<p>Jack O’Brien (Director: Hairspray) MASTERCLASS
William Finn (Composer: Elegies) MASTERCLASS
James Franco (Spiderman, Pineapple Express) INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO
Bradley Cooper (Hangover, Alias) INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO
Stephen Flaherty (Composer: Once On This Island, Ragtime, Seussical.) MASTERCLASS </p>
<p>The thing that they have in common is that I have learned from these amazingly talented people because I have watched them in either a master class or a taping of Inside The Actors Studio this SEMESTER at Pace University. </p>
<p>not including the opportunities I have ALREADY had working on both Musicals and Plays, getting FREE tickets to see La Bet, Next To Normal, Wicked and many other shows. </p>
<p>Pace Theatre Department is the way to go. The bring the professional world to you.</p>
<p>I’m currently a freshman in the MT department at Pace and can say that I feel extremely blessed and honored to be here. We get lots of free tickets to Broadway shows, masterclasses all the time with HUGE names, we can audition for things outside of school, we’re getting exceptional training from industry professionals and legends, and we’re living and studying in the theatre capitol of the world… New York City! Can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be!! This MT program is fairly new (it’s in like its 8th year i think!?) but is growing extremely fast and it’s thrilling to be a part of it.</p>
<p>It’s been forever since I visited this message board, but I thought I chime in. My D was accepted into all nine programs she auditioned for, but after visiting Pace, she cancelled her visit to a school in Boston. She is now a junior out on a national tour. Pace not only allows kids (with approval from the director) audition for NYC work, they encourage it. The university’s tagline, “Work toward greatness” is not an empty promise.</p>
<p>Pace will try to work with a student so that they can complete course work while working in a tour. If a student is academically motivated they can stay enrolled in school while working. I have to say that Pace also EXCEEDED my and my daughter’s expectations academically. She has had some amazing classes and professors in both MT and gen eds. The amount of personal attention is impressive.</p>
<p>To be honest, we had never even heard of this school until a few months before the auditions. It was the best decision my daughter ever made. It’s hard to believe it went so quickly, but she will graduate with her class at Radio City Music Hall next year.</p>
<p>I thought now would be a good time to chime in here with some reflection on my S’s Pace decision. College Confidential was such a wonderful asset last year as we were going through the process of auditions, trying to understand the pros/cons of each school, and then finally making such a huge decision for my S and our family. I still find myself wandering back to CC - it becomes such a habit - and feel “deja vu” when reading many of the posts!</p>
<p>It was a blessing that my S did in the end have many wonderful top-tier schools to choose from. For him - Pace was always his top choice. He had spent the previous summer in NY and many professionals that he worked with recommended it as a perfect place for him. For me - I had my hesitations. He has a very classical training background, so I always pictured him in a more traditional program. And - I had worries about him living in such a big city so far away. In the end we made the big move to NY and no looking back. </p>
<p>His first semester has been wonderful. You have seen above the unbelievable talent his class has been fortunate to work with. He is thrilled with every area of his training - wonderful acting classes, amazing ballet that has challenged his limits (and he’s a dancer), a vocal coach that has taken him to new levels (could write a book about this), theory classes with Ryan Scott Oliver (thrilling for him to work with such a talent), and numerous opportunities to audition and perform in school shows, student directed pieces, new musicals. On top of this he’s been to 13 Broadway shows and is constantly attending off-Broadway and other shows in New York - this is training in itself in my mind. From an educational perspective, he is very much enjoying his classes. They are thought-provoking and challenging. He is not in the Honors College, but many kids in the MT program that are interested in higher level of studies do participate in it. </p>
<p>So - saying all of that it is obvious that we are happy with the decision. It has been good having him home for Christmas to really hear all that has been happening. I do feel like he is exactly where he is meant to be. Hope that helps any of you that are considering Pace!</p>
<p>Findingpennies- I have a hard time imagining school/dorms in the financial district. How did you manage moving your son in whilst dodging taxis?</p>
<p>I can’t answer how it works at Pace but at NYU which is smack dab in Manhattan…with HUGE dorms with LOTS of people moving in at one time…they have it down to a science…they clear the curb area by the dorm with cops who direct cars to pull up and unload everything onto the sidewalk and then move their cars…you will find a block in the city with piles of each kid’s life all along the sidewalk…then they have these big rolling laundry cart things that people take turns using to take their loads up the elevators…It is kinda crazy (mostly for freshmen dorms but not so much for upper class dorms where not everyone arrives the same day)…but they do have cops directing cars to pull up for like ten min. to unload and keep that moving…nobody parks right by the building in other words but there are spaces to pull up to unload and you wait your turn by driving around the block! It is a sight to see with the kids’ worldly goods lined up all along a city block after they unload their cars!</p>
<p>I had exactly the same concern, classicalbk, but similar to NYU as soozievt says, Pace has it very well coordinated and everyone has information in advance re: what to do. We are from very far away, so flew him to school. I’m sure it is more tricky with a vehicle, but the traffic is relatively calm around Pace itself. We stayed at a hotel a block away from my S’s dorm, so literally just made a few trips on the day of the move-in. We opted to purchase his bedding and dorm needs in the city rather than pack them for the flight, so lots of trips - but shopping in NY is always fun! Pace even arranges shuttles to Bed, Bath and Beyond on the day of the move-in to help out with this. </p>
<p>I was intimidated in general about the financial district until I spent a bit of time there. It is actually like a small town once you get to know it. Everything you could ever need is within a 2 block radius - grocery store, pharmacy, laundry, restaurants, fast food (and great shopping) - I wish life was that easy at home! The Fulton St. subway stop is about a block away, so he is in Times Sq. within about 20 minutes, and easy access anywhere he needs to go. </p>
<p>Hope that’s what you need to know - feel free to ask any more questions.</p>
<p>FP so glad to hear your favorable response to Pace. My D was academically accepted and just auditioned this past weekend. It was our first visit and we were impressed. I’m a little unsure of the area as it seems so congested. I think my D will be disappointed if she does not get into the acting program. I’m just unsure if I should advise her to still attend with the hope to re-apply 2nd semester. We are awaiting on other schools as she just had a few auditions. What a stressful time. Any advice would appreciated. Does anything calling the college to let them know her interest is at all helpful?
Thanks and hope for some feedback :)</p>
<p>Maggie- perhaps a thank-you note expressing interest in the school rather than a call? We too are waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting to hear from a bunch of schools. My guess is not long after Unifieds end we’ll start getting news…hugs to all the “waiters.”</p>
<p>maggie3 - Congrats on your D’s academic acceptance to Pace! I really can’t speak at all about the acting program as my son only auditioned for MT. I do know that he has friends that entered the BA program, and will audition to move into the BFA program. </p>
<p>One thing I will say is that performing arts aside, Pace is a very impressive school. To be honest I hadn’t done a lot of research outside of the MT program, so was thrilled to learn many wonderful facts about the school after my S was offered a spot and at Freshman orientation. It is known for fantastic internship programs in all areas of study -especially business of course being so close to the Financial District. I heard story after story of students in all areas of study “working” with potential employers and making solid connections in their chosen fields as early as their first year in college. In fact, this is how Pace looks at the performing arts kids auditioning and performing outside of school - they are “interning” for their future careers. </p>
<p>I was also happy to learn that Pace was chosen last year as one of Forbes Magazine’s
“Top 20 Colleges That Will Make You Rich”. </p>
<p>As far as calling the school, I don’t really think this will help. She is over the first “hump” being academically accepted, so now it’s just a waiting game. Sure wish I had some advise on that - I totally remember the stress and anticipation. Fingers crossed for your D!!!</p>
<p>classicalbk - thanks for suggesting thank you note. She did it! Now we wait and see like everyone else. We wish everyone good luck during this stressful period.</p>
<p>Hopefully, it won’t be too long. Thank heavens for CC!! It’s been most helpful :)</p>
My guess is not long after Unifieds end we’ll start getting news…hugs to all the “waiters.”</p>