<p>I know TSU has a great reputation, but I looked at their alumni section and there are only 2 people on there who are recent grads (e.g., graduated within the past few years, rather than decades ago) who seem to be successful as actors, and neither one was in the MT program. </p>
<p>Where does the reputation come from if there is no proven success yet…? Or are there working graduates who just aren’t listed? You’d think the school would want to keep that up to date.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>At the moment it is a more of an up and coming program. They are getting their reputation from the faculty that is in place there. They also seem to have a lot of support from TSU itself as well. I believe that they are opening their new theatre this year.</p>
<p>Kaitlin Hopkins joined the program as Head of Musical Theatre in April of 2009 and that is more or less when their reputation started to climb to the level the program now enjoys.</p>
<p>[Kaitlin</a> Hopkins named Head of Musical Theatre : University News Service : Texas State University](<a href=“http://www.txstate.edu/news/news_releases/news_archive/2009/04/MusicalTheatre041509.html]Kaitlin”>http://www.txstate.edu/news/news_releases/news_archive/2009/04/MusicalTheatre041509.html)</p>
<p>The reputation is not built on alumni success at all, but expectations. They pretty much have their pick of top students because it’s so incredibly inexpensive to attend. And in every article I’ve seen they flat out admit the goal is to get national buzz. Interesting.</p>
<p>I too asked myself why all the hype about Texas State since I had not heard of any recent graduates who have made their mark as of yet. Then I heard Kaitlin Hopkins and Jim Price speak about their program and now see why this program has risen from obscurity in five short years. I can’t explain it. You have to meet them and hear them talk about their program’s mission and vision to get it. They only take 12-14 kids because they want to be able to really get to know them and work with them. I can see why all the kids that meet them end up wanting to go to TXST. My child just met many of their current students at a summer intensive. They were amazingly talented and had nothing but wonderful things to say about TXST even away from the school and the staff. My child also knows several of the amazingly talented recruits from recent years and there’s no doubt in my mind that it is only a matter of time before we start seeing their names in lights. How great for those kids who will have the opportunity to make a mark for themselves and be among the first to do it for their school! This school is definitely in the top five of my child’s list alongside CM, CCM, BOCO & Michigan!</p>