My D (sophomore) feels like she’s getting top notch acting training there. Bob Westenberg is wonderful, as well as the rest of the acting faculty. Lisa Brescia is gone this year doing Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway, but will be back, and D learned so much from her last year. She’s had many great opportunities - she was Veronica in Heathers last year, sang Maria for a West Side Story concert this fall, and although she was cast in the current production (Bare), she had to pull out at the beginning because of some vocal/sickness issues. So instead, she got the opportunity to be Assistant Director, which she’s loving…and learning so much from working with the director. The faculty is wonderful - she has a great voice teacher too (who made her a dr. appt. for a vocal strobe and drove her there when she was having issues). Tent Theatre is a great summer equity opportunity (and they do cast underclassmen!), and there are also two quality community theatres in Springfield that students can audition for when they don’t make a mainstage at MSU. D did a show at one of them in the fall. It’s been a great fit.
Could a current parent or student comment on the dance training available at MSU?
@jbrown My D is a Freshman BFA MT who’s been in dance since age 3. She’s happy with her dance classes at MSU. They have a dance BFA too…but I only know of her MT track. She’d like to take more dance, but she’s got an already busy class schedule. First semester took Fundrmentals of Contemporary Dance. This semester Modern. Wanted to take Ballet too but her acting class was at same time. So taking another semester. MSU placed her up to higher levels of dance with upperclassmen for ballet. But she’s concentrating on other areas and staying with her MT freshman classmates.
Thank you! Is it elective based or is their a curricular dance track for the MTs?
@jbrown I think BFA MT students required to take one dance class as curriculum every semester. But can take more dance as electives as well. You can see a sample 4 year course track on their website. My D placed out of a lot of the core classes for general education so she’s freed up to take extra classes that interest her. Here’s a link to sample schedule. https://musicaltheatre.missouristate.edu/FourYear.htm
Also here’s the main MT link. https://musicaltheatre.missouristate.edu
That is a very helpful clarification! Ty!
I’ve been considering Missouri Mt and I’m wondering if graduated students choose to stay in the area or go to NY/CALI, etc
@Texasdreamer my D is still an undergrad. Her plan is to try and get a cruise ship gig for a year and earn some money… then head to NYC. But we also live in a big theater market so she will likely leave Springfield after graduation. So coming home is an option too, since we live in one of the good professional theater cities in USA. That is if some very cute guy from Missouri doesn’t turn her head and keep her in Missouri. Kidding. Plan to graduate and get to NYC eventually. I spoke to several graduating MT & Acting graduating Missouri State Seniors last year who were in Tent Theater. Most were heading to NYC or LA after graduation. Hope helps.
My D auditioned on campus, and we both went to different student panels. All the students were from Missouri, Texas, Nebraska and Kansas. A parent asked if the program was more regional, and a student (she was a junior) said they did have a few students from elsewhere including one from Florida or Georgia. The students loved the program and the training. Their complaints were about the lack of parking (they all had cars except one) and the fact that currently MT students have to pay separately for an accompanist.
@Texasdreamer, @MTdreamin - My D (sophomore) plans to go to NYC when she graduates. She and one of her friends have talked about possibly coming home to Chicago to audition/work for a year before going to New York, but they do plan to leave Springfield after they graduate. I know that there are kids in her class from Chicago (us), Georgia, New Hampshire, Virginia, Texas, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Florida, Tennessee…and that’s only the ones I personally know of. So the students are from all over at this point!
@Kkrazie - I think your D might be my D’s Little 
@RosaMT I hope so. But didn’t u say y’all are from Chicago? My daughter’s MT big sis is from FT Worth. But she says the Freshman & Sophomores BFAs are all super tight. On the Region question. Texans don’t think of Missouri as being in their region. It is so up North to us. But D has loved Missouri & the people and loves it’s not as high pressure as Texas. Texas is intense in every way. We are Proud Texans… but D loves getting to know the students at Missouri State. They are salt of the earth! And BFAs are nationally recruited so they are from all over. D’s bestie is from Georgia. Missouri State is recruiting at all the big auditions nationally.
Does anyone know how the waitlist works? Do they accept, let’s say 15 then waitlist 30 or do they accept 30 hoping for 15, then waitlist less?
Also- can anyone speak to WL movement and if there’s any $ left for anyone who might come off the WL?
Does anyone know if April 1 decision deadline is hard and fast. S is visiting Missouri on March 30 but has one other school he needs to visit on April 6 before he makes decision. He wants an extension to April 15 to commit
@Kkrazie I think there are two girls in the freshman class with the same first name? So maybe I’m confused and it’s the other one that’s my D’s Little! I’ll have to ask her…
@MTMama23 - I don’t know how the waitlist works, but I do know that My D’s year, at least 1 or 2 moved off the waitlist.
@gatorbridget - I would just email Robert and nicely ask for an extension, saying that you are visiting campus on March 30th but still have one more accepted visit to fit in. We did that - D was accepted in December her year, but we wanted to wait for all of the acceptances to make the decision. Her last acceptance was BOCO, and that didn’t come until March 31st, so we needed a little time to think, and he was very understanding of that. Besides that, I will say that our meeting with him in his office on our visit day was the key factor in her decision - we left there thinking that she couldn’t be in a better place with a better mentor!
@gatorbridget last year we saw Missouri State extend deadlines to decide. I’d email & communicate your needs with Bob. Some got extensions which can hold up waitlisted kids. But MSU tried hard to accommodate. Ditto what RosaMT said. Onsite visit with faculty sealed the deal for us & cost. Best wishes for your decision anyway you decide.
@MTMama23 - kids did moved off waitlist last year and are attending Missouri State. It went late into April for some & money was available. Didn’t effect dorm sign ups either. Just email politely with department so they can work to accommodate your situation. I don’t know how deep waitlist is. I’m sure only faculty would know that. I just know kids got in off waitlists in past. But every year is unique. Fingers crossed y’all know soon.
Hi everyone,
I was recently told that students audition into a “pre-admit” program and then audition into the actual BFA program after their first year. Is this true?
BFA Musical Theater/Acting & Dance applicants audition during their senior year of high school for admission into the BFA program. You get accepted while in high school and start as a BFA your Freshman year. Some get in as BAs and reaudituon to get into BFA program once a college student. Never heard of a pre-admit. But call the school after Spring Break for clarification.
My D is really considering MSU- loved the staff and it’s just so much bang for the buck! Our only worries are 1. What is the quality of the dance classes? She needs to improve a LOT. Our other drawback is it’s very near where we live, and I have always come from the opinion that kids need to get away in order to truly grow up! Would love any opinions…