Northwestern questions

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
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<p>I don’t think that a degree from Brown would necessarily open the door to a top MFA program just because it’s an Ivy. </p>

<p>MFA programs are very, very tough admits…especially for women. Getting into one is orders of magnitude more difficult than getting accepted into an auditioned BFA program, which is already challenging in and of itself. </p>

<p>MFA admissions are based on auditions. Many of the people who are accepted have done theatre work to boost their experience and resumes for a period of time after getting their BA. I know of talented people who have gone through two or three cycles of auditioning for MFA programs before being accepted into one.</p>

<p>I do very much agree that the theatre environments and level of training at Brown and NU would be different in the ways that MOMMY5 describes.</p>

22

<p>For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t describe our D or Northwestern as “rah-rah” or “pre-business”, and I wouldn’t describe the NU theatre environment as fundamentally “competitive”. :)</p>

<p>It is true that Northwestern has a deep enough pool of talent that even extremely talented and well trained kids won’t land leads in every show, and most kids who hope to work professionally realize this is just as it should be. But it’s also true that with over 60 shows on campus every year there’s plenty of opportunity for every theatre kid to stay constantly creatively involved in some aspect of production. And in D’s experience the atmosphere is highly collaborative and supportive, and she has been non-stop engaged from the day she set foot on campus.</p>

<p>From what I’ve seen NU’s Theatre students run the gambit from extremely bohemian to more Preppy, but again in my experience their population mirrors the professional theatre world.</p>

<p>I havent’t spent much time at Brown, though, so the above adjectives might be appropriate for the purpose of comparison. I just wanted to say they aren’t how I would describe NU.</p>

23

<p>The MFA discussion piqued my curiosity, so I looked up NYU’s current MFA class. It’s interesting to see where the kids come from. </p>

<p>There’s not one dominant or duplicate school represented. </p>

<p>Schools included are:</p>

<p>FSU
U of Minn
Columbia
Harvard
Western Mich
Temple
SMU
Wesleyan
U of Kansas
Bard</p>

24

<p>Okay, so clearly all types of schools are represented, BUT 2 out of 10 are Ivies. Only 7 schools in the entire country are in the Ivy league, and yet here it represents 20%. Just sayin. :)</p>

25

<p>Just for fun I looked up Yales MFA class. The only one I could find that gave undergraduate education was from 2009.
Not one Ivy!
Here are the schools…</p>

<p>Penn State BFA
Fordham BA
depaul BFA
Morehouse BA
SMU BFA
UNC Chapel hill BA
new School BFA
UC Santa Barbara BFA
UC SAn Diego BA
NYU Tisch BFA
NYU Tisch BFA
UC Berkley BA
NYU Tisch BFA </p>

<p>No Ivies. 8 BFAs 5 BAs , 2 no listing. NYU Tisch only duplicate school.</p>

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<p>Those are interesting stats. Are they all for Acting MFAs, or do they include other areas of theatre like Directing, etc? </p>

<p>Given that it would not be likely for somebody to seek an MFA in Acting immediately after completing a theatrical performance BFA, those three MFAs at Yale who had BFAs from Tisch could well have been from three separate previous graduating classes.</p>

27

<p>Here is the Yale Class of '12. [Yale</a> School of Drama | The Showcase of the Class of 2012](<a href=“Home - David Geffen School of Drama at Yale”>Home - David Geffen School of Drama at Yale)</p>

<p>Click a student’s photo and their resume pops up.</p>

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<p>Yes, NJTheatreMOM, I’m assuming they were all from different classes. Most people don’t get MFA right out of college, so presumably, all the people that got in could be different ages.</p>

<p>Arwaw, glad you found the 2012 class, I couldn’t find it for some reason. They are from all different schools, so clearly there is no pattern. </p>

<p>Well anyway, we went off topic for awhile but I think it was a fun exercise!</p>

29

<p>arwarw, I’d strongly encourage your D to choose a school that fits best with her own undergraduate needs. Brown and NU are different on many levels. Both are excellent each in their own way, and they have overlap too. What exactly are your D’s goals immediately upon graduation? What are her goals while in school? MFAs are far enough into the future that it would not be a good idea, in my opinion, to plan on an undergrad degree with the consolation that you’ll get better more focused theatre education in an MFA later on. I realize you were doing this in the spirit of fun, but just to stress: An MFA is a serious, very competitive, often expensive degree that one embarks on for many reasons, and most often after several years of work between graduation and grad school. It is unusual to go straight from a BA to an MFA although it can be done (but it is not preferred). I would not advise someone to plan their undergrad based even in part on where they might go for an MFA, if they decide to go. That decision is many years down the road and by then they may find they have different interests, needs, desires. It really is going to boil down to your D’s needs. I have to agree that if she doesn’t know for sure, she should simply apply to both Brown & NU and others RD. I don’t see any compelling reason here that would justify her applying ED to Brown–I mean, if she doesn’t know in her heart that that’s where she ought to go, that’s an answer right there. It’s a huge decision and will impact her for the next 4 years and possibly for life. I don’t see the point in rushing it when she’s not certain, particularly when it’s not certain her odds will be improved at all.</p>

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<p>Hello Connections you’re probably asking me a rhetorical question, but I’ll take a stab at it anyway. In short, D wants to burn it at both ends - 24/7 - within a like-minded community of bright, artistic theater kids. Beyond college, I don’t think she or we really know where this will lead. </p>

<p>As parents, were a bit freaked that she is pursuing theater (We met in engineering school) instead of law medicine, etc… but we’re embracing her ambitions. I think a good liberal arts education in the theater is as good as any other path to learn about society, yourself and how you fit in to society - and pick up some great life skills. Her passion and hard work in high school has given us some level of comfort that she’ll figure things out and realize her independence even with a ‘soft’ undergrad major.</p>

31

<p>Actually, arwarw, I wasn’t asking the questions rhetorically, but literally. The reason I ask is that a student majoring in theatre at NU is in general better positioned to get a job working in theatre upon graduation. If your D’s goal was to increase her chances to be employed as an actor or employed in theatre upon graduation, then statistically NU would be the better option. Obviously, this is just statistically. And obviously Brown is a really excellent college. But NU is better set up for this than Brown. However, if your D is still exploring her options and isn’t sure what she wants on graduation, then either Brown or NU would be good. NU would still be good–many NU undergrads double major. In my D’s dorm, there were MANy dual majors in science/math and theatre/music. But Brown would also be great in giving her options to explore what she wants. And perhaps its grading/majoring system and location and other factors would be better for her (only she can answer that). Also, as has been said earlier, Brown would probably be a bit less competitive with theatre parts, which is probably both a positive and a negative depending on what she wants. </p>

<p>To give you a personal example–My own D is certain that she wants to be a professional working actor upon graduation–this is her primary goal. She knows it’s extraordinarily competitive. This is why she chose NU and why she turned down other excellent schools she was accepted to (like Swarthmore). SHe too wants to be in the company of bright artistic kids and to be immersed 24/7–But MANY schools will offer that. What she wants above all is a) an excellent education to help her grow as a person AND as an actor b) like minded students to grow with and c) to be best positioned to be a working professional actor on graduation in a field that is ultra-competitive. That’s why I asked you about your D’s specific goals. Hope this helps your search.</p>

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<p>Where can I find information on what Theater undergrads are doing immediately after graduating from NU, Brown and other similar BA programs?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

33

<p>NU has a list of ‘notable alumni’ in their School of Communications (theatre/film/etc): [Alumni</a>, School of Communication, Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.communication.northwestern.edu/learn/alumni.php]Alumni”>http://www.communication.northwestern.edu/learn/alumni.php)</p>

<p>Brown obviously has many notable alumni as well, but I couldn’t find a similar list specifically for theatre/drama/film. But perhaps you could find this–that would be a cool list, I’m sure.</p>

<p>However, as far as immediately after graduation, I don’t know the stats. Could you contact the schools directly and ask? Best of luck.</p>

34

<p>I’ve heard that virtually everyone in NU’s senior showcases (participation by audition, held in NYC, Chicago and LA) gets offers for representation. From the class of 2012 one girl had offers from 15+ agents, and one guy is now the lead in the international tour of American Idiot, but I don’t know any of the other graduates. I’m part of a small on-line parent group including a couple recent NU grads, and those kids are fully employed as actors now.</p>

<p>Here are some NU Theatre alum (not an up-to-date list);</p>

<p>• Mara Brock Akil (B.A. 1992), creator and executive producer of Girlfriends and The Game, former supervising producer of The Jamie Foxx Show
• Claude Akins (B.S. 1949), actor (Inherit the Wind, Battle for the Planet of the Apes, The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo)
• Ann-Margret (Olsson) (Class of 1963, never graduated), Academy Award-nominated actress (Tommy, Carnal Knowledge)
• Sharif Atkins (B.S. 1999), actor (ER)
• Jayne Atkinson (B.S. 1981), Tony Award-nominated actress (Enchanted April, The Rainmaker); currently portrays Karen Hayes on 24
• Jane Badler (B.S. 1976), actress (V)
• Kate Baldwin actress (1997 – theaterschool)
• Bonnie Bartlett (B.S. 1950), Emmy Award-winning actress (St. Elsewhere, Twins, Ghosts of Mississippi)
• Warren Beatty (Class of 1959, never graduated), Academy Award-winning actor/writer/director (Bonnie and Clyde, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Shampoo, Reds)
• Lee Phillip Bell (B.A. 1950) Emmy Award-winning co-creator of The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful
• Rob Benedict (B.S. 1993), actor (Threshold, Felicity)
• Richard Benjamin (B.S. 1960), actor (Catch-22, Deconstructing Harry); director (Mermaids, Racing with the Moon)
• Edgar Bergen (attended, did not graduate), Academy Award-winning actor and ventriloquist (Charlie McCarthy)
• Greg Berlanti (B.S. 1994), screenwriter and producer (Dawson’s Creek); creator of Everwood and Jack & Bobby; writer/director of Broken Hearts Club
• Eric Bernt (B.S. 1986), screenwriter (Surviving the Game, Virtuosity, Romeo Must Die)
• Craig Bierko (B.S. 1986), actor (Cinderella Man, The Thirteenth Floor); Tony Award-nominee (The Music Man)
• Andrew Bird (B.S. 1996), musician, songwriter, whistler
• Karen Black (attended, never graduated), Academy Award-nominated actress (Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces)
• Jeff Blumenkrantz (B.S. 1986), Tony Award-nominated musical theatre composer/lyricist (Urban Cowboy)
• Robert Borden (B.S. 1989), executive producer/writer (George Lopez)
• Zach Braff (B.S. 1997), Emmy Award-nominated actor (Scrubs); writer/director (Garden State)
• Cary Brothers (B.S. 1995), Grammy-nominated musician (Garden State)
• Clancy Brown (B.S. 1981), actor (Highlander, The Shawshank Redemption)
• Charles Busch (B.S. 1976), Tony Award-nominated playwright (The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife)
• Frank Buxton (B.S. 1951), actor/writer/director
• Bruno Campos (B.S. 1995), actor (Nip/Tuck)
• Adam Chase (B.S. 1990), Emmy Award-nominated writer/executive producer (Friends)
• Josh Chetwynd, UK based baseball analyst and former player
• Janet Choi, cast member of The Real World: Seattle
• Cindy Chupack (B.S. 1987), Emmy Award-winning executive producer and writer (Sex and the City, Everybody Loves Raymond)
• Jeanne Clemson (M.A.), theater director, stage actress and teacher, preserved the Fulton Opera House
• Stephen Colbert (B.S. 1987), Emmy Award-winning comedian (The Colbert Report, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart)
• Jack Clay, acting teacher/director/actor
• Claire Coffee, actress (General Hospital)
• Kate Collins, actress (All My Children)
• Robert Conrad (B.S. 1955), actor (The Wild Wild West, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Hawaiian Eye)
• Steven Conrad (B.A. 1991), screenwriter (The Pursuit of Happyness, The Weather Man)
• Cindy Crawford (attended, never graduated), model
• Jan Crull Jr.(attended, never graduated),filmmaker, Native American Rights Activist, Attorney
• Jane Curtin (attended, never graduated), original cast member of Saturday Night Live; Emmy Award-nominated actress (Kate & Allie, 3rd Rock from the Sun)
• Stephanie D’Abruzzo (B.S. 1993), Tony Award-nominated actress and puppeteer (Avenue Q)
• William Daniels (B.S. 1950), Emmy Award-winning actor (St. Elsewhere, Boy Meets World); former president of the Screen Actors Guild
• Zooey Deschanel (attended, never graduated), actress (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Elf, Almost Famous, Winter Passing)
• Lydia R. Diamond (B.S. 1992), playwright
• Matt Doherty (B.S. 1999), actor (So I Married an Axe Murderer, The Mighty Ducks films)
• Anne Dudek, actress (House, Psych, Law and Order: CI, Desperate Housewives, How I Met Your Mother, Mad Men, White Chicks, The Human Stain)
• Teddy Dunn (B.S. 2003), actor (Veronica Mars)
• Nancy Dussault (B.A. 1957), actress (Too Close for Comfort); two-time Tony Award nominee (Do Re Mi, Bajour)
• Gregg Edelman (B.S. 1980), Tony Award-nominated actor (City of Angels, Into the Woods)
• Jennie Eisenhower (B.S. 2000), actress; granddaughter of Richard Nixon and the great-granddaughter of Dwight D. Eisenhower
• Craig Erwich (B.A. 1989) former Executive Vice President of Programming at Fox TV
• Mary Frann (B.S. 1965), actress (Newhart, Days of our Lives)
• Temi Epstein (B.S. 1996), child actress (North and South)
• Joe Flynn, actor (McHale’s Navy)
• Penny Fuller (B.S. 1959), Emmy Award-winning actress (The Elephant Man); Tony Award nominee (The Dinner Party)
• Gerald Freedman (B.S. 1949, M.A. 1950), theatre director (The Gay Life, The Robber Bridegroom, The Grand Tour)
• David T. Friendly (B.S. 1978), Academy Award-nominated producer (Little Miss Sunshine)
• George Furth (B.S. 1955), Tony Award-winning playwright (Company); actor (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid)
• Aimee Garcia (B.S. 2000), actress (George Lopez)
• Daniele Gaither (B.S. 1993), actress, comic (MADtv)
• Barbara Gaines (B.S. 1968), founder and artistic director of the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
• Frank Galati (B.A. 1965), Tony Award-winning director (The Grapes of Wrath), Academy Award-nominated screenwriter (The Accidental Tourist)
• Ana Gasteyer (B.S. 1989), actress (Mean Girls, Wicked); former cast member of Saturday Night Live
• Ileen Getz (B.S. 1985), actress (3rd Rock from the Sun)
• Zach Gilford (B.S. 2004), actor (Friday Night Lights)
• Eric Gilliland (B.S. 1984), writer/producer (Rosanne, My Boys)
• Ira Glass (attended, transferred), radio and TV personality
• Jonathan Glassner, TV writer/producer, most known for developing Stargate SG-1.
• Virginia Graham (M.S.J.), former daytime TV talk show host
• Michael Greif (B.S. 1981), Tony Award-nominated director of Rent and Grey Gardens
• Mamie Gummer (B.S. 2005), actress (Evening), daughter of Meryl Streep
• Anna Gunn (B.S. 1990), actress (Deadwood)
• Kathryn Hahn (B.S. 1995), actress (Crossing Jordan)
• Brad Hall (B.S. 1990), former cast member of (Saturday Night Live); creator of (The Single Guy, Watching Ellie)
• Samantha Harris (B.S. 1996), Emmy Award-nominated co-host of Dancing with the Stars
• Bill Hayes (M.M. 1949), Daytime Emmy Award-nominated actor (Days of our Lives)
• Heather Headley (B.S. 1997), Tony Award-winning actress and singer (Aida, The Lion King); Grammy Award-nominated R&B vocalist
• Kyle T. Heffner, actor Flashdance
• Marg Helgenberger (B.S. 1982), Emmy Award-winning actress (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, China Beach, Erin Brockovich)
• Charlton Heston (B.S. 1945), Academy Award-winning actor (Ben-Hur), National Rifle Association President
• Michael Hitchcock (B.S. 1980), writer, co-executive producer (MADTv); actor (Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, Serenity )
• Ron Holgate (B.S. 1959), Tony Award-winning actor (1776, The Grand Tour)
• David Hollander (B.S. 1990), creator, screenwriter, and executive producer of The Guardian
• David Horowitz (M.S. 1961), former host of Fight Back! With David Horowitz
• Jeffrey Hunter (B.A. 1949), actor (The Searchers, The Last Hurrah, King of Kings, The Longest Day)
• Lew Hunter (M.S. 1956), Emmy Award-nominated screenwriter (Fallen Angel); Chairman Emeritus and Professor of Screenwriting, UCLA School of Theater Film and Television
• Ron Husmann (B.S. 1959), Tony Award-nominated actor (Tenderloin)
• Martha Hyer (B.S. 1945), Academy Award-nominated actress (Some Came Running, Houseboat, The Sons of Katie Elder, Bikini Beach)
• Rex Ingram, actor (Cabin in the Sky, The Thief of Baghdad, Sahara, Green Pastures)
• Laura Innes (B.S. 1979), Emmy Award-nominated actress (ER); Emmy Award-nominated director (The West Wing)
• Robin Irwin, noted Broadway actress (“Titanic (musical)”), and (“Dance of the Vampires”) She currently teaches at New York University
• David Ives (B.A. 1971), playwright, (All in the Timing)
• Brian d’Arcy James (B.S. 1990), Tony Award-nominated actor (Sweet Smell of Success: The Musical)
• Tim Johnson (B.A. 1983), director (Antz, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas)
• Jennifer Jones, Academy Award-winning actress (The Song of Bernadette, Since You Went Away, Love Letters, Duel in the Sun, Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing)
• Peter Kapetan, (B.A. 1978), Broadway actor, singer, dancer 1956–2008[1]
• Spencer Kayden (B.S. 1990), former cast member of MADTv; Tony Award-nominee for Urinetown
• James Keach (B.S. 1970), actor (The Long Riders); producer (Walk the Line); director (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman)
• Stacy Keach, Sr. (B.S. 1935), actor (Get Smart); director (Tales of the Texas Rangers)
• Clinton Kelly (M.S. 1993), co-host of (What Not to Wear)
• Peter Keramidas (B.S. 1987, M.B.A 1991), former Executive Vice President of Programming at Showtime Networks
• Richard Kind (B.S. 1978), actor (Mad About You, Spin City)
• Richard Kline (M.A. 1967), actor (Three’s Company)
• Robert Knepper (attended, never graduated), actor (Prison Break, Hostage, Carniv</p>

35

<p>Just for the record MomCares - the American Idiot kid did not graduate, he left his Junior year. His look and ability is perfect for that show.</p>

36

<p>Regarding the list of “famous” NU graduates - I graduated in 1987 and I have several friends from my cohort who are “working professionals” in the field who are not famous enough to be in that list. One is the artistic director of a theatre company, one is a TV writer, one is a regional actor who makes a very good living. I kind of hate those lists of “famous” grads because those folks are rare - more common is folks just working in their craft. If you are only going to college to be famous, you are bound to be disappointed. (Funny note: Cindy Crawford was at NU for one year and every guy I know claims to have dated her. Must have been a really busy year for her! :slight_smile: )</p>

37

<p>@amtc - Thanks for that correction. It looks from his Facebook posts like he’s having a fantastic time so far!</p>

<p>@megpmom - Agree about the limits of alumni lists, but they’re one of the few ways to get a sense of the variety of careers pursued by grads of various programs.</p>

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<p>I’ve heard the senior showcase is not open to all NU seniors. Does anyone have details on this? How many? How are they selected?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

39

<p>You are correct - As I understand it, NU’s New York showcase is by audition (looks like last year there were 23 kids selected) and the Chicago showcase is open to all students (last year 47 participated – remember many NU theatre majors are not performers). Some kids specifically want to work in Chicago or NY and don’t do the other showcase. I think they do something in LA as well but I know less about that. Hope someone with more experience can correct me if I’m mistaken.</p>

<p>Plus I think there is a separate NY showcase for NU writers to showcase their work, and some performers are invited to perform there as well.</p>

<p>Here’s a link with some info about last years’ showcases;</p>

<p>[Showcase</a>, School of Communication, Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.communication.northwestern.edu/departments/theatre/students/showcase/]Showcase”>http://www.communication.northwestern.edu/departments/theatre/students/showcase/)</p>

40

<p>Wow, are you getting ahead of yourself arwarw! As much as you’d like to, you cannot figure out the next 4 years of your kids life, it doesn’t work that way. There is absolutely no way to know what the process will be four years from now especially since they are redoing the MT program and the straight theatre programs to make them even more encompassing than they are currently. There is also a lot of debate as to the value of such showcases but that is too involved to discuss right now.</p>

<p>I think you’ve gotten a lot of good advice and information here especially from connections. You are an engineer, I understand that, and numbers and statistics are important to you but theatre does not work that way nor do kids going through 4 years of college. There are no guarantees with admission or beyond. Research, ask reasonable general questions about philosophy and treatments of the different schools, have your daughter figure out her best learning style and what she wants out of college and then join the crap shoot like everyone else. It all overwhelmingly works out in the end. Good luck!</p>