<p>I have a question for Doctorjohn. I have a junior in high school who is considering bfa programs in theater design. How important is it that such programs be taken at a school like Otterbein, which has superior acting and mt programs. I understand that talented professors exist everywhere, but on the whole should we concentrate on the well know programs theatre programs, and if so why? I have asked for your advice before with an older daughter who is a soph.MT and have come to value it along with everything else you post on these threads. Thank you in advance for your time.</p>
<p>mtjack:</p>
<p>Sorry you had to wait so long for an answer. My wife and I were at a week-long conference in New Hampshire, and then we spent a few days with our younger son and his wife in Boston. A good time.</p>
<p>There are good design/tech programs everywhere, and usually they're in the same places that have good programs in performance. So starting there makes a certain amount of sense. The well-known programs tend to have strong alumni networks, and in design/tech, those networks are fairly important.</p>
<p>That said, the approach to finding appropriate dt programs is a bit different than finding acting or mt programs. The first question is, do you want to specialize right away, or do you want a broad-based grounding in all areas of design and technology? Our approach is the latter. In the freshman year, all dt majors do 10-week courses in stagecraft, costume crafts, lighting technology, sound technology, props, and autoCAD (computer-aided drafting). Students interested in stage management also take that class. Everyone takes drawing and painting for theatre. Everyone works in all the shops and does a running crew in scenery/props, costumes, and electrics. In the sophomore year, dt majors start design classes, and they are rotated through crewhead positions--master carpenter, master electrician, props master, sound master, asm, and so on. They continue those positions during the rest of their career with us, although they can begin to specialize. On internship (one whole term of the senior year), the dt's work in regional theatres around the country, and our interns tend to have the reputation for being able to do whatever they're asked.</p>
<p>Other schools (CCM, for one) want students to choose a speciality from the beginning, and then their course of study is built around that field. It may well be the better degree program for students who have done a great deal of design work, and know that they want to specialize. </p>
<p>Both approaches work, however, and graduates of all dt programs get work. Our placement rate is 100%; but I don't know a school with a BFA in DT that doesn't place almost all of its students.</p>
<p>The final question is, do you want to design for Broadway/London/LA/SF/Chicago? If so, you'll need to get an MFA in a specific design area from one of the good MFA programs: Yale, NYU, Carnegie, CCM, Michigan, Illinois, UC San Diego, and many others. What kind of track record does the undergraduate program have of getting students admitted to these MFA's?</p>
<p>Hope this helps. Feel free to write to me privately if you have specific quesions about your junior.</p>
<p>Doctorjohn,</p>
<p>My D has applied to Otterbein already. We will be scheduling her audition tomorrow. One question - her "fall back" position if she is not accepted into a musical theatre program is to major in Arts Administration and have a dance minor. Is it possible for her to be considered for both at Otterbein?</p>
<p>Thanks - you help us all so much!</p>
<p>illinisue: </p>
<p>We have an Arts Administration minor, as well as our Dance minor, but anyone could theoretically do both of those, along with a major. Students interested in Arts Administration have majored in Music, Theatre, Art or Business. We'd be pleased to consider your D for any and all of those, as well as for MT. It's one of the reasons that we interview all of our applicants, so that if we don't have a spot for them in MT or Acting, but they're really interested in Otterbein, we can still invite them to come.</p>
<p>Thank you so much! I appreciate it - and we'll see you in 2006 :)</p>
<p>DoctorJohn, not exactly your area but hoping you can help...do you happen to know when the music department typically posts their audition schedule?</p>
<p>mezzomom:</p>
<p>I went straight to the horse's mouth, Dr. Craig Johnson, chair of Music. Here's what he told me:</p>
<p>"Music audition days for '06 are 1/24, 2/9, 3/7, 3/30 (voice only), and 4/11. We also have participation award auditions for non-majors on 4/8."</p>
<p>You should also know that Dr. Karen Eckenroth, head of Vocal Music and Opera, participates in all our MT auditions and takes careful notes. At our annual meeting after all auditions are over, we decide not only on MT offers, but also on BFA Acting, BA Theatre, BM Vocal Performance, BA Music, BME, and Dance Minor offers.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Thanks, Doctorjohn!</p>
<p>Dr. J,
D asked me (did not like my answer) and is interested in your opinion ( she knows your out here) regarding the use of monologue material from "Our Town" character Emily Webb. Is it overplayed or just the classic/favorite she thinks it is?</p>
<p>I have not seen it on a don't use list but we would appreciate your thoughts.</p>
<p>noccadad:</p>
<p>I haven't seen material from Our Town as much recently as I used to, and it is lovely writing. However, I would warn anyone about the difficulties in using the "Goodbye, Grover's Corner" speechif thats the one shes thinking about--in auditions. In context, when the actor and the audience have been through the whole play together, the revelations which Emily is experiencing can be stunning. But out of context, the temptation to push the emotion may be overwhelming, and nothing will put auditors off more quickly than an actor who appears to be trying to impress us with her ability to cry on cue. </p>
<p>On the other hand, there may be a way to put something together from one of the scenes with George, or with her mother, that might be charming. Does she have a professional coach who can work with her on this?</p>
<p>Take all of this with several grains of salt, please. Im not trying to be coy. Im prepared to say, for example, that I never again want to hear Shy in an audition. But Im very cautious about recommending material, because its success is so dependent on the performer and the performance.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Doctorjohn,</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback, very appreciated! D does have a coach and the play is of course a classic, but we were a little worried and your comments on context for the emotion really hit home. </p>
<p>Moreover, your directness on what you can comfortably offer in this forum has always been appreciated and hopefully respected from our end. I know and trust you'll tell us straight if we exit the comfort zone.</p>
<p>Thanks again for your time as a resource to us parents. I thought all the preparation over the last couple years would alleiviate some of the pre-audition stress, but I was WRONG! D goes to Elon next week and wife and I are a wreck although we don't show D who is / or appears quite calm.</p>
<p>noccadad:</p>
<p>You're welcome. Glad I could help. Wish I could help you with your stress, too, but that's part of the territory. When David was auditioning for music schools, I had to keep reminding myself that it was his life, not mine, and that I needed to keep breathing. You might consider starting a thread about the techniques parents have used to cope with their own stress.</p>
<p>Good luck. My best wishes are with you, and with you all.</p>
<p>doctorjohn:</p>
<p>Love your post. I am only the parent of an HS junior, but "the pressure is on." We all need to get together and do yoga or something. It's quite a trip.</p>
<p>vocaldad</p>
<p>I've seen a short monologue cut from Emily's scene in the soda shop with George that is lovely.</p>
<p>And I am in total agreement with Dr. J on this issue - the "Goodbye, Grover's Corners" speech demands a certain level of emotional commitment and connection that is VERY hard to tap into in an audition situation (little transition time into the audition + big emotional commitment required of the character can lead to terribly pushed acting). It is better to not choose the climax of any play for this very reason.</p>
<p>Just to let you know - my D was accepted to Otterbein today....not for Theater, that may/may not happen in their winter quarter, but she was thrilled to get the phone call today. The admissions director could not have been nicer - and recommended her for a higher academic scholarship! I will take everything we get :)</p>
<p>Illinisue,</p>
<p>Tell your D that my D and I say congratulations! Has she had her audition yet? We'll keep our fingers crossed. I'm guessing this is her 1st college acceptance. I know that it feels good even though she doesn't know about the theatre decision yet. Again, give her our best. PM me when you have time.</p>
<p>illinisue...hey, that's great! What a way to start the admissions season off....gotta feel good about that! Seems so early! I'll keep fingers crossed on the BFA program there or just any of the schools on her list.
Break a leg wishes and kudos on the academic admission!
Susan</p>
<p>Thanks for the kind words - my d has changed her focus. She is going for a BA in Theatre with minors in dance and arts administration. It still involves an interview/audition and isn't a "slam dunk". She is very involved in her school shows this year (4 straight shows, 2 musicals, stage managing 2 shows and some choreography for one of the musicals - Disney's Beauty and the Beast) and loves it, so she wants a broader degree than she originally thought she did. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>By the way, since Otterbein is back on top of the thread, I would like to comment on how nice Otterbein is in many ways -- beyond just pleasant on the phone (and doctorjohn on this forum). Unlike so many other schools the fees are modest for the application, without an additional audition fee. AND they actually send you an envelope that is postage paid when they need other things! Thank you Otterbein.</p>
<p>Isn't it amazing how much "little" things can mean? I think it must have to do with the Midwest "thing." I have one child in an Ivy League school and another at Michigan and I cannot tell you the difference in the interactions I have with each school. I LOVE calling UM because they are always so kind and responsive on the phone. The Ivy League school (also my OWN alma mater!) - NOT!!</p>
<p>If only all schools realized what these kind of interactions "say" to both potential and current students and families and how easily and frequently this info is circulated. They are also in a competitive market and sometimes it is things just like this, the "little" courtesies, that help people make the important decision of where to spend their education dollars.</p>
<p>Bravo to Otterbein!</p>