Marymount Manhattan BFA Acting Vs. The New School for Drama BFA Theater Arts with acting

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

<p>My D was lucky enough to have been accepted to both these wonderful schools, with substantial scholarships at both. We LOVE LOVE LOVE everything about The New School for Drama, but are concerned that they do not offer enough core foundation classes for acting. Their BFA is in theater Arts, so you "dabble" in a little of everything, playwriting, directing, scene design and acting. My D wants to act and wants all the core classes to achieve that goal. ie: script analysis, movement for the actor etc... Marymount has a great curriculum offering these classes. The New School however feels like home...she would be happiest there...but she wants the education more than the feel good feeling. Can anyone with knowledge on the BFA classes offered at New School help? ( I know they are only in their first year)</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>If the New School makes her happiest overall - is there any way she could pursue additional, focused training in the summers to fill-in any gaps she experiences in her training?</p>

3

<p>I am also interested in the answer to your question DramaMum, as my daughter is in the same situation, and LOVED the New School for Drama, which remains at the top of her list. Their faculty list looks impressive, which makes sense as they have had their MFA program for years. Since our daughters would only be members of the 2nd BFA class, am sure they would receive plenty of attention. However, development of her acting craft is the paramount focus at this point in her life. </p>

4

<p>Same situation here! My D told me from the beginning she prefers the NS. I am not sure she made any research though, it’s just her feeling. </p>

5

<p>Hi, All-- and thank you so much for your interest in our BFA program.</p>

<p>There are obviously a lot of great schools in NYC, but allow me to offer a few more (hopefully not too long-winded) details about ours specifically.</p>

<p>As you’ve noted, we are not a traditional conservatory program, which typically provides deep training in a single discipline. </p>

<p>Because the nature of professional theater is shifting, and because many playwrights, directors and theater artists emerge from an acting background, our students take foundational courses across disciplines. We believe this better prepares them for a careers in the arts, and makes them better collaborators in even the most traditional theater setting.</p>

<p>By design, these foundational courses are rigorous, and in themselves involve quite a bit of on-your-feet acting. The directing 1 and playwriting 1 courses (which occur in the 2nd year) also involve separate lab hours, during which students are rehearsing.</p>

<p>Additionally, we do allow first years to do productions. This year’s Freshmen were all cast in at least one of 3 productions – 2 mainstage plays and a new works festival. Students also have the opportunity to produce their own (modest) productions via our open “Cafe” slot. (One freshman is also cast in a 3rd year MFA production!) Over the next 3 years, we will be increasing BFA productions to 4 a year.</p>

<p>Naturally, acting students will also have a range of voice, speech and movement courses to choose from in addition to technique and scene study classes.</p>

<p>As Msdchick mentioned, our undergrad largely shares high-level professional faculty with our MFA program; the undergrad Acting 3 course instructor will be the same as our MFA acting thesis faculty member. We are a relatively small division and are fortunate to have that level of fluidity between the grad and undergrad programs.</p>

<p>So while the first year may have fewer specific acting technique courses than some others, we believe that our students will be receiving excellent instruction and ample opportunities and will graduate as experienced young theater artists. </p>

<p>There are quite a few more aspects to the New School for Drama BFA program, but I hope that addresses some of the questions.</p>

<p>Again, there are many very fine programs and, from my experience, one of the most important aspects of a student’s education is program fit. I’m quite sure there’s a place for every aspiring young actor. </p>

<p>Please feel free to contact me, or our Admissions office if you ever have more questions.</p>

<p>Many thanks!</p>

6

<p>My son is a freshman at The New School, and he always thought he would only want a more conservatory style program until he fell in love with this school. He is loving this program and the opportunities it is providing. He has been involved with the mainstage productions as an actor and this weekend, he is exploring the other side of the craft as a playwright. This program allows him to see the field from all different sides, and that is an unexpected bonus.</p>

<p>As a parent, we wanted our son to feel like he was part of a program that challenged and excited him, and I think this one does. In all fairness, however, I have friends with children at the MMC program and they also love it, so congratulations on having such wonderful options!</p>

7

<p>@ParkerNSD, Thank you so much for your reply. I Love everything about your program and so appreciate your quick and informative response. My daughter has a big decision ahead of her, my job is to give her the tools she needs to make that decision. @Photomom5 that is exactly how I want my daughter to feel, and i believe she would at NSD. Thanks for all your replies.</p>

8

<p>@parkerNSD thank you for your prompt reply. Photomom5, so happy to hear that your son is loving his experience at The New School, and the challenging opportunities it is providing him. This information is very helpful. My D just directed her first piece this week as part of a senior directed showcase at her performing arts high school and I can see how directing and writing experience would contribute to the development of an actor’s talents from a 360 degree vantage point, as I believe she matured as an artist as a result of this experience. My D loved the New School both from her visit and her audition experience, in which the auditors truly wanted to find out about who she was as a human being. It was this personal touch that so endeared her to your school. Will share this information with my D. </p>

9

<p>@dramamum My kid goes to MMC and he really loves the curriculum and the faculty. It is not as credit-intensive as some schools (New School is like this, too, I believe), so there is flexibility in the curriculum to take the classes you are interested in along with the requirements. Plus you can get a minor in playwriting or directing or whatever if you want. The curriculum is 60-hour BFA/60-hour liberal arts/other classes, so you can truly navigate a schedule that works for what you are interested in as you have plenty of electives to do that. As a parent I can tell you that I am most impressed with the caring of the administration and faculty. They really seem to make it a point to get to know all the students and to make everyone feel at home. It is a small school in the middle of a big city and they really seem to live that out.</p>

10

<p>@acting720 thank you for the post, I do think they have a fine program…just wanting my D to be happy all around not just with the curriculum. As she pointed out to me she’ll be fine whenever she ends up…she just wants to make sure she gets the proper foundation for a lasting career.</p>

11

<p>My d is very interested in the New School. Can anyone who has applied in the past give us guidance on what type of scene work you included in your audition video? Should the scene be from a school production? Can other people be in the scene, or can she just film a scene? Any help is appreciated!</p>

12

<p>Hi astute12, my son is a sophomore at The New School and loves the program. Audition videos should always just be the student, they should choose monologues from published plays. Generally, each school will provide you with the guildelines (sometimes there are requirements for what type of monologues as well as the length.) so read each school’s requirements carefully.</p>

13

<p>For the New School pre-screen they request a scene as well as the standard monologue. We are just trying to figure out of they want something of the student on stage, with others, or just reading another scene. I’m going to call and ask, but just wanted to check to see what others had done. Does your son live in the dorms? How are they?</p>

14

<p>astute12, let me know what you found out. I was wondering the same thing. My D is going to be filming her scene in a few weeks and I’m curious also. </p>

<p>M D preferred New School over Marymount, too. Just liked the varied program (wants to direct, write, etc. in addition to act) and liked the classes she could take at Eugene Lang. </p>

15

<p>I’d be interested in what you find out about the ‘scene’ as well. </p>

16

<p>Sorry this took so long I just got an email from them – they are updating their website tomorrow to reflect this: Scene work is optional, just need two, contrasting contemporary pieces and the “wild card” this is who I am one minute video. </p>

17

<p>@astute12, thanks for doing this legwork! Very much appreciated! </p>