<p>Another thread from me, the girl who really needs to visit Bates!</p>
<p>Bates is obviously a phenomenal school, but I’ve never heard anything great about its music and theatre departments. Does anyone know anything about these programs? In particular, are they professional-quality, or do things like the college plays come across as “slightly better than high school shows”? </p>
<p>Any and all insight is appreciated!</p>
<p>Hey-
I'm a freshman here and a Music and Politics Major.
The first thing I can say is that the Music faculty is fantastic. I know the chair very well as well as the choir leader. Very friendly, knowledgeable, people. The music department is admittedly not going to have the same resources as a larger school, but I've been very happy with it. If you're interested in a cappella, we have four established, and selective, groups on campus that have very well attended performances. </p>
<p>As for theatre, it seems to be more popular than music as far as majors go, though I have yet to see a performance, I hear they are put on very well. </p>
<p>I realize you posted this a while ago... Have you decided where you are going?</p>
<p>Google Stephen Lattanzi. He’s Bates '08, majored in theater, and is now a working stage and television actor.</p>
<p>Regarding Bates theater, here’s a set of stories about a current senior theater major and her experiences (she just won a Watson Fellowship, a pretty significant honor): [BatesNow</a> | 3/30/2009 | Senior to use Watson award to study South African, Indonesian theater](<a href=“http://www.bates.edu/x202478.xml]BatesNow”>Senior to use Watson award to study South African, Indonesian theater | News | Bates College)</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>