Hi, I was hoping to get a little bit of advice on which MT program I should decide on. I was accepted to the BFA Acting program with a concentration in Musical Theatre at both Arcadia University(with a talent scholarship) and Slippery Rock University. I also was accepted to Muhlenberg College and received talent scholarships for both music and theatre. The location of Arcadia(being near Philadelphia)seems like a really great benefit for finding work right out of college, especially since there is a showcase/audition for tons of professional theatre companies in the city in your senior year. SRU is close to Pittsburgh and has the benefit of being a state school with a super affordable price. Muhlenberg’s theatre program with a concentration in acting and minors in both music and dance seems very comparable to a BFA program, and has a showcase in NYC for all seniors. Muhlenberg would also offer the opportunity to double major in something else more “practical”. Any advice is GREATLY appreciated!
I’m not familiar enough with those programs to give any advice about the theater, acting or dance curricula. But I hate when I post something and only hear “crickets” so I am going to respond.
Our family has approached the whole audition process from a very practical perspective. We have a family friend who graduated from CMU 20 years ago and has had a successful career…but after five years, half of his class wasn’t working in the theater industry anymore. If that’s CMU, imagine what the statistic is for other schools. Theater has never been the most practical career choice, but 2020 has shown that the industry is even more fragile than we ever realized. We’ve approached the process of auditioning and choosing a school based on having a solid Plan B. I think a double major is a wonderful thing.
But that’s just one opinion.
If the double major is not a priority for you personally, then I would look at the curricula of the three schools, the performance opportunities and other aspects of the training you will be getting every day. Do you need to work on dance? Or some other area more than the others? What school will best prepare you for the post-pandemic theater world, where video and film are going to be more of a force?
In the end, only you (and your family) can answer this question but I wanted to share the thought process our family has gone through over the past year. Hope it’s helpful. I wish you all the best! Make the decision that’s right for you and your own situation.
Thank you so much! Your insight is very much appreciated!
I’m sorry I don’t know more about these programs! I keep hoping someone with a student in one of these programs will show up here to help. Maybe try searching the school names on CC and see if you can find current parents or students that you could reach out to.
The decision process is so hard and I wish I could be of more help. You have three great options and that is a fantastic problem to have in this super-competitive year!
I don’t know a lot about those three programs, other than many people have Muhlenberg on their list and is considered a very strong program, though do look at the total number of kids per class as I believe it is on the high side which might make performance opportunities more competitive or limited. I’ve heard the Slippery Rock facilities are wonderful but they have changed heads of department several times over the last few years I would want to know why.
You could also post this in the 2025 venting thread as it gets the most activity. The new format has thrown a lot of people off and are missing these one off threads.