<p>I searched and could not find any threads already started about this. PCPA Theatrefest is not one of the listed programs, but I was hoping to hear some opinions about it.</p>
<p>I hope I'm not just repeating something already talked about, but does anyone have personal experience with this program. Is it not on the list for a reason?</p>
<p>Thanks for any advice,
Matthew</p>
<p>The schools at the top of the forum are simply schools that there has been more talk about on the board... not an endorsement of those particular programs over others.</p>
<p>Have you tried doing a search for PCPA on the MT board. You may find past discussions. </p>
<p>One of the reasons there may not be too much discussion is that PCPA is a conservatory program not a college degree program. It seems that many of the people who post here are looking for information on four year college programs.</p>
<p>I have been reading this forum for over 4 years and I do not recall ever seeing PCPA mentioned. One thing that I would find helpful is to write out the name of the program in full. I have no idea what PCPA stands for! There are many abbreviations that are frequently used by posters on the MT forum, however, I occasionally see an abbreviation used by a new member that I do not recognize. Those are usually abbreviations of schools or programs that are not regularly discussed here, or are different abbreviations than the standard ones used here. For example, people on this forum usually abbreviate the Boston Conservatory as BoCo, however, I have seen some people use BC. </p>
<p>Matthew, can you clue in this ignorant mom regarding PCPA?</p>
<p>I think Matthew is referring to The Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts in Santa Maria California. Here is the link to their website <a href="http://www.pcpa.org%5B/url%5D">www.pcpa.org</a></p>
<p>dancersmom, I did not know what PCPA was either :D.</p>
<p>They are actually a program of Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, California, a two-year community college (<a href="http://www.hancockcollege.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://www.hancockcollege.edu/</a>; <a href="http://www.hancockcollege.edu/Default.asp?page=958%5B/url%5D">http://www.hancockcollege.edu/Default.asp?page=958</a>), but they use members of their professional company as teachers. I saw professional productions at Santa Maria years ago, and the work was always of exceptionally high quality. That could have changed, but it's unlikely. The program was started in 1964 by Donovan Marley, who left PCPA in 1984 to become Artistic Director of the Denver Center Theatre Company, retiring just two years ago.</p>
<p>I went to their list of alumni (<a href="http://www.pcpa.org/Default.asp?Page=139%5B/url%5D">http://www.pcpa.org/Default.asp?Page=139</a>) and then googled some of the people they have listed. Boyd Gaines is well-known, of course (having won 3 Tony Awards), but he graduated in 1975, and that's a long time ago. I did discover that he attended Juilliard, presumably after he left PCPA (<a href="http://imdb.com/name/nm0301305/bio%5B/url%5D">http://imdb.com/name/nm0301305/bio</a>).</p>
<p>I then looked at two more recent graduates, Rebecca Tourino, class of 2001, and Garrett Clapp, class of 2006. Turns out that both were older, "non-traditional" students. Rebecca had completed a BA degree at U. California-Berkeley in 1997, enrolled at PCPA in 1999, and then did an MFA at UC Irvine (<a href="http://www.rebeccatourino.com%5B/url%5D">http://www.rebeccatourino.com</a>, then go to "Acting" then "Resume"), finishing in 2005.</p>
<p>Garrett Clapp was a Marine before he went to PCPA, and after graduation in 2006 was headed to NCSA to study directing (<a href="http://www.santamariasun.com/index.php?p=showarticle&id=1599%5B/url%5D">http://www.santamariasun.com/index.php?p=showarticle&id=1599</a> - the article starts halfway down the page).</p>
<p>I don't know how well they do by 18-year-olds. It would be a good exercise for someone interested in PCPA to look at the other alumni on the list and see what college and university programs they attended afterwards. I'm surprised that they haven't included that information in the alumni bios; it would be a good recruiting tool, I would think.</p>
<p>But clearly PCPA might be a good choice for students who have discovered a passion for theatre later in life. I get phone calls every year from 20-somethings who want to change direction and study acting, after having done considerable work in another college major. From now on, I'll recommend that they look at PCPA.</p>
<p>Thank you all very much for your advice. I didn't realize it was such a little-known school. </p>
<p>I did search through tons of topics trying to find posts involving PCPA but was unable to find anything. </p>
<p>It seems to me (from what I gather from their website) that they try their best to pack a large program in a small time. I don't know if that is necessarily a good thing... Does anyone have any experience with two year conservatories (not necessarily PCPA) that would be willing to lend advice as to what they or their children thought of it. I realize of course that every program will be significantly different, but I don't really know how I feel about a two year program at this point.</p>
<p>Is this the same program near Sollvang (I know that is spelled wrong!)? They put on shows in the summer, I believe. We saw one there a few years ago and it was OK. We were not that impressed.</p>
<p>My personal opinion is that (generally speaking) two year conservatories are a better choice for students who are a little older.... have already completed all or some of college, and or have had significant prior training and life experience.</p>
<p>Musical theatre performers have to be proficient actor, singers, and dancers... everyone entering the BFA programs has talent, training, and potential in these areas... but the training helps students to become more well rounded, complete performers. 18 years old is young... part of the college experience (BFA MT, or any major, for that matter) is the experience of growing up and living on your own. I think that the four years of training/ growing can be very important for most 18 year olds. There always exceptions, and only you and your family will know what is best for you... but, that's my 2cents :)</p>
<p>Did you ever find any more info on this program? I am very interested. Thanks!</p>