<p>Please feel free to post, or PM, any questions about the program and the university.
I thought that it might be helpful to have a current student providing insight, and more information, on life in the Conservatory of Performing Arts.</p>
<p>Regards!</p>
<p>I have been excepted into the Acting concentration, but had desired MT BFA. I am excited to have the choice to come to Point Park, but have been excepted in to other MT BFA programs, and some with good scolarship offers. Now, I am not sure what I really want to do…not a bad thing to have choices, but don’t want the best choice to pass by becasue I did not open my mind to other possibities. What is the apprenticeship like? what do you do, …hours? thank you for offering insight.</p>
<p>For a freshman in the COPA, would you recommend bringing a car to get around or rely more on walking? What is the T like in Pittsburgh?</p>
<p>I’m not at Point Park, but I am from the city and you really don’t need a car unless you want to go on the outskirts. It may be nice to have it as an option but as far as everyday life, you really don’t need a car. I am not sure if Point Park students get a bus pass or a discount on one, but I know at CMU and Pitt, bus passes are part of the student ID.</p>
<p>Hey, I was accepted as a MT student to point park and am curious about the school. I auditioned there because I knew they had a strong dance program and dance has made a huge impact on my life thus far and I would would like to continue my training in college. I am currently a freshman and the university of Minnesota so I will be a transfer to the school, starting as a freshman in the program. I still need to let the school know if I am attending. I have never been to pittsburgh and don’t know anything about the city or the program at PPU aside from hearsay. If you have any information about the environment at PPU and the MT and dance program, I would totally appreciate it. This is a huge decision. Thank you so much.</p>
<p>I’m prob. going to PP next year for MT, too.
I auditioned on campus, so I can tell you what I thought of it-
PROs= it’s in a GREAT arts city, the Pitt. Playhouse (where the PP shows are all at) is very nice, the dorms were nice (compared to other schools I visited), dance program= great, and the professors came off as very professional and focused.
CONs= it’s not really a campus b/c it’s in the middle of the city. It’s kinda like NYU, only smaller… I just think I’m gonna miss the trees.<br>
I guess you can always tour PP on google maps(?)</p>
<p>My son may be attending Point Park in MT in the Fall. Can you suggest which dorms one might prefer to live in? Thanks for any information.</p>
<p>Frost, for your son I’d say Lawrence.</p>
<p>Hi Everyone,
Sorry that it has taken me so long to reply.
As you all could imagine, things are very busy here at the Conservatory at Point Park.
Please continue to send questions and I will answer them as soon as I possibly can!</p>
<p>To padanceart: </p>
<p>I think that you should first make the decision on what artistic field you would like to pursue at the university level. There are many acting majors here, who were trained as MT’s prior to PPU. They also too desired to pursue the MT degree, but were “content” with acting instead. Some of them are my personal friends, and I know that they are not completely happy. If other schools have offered you the opportunity to continue your musical theatre training with them, I would to take the other options. “You either want it, or ya don’t”. Do what makes you happy!
I, myself, am not on an apprenticeship, but I did receive a talent award scholarship. An apprenticeship is just another form of a scholarship that the Conservatory of the Performing Arts (COPA) offers. The hours are arranged around your semester schedule. During your apprenticeship hours, you might work in the COPA office making photocopies, answering questions, and conducting other clerical tasks. You might also have the chance to be an assistant to a faculty member or guest director. All in all, congratulations! Apprenticeships are not offered to any and everyone.</p>
<p>To haymal56:</p>
<p>Like AppleLinguist wrote, I really do not deem it necessary to bring your car, especially as a freshman. My best friend, who is from the Midwest brought their car and had to store it in a garage two blocks away. They ended up paying about $160 a month.
The City of Pittsburgh has a great transit system! And because PPU is downtown, and since there are so many universities here, the bus will take you everywhere that you need to go within the city. Currently, Point Park students are not granted “free fare” with student IDs, but there is a discount for us students until 7pm.</p>
<p>PPU offers consistent shuttle service to the Pittsburgh Playhouse, where our performance spaces are located, in the community of nearby Oakland. As a COPA student, there is a good chance that you will have classes there, instead of downtown at the main campus.
Many students who live off campus in Oakland, attend social gatherings, or want to dine and shop, also take advantage of the shuttle service. “Downtown Oakland”, Carnegie Mellon, UPitt, restaurants, museums, and boutiques are only blocks away.</p>
<p>To yanyuan:</p>
<p>I believe it would be better if you could send me a PM with more specific questions.
Point Park has a great program. We have many working alumni. They really are intent on training the well rounded performer. As a student I really do feel that I am learning an incredulous amount. As a 1st year, my classes were inclusive of Ballet (everyday at 8am), Musical Theatre Techniques, Acting, Piano Theory, Sightsinging, Private voice, Musical Theatre History, and Production (stage crew). </p>
<p>I am originally from Los Angeles, and for me Pittsburgh was a nice a simple town. They are becoming more “green”, and they are improving they’re infrastructure immensely. The city is leaving behind its “rust belt” stigma. However, living on campus got extremely boring after a few weeks. Downtown Pittsburgh is equivalent to a Western Ghost Town after 6pm. The school DOES offer opportunities for its students to explore other parts of the city. Trips to the zoo, mall, cinema, and discounted tickets to fantastic shows at the Benedum Center, are constantly sponsored by the school.</p>
<p>If you are strong dancer, you should look into your enrollment here. If you aren’t, you definitely need to investigate being a student at PPU.</p>
<p>It depends on what you are searching for as a student. For example, CMU and PPU, two great MT programs are located in Pittsburgh, but are geared towards different emphasis’.</p>
<p>Overall, great triple threat program, with a very STRONG dance component.
I see personal growth each semester.</p>
<p>PS: It also helps that the school’s name in itself piques interest among casting directors and choreographers. 7 times out of 10, I am definitely and audibly noticed for it on my resume.</p>
<p>To frostdc:</p>
<p>There are two residence halls for freshman living.
Thayer Hall is a smaller building with has air-condition, and linoleum type “hospital” floors.
It is the quieter of the two, with a less amount of COPA students living there.
All of the bathrooms are shared by the floor, including the showers.</p>
<p>Lawrence Hall is a 21 floor building, that used to be a swanky hotel back in the day.
The university’s offices are located from the lobby up to the 8 floor, I believe.
Lawrence does not offer air-conditioning, but does have heating for the winter season.
It is the older of the two, and also the most populous. There are only 4 elevators, and on the busier hours of the day, one has to learn patience. Each dorm has a bathroom.
Also prone to annoying fire alarm tests.</p>
<p>These are really the only defining differences between the two.
If you have any further questions, feel free to PM anytime!</p>
<p>Keep posting! I am here to help.
I am also available to PM.</p>
<p>I have just a few questions:
How is the vocal component?
You mentioned in another post that the acting training is not advanced- can you ellaborate?
What is the ratio of girls to guys out of the 40-45 MTs each year?
I am a playwrite/ composer; will there be oppertunities for me?
And how about the local theatre?</p>
<p>THANKS SO MUCH!</p>
<p>The vocal component is great!
At the beginning of the year, on the 1st day of school, you jury for placements for private voice . A group of faculty members sit behind the table and listen to see what your strengths are, and what you need to work on. Then, you are assigned a vocal teacher according to the results.</p>
<p>There are about 40 MTs a year, if not fewer. Like most programs, there are more girls than boys, but it isn’t an overwhelming amount. In a class of 40, there might be about 24 girls and close to 16 boys.</p>
<p>The acting training is great, like I said, but extremely “slow” in the first year or so.
If you have any more “specific” questions about my personal opinion of the quality of acting training, feel free to PM me at anytime! </p>
<p>As a composer and playwright, there are definitely opportunities for you!
COPA fosters a program called the Experimental Theatre Project (ETP). The ETP produces new works, and facilitates theatrical events that are experimental in nature.
“The purpose of this organization is to allow for multiple experimental projects in the arts while utilizing a broader spectrum of minds and resources in hopes of reaching artists and non-artists alike”.
Last semester, a 1st year MT student was able to mount an original musical that they wrote and composed. A dance faculty member was also kind enough to donate their time, and created choreography for the piece.</p>
<p>Point Park is located downtown, a few blocks away from Pittsburgh’s Theatre Square and Cultural District. The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts, The Byham Theatre, The O’Reilly Theatre, the Harris Theatre, the Backstage Bar, and The Cabaret at Theatre Square are all apart of the district. Heinz and Carnegie Hall are also located downtown.</p>
<p>Productions for Broadway National tours, often come through the city. For the 2010-2011 season, the Broadway tours of “The Phantom of the Opera”, “South Pacific”, “Mary Poppins”, “Hair”, “Shrek”, “Next to Normal”, “West Side Story”, and “Mamma Mia” will be playing in Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>You will also be able to see the wonderful productions put on by Point Park University, and our sister school, Carnegie Mellon.</p>
<p>The Pittsburgh Opera, and the Pittsburgh Ballet Company do AMAZING work as well.</p>
<p>The are many local theatre opportunities for students:
Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (one of the most recognized CLOs in the country)
The Repertory Company at the Pittsburgh Playhouse
Pittsburgh Musical Theatre
Pittsburgh Public Theatre
…and smaller ones like Bricolage Theatre Co., and student produced shows at PPU.</p>
<p>I hope this helps!
Keep those questions coming…</p>
<p>Thanks for the info stepintime. I thought the my acting callback was awesome, and the director spent time with me on my monologues. It was one of the best audition experiences I had in all. I was so impressed, I really considered just working on acting, with dance minor. I really love musical theater, and was given some generous scholarships at other schools, so it came down to my love of musical theater (I think you are right), and what we can afford. I am going with another school that also showed alot of interest in me as well…so it was a hard choice because I have some great options. thanks again.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you!
Just a reference note for all: An MT minor is available to all students in COPA.</p>
<p>How many acting students are accepted each year & what percentage are admitted to the BFA Acting program in their sophmore year? Can everyone be admitted, or only a certain number?</p>
<p>Also, how is the atmosphere in the dorms - college-like or are the students very self-involved & don’t socialize? How is the food? How long does it take most Acting students to graduate? I’ve read that the courses outside of COPA aren’t of very high quality - what have you found? If students don’t make to BFA cut, how easy is it to transfer? lot of questions & not much time left!
Thanks!</p>