<p>I just wanted to highly recommend Shenandoah after my audition yesterday. They were wonderful, and very kind!</p>
<p>I’m glad it went well. My son auditioned in December for acting, and was admitted a couple of weeks later. He refused to take the tour of the campus or anything, because he feels strongly that he doesn’t want to fall in love with any school until he is accepted there, so we have to go back and visit soon (after Unifieds, though).</p>
<p>Would you mind telling a little more about your experience there? Shenandoah is less well-known than many of the other programs discussed here, so it would be helpful to others.</p>
<p>Sure! </p>
<p>I arrived at 8:20 with my dad to the theater building. We walked in and behind two tables with folders and nametags were students wearing black with red scarves. I told them my name and they handed me my folder, which had a name tag, schedule for the day, and other materials about the school like their brochure and typical course sequence. I was simply wearing jeans and a sweater. Around 8:40, we moved into the auditorium. We met many important people like the dean of admissions and the woman in charge of conservatory recruitment. Everyone seemed really nice and wonderful. They talked about how the day would work and how excited they were to have us etc.</p>
<p>At 9 we moved into curriculum sessions. Mine was in I think the studio theatre? And the heads of the program were there. They talked to us about their program and we watched a video filled with alums wishing us well, including some on broadway backstage. They emphasized the business aspect of their curriculum, how they strive to make you the best ‘you’ you can be, and how to sell that. Additionally, they are very focused on what is hot right now on Broadway, keeping “their finger on the pulse” and making adjustments frequently to fit the needs of the market. Their talk about the vocal aspect was particularly impressive. They really tailor to what will work best for the student, and strive to make them healthy vocally for life. They are one of I believe 6 institutions with a vocal pedagogy good ranking? (?) Something along those lines. Their head of that aspect was wonderful, talking about how they typically start students a little more classical, before focusing on standard musical theatre and then working into pop/rock/country/death metal/etc. They are also quite excellent at dance, advanced students can perform with the dance majors at the conservatory. Additionally, they talked about their partnership with Signature Theatre, a tony-winning theatre about an hour away in Arlington, where many students work due to a wonderful connection. They also have a competitive summer stock hosted on campus, where students get first priority. Their senior showcase is in fact not a showcase at all, but they bring casting directors and the like to the school themselves, to give the students more time with them. After that, they opened up for questions. They do have study abroad available in Denmark, Germany, and Sweden for 2 week sessions specifically for musical theatre students, which they are working on expanding. </p>
<p>Then, around 10, we trumped over to the dressing room and eventually a rehearsal practice dance studio. We were given numbers and told where to stand at the barre. They took us through ballet warmups, which were fairly simple. It was casual, and all members of the team (vocal and acting included) watched. Several MT juniors were placed around the room as people to look at, and a live pianist played for us. The barre work was fairly simple, plies and tondues and balancing and such. I’d classify it as advanced beginner.</p>
<p>We then moved off the barre and across the floor. The combination was fairly quick, but also relatively easy. Pirouettes, arabesques, and a lot of changing weight exercises. We were able to go across the floor with the same combination multiple times, always with a MT student leading.</p>
<p>After, we did a jazz combination. It was very short, just 32 counts. It was mostly stylized, although it did involve multiple pirouettes and jumps. This was also taught quickly, but we were given about 3 tries to show our stuff, in groups of 6.</p>
<p>After dancing, the vocal guy led us in a warm up. Then we changed into our singing/monologue clothes, although they said they really didn’t care if we just stayed in our leotards. It was about 12 by the time we were all back in the studio, now a holding room. There were many snacks such as fruit and water and granola bars. We then waited. They move down the list alphabetically to call people to go, and my name is in the last 1/3 of the alphabet, and I wasn’t called until 2:40. Be prepared for that! You do get a chance to talk to other auditionees, and they fill the room with current students. The students were all wonderful and very genuine. They’ll answer your questions or just talk. Everyone was very friendly!</p>
<p>When you’re called out of the room, you go with an accompanist to a practice room. The accompanists are, I believe, current musical theatre accompanying major students. They were quite good. One student claimed that when he had gone around auditioning, he had brought JRB and Sondheim to see how good the pianists were, and Shenandoah passed! Mine was wonderful, we ran through each of my cuts completely three times. Then we waited in the hall before entering a small room. They’re very focused that you control the audition, and since you are invited there by prescreen, it is important to remember that they already like you. </p>
<p>I entered the room and told them exactly which order my pieces would be in. They don’t care what order you do, whether it be song-monologue-song or song-song-monologue or whatever. I performed my pieces, which all went quite well, with the accompanist I had practiced with. They then had me pull up a chair and sit for the ‘interview’ portion. They asked me two questions and it was very casual and conversational. Then I had a chance to ask questions. Then they asked if I had anything else to tell them, and once I was done I was able to get up and go! I was very, very hungry by that point. </p>
<p>I’d be happy to answer any questions anyone has about the day! I had a wonderful experience at Shenandoah. If your name is at the end of the alphabet, prepare for a long day!</p>
<p>Hahahaha yesssss…my son auditioned Saturday at Shenandoah as well and absolutely LOVED the experience, LOVED the school, the faculty and everything about it. What a completely different vibe than we’ve received other places. BUT because his name is at the end of the alphabet, it was indeed a very long day for him. Still, he has not had a better audition experience in the seven he’s already done this season!!</p>
<p>Glad to heat Shenandoah was such a good experience for you guys. We go this weekend and are looking forward to it. </p>
<p>@mcpcwhite where else has your son auditioned? Shenandoah will be our first</p>
<p>Hi - my auditioned for CCM (on hold, then rejected); Rider (waitlisted); Ohio Northern (accepted); UofArts (accepted); Point Park (waiting to hear) and Shenandoah was latest. This weekend is Viterbo and CCPA (Roosevelt). Whew! Of all the schools, he really his experience at Shenandoah – he did a regional audition for Point Park, and really liked their faculty too. Break a leg!</p>
<p>xoemmie - perfect recap of how the audition went on the 26th. The only thing they changed this weekend was they took you in order of arrival instead of alphabetic. I would recommend to anyone going on feb 16th to go early if you don’t want to be there all day. It was a great experience and the faculty and staff were all very friendly and approachable. After this weekend this school had definitely moved up on my D’s list</p>
<p>My daughter is a sophomore in the acting program at Shenandoah. I cannot speak highly enough of this program. The kids are supportive of each other, the staff truly cares and the performances I have seen have been wonderful. My daughter is flourishing, this is truly a wonderful program.</p>
<p>My daughter is a sophomore MT and she loves it and so do we. We had all of those warm fuzzy feelings you speak of at auditions and have nothing but the highest esteem for Jonathan Flom and the rest of the faculty.
I highly recommend the program! Quality of instruction, with support if/when/where you need it. Super accessible faculty!</p>