<p>My son enjoys MT but wants to pursue a BFA Acting. I know UARTs offers a BFA Acting with the opportunity to minor in MT. What are some other schools that offer this option? Can anyone comment on how well this combination works where it's offered? How does it affect performance opportunities (e.g. can MT minors audition for MT mainstage productions? etc.). Thanks.</p>
<p>At UArts, the acting and MT majors can all audition for all of the shows each year without distinction between plays and musicals.</p>
<p>Syracuse has a similar program – all students audition for both musicals and non-musicals. I don’t believe there is a MT minor, but acting students can take private voice lessons, and sign up for dance classes if there is room after the MT students sign up.</p>
<p>Marymount offers BFA Acting with a minor in MT as well as a BA in Theatre Performance</p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon’s BFA Acting majors can also take MT classes, or the Musical Theatre major is like a double major in both</p>
<p>Webster also has BFA Acting and you can take MT classes as well; their MT majors can also elect to take more acting classes</p>
<p>NYU Tisch has some studios that incorporate acting and MT such as Strasberg.</p>
<p>UCF’s BFA Acting students can also take some MT classes and be in the musicals</p>
<p>Some programs that I have looked at will almost let you mix and match some courses which is really nice, but it depends on the school and type of degree and electives, etc.</p>
<p>I’m sure someone else will chime in with some more programs and info, but that is all I can think of off of the top of my head.</p>
<p>There are not a lot of MT Minors. However, given the needs and interests that your son has, another way to add to a list of schools would be to look for BFA (and some BA) Acting programs that either also have a BFA in MT or else singing/dancing classes and opportunities to be in MT productions. For instance, this would be true at NYU/Tisch or Ithaca in their BFA Acting programs and quite a number of other programs too (and some not). USC has an actual MT Minor but you may have to be in the BA for that (I’d have to check) even though they also have a BFA in Acting too. But find a school that offers acting but still has opportunities to take voice and dance and where anyone can audition for the musicals (and where there is a MT program there too). </p>
<p>However, this may ALSO be true at some schools that only have an Acting program and not a MT program. One of my students last year had a background in MT but wanted an Acting program (this has been true of several kids I have worked with, like is true for your son) and he chose NCSA but I believe they still put on musicals there too. Another boy who had an extensive MT background wanted Acting and landed at Tisch but Northwestern would also be an option (he got in there too). And many others like UArts or Syracuse or CMU would have MT opportunities for an Acting student. </p>
<p>It need not be a Minor…not a LOT of MT Minors out there… but there are lots of Acting schools where a student could still be involved in some training and productions in MT.</p>
<p>my d is at Marymount Manhattan with a BA in Theatre Perfomance and MT Minor. The combination is really more like a BA in Musical Theatre Performance because the minor is very intensive.She loves it! This past year she has had dance every day, weekly private voice, fundamentals of musical theatre which encompasses musical theatre history and music theory- as well as the classes required for a BA in Theatre- acting, script analysis, etc.</p>
<p>Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond offers a BFA in acting, with musical theatre classes and performance opportunities. At James Madison University, where I teach, BA theatre concentrators can take dance, voice, musical theatre classes and participate in musical productions. Musical Theatre concentrators can also take additional acting classes and (of course) participate in plays.</p>
<p>Thanks all – good info and suggestions. My son went to a college fair in Providence yesterday (and coincidentally it was in the upper 70s) – so now he thinks a warm weather climate on the East Coast sounds good. As a result, the DC southern border for the college search has been extended to Miami. Does this ever get easier for parents?</p>
<p>So now you can go visit NCSA! A fantastic program and a location where, when kids move out of the dorms, they can share a whole nice house that has a rent of only $300 a month!</p>
<p>I still think it would be too bad if your son ruled out applying to Ithaca, though, as it has a very well respected acting program and reputedly gives good aid. :-)</p>
<p>As a Floridian I have to laugh at the East Coast being considered a “warm weather climate”. My kid is gonna freeze in Conneticut, LOL!!</p>
<p>Pohsmom – just to clarify, my point was that since my son likes warm weather, we need to expand our search to the warmer states on the East Coast (e.g. Virginia to Florida)…</p>
<p>WellMeaningDad…joking aside if you need info on the Florida schools PM me. Since it is essentially free for Floridians to stay in state (with Florida Bright Futures tuition is paid 75-100% if you meet a rather modest academic standard-this of course for public schools only, the private ones, ie UofMiami will meet the equivalent in the form of a scholarship) many of my students are at the different programs offered here. If I can answer any questions I’d be happy to help!</p>