Pace U Music Program

<p>Does anyone know how good/bad Pace University’s music/musical theater program is? I was thinking of applying for music theater but didn’t know if it was worth it. I would appreciate any advice. Thanks!</p>

<p>I can tell you that I was looking into applying to Pace and am no longer sure. I have tried and my mom has tried repeatedly to get information from them (calling and in e-mails) and we never get responses. I have checked the website which always seems that information will be coming soon. Well soon is here! It's already November and there is nothing posted to say anything great about this new program. I called the number for the performing arts department once and got another department (same #) who said, "oh the phones lines must be messed up again." </p>

<p>I have talked to many other schools and people have been so nice and willing to answer questions. At Pace this is not the situation. I have gotten the student that answers in the Perf Arts Office a few times and he said to send an e-mail. Then I send an e-mail and get no response. Just sounds like a messed up situation over there. </p>

<p>I have taken classes at the Broadway Dance Center and know that Pace MT Students will still be taking dance classes there but I think it's with the general public, not like a special teaching class or anything. So that doesn't sound to great either. </p>

<p>Just my thoughts. If you find out anything good, please post it. I really was looking for something good in this program but so far have found NOTHING!</p>

<p>I was in the same boat as you guys. I'd love to go to school in NYC and at first Pace sounded like a good idea, but since they still don't have any info about the program, I'm just not going to worry about it and cross it off my list. </p>

<p>I have heard from a friend who lives in the city that the university as a whole isn't exactly fantastic to begin with. I believe she was looking into the school for theater, she is a stage management major at Fordham now, but that she wasn't really wowed by their already present theater program or their liberal arts offering. It might be true or not, but it's just one person's opinion.</p>

<p>My D has a friend who is going there. She is a dancer. I will try to find out if she knows anything and could post here.</p>

<p>Hi...I noticed a lot of questions about Pace MT. I was not sure where to post a general post about it so I picked you at random. My daughter was accepted to Pace U. BUT we are awaiting the decision of the MT depart. I can tell you that they just added dance classes. I can also tell you it was the warmest and most friendly of all the auditions. My D really wants to go there. we met a lot of great upper classman and all were really sweet. The head of the department was a doll. I was disapointed to hear they only take 17 for Th and 17 for MT out of about 300. These stats are killing us. My D was turned down for Hartt Dance and MT. Hope for BOCO are low because of the great amount of applicants. still have Montclair dance and U of Arts coming up. fingers crossed! If you want to spread the word on the little bit I have offered about Pace be my guest...I stink at this computer stuff. Lisa G</p>

<p>My D auditioned at Pace on February 4 for straight acting. We also felt that the audition experience was very welcoming and that everyone was so friendly! In fact, the current students who were helping out with auditions clapped and cheered whenever someone went in to do their audition. I have never seen this happen at other college auditions.</p>

<p>During the information session the directors of the BFA musical theater and acting programs spoke. I was impressed with what they had to say. Being in Manhattan enables them to have many connections in the theater world. Up and coming playwrights often use Pace students to present their new works. The annual Straw Hat auditions are held at Pace as well. As the director of the musical theater program stated they are the only other school in NYC besides NYU to offer the BFA in musical theater.</p>

<p>Pace does allow freshmen to audition for all shows and allows students to audition for other opportunities in the city. I'm not sure if this is good or bad since most of the top theater schools don't allow it. Any opinions on this?</p>

<p>Although we didn't get to see the entire campus, what we saw we liked. Being in Manhattan is an added plus especially for those like my D who want a city campus. My D has also gotten accepted to the university but is waiting to hear the results of her audition.</p>

<p>My only concern about Pace is the qaulity of their academics. Does anyone have any information about that?</p>

<p>I really hope that someone from Pace (student or faculty) can provide some more details about the program. Their website continues to show "information pending". </p>

<p>Another mom WQ - any chance that your D's dancer friend could let us know?</p>

<p>Don't ask me how I got to this info on Pace Univ.'s website because I also was having trouble finding out detailed info. I just know I found it and kept it in my "favorites" so time ago. Here is info on their curriculum for their MT BFA:</p>

<p><a href="http://appserv.pace.edu/execute/page.cfm?doc_id=9425%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://appserv.pace.edu/execute/page.cfm?doc_id=9425&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>hope you are able to access the link</p>

<p>Gem
Thank you so much! I added it to my massive :-) folder with MT favorites as well!</p>

<p>Hi! I wanted to bump this because my audition for MT is this weekend! Is there a dance combination, or just song/mono?</p>

<p>Thanks! :)</p>

<p>There was only 1 contemp mono. and 2 songs no dance....the head of the department seemed interested in seeing the dance experiance on my D's resume though and asked her questions about it. break a leg...Lisa G</p>

<p>pace u theatre student here...</p>

<p>I personally apologize for the lack of response from the office despite not having anything to do with it. However, I do know that the secretary is leaving here and knowing that, may have 'checked out early.' So if you still have any questions, ask them and I will try to answer to the best of my abilities. </p>

<p>For right now, I will just comment on our department some of which has already been stated by 'Seashells29'. So yes, we do have only the second MT BFA program in the city. The dance classes are no longer at Broadway Dance Center, we have a brand new dance studio in the main building. </p>

<p>The MT program is one that is very demanding and there is a specific 'route' to follow when taking classes that include everything from Ballet I to Sight Singing to Musical Theatre Technique. What's great about most of these classes is that they are taught by working professionals... Lawrence Street, member of the OBC of Urinetown is one of our dance teachers, Rob Meffe, associate conductor for Les Miserable and Little Women teaches Voice and Rep., Bob Kline, casting director teaches Senior Showcase which in itself is an amazing opportunity for the students here. Each year the senior class, both acting and MT, have Senior Showcase, where they perform in front of various agents, casting directors, etc. </p>

<p>Other opportunities we've recently had with working professionals include a Victoria Clark Master Class and also a guest talk with Allan Knee, bookwriter of Little Women, for the cast of our current production of the show. </p>

<p>Freshman also get to take part in all of these events and also in auditions. There is no limit, no restriction, on any audition here at Pace. In fact, our fall mainstage production of Urinetown included a freshman cast member and our big spring semester musical includes 3 freshman cast members (2 as understudies which is also another beneficial aspect of our shows.) The straight plays included freshman cast members as well. </p>

<p>The heads of both the Acting and MT programs couldnt be more supportive or knowledgable about their craft. Everyone that I have spoken to in the program about why they chose Pace, over lets say NYU (quite a few got accepted to both) was because there they felt like a number whereas here the experience was more personal, more attentive to their specific talents and needs. </p>

<p>Feel free to ask anything else, I'm more than willing to answer.</p>

<p>thank you so much hilary! pace is getting higher and higher on my list! can you tell me anything about your audition for MT?</p>

<p>I'm actually not an MT major (I'm a directing/stage management focus) but I have attended the previous auditions this year and have also had the priveledge to sit in on some casting auditions for the shows.. Having seen what goes on, I can tell you that you just need to to relax and be yourself. How cliche right? But I'm serious. There is really nothing but support from Amy the MT Director and you will see that even when you audition. I can specifically tell you what the audition will look like though. We hold the MT auditions in our big theatre (where Inside the Actors Studio films) and in what would be the pit will be a table where Amy will be sitting. She'll probably ask you questions about your resume and then you'll perform. Before and after you'll be in the lobby where you can talk with Pace Theatre students and ask any questions you have about the program. After the auditions, Amy and the chair of the department will have an "info session" where they will talk about the program and answer any questions from you or your parents. Its actually quite a supportive experience, as said by someone above, we literally cheered for each applicant as they came out. You really will feel welcome the second you walk in .. and there are bagels!</p>

<p>anything else you want to know about? and if you want me to elaborate on the actual performance of the audition I will ask some of the majors tomorrow for you..</p>

<p>Can anyone talk a bit about the housing situation for Pace? From the website it looks as if this is really more of a commuter school. I imagine that this may be different for MT students. Are they typically in the same complex? Also, the dorms seem somewhat far away. Are there any safety issues to worry about sharing the dorms with other colleges?</p>

<p>Almosy every freshman will dorm in what is called Maria's Tower which is the same building as most of the academic classes, the BIG theater, the library, computer labs, and both cafeterias. The blackbox theatre and many of the theater classes are in the building just across the street. There are three upperclassmen dorms: Fulton Street which is just a couple blocks away from both buildings and then Clark and The St. George both of which are in a very nice area of Brooklyn just over the bridge. I havent heard of any safety issues within the Brooklyn buildings nor with transportation.. the subway to Brooklyn is just as safe as the one to Times Square. Pace also provides shuttle transportation if needed.</p>

<p>Of the upperclassmen, just as many people live in Brooklyn as they do in the Fulton dorms and some do in fact live in off campus housing but by choice and not lack of housing :) </p>

<p>Living in the tower your first year can be very beneficial.. you can literally wake up five minutes before class and go in your pajamas and be on time.</p>

<p>Amy Rogers, head of MT at Pace, was recently interviewed by an online arts magazine and the interview is online. I'll post the link below as the interview offers a lot of information about our program and answers a lot of questions...</p>

<p><a href="http://www.artscapemedia.com/podcasts/archives/2007/02/amy_rogers_dire.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.artscapemedia.com/podcasts/archives/2007/02/amy_rogers_dire.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>enjoy!</p>

<p>wow, for a brand new program... ( this class of 2006 is only the 2nd group admitted to the program), this sounds fantastic as an option for those who know that they want to study in NYC.</p>

<p>Anyone with 1st hand information or experience yet?</p>

<p>Pace's program has been featured in the current issue of 'Backstage' about Theater Programs with info regarding both the BFA MT and BFA Acting</p>

<p>MTgrl108....about housing... The Dorms for freshmen are right on campus very typical dorms. upperclassman come in from brooklyn or get apts. Apparently the brooklyn dorms are supposed to be really nice and we heard a lot of good stuff about all Security issues for the school. Has anyone out there heard from Pace MT decisions....we are going nuts waiting. My D is accepted to the school but no word yet on MT. We were told Mid March.??? I know they only accept 17 for Theater and 17 for MT out of hundreds. UGH!!!</p>