<p>Well, it is an enviable problem to have. And he is sure to love Rives Collins when he meets him! The weather right now is kind of icky so don’t let that sway you!! I have been very proud of the burgeoning MT venues in Chicago now as it was historically known as a straight theatre town and if you wanted musicals you went to NYC. The mix is slowly changing with more musicals being staged at the smaller theaters, new life in regional ones (Drury Lane Oakbrook being an especially successful story at that level), all augmented by some very well-received sit-down runs for big Broadway shows. The busy actors I know are active in both cities so a question of where you see your home-base being. Have fun!!</p>
<p>Btw… I don’t assume that kids who go to NU are destined to end up working in Chicago (though that might be a fine outcome as I hear its a great city), any more than I assume that a kid who goes to CCM will make their career in Cincinnati or that kids at UMich will ultimately work in Detroit. Do others assume that? We know several kids intentionally moving from NYC to attend NU. </p>
<p>It seems that many NU kids have success moving into film, though, which seems a bit unusual for the more traditional BFA MT programs. Maybe this is due to the school’s strong reputation for straight acting training? </p>
<p>I assume that most kids coming out of NYU have a good feel for what living in NYC is about, plus some regional contacts, but I wouldn’t view it as a guaranteed career in that city. DH and several friends and relations who have chosen to leave NYC claim that many people can only take living there for X years, and might not want to use those years up during school. I’m sure that can go either way depending on one’s personality.</p>
<p>We’re looking forward to D getting to know Chicago, as we’re guessing she’ll love it. She knows her way around London and Copenhagen but hasn’t yet set foot outside of O’Hare into downtown Chicago, so there will be lots to explore (and for her parents, too, when we visit)! She also hopes to live/work in New York at some point if possible, so it’s all good.</p>
<p>It’s true that where one attends college, doesn’t mean that is where the person may necessarily “settle.” Many who attend BFA in MT or Acting programs move to NYC after graduation, or move to LA, or work in the region where they grew up or where their college was located, etc. However, Chicago is a thriving theater city (after NYC). Those who attend Northwestern may have made some connections there over four years, but in any case, I know some NU graduates who think about (and actually do) stay in Chicago for a while to work in that theater market. Others move to NYC and so on. I can think of a few recent NU grads that I know who have opted to stay in Chicago and are working in the field. It is an option that some of the NU grads consider. I don’t see this as similar to U of Michigan which is not in a big theater city. :)</p>
<p>Neither would I imagine that many CCM grads stay in Cincinnati! I do have first-hand knowledge of a large number of NU grads who had stayed in Chicago and are working in theatre here. It is similar in a way to soozievt’s daughter making contacts while at NYU that have been beneficial once she graduated and is now making a living in NYC. Of course, actors move around a lot, but the local contacts you make while in college are an undoubtable influence, notably in the big theatre cities. That was simply the point I was making and please don’t read it as some sort of requirement of where a graduate chooses to live!! I have a lot of interaction with local actors, both Equity and non-equity, and lots from NU, so the comment was based on having heard them discuss this very point.</p>
<p>Well it’s official!! My son is now a proud member of the Northwestern University Class of 2015 in theater!!! He fell in love with it when we toured last week, met the students, met Rives Collins and David Bell. Thanks for everyone’s input during this decision time. Time to pop the champagne!!!</p>
<p>Congratulations, pemestau!! Our D also fell in love with NU (quite unexpectedly, from my perspective) when we toured last summer. I know she’ll look forward to working with your S next year!! She knows several other kids (from MPulse, YoungArts and friends-of-friends) who will also be in the class of 2015 and it looks like a really talented bunch. Again, CONGRATULATIONS!!</p>
<p>thanks for letting us know! He will have a wonderful time at NU.</p>
<p>Congrats to your son, pemestau! He had fine choices and it sounds like he found HIS place! Northwestern will be an amazing experience!</p>
<p>Yea, honestly I pretty much tell anyone if they get into NU for theatre, go!! And a huge bonus is the amazing theatre scene in the city and 'burbs. He will love exploring it all!
Congrats!</p>
<p>Since D says that virtually every MT kid at NU who went through BFA auditions was also admitted to NYU, I thought it might be worth bumping the discussion for this year’s crop.</p>
<p>Congratulations to everyone who will make this choice this season, and once again I envy all of you who are about to make final visits to both schools!</p>
<p>Wow, what a great exchange here this week! I agree with all of the posts. Also remember, while difficult to do with such intense studio training, a student can minor in another subject while attending Tisch. That would certainly be an academic challenge! My daughter is currently a freshman in New Studio/MT and plans on taking more classes over the summer as well. We wanted her to have liberal arts classes as well as studio training which is why we chose NYU over some strictly conservatory type schools. </p>
<p>The important issue like Soozie mentioned is the fit. Where is the child going to be happy because that is 90% of the battle especially in the first year. </p>
<p>Good luck with all of your decisions!</p>
<p>I just got a question about this, so I thought it might be worth bumping this older discussion in case it’s of interest to others again this year.</p>
<p>Congratulations to everyone who is in the midst of college decisions. Exciting times!</p>