<p>Hi, what are some colleges that have strong acting programs within MT. The only one I found was CMU....</p>
<p>How do you do research that determines a strong acting program vs. a weak acting program? How is it that you determined that CMU is strong vs any other program? I’m not trying to be difficult, but determining that by any means other than actual experience or at least speaking with the faculty and comparing curricula is difficult at best. I know several programs that have really strong acting faculty and no program I’m aware of ignores acting.</p>
<p>I’m no say ignoring acting per say but maybe they take two or three semesters of acting in all four years…I compared the curriculums and most colleges like Pace, IU, CCM, etc don’t take it as seriously as singing or dance.</p>
<p>As you look at the curricula, assume that each program has acting each semester. For instance, in our program the MUSTH students take “Musical Theatre Scene Study” one semester, but the Acting BFA’s take Acting III during that semester. Both are acting classes, one just includes some music. I would imagine that most programs have similar takes on the subject. After all, the base is acting, you can always be successful if you are an average singer but great actor but the fantastic singer who can’t act is…a recording artist. I would argue the same is true of dance. Rather see a character with average dance, than a dancer with no acting skills. Hope that makes sense.</p>
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<p>KJGC…those are a GREAT couple of lines! I am going to keep those handy!</p>
<p>I think in the parent/student world of searching out schools for MT/Acting, schools have perceived reputations for being weaker or stronger in one of the 3 areas. Some perceptions may be inaccurate, some may not be. When we researched schools, we found some schools had TONS of music theory…some had a bit less…all had some. Our kid sought out schools that were known to (and consequently did provide an acting-heavy curriculum for MT’s). Some of the schools that provided what she was looking for, also seemed to have strong reputations in their straight acting programs as well (though not all). Some of those were:</p>
<p>Syracuse, CMU, Elon, Webster, Ithaca, Coastal Carolina, Harrt, Evansville(this is a performance BFA, not MT, but they do great musicals), Otterbein…</p>
<p>D also auditioned for some schools that were not particularly acting heavy, that she just liked, as well…</p>
<p>This certainly is not an all-inclusive list. Its just a list of some of the schools we felt were acting heavy insofar as curriculum goes.</p>
<p>SUNY Fredonia has a very strong acting foundation for their MT’s. MT’s take all the acting classes the acting majors do, plus the MT classes, dance, and music classes. The dance in the curriculum is a little weak, but you can do a dance minor to make up for it.</p>
<p>I would also add University of the Arts…</p>
<p>My D will be attending CCM, and while this wasn’t on our list as one of the most acting intensives schools, once we visited and talked to faculty, students, sat in on an acting class, etc. we were satisfied that the acting training was good. Also, she plans on supplementing with some straight acting training in the summers.</p>
<p>Our D was seeking an MT program with strong acting training and Northwestern rose to the top of her list.</p>
<p>One thing she particularly liked is that freshmen sit in on acting classes and observe all professors before ranking their preferences for the small acting cohort that they spend the following 3 years with. This seemed unique among the schools she considered, as did the fact that there were quite a few acting teachers/methods to choose between. She also found that she would gain access to a larger group of coaches/directors/performance opportunities (over 40 Theatre professors plus dance and music faculty and over 60 productions/year) than with any other small MT program she considered. In addition, she appreciated the fact that students pursuing all theatre disciplines (MT, straight acting, directing, writing, design, etc) were more seamlessly integrated than at many other schools she considered, and she loved the 7:1 student-teacher ratio.</p>
<p>I second the person above who mentioned Elon.</p>
<p>I’d also suggest talking to kids in the programs at the schools. They will let you know quickly if the MT’s feel like they are also getting a good acting base. I third Ericsmom re: Elon. My S sat in on an acting class there and he was very impressed with the teacher. Same with Otterbein. Awesome program for MT and acting there, and I think room for auditioning for plays and musicals. I’d add Point Park to the list of schools with lots of interplay between the MT program and acting program. Kids cross audition there constantly. Which leads me to this point: If you want a strong acting program within or alongside a strong MT program, ask if MTs can audition for straight plays and vice versa every where you go. Lots of programs are what you make of them, as long as you have some flexibility.</p>
<p>Weird how of all the acting classes my D sat in on during the audition season and on subsequent college visits, Elon’s was one of her least favorite. Just didn’t click with that teacher at all. She felt it too “lectured” and not interactive enough. She really loved CCU’s acting Master Class. I actually got to sit in on that too and it was wonderful.</p>
<p>BTW, she LOVED everything else about Elon’s BFA MT program and was admitted, but finances prevented her from accepting. Just that darned acting class she didn’t like at all.</p>
<p>The Elon acting class also was a huge turn-off for my daughter. HUGE! She would have been happy to turn around and go home right then and it was at the beginning of a very long and disorganized on campus audition day. I didn’t see it, of course, but she said they pretended to be drunk and it was all just awful.</p>
<p>To the basic question - if the programs you are interested in have an acting BFA as well as the MT BFA - compare course requirements - very often good MT programs require their students to take virtually the same acting classes as the theater students. I suppose anyone might catch a class they didn’t like at any school, however, I have to chime in and say the Elon is one of the very best triple threat training programs out there - their training for acting training for MT is really quite good. BTW if what you are really looking for is theater with a good side helping (not a BFA) of MT, check out Northwestern. Of course there are many MT BFAs with good acting as well.</p>
<p>At UCLA all students specializing in MT take the same acting classes as the students specializing in acting.</p>
<p>Flossy, that is hilarious! I got a similar story and D also didn’t appreciate all the profanity used in her particular class. Just didn’t think it was necessary. That’s my kid.</p>
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<p>For what it’s worth, our D is a devoted MT who chose Northwestern over any MT BFA. Even before she’s auditioned for the MT certificate she has gotten a great deal more than a “side helping” of MT every quarter… both private and group voice lessons, MT performance seminar, multiple dance classes, cast in 3 musicals her freshman year, etc. But yes, the acting training (which starts in small cohort next year) is reputed to be among the best in the country.</p>