What is everyone’s opinion on getting a true triple threat training versus an acting focused training? Both are BFA MT one is just a true triple threat (students said that everyone leaves triple threat due to the amount of dance) and one is mostly acting with less dance…
@bfayay I have a kid who has been a performer for awhile now. Recently they have also been involved in casting. In their words “ Straight actors get work over singers. Dancers get work over singers. Singers finish last.” They also mention constantly about picking a school based on training not name. I am also a fan of one that provides opportunities wether by location or other means. I’m sure this doesn’t apply across the board so plz don’t throw darts lol. Just one persons opinion. I will say it trends w what I usually see in the biz.
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To expand on what I posted above… dance is something often able to be supplemented w extra classes outside a school.
@HAHCx4 interesting, that sounds the opposite of our experience with what is prioritized by the college BFA MT programs. There are a handful focused on acting, very few cared about dance and singing reigns supreme. Perhaps that’s more about what schools think is easier to train, but interesting nonetheless!
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When you attend an agent submitted (private, not open call type) audition, typically the first thing you do is sing. At the original audition or at a callback, you do “sides” (acting), and eventually possibly have to dance. Rarely is dance the first or second thing, and is more often part of an eventual callback stage, after you pass muster in singing and acting… And some musicals either have minimal dance, or not difficult dance, or a lot of it is done by the ensemble. There are open call auditions, however, of “dancers who sing,” who dance first. But I am talking about agent submitted auditions for roles in a show, not open calls.
My own daughter danced her whole life prior to college and had more training in that than anything, in terms of hours, and of course had training in her BFA program. However, since college, and she has been in many professional shows in NYC, she hasn’t really had to utilize any advanced dance much at all, though she tends not to be in the chorus.
Also, my D often is on the other side of the casting table. Just yesterday, she was to hold callbacks for her show in NYC, but they were cancelled. She has been part of casting many shows due to being on the creative team.
Completely agree @soozievt ! I will say that we often do not see the best (vocally) singer get the callback. I think that even in the initial “singing” audition they are still looking for the Acting through song… for a “spark” 
I agree with @HAHCx4 on the point that acting the song is critical! Honestly, I think that some kids who audition for college programs may be very strong singers, but unless they can act the song well, they may not get in.
I think many feel that they’d rather see a performer who acts very well and acts a song well, than the best singer of all, but can’t act. One’s eye just is not drawn to the singing alone in a musical.
And then there is also what is often called the “it” factor and I don’t think you can train for the “it” factor. You either have it or you don’t. That is not the same as acting though.
Remember, in a musical, you are playing a character, and so it is not the same as singing in a concert.
Would appreciate any input on Roosevelt-CCPA Vs. Point Park Univ. BFA MT programs.
My D got an offer from CCPA but got waitlisted with PPU. In case she comes off of the list, we may have to decide w/o visiting the campus due to the circumstances. We visited CCPA for her audition but didn’t take a campus tour. Since we live in Chicago Suburb, we’ve known that Chicago downtown is one of the safest downtown to live and get around. Also she would be closer from home if she choose to go to CCPA.
Both look similar in their settings; small conservatory in an academically not very strong university located in downtown. But is the theater district in Chicago bigger than the one in Pittsburgh? If so, possibly more opportunities over summers outside school?
Financial wise, I assume we would pay similar tuition (around $48K/year) but from what I read, we may get a little bigger financial package from PPU.
My D is strong in voice/acting but dance is not her strong suit (just yet).
@hahcx4 @soozievt That “spark” is what I constantly refer to with the kids I teach. You have to connect with the song or monologue, but the “song” is often harder to do. So many kids I see approach a vocal audition as a recital or vocal performance. That is one place I stress cannot be. You have to be able to bring life (and character) to that song. And some are much harder to do that with than others. Some give you beautiful melodies but nowhere to go with acting. So song selection for auditions is pretty important!
@onette, @HAHCx4, and @soozievt - so funny you are having this conversation as I was thinking about a similar thing earlier and wanted to get some input from others on this forum. Do you think performance and acting are different or not?
The reason I ask is that my daughter was told in an audition that she was a great performer. (And, I know, we should not read into anything said at an audition.) However, at first, I thought that was a positive thing to hear. Then I started thinking about it more and wondered if the comment was more about her being a performer but not an actor. And truth be told, she really loves to perform and wants to do that in whatever form works out - acting, musical theater, film, singer of a rock band.
I hope that made sense. Just something I have been pondering. 
@MommaCat Not knowing the people in the room ect, it would be hard for sure what their intent was. To me tho, it sure sounds like a great compliment :). Perhaps “performance” to them was a combination of the singing and acting or performance to them could have meant that “spark” we all mentioned. I would just take it as a positive comment and not overthink. Altho that is advice I give but rarely apply to myself lol.
Needing some feedback on LIU vs Western Michigan and Ball State. I do feel that we’ve gotten great feedback on here regarding WMU, but I’m still struggling to find much on LIU. There doesn’t seem to be much online regarding that program. Anyone with experience at BSU? Any feedback from a parents perspective on any of these programs? Thoughts on industry connections outside of campus town??
@tygerpig have you heard from Western Mich yet?
@ bfayay and @hbaxter30 and all interested in University of Utah…my D is a sophomore transfer at The U! She absolutely LOVES it! I cannot say enough great things about it. In her opinion, this school is a triple threat program. There are four different levels of dance(which meet 5x per week) and then supplemental dance classes which meet 2x per week. Voice is a 45 minute lesson each week. There are two master classes each semester. Our D is a transfer from BoCo. She was there her freshman year. Great school, just not the right fit. She has found her place in Utah. The campus is beautiful, the people are more than friendly! The professors care about the students well being and growth. David Schmidt is 'da bomb! Many of you have met him at Unifieds and the Thespian competitions. He and his wife usually attend these events. He is the theatre Department head for Voice. And yes, they have added some amazing professors this year. Eric Sciotto and David Eggers moved here from NY, where they both worked on Broadway. I have seen negative comments about Denny Barry. Yes, she is from the East Coast. Yes, she can be blunt sometimes. Is she malicious or mean? No, not in my opinion. She knows her stuff! She is the head choreographer for Phantom. On Friday, one of the classes is DEM Lab. All 4 years of MT get together and take turns performing dance numbers, auditions songs, monologues, scenes and get to hear from industry professionals. Many of whom have been or have been on Broadway. For instance, Natalie Weiss and Claybourne Elder(who went to The U) were guests the first semester. This semester the company from “Once On This Island” from Pioneer(The Equity house on campus) came and did a talk back. This is just a sampling of some of the people who have come to meet with the students. If you have any questions, please feel free to message me. My D is happy to talk to you or your S/D.
I just want to say a huge thank you to all of the parents of current students. I have been messaging parents from my son’s acceptances because it seems pretty clear that he won’t be able to visit or attend classes and it’s going to be a pretty blind decision process. Everyone has been incredibly helpful and kind and it really means a lot. Stay healthy everyone. Praying for better days to come.
@“K&Tmom” Thank you so much! Utah is one of the ones in our top three that we are trying to decide on. This is the one we are leaning towards the most right now and your insight is so helpful!
My D. is still awaiting a few decisions but so far has 2 acceptances (CCPA-Dance and Viterbo), 2 priority WL (CAP 21/Molloy and Ball State), and 1 WL (Rider). Criteria in order of importance:
- top notch triple threat training
- maintain advanced dance skills (ballet, jazz, contemporary) adding tap and MT specific dance repertoire
- access to master classes/connections in the industry
- NEW (this just became a thing this year as she saw friends head to college in the fall) - the "college experience"
Any insight you have would be great… we had planned to visit all the schools she got into over Spring Break (April 10 - 15) but that may not happen, as you all know. We have visited CCPA so that is a known quantity (and was her first choice a year ago… as I mentioned, the “college experience” somehow creeped into the criteria this year…). We know only what we can find on the websites for the other 4 programs.
Thank you.
@Crazy2024BFAMom , would you be willing to share your thoughts on CCPA here (or message me)? My daughter was accepted to 3 BFA MT programs (well, MTD at CCPA) and is waiting on one last school. We were supposed to sit in on classes at all three, but all those trips are cancelled/delayed. She really likes the idea of CCPA and has spoken to a friend in the MTD program (she loves it). I have already seen CCPA - I took my older daughter on a tour two years ago - and for me, I don’t love the lack of a campus, even though everyone was very nice and it’s a great program. I am trying to keep my opinion to myself, but I’m worried she won’t get to see it before needing to decide. I do think if she saw it in person, she might decide against it (or she’ll think it’s the best thing ever, who knows).
@Crazy2024BFAMom If it’s helpful, here’s a link to the Molloy/CAP21 curriculum. Their site is not the easiest to find things on. Note that if you’re looking at the site on your phone, you’ll likely have to look at your phone in landscape rather than the typical portrait as the site is not optimized for mobile - and you’ll only see the fall semester conservatory classes if you don’t. I didn’t talk much about the curriculum in my prior rambling post. I would say that it is a very well-rounded, triple threat program. Once you get on the site, you’ll see links that include faculty profiles which is also helpful to review.
https://www.molloy.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/molloy-cap21-theatre-arts-program/curriculum
I know that the dance training at CCPA is amazing, especially for anyone who wants to be an ensemble dancer (“dancer who can sing”). The head of the dance department is awesome and well respected in the industry. An MTD BFA from CCPA would be a plus for anyone’s resume.
My impression is that the MTD students are generally cast as ensemble in their main stage musicals and the the lead roles generally go to regular MT students. I suppose that is based on audition rather than pre-type casting but that seemed to be the one complaint we heard from someone who left CCPA after sophomore year.
The dorm rooms have beautiful views and the kids seem to get used to the vertical commute (up and down the elevator). It’s not that different than some schools I saw in NYC with the vertical commute. It is definitely a conservatory and not a college campus. Like I said, my daughter was all about it a year ago (she loved Chicago and the school when we visited in the Spring… but then going in the winter wind/rain… she wanted to look at other schools for “fit” comparison but we may not be able to).
I still want to know more about Rider. Does anyone have info on that program?