so they can EXPERIENCE being actors too. College casting is mainly for EDUCATION so getting used to educational productions in high school will be an IMPORTANT experience to have under her belt, EVEN if it means TURNING DOWN an opportunity to WORK professionally.</p></li>
<li><p>MOMENTUM:
Beside continuing dance and voice lessons, she should definitely take up PIANO if she hasn’t already. If she’s really SERIOUS about being a musical theatre major, she’ll have to learn it in college anyway. But piano’s a HARD instrument to learn in FOUR years. She’ll also have to learn to read music in college, and piano helps with that–making CONNECTIONS among her voice, the notes on the page, and other voice parts in her shows helps so much! Piano is the one thing, in the MT world, that she will NEVER REGRET even if she hates it at first.</p></li>
<li><p>MORE MOMENTUM (SUMMER CAMP):
The most IMPORTANT musical theatre experience for me was going to Interlochen Arts Camp. I give nearly FULL CREDIT for my acceptance and success in musical theatre to participating in their musical theatre program for six years. There are many other CAMPS who work with talented young artists. Other young artists who have Equity or other professional experience and young artists who don’t. It gives those students the opportunity to work with OTHER KIDS who are PASSIONATE about musical theatre, and with HIGH expectations. Interlochen, for example, auditions kids from around the world. And it won’t conflict with school.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Most of this is personal opinion based on my experiences. The information regarding what colleges look for is based on what I was told at my auditions. I hope you find at least some of this information RELEVANT to you. I wish your daughter all the best for her future in the arts or whatever she wants to do!</p>
<p>Musically,
HS
BSU MTO 2013</p>
<p>interlochengrl12 Nice post! Clear and sound advice.</p>
<p>That was a wonderful and informative post! Thank you!
We just returned from a week in NY at a wonderful workshop, “Making it on Broadway” and they emphasized many of the things that you did.</p>
<p>On another note, I wish she would consider going to Interlochen. She will not go to overnight camp anywhere - she’s very attached to home. Maybe it will change as she gets older - I think she would love it.</p>