Otterbein College

<p>Thank-you so much for clarifying the MTD program and for all the great information you post. It really helps. Printed out your reply and gave it to S to read. He was excited by the program. I fully expect we'll see you at Otterbein next audition season. By the way when do you post the dates for auditions 2005-2006? I'm trying to plan out our year and want to get the information as soon as its available. Thanks again:-}</p>

<p>Jacisme: </p>

<p>Glad it was helpful. You couldn't find the 4-year schedule before because it wasn't posted until yesterday. I'm a bit slow with html skills. Need to hire Shauna. I'll post the other schedules (MT, ACT, DT, BA) today.</p>

<p>Again, not many differences between MT and MT/D. The "regular" MTs actually take almost the same amount of dance, they just start at the beginning level, whereas MTDs start at the Intermediate level or above. MTs are required to take more hours of voice (but MTD's typically take the same amount). MTs are required to take Combat (but MTD's typically elect to take it). MTs usually take two terms of Theatre History, while MTD's take one term of Theatre History and two briefer Dance History classes. That's it.</p>

<p>MTaussie:</p>

<p>You are way ahead of me. Normally we don't set those dates until July. But if we follow the same pattern we have for the last several years, then we would hold MT on-campus auditions in mid and late January, late February and early March: January 21 and 28, February 25 and March 4. Possibly March 11 as well. But I need to say that I can't promise that those will be the dates at this point. We need to evaluate our procedures after we get through this season.</p>

<p>We have considered the possibility of a fall audition date. But I'm reluctant to do that unless we can tell students their status, and we can't do that unless we're willing to offer early admission to some students. I'm not sure we want to get into that game, for the reasons I've outlined in the post on February 16.</p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

<p>Doctorjohn,</p>

<p>One more question, please, about the two degrees. Do students 'declare' at their audition whether they are interested in the MTD? Are the auditions different? Or, does everyone audition the same and the faculty determines who should be offered a position as an MTD? Thanks.</p>

<p>djoiner:</p>

<p>Stella always asks if a student is interested in being considered for the dance concentration. The on-campus dance audition is the same for everyone--an intermediate level jazz combination--but Stella will ask those interested in the dance concentration to demonstrate some advanced techniques in ballet, jazz, and tap. When we sit down to choose the class in March, we'll decide which ones to offer MT and which ones to offer MTD.</p>

<p>The statement that you're interested in the dance concentration is not prejudicial. That is, if we don't think you're advanced enough in dance to do the MTD degree, we'll still consider you for the MT degree. It's not an all-or-nothing situation.</p>

<p>Does that clarify it for you?</p>

<p>I just heard Spelling Bee get a plug on a nationally broadcast radio show from NYC. yea!</p>

<p>Doctorjohn,
Thanks for the speedy reply. Yes, that clarifies the situation for me.</p>

<p>Djoiner, glad that explained it. And thanks, chrism, for the note about Spelling Bee. I'm really glad for Dan that it's getting good press.</p>

<p>For anyone interested, I've now created Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) files for each of our degree programs--the BFAs in Acting, Musical Theatre, Musical Theatre/Dance, and Design/Technology, and the BA in Theatre--and posted them on our website. You can find them on the "Department Brochure" page under each of the respective degree programs. If they're not self-explanatory, please write to me. I'd like them to be as useful and readable as possible.</p>

<p>And for anyone interested in before-and-after pictures of Cowan Hall, our primary performing space which just underwent a $1.4 million renovation, those are now posted under "Facilities" on the Department Brochure page.</p>

<p>Good luck to all auditioning this weekend.</p>

<p>Broadwayworld.com says it's headed for Broadway, to play at Circle in the Square...even in time for Tony voters! Yaaay!</p>

<p>here's the link!
<a href="http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=2287%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=2287&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>ha. aren't i silly. just reread doctor john's first post about this. we knew that already. k i will go hide now. :)</p>

<p>Don't go hide! It was very thoughtful of you to post the link to the news. And we didn't know which theatre is was going into. Now we do. Thanks,aa1.</p>

<p>For some reason, despite being a CC veteran, I didn't discover this thread until tonight -- two days AFTER my D's Otterbein audition! While it would have been great to see it earlier, Doctorjohn certainly gave us a lot of excellent information both elsewhere on CC and during our initial visit to Otterbein last summer.</p>

<p>Not having seen this thread (and perhaps not having read the "Spelling Bee" program carefully enough), I didn't know of the Otterbein-Spelling Bee connection. We saw the show a couple of weekends ago and enjoyed it thoroughly. It's charming, funny, touching, and a terrific piece of ensemble work -- definitely a show in the Avenue Q mold. </p>

<p>Finally, I wanted to copy here what I just posted on the Audition Information thread:</p>

<p>If anyone is still heading to Otterbein for an audition, I just want to let you know that -- based on our experience this past weekend -- you can expect a complete class act. The level of organization, friendliness, information, and general care and feeding (yes, there were lunch tickets!) of both students and parents was absolutely first-rate. I won't say it was a stress-free environment -- after all, the kids are auditioning for a wonderful MT program that will be admitting only four girls and four boys as freshmen -- but Doctorjohn and Otterbein are to be deeply congratulated on the thoughtfulness and professionalism that they bring to this process. Thank you!!</p>

<p>DoctorJohn,
I am auditioning for Otterbein this weekend and I have to say that your posted information made me feel much better about everything. I am breathing easier and will be much less nervous now when I arrive at the crack of dawn saturday morning. My mom found this site very helpful and encouraged me to read what you had written. Thanks again for the help.</p>

<p>WishOnAStar05,</p>

<p>I'm pleased you found the information helpful, and that you're breathing easier. Best wishes on your audition!</p>

<p>doctorjohn,</p>

<p>do you feel that a student auditioning gets a better or possibly more thorough audition if they go to the school directly instead of the unified auditions.</p>

<p>kaysmom:</p>

<p>Sorry I couldn't get to this earlier today. I don't think students necessarily get a more thorough audition if they come to campus. We spend quite a lot of time with students at the unifieds, and (especially in Chicago) MTs are seen by me, our music director, and our head of dance. I think we get quite a good sense of each student. </p>

<p>But if students have never been here before, I think they get a much better sense of who WE are if they come to campus. They see the theatres and shops and classrooms (and the brick streets), they get to spend time with our students, they can arrange to see a rehearsal or performance; and if they come a day early, they can visit classes.</p>

<p>But statistically there is no advantage to on-campus versus the unified auditions. I was, once upon a time, a physics major (can you believe it?) and some of the math has stuck with me. We take proportionally the same number of students from the unifieds as from on-campus auditions.</p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

<p>Best wishes to everyone auditioning this weekend.</p>

<p>Doctorjohn,</p>

<p>Thank you for that quick reply! That is very interesting to know! The unified auditions certinaly would seem to be easier for auditioning purposes. I do agree though that it is so important to see the school at some point firsthand that she would be applying to. Since my daughter is only a sophomore, she still has time to decide on the places she would want to audition for but what an incredibly informative site this is to find out information. I am so glad I came upon it and now can go back and read things that may help her when it comes to be her time to undertake this process. Thanks again!</p>

<p>doctorjohn, how many people auditioned for MT at otterbein this year (M/F)?</p>

<p>mtfan:</p>

<p>We have one more Saturday to go, when we'll see another 25 or so. But my current estimate is that we will see, individually, 225 this year: 150 women and 75 men. That's up from 104 women and 48 men last year. I'll post the exact numbers next week.</p>

<p>Drjohn:
Since you have been so helpful with info about unified auditions (and your school site links to the web for unified), here is a question I am not sure about. Are there fall unified as well as spring in NYC? How early does one sign up for these things? (I know this can depend on each individual school, but when should we all be looking so we can get in before spots close?)</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>