Hi, this is my first post and I apologize if it is not in the correct forum. If that is the case, and likely is, please help me find where I need to be:) My daughter is a junior in high school and very interested in giving it a go in musical theater. After tons of reading here and other websites, it seems that a BFA program allows very little time to enjoy a traditional college life, attending sporting events, possibly joining a sorority, and just general dorm life that we all enjoyed. Is this true? Does anyone know of schools that might offer the best of both worlds or at least a glimpse of the outside world?
I also have another question- many infact. But one is concerning the Musical theater college auditions (MTCA). Is this a helpful and needed program in which to invest? Also opinions on the unified auditions and setc. Thank you so much!
I strongly recommend bringing this to the Theater/Drama/Musical Theater Forum sections. There are some fabulously knowledgeable people there, and you can learn a lot. It was very helpful for me when my son embarked on the audition process. We were completely ignorant at the time.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/ is where you want to ask questions about unifieds and other things specific to MT.
My D loved theatre and choir in high school but wanted a traditional college experience (with the opportunity to continue choir and theatre as EC’s). She looked at schools that allowed non-majors to participate fully and has had numerous roles (several leading) in productions at her LAC. There are far fewer shows staged there than at a school with a BFA program, and there is very little direction from the career development center for students interested in working in theatre after graduation, but the theatre department has put her in touch with alums working in NYC who have been helpful. Time will tell if she is able to do this professionally.
Thank you for the link and for the information! Best wishes to her!
Off the top of my head Syracuse, Penn State, Northwestern, Florida State and the University of Miami all offer MT, Division I athletics,Greek life and dormitory living. The Musical Theater sub-forum, as others have already pointed out, is a great place to seek inside information about those programs and others.