MT School Visits-Road Trip-Recommendations

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

Hello!

My S is a Jr and we are planning on a jam packed road trip during spring break to visit several schools. To get a look around, a ‘feel’ for the schools and the areas. Some of the schools we are planning on visiting are, (probably not all in this trip), in no particular order are CMU, PPU, Muhlenberg, Otterbein, Ball State, U Mich & Baldwin Wallace.

This is our first of many school visits and I’d love some input from those who’ve been, on what to ask or see or who to speak with, while we are there, as well as recommendations for places to eat & sleep.

I feel so lucky to have found this forum so early in the process, and am grateful to all of you for your contributions, both positive and negative, so I thank you!

There have been many a list I’ve referred to on this forum that have been so helpful. Perhaps this thread can be another that we can all share recommendations, and help one another on this exciting, albeit stressful and emotional MT journey. (I’ve added in some info under U Mich that I picked up on another thread).

Thank you all!

Baldwin Wallace
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Ball State
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

CMU
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Muhlenberg
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Otterbein
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

PPU
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

U Mich
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat: Zingermans; Savas;
Sleep: Hampton Inn-Ann Arbor N; Residence Inn; The Graduate

2

Muhlenberg
Things to visit/People to talk to: Make sure you do the official admissions talk and get on their radar. Sit in on a theater class and talk with people in the theater department.
Eat: At least one meal on campus. Plenty of other choices in the area.
Sleep: Check the Muhlenberg web site for hotels in the area around school or the Dorney Park area.

3

Baldwin Wallace
Things to visit/People to talk to: Current MT students - ask to sit in on a class or a master class; talk with V. Bussert. If there is a production running (Hair will likely be done), go see it. There will probably be a play and possibly an opera running in the spring; if you have time, visit downtown Cleveland - the MTs spend quite a bit of time there

Eat: Sweet Mango Thai is good; Campus Grille and Mikes are ok; better restaurants in downtown Cleveland

Sleep: Many reasonably-priced options very close to campus

4

Point Park
Things to visit/people to talk to: call the admissions office and see if you can arrange to sit in on a class and talk to MT head Zeva Barzell. As with all schools, if a show is running try to see it.

Eat: there’s lots of restaurants downtown. Market Square is super cute and just a short walk away, with several places to eat and usually some sort of craft fair with local merchants during the weekends. Point State Park is also a short walk away, and you can look across the river to the Steelers’ and Pirates’ stadiums.

Sleep: lots of hotels in the downtown area. Check the school’s website for recommendations and maybe even discounts. If you want to save even more money, there’s good bargain options in Monroeville, about twenty minutes away (I’ve stayed many times at the Red Roof in there, which isn’t fancy but is newly renovated and cheap).

Have a great trip!

5

Thanks! I’m loving this thread. Keep them coming! Interested in PPU, U of MIch, Hartt, Fredonia, Wagner

6

This is GREAT! Thank you! Please keep them coming!! I’ve added in the updates, and have listed other schools. (There are TONS of schools for MT, so please feel free to add on.) I’ve also listed a ‘General Tips’ for all schools.

General Tips:
• Do the official admissions talk and get on their radar
• Sit in on a theater class and talk with people in the theater department
• Talk to Current MT students
• Ask to sit in on a class or a master class
• See a school show/production
• Check school website for possible discounts and/or hotel recommendations

American U – Washington, DC
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Baldwin Wallace U – Berea, OH
Things to visit/People to talk to: Talk with V. Bussert. Visit downtown Cleveland - the MTs spend quite a bit of time there
Eat: Sweet Mango Thai is good; Campus Grille and Mikes are ok; better restaurants in downtown Cleveland
Sleep: Many reasonably-priced options very close to campus

Ball State U - Muncie, IN
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep::

Boston Conservatory – Boston, MA
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Carnegie Mellon U (CMU) - Pittsburgh, PA
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Christopher Newport U – Newport News, VA
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music (CCM) – Cincinnati, OH
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Coastal Carolina U – Conway, SC
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Columbia College Chicago – Chicago, IL
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Elon U – Elon, NC
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Emerson College – Boston, MA
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Florida Southern College – Lakeland, FL
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Florida State U – Tallahassee, FL
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Ithaca College – Ithaca, NY
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Muhlenberg College – Allentown, PA
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat: At least one meal on campus. Plenty of other choices in the area.
Sleep: Check the Muhlenberg web site for hotels in the area around school or the Dorney Park area.

New York U (NYU) – New York, NY
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

North Central College – Naperville, IL
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Oklahoma City U – Oklahoma City, OK
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Otterbein U – Westerville, OH
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Pace U – New York, NY
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Pennsylvania State U – University Park, PA
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Point Park U – Pittsburgh, PA
Things to visit/People to talk to: Talk to MT head Zeva Barzell… Market Square has craft vendors, local merchants and food most weekends, and it’s a short walk. Point State Park is also a short walk & has view across river to Steelers’ and Pirates’ stadiums.
Eat: Lots of restaurants downtown.

Sleep: Lots of hotels downtown. Good bargain options in Monroeville, about twenty minutes away – Red Roof Inn-not fancy, but newly renovated and inexpensive.

Roosevelt U (CCPA) – Chicago, IL
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Shenandoah U – Winchester, VA
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

SUNY Fredonia – Fredonia, NY
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Syracuse U – Syracuse, NY
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Temple U – Philadelphia, PA
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Texas Christian U – Fort Worth, TX
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Texas State U – San Marcos, TX
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

U Arizona – Tucson, AZ
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

U Arts – Philadelphia, PA
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

U Hartford (Hartt) – Hartford, CT
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

U Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat: Zingermans; Savas;
Sleep: Hampton Inn-Ann Arbor N; Residence Inn; The Graduate

U Northern Colorado (UNOCO) – Greeley, CO
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

U Oklahoma – Norman, OK
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

U Tampa – Tampa, FL
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Viterbo U – La Crosse, WI
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Wagner College – Staten Island, NY
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Western CT State U (WCSU) – Danbury, CT
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

7

I’d like to add to Baldwin Wallace
Things to visit/People to talk to: Everything @artskids suggestion, plus schedule a conservatory tour, which is different from the admission tour. It shows some of the university, the theater, a dorm, and conservatory. Much more focused tour, which makes more sense if you are only interested in attending if you are accept to MT. You can do a full tour at accepted students day later. You can also request a MT tour guide and if time allows they will eat lunch/chat with you and your parents.

8

I’ll also add - when we visited BW this past summer, I stayed as close to campus as I could find. The hotel was a little sketchy. When we traveled there for auditions, we stayed in North Olmsted at the Aloft Hotel. If you’re not familiar with them - they are associated with Westin/Starwood which is also associated with Marriott now. In any case, it was a brand new hotel, very nice, reasonably priced, close to a mall/restaurants, and about a 10-15 minute drive to the campus.

9

^^ ditto was @IfYouOnlyKnew said…try to go for focused Performing Arts tours if you can. We hit a few general open houses at some schools and many do not highlight their PA department adequately and some didn’t even mention them AT ALL…although it was quite telling of how proud (or not so proud) they were of their PA Departments. There were three schools my D immediately crossed off her list because they “clearly were not proud of their program if they don’t even mention it at an open house”. Her words not mine…lol. Welcome to the roller coaster ride!

10

Western Michigan
Things to visit/People to talk to: Tour the Fine Arts Plaza including the Gilmore Theatre Complex (3 theatres!), Miller Auditorium, Dalton Center (dance classes in here). Walk around the series of plazas in the interior of campus. Talk to Jay Berkow, head of the MT program - former Broadway actor/dancer, amazing person. Drive down W. Michigan Avenue and onto E. Michigan Ave. into old downtown Kalamazoo.
Eat: Crow’s Nest for a funky student vibe near campus, Food Dance for upscale farm-to-table in old downtown.
Sleep: The Oaklands, a wonderful B&B in a restored Italianate villa right in the center of campus. Best chain hotels are the Marriott Courtyard and Homewood Suites on Trade Centre Way.

11

@artskids and @IfYouOnlyKnew gave great BW advice. I’d recommend hotels in Middleberg Heights for proximity to campus. Our favorite is the Hampton Inn, and they do have a BW rate.

12

This past summer we did a tour that included some of these schools. We started in Michigan, went to Baldwin Wallace, Kent State, CMU, Penn State, Marymount Manhattan, NYU & Pace.
Definetly do the Theatre specific tours at all the schools (at BW theatre and musical theatre are two seperate tours MT is housed in the conservatory so keep that in mind when booking). We tried to do both that and a regular campus tour. (We were at CMU some people in our campus tour group asked about the theatre dept. and the tour guide said those are seperate and usually booked way in advance)

University of Michigan I will add to the above. Make sure you do the campus tour here as well as theatre tour. Michigan has a North Campus and main campus. Theatre is on the North Campus and kind of segrated from not only the main campus but also downtown Ann Arbor which is what some kids like about U of Mich.(that it is so integrated into the city, Ann Arbor is a great town) If you just toured North Campus you might be disappointed, or not some like my D like it not being near sports, etc.

For Baldwin Wallace Things to visit/People to talk to: Not a lot in the direct area but Cleveland is close. We did find a gianormous candy store(warehouse size) that was fun. B.A. Sweetie candy
Eat:We ate at the Berea Depot (don’t recommend) @kategrizz might have some good suggestions she has a current MT student at BW
Sleep: We stayed at the Hampton Inn near Stow which is between BW & Kent State since we were visiting both

CMU Things to visit/People to talk to: We took a side trip to Falling Water (about an hour away) but well worth it. Parking near CMU is next to impossible, definetly leave yourself extra time to find parking and to walk to tour starting point.
Eat:Union Grill, great little local place not far from where campus tour starts
Sleep: We found it cheaper to stay closer to the airport. We stayed at the Embassy Suites by the airport, very nice hotel.

Penn State Things to visit/People to talk to: We talked to Shannon Ritter, very helpful. She met with us privately and did a private tour. ( Don’t know if that’s because the school didn’t have one scheduled the day we planned on being there but we had emailed the dept. and asked if there was a tour and she had emailed us back and said she could meet at 1:30, I didn’t realize until we were there that it was a private tour) We visited Penn’s Cave while there.
Eat: Penn State serves you lunch for free when you book the campus tour. Can’t remember where we ate dinner
Sleep: Stayed at the Comfort Inn

NYU Things to visit/People to talk to: New York has so much to do especially for a theatre kid. Hidden gem for the theatre nut The Drama Book shop. We got same day tickets thru TKTS for Kinky Boots loved it. If your not familar with TKTS they offer discount tickets to most shows on broadway, they have 3 booths in the city the biggest in Times Square check them out.
Eat: Sardi’s, expensive but such a great experience again especially for a theatre kid. (Kristen Chenowith ended up standing right next to our table for what seemed like an eternity showing off her picture that was right behind my head)
Also food trucks. Great Italian place near NYU but can’t remember name. Was recommended by tour guide
Sleep: We stayed at the Double Tree in Times Square, have been before and stayed at the Row(small rooms but not a bad hotel especially considering its proximity to Times Square)

PACE we were able to do PACE and Marymount Manhattan in the same day. Marymount Manhattan isn’t on your original list but if your in the area worth checking out. They were very personable and friendly and if you preschedule your drama dept tour they will assign you an admissions counselor that will meet with you after the tour, gave very personal information regarding financial aid and admissions based on your situation and high school.

13

If you are in Northern PA you might want to visit Ithaca College (hot MT school), in which case, don’t miss the Corning Museum of Glass on the way.

14

For Ball State, my D would have given you a personal tour (she was a tour guide there) but she graduated last year. If you contact the office and speak to Andrea I bet they’d set up a day for your child. He’d get to sit in on masters classes and the like. You’d want to talk to current students about their experience and they love to do that with prospective students! where to stay: the university has an inn and there’s plenty of hotels around. And to eat viit Scotty’s for a good burger!

I would call the Admissions office and see if you can get on their campus tour schedule as well.

15

VITERBO

Eat: Waterfront Restaurant (fancy); Buzzard Billy’s (casual)

Visit: Weber Center for the Performing Arts - beautiful off campus venue on the Mississippi arising from a La Crosse Community Theatre and Viterbo partnership. The upcoming spring musical (James and the Giant Peach) will be presented there.
Downtown/Riverside Park

Talk to: Matt Campbell (chair) and Rick Walters (director of recruitment). Matt may be on paternity leave during spring break.

My daughter is a tour guide and a sophomore MT major. If anyone is interested in touring the campus with her, I can probably help make it happen if you can tell me when you are visiting.

16

Re: Otterbein
Try to attend the Theatre Visit Day in the fall. Kids spend the day on campus with the department that they are interested in, learn about auditions, meet students and faculty, tour campus and theatre school and generally get a good feel for life there. Well worth arranging your schedule around and an opportunity to get your name out there. Spaces are limited and fill up really quickly.
All of the usual suspects as far as highway exit hotels go—less than 2 miles from campus.
Some cute restaurants/coffee shops/brew pubs in the old Westerville downtown area 1 block from campus.

17

HARTT - I’ll jump in and give a few tips since I have spent quite a bit of time there now.

U Hartford (Hartt) – Hartford, CT

Things to visit/People to talk to: There are so many interesting things to visit in Hartford - for theatre there is the Bushnell, Hartford Stage and just a ways out of town the Goodspeed Opera House. Also, there is Elizabeth Park with the gardens and cute restaurant there. And also the Mark Twain House and Harriet Beecher Stowe house - very worth the time. At the University, the grounds are gorgeous - just taking a walk around campus is beautiful. The Allen Library within the greater Hartford library houses an extraordinary collection of music, theatre and dance resources collected over the last 100 years - I could spend hours there. Just across the street from the University is Katharine Hepburn’s childhood home - it’s currently for sale if you happen to get the chance to visit an open house! If you are looking for some exposure to history you can visit Old Windsor and Mystic Seaport is just about an hour outside of Hartford - home of Mystic Pizza!

People at the school to meet: Director, Alan Rust, Associate Professor of Theatre, Tracey Moore, Assistant Professor of Dance & Music Theatre, Ralph Perkins and Robert Davis, Professor of Theatre - just to name a few. The HPAC is just off campus and is very new and impressive - definitely worth a tour. And see a show there if you can - there is almost always performances going on as it is a conservatory - plays, musicals, concerts and dance. You will be so impressed by these talented kids!

Eat: Blue Back Square offers several good options including Cheesecake Factory, another favorite is Blue Plate Kitchen (get the breakfast there - or for dinner a lobster roll) and at the Westfarms Mall there are some choices including a CPK and PF Changs - across the street in the mall where Trader Joes is located there is an Olive Garden and really good Greek restaurant.

Sleep: I don’t love hotels - but there is a robust selection of Air BnBs - always my preference.

18

Hmmm…having difficulty reposting the updates I made. Apparently it’s too long. I’ll break it down into multiple posts.

Thank you! Please keep them coming!! I’ve added in the updates, and have listed other schools. (There are TONS of schools for MT, so please feel free to add on.) I’ve also listed a ‘General Tips’ for all schools.

General Tips:
• Do the official admissions talk and get on their radar
• Sign up for Performance Arts or MT Tour
• Sit in on a theater class and talk with people in the theater department
• Talk to Current MT students
• Ask to sit in on a class or a master class
• See a school show/production
• Check school website for possible discounts and/or hotel recommendations

American U – Washington, DC
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Baldwin Wallace U – Berea, OH
Things to visit/People to talk to: Talk with V. Bussert.

Visit downtown Cleveland - the MTs spend quite a bit of time there.

Schedule a conservatory tour. (where MT is housed). It shows some of the university, the theater, a dorm, and conservatory. Much more focused tour, which makes more sense if you are only interested in attending if you are accepted to MT. You can do a full tour at accepted students day later. You can also request a MT tour guide and if time allows they will eat lunch/chat with you and your parents.
Giant candy store (BA Sweetie Candy)
Eat: Sweet Mango Thai is good; Campus Grille and Mikes are ok; better restaurants in downtown Cleveland
Sleep: Many reasonably-priced options very close to campus; North Olmsted at the Aloft Hotel; Hotels in Middleberg Heights for proximity to campus (Hampton Inn); Hampton Inn near Stow (if visiting Kent too);

Ball State U - Muncie, IN
Things to visit/People to talk to: Speak with Andrea & set up a day. Very personable & happy to talk.
Eat: Scotty’s for a good burger!
Sleep: Ball State has an Inn & there are plenty of hotels.

Boston Conservatory – Boston, MA
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Carnegie Mellon U (CMU) - Pittsburgh, PA
Things to visit/People to talk to: Very difficult parking, give yourself plenty of time.
Falling Water is well work the visit (hour away);
Eat: Union Grill, great little local place not far from where campus tour starts
Sleep: Closer to the airport may be cheaper - Embassy Suites by the airport, very nice hotel.

Christopher Newport U – Newport News, VA
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:

Sleep:

Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music (CCM) – Cincinnati, OH
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Coastal Carolina U – Conway, SC
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Columbia College Chicago – Chicago, IL
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Elon U – Elon, NC
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Emerson College – Boston, MA
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Florida Southern College – Lakeland, FL
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Florida State U – Tallahassee, FL
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Ithaca College – Ithaca, NY
Things to visit/People to talk to: On drive to Ithaca, visit Corning Museum of Glass
Eat:
Sleep:

Marymount Manhattan College – New York, NY
Things to visit/People to talk to: Very personable and friendly and if you preschedule your drama dept tour they will assign you an admissions counselor that will meet with you after the tour. Gave very personal information regarding financial aid and admissions based on your situation and high school.
Eat:
Sleep:

Muhlenberg College – Allentown, PA
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat: At least one meal on campus. Plenty of other choices in the area.
Sleep: Check the Muhlenberg web site for hotels in the area around school or the Dorney Park area.

New York U (NYU) – New York, NY
Things to visit/People to talk to: The Drama Bookshop; TKTS in Times Square for discount theatre tickets.
Eat: Stardust Diner-WaitStaff sing while serving! Great for MT student. Sardi’s – expensive, but great experience; Food Trucks;
Sleep: Double Tree in Times Square; The Row;

North Central College – Naperville, IL
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

19

Thank you! Please keep them coming!! I’ve added in the updates, and have listed other schools. (There are TONS of schools for MT, so please feel free to add on.) I’ve also listed a ‘General Tips’ for all schools.

General Tips:
• Do the official admissions talk and get on their radar
• Sign up for Performance Arts or MT Tour
• Sit in on a theater class and talk with people in the theater department
• Talk to Current MT students
• Ask to sit in on a class or a master class
• See a school show/production
• Check school website for possible discounts and/or hotel recommendations

Oklahoma City U – Oklahoma City, OK
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Otterbein U – Westerville, OH
Things to visit/People to talk to: Try to attend the Theatre Visit Day in the fall. Kids spend the day on campus with the department that they are interested in, learn about auditions, meet students and faculty, tour campus and theatre school and generally get a good feel for life there. Well worth arranging your schedule around and an opportunity to get your name out there. Spaces are limited and fill up really quickly.
Eat: Some cute restaurants/coffee shops/brew pubs in the old Westerville downtown area 1 block from campus
Sleep:

Pace U – New York, NY
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Pennsylvania State U – University Park, PA
Things to visit/People to talk to: We talked to Shannon Ritter, very helpful. She met with us privately and did a private tour. Penn’s Cave for a visit.
Eat: Penn State serves you lunch for free when you book the campus tour.
Sleep: Comfort Inn

Point Park U – Pittsburgh, PA
Things to visit/People to talk to: Talk to MT head Zeva Barzell… Market Square has craft vendors, local merchants and food most weekends, and it’s a short walk. Point State Park is also a short walk & has view across river to Steelers’ and Pirates’ stadiums.
Eat: Lots of restaurants downtown.

Sleep: Lots of hotels downtown. Good bargain options in Monroeville, about twenty minutes away – Red Roof Inn-not fancy, but newly renovated and inexpensive.

Roosevelt U (CCPA) – Chicago, IL
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Shenandoah U – Winchester, VA
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

SUNY Fredonia – Fredonia, NY
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Syracuse U – Syracuse, NY
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Temple U – Philadelphia, PA
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Texas Christian U – Fort Worth, TX
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Texas State U – San Marcos, TX
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

U Arizona – Tucson, AZ
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

U Arts – Philadelphia, PA
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

U Hartford (Hartt) – Hartford, CT
Things to visit/People to talk to: People at the school to meet: Director, Alan Rust, Associate Professor of Theatre, Tracey Moore, Assistant Professor of Dance & Music Theatre, Ralph Perkins and Robert Davis, Professor of Theatre - just to name a few. The HPAC is just off campus and is very new and impressive - definitely worth a tour. And see a show there if you can - there is almost always performances going on as it is a conservatory - plays, musicals, concerts and dance. You will be so impressed by these talented kids!
For theatre-Bushnell, Hartford Stage, Goodspeed Opera House (farther away); Elizabeth Park for gardens & restaurant; Mark Twain & Harriet Beecher Stowe House. Walk around beautiful campus; Allen Library within the greater Hartford library houses an extraordinary collection of music, theatre and dance resources collected over the last 100 years. Across the street is Katharine Hepburn’s childhood home. If you are looking for some exposure to history you can visit Old Windsor and Mystic Seaport is just about an hour outside of Hartford - home of Mystic Pizza!
Eat: Blue Back Square many options; Blue Plate Kitchen (get the breakfast there - or for dinner a lobster roll); Westfarms Mall has food options; There’s also Trader Joes, Olive Garden & really good Greek restaurant.
Sleep: Robust selection of Air BnBs

U Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI
Things to visit/People to talk to: Do both campus & theatre tours, as they’re different campuses.
Eat: Zingermans; Savas;
Sleep: Hampton Inn-Ann Arbor N; Residence Inn; The Graduate

U Northern Colorado (UNOCO) – Greeley, CO
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

U Oklahoma – Norman, OK
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

U Tampa – Tampa, FL
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Viterbo U – La Crosse, WI
Things to visit/People to talk to: Weber Center for the Performing Arts - beautiful off campus venue on the Mississippi arising from a La Crosse Community Theatre and Viterbo partnership. The upcoming spring musical (James and the Giant Peach) will be presented there. Downtown/Riverside Park
Talk to Matt Campbell (chair) and Rick Walters (director of recruitment). @hasbro has D who is a sophomore MT @ Viterbo & is a tour guide.
Eat: Waterfront Restaurant (fancy); Buzzard Billy’s (casual)
Sleep:

Wagner College – Staten Island, NY
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Western CT State U (WCSU) – Danbury, CT
Things to visit/People to talk to:
Eat:
Sleep:

Western Michigan U – Kalamazoo, MI
Things to visit/People to talk to: Tour Fine Arts Plaza including Gilmore Theatre Complex (3 theatres!), Miller Auditorium, Dalton Center (dance classes in here). Walk around the series of plazas in the interior of campus.
Talk to Jay Berkow, head of the MT program - former Broadway actor/dancer, amazing person.
Drive down W. Michigan Avenue and onto E. Michigan Ave. into old downtown Kalamazoo.
Eat: Crow’s Nest for a funky student vibe near campus, Food Dance for upscale farm-to-table in old downtown.
Sleep: The Oaklands, a wonderful B&B in a restored Italianate villa right in the center of campus. Best chain hotels are the Marriott Courtyard and Homewood Suites on Trade Centre Way.

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My D is interested in the Technical side of things, so I don’t have any insights on auditions, but we do live in the same neighborhood as CCM, so I can tell you that the two closest hotels are the UC Kingsgate Marriott (part of the UC conference center) and the fairly new Hampton Inn & Suites/Cincinnati Uptown. They are really the only two walkable hotels. Everything else that I can think of would be 10-minute drive. There is a bed and breakfast in the neighborhood–Clifton House–if that’s your sort of thing. Plenty of college-y eats across the street from CCM in the little town area of University Heights, which has recently been redeveloped with student apartments, shops, an urban Target, Panera, Starbucks, sushi, Indian food, pho, and plenty of other choices. Go a few blocks the opposite direction and you’re in my historic neighborhood of Clifton, where you will find quirky local food and shops. I have seen the neighborhood around UC get a bad rap on several message threads, but I have lived here for 9 years. It is certainly an urban area, but also very charming and no more or less dangerous than most city campuses.
Cincinnati Zoo is in the neighborhood and we have Fiona, the baby hippo, who was born premature and required extraordinary preemie care from both the zoo and Children’s Hospital. She has an international following on her YouTube channel. :slight_smile: