<p>Someone graciously helped me in posting this as a new thread. So here's my story........Hoping for some suggestions/help/guidance.........THANKS!</p>
<hr>
<p>Let me give you fair warning: I AM NEW TO ALL OF THIS!!! New to this board, new to the whole musical theater scene, just N E W!!!! My D, who is a senior, received a "NO" letter from Wright State's musical theater program!! She was absolutely devastated!!!!! And now it's almost too late to do anything to remedy that devastation!!! Don't get me wrong--this is not a pity party! More of a fishing expedition! We went into this whole MT major thing completely ignorant!! Research??? HA!!!!!! We jumped in with both feet without looking!!! She fell in love with WSU's program and auditioned two weeks ago. Evidently it was an abyssmal disaster because she got a flat-out NO!!!!!!! </p>
<p>What I'm doing here is looking for some guidance. We have no idea what to do now! This was her only audition!!! All of her eggs were in the Wright State basket! We had no idea that it was such a fiercely competive program and that if you are turned down, you are done there FOREVER!!!!!!!! You cannot, CAN-NOT audition again! EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is that typical for "good" MT programs??? You screw up once and you're out for good?????? Seems a bit harsh, but like I said, we are new to this whole experience!</p>
<p>Now, here we are, halfway through February. My D has her heart set on doing a musical theater program. We are looking at Otterbein (which I hear is a tough audition too), Webster, Columbia College Chicago, SCAD, Brandeis, Ball State and University of Dayton. Any suggestions on where to go from here? What to do????? I feel like I am drowning...............</p>
<p>Any help that you can give would be GREATLY appreciated! I am overwhelmed at the knowledge and tremendous support on this board! Wish I'd found it much sooner!!! </p>
<p>Thanks so much!!!!</p>
<p>Disheartened mom to a talented and scrambling senior!</p>
<p>have you read through some of the MT posts? THere is also a consultant who posts here that should be able to help you. I know that there are some programs that you don't have to audition for and even though that might not have been your first choice- you could always transfer out or wait for grad school. Either way I am sure someone here can give you some good suggestions!! I'm so sorry for you even though it always works out in the end- the time in between sure is tough!!!</p>
<p>drupack - take a deep breath and welcome to this board. I think you will find tons of support and suggestions here. </p>
<p>The truth is that many deadlines have passed. Of the top of my head, some other schools you may want to check out are Marymount Manhattan (not a BFA, but a BA with a MT emphasis) and Westminster College of the Arts. Both have rolling admissions and I noticed that MMC still has auditions coming up (not sure if there are slots available, but MMC is known to be accommodating and it would sure be worth a try). I remember in the past someone being in your D's situation and applying to Millikin. Check them out too. One of their graduates currently is Ariel on Broadway. </p>
<p>Also, remember that another option that has worked for others in past years (check the "Not Accepted Now What" thread) is to attend a local college, and simply try again next year, be prepared with good material, and apply as a transfer to an array of colleges. </p>
<p>Yes, I totally get that this was definitely a rude awakening, and I understand that you wish you'd found this forum sooner; it was an eye opener for me years ago. But remember there are many different roads to reach your goals.
Good luck and keep us updated!</p>
<p>You can also try Illinois Wesleyan University for a BFA in Musical Theatre. I know they have auditions the weekend of Feb. 23rd and March 1st. They are a great program. Check out their threads on this site (under list of schools- Illinois Wesleyan MT) and also their website. Good luck with everything.</p>
<p>I got tied into a theatre program at a small public university that has little national reputation. I realized through that experience that: </p>
<ol>
<li><p>There were incredible actors who were getting endless stage experience because it was not a highly competitive program. If they'd gone to, for example, Yale, they might have gotten about a tenth of the experience. They are now working actors in LA and NY. </p></li>
<li><p>Sometimes just getting involved in the theatre (individual shows, tech crew) can build a repore that the following year can turn into acceptance.</p></li>
<li><p>Not to be a cliche, but you should really think about this before diving in feet first. Is your daughter truly talented enough to make a career in musical theatre? Has she proven herself capable of distinguishing herself outside a very small pond? I've seen many people that were high school stars fall into the collegiate chorus. There are very few who have the physicality, vocal range, look, and stage presence to make a living in musical theatre - as the ingenue or character actors. If yes, then maybe it's best. I, for one, would major in something else and do MT as a minor. That's just me, though.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Applejack, thanks for your input.......While I confess, I AM a bit biased when it comes to my daughter's abilities, I think that she could make a career in MT. She has a tremendous singing voice!!!! The more I read on this board though, the more mistakes I realize we made!!!!!!! Has been a tremendous education; which may prepare us for next year!!!!!! Thanks to everyone so far for their help! Dru</p>
<p>Pace in NYC has March auditions- you might look at them. They are home to "the Actor's Studio" with James and the head of their new BFA MT program is well-connected in NYC theater circles. You might look at Indiana University and Penn State for the BA in theater- lots of opportunities to audition with the MT kids and both schools have MT programs so possibility of transferring in. Just get the application in to the school ASAP!!! Not too late to get accepted( for those of us who remember Kayla last year!) Lots of ways to get in to this business. It is not too late this year if you scramble. Good luck.</p>
<p>You might want to look at Shenandoah University in VA. They also have rolling admissions. A boy from my D's highschool went there for musical theater some years ago and was very happy.</p>
<p>Drupack, I mis-spoke bc Penn State's BA is an audition program but you might still look in to Indiana. Don't know if there are any audition slots left for BA at PSU- BFA slots have been full for a long time. Sorry.</p>
<p>Wow, what a scary position to be in! READ this board like crazy and check out every school that is suggested. It's a real "art" to audtion for these programs and even if you do every thing right you can still get rejected. Very few HS's can help someone wanting to get in this type of program, so unless you find this board or have a very knowledgable voice or acting teacher it's really a crap shoot. I found this board about 2 months before my S's auditions, I don't know what would have happend without it. Ask questions like crazy. And please tell your D that most people get some rejections, it could have been as simple that they already had lots of her type.</p>
<p>DeSales University in Pennsylvania has a wonderful theater program. Their audition date for scholorships has passed, but I belive you could make an individual appointment to audition. My daughter and I have always been very impressed with the quality of their productions.
They have a degree in theatre with one of the concentrations being musical theatre performance.
Also West Chester U. in Pennsylvania has a non-audition B.A. in Theater. I think you audition for the Musical theater concentration your freshman year in a group vocal class. ( Don't quote me on that though.) Very nice college town too
Don't be discouraged- almost everyone gets at least one rejection in this process!</p>
<p>Am rushing to leave for work so must be brief. University of the Arts in Phila has rolling admissions and I believe applications are taken until March1 (but web site was down this morning so I couldn't check). Also, Temple University in Phila has acting program which if combined with voice and dance from music department could give you options. Temple is also rolling admissions and accepts apps until March 1.</p>
<p>Muhlenberg has excellent non-audition theater/music/dance programs. While not specifically MT, there are so many opportunities to mix the three disciplines that it might as well be. She only has to be accepted to the college, not to the department. Then she can take as many classes as she likes, even if she ultimately decides not to major in it.</p>
<p>Be advised, however, that Muhlenberg's deadline for application is February 15. If she's done the Common App, she can just send it to the school; it has no supplement. Then just get the transcripts and recs there in a reasonable fashion and she'll be all set.</p>
<p>I was going to mention West Chester University too. They have a B.A. in theater, with a concentration in MT. Call to see if deadlines have passed. They also have a new performing arts that is beautiful and state of the art.</p>
<p>Audition at MILLIKIN in Central Illinois. They do a pretty high amount of accepting and they tell you RIGHT away. Just look into the audition requirements.</p>
<p>drupack: Another option may be East Carolina in Greenville North Carolina. I think this is the first year they have required auditions but according to the website the audition is March 1st. I don't know if it is too late to apply, but it is worth a try. It is an excellent program that flies under the radar. My daughter attended, but changed her major. I friend's daughter graduated in MT and loved it. The out-of-state tuition is not much more than Ohio in-state. It is worth a look.</p>