<p>Hey all, my S has been accepted at TSU and is seriously considering attending. We know the faculty is very well-connected nationally, but does anyone know if the theatre department has affiliations or close ties with regional/local theatres? Opportunities for internships or outside theatre work or summer stock in the area? Anything in San Marcos? I’d imagine Austin is a possibility, but that’s a 1/2 hour away…is it realistic to think that if opportunities exist there or in San Antonio, a student could commute to either town if they don’t have a car? Is there public transportation? Any insight would be appreciated!</p>
<p>San Marcos is a neat town - I used to go there a lot when I was in college. I remember it was fairly isolated though. I can’t imagine there would be public transportation to SA or Austin - it’s not that kind of an urban area. I could be wrong though and it may have changed - maybe call the admin office?? It’s a very friendly town and I’m sure someone in the office would be willing to chat with you about something not related to admin. 
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<p>I know this is a generalization, but folks in Texas are very hospitable and kind - the day I opened my bank account in Stephenville, TX, the elderly teller who helped me open my account INSISTED that she take me to lunch to welcome me to their town - it was very sweet and I appreciated it very much.</p>
<p>The head of dance for MT at TSU, Robin Lewis, has strong ties to the Zachary Scott Theatre in Austin. He has choreographed shows for Zach, and will choreograph this summer’s production of Hairspray at Zach. Several TSU students will be performing in Hairspray, including the girl playing the role of Tracy Turnblad. My son will also be in the show. There has been a huge infusion of money into the MT department at TSU, which has allowed them to hire excellent faculty and build amazing new facilities, which I believe will be completed in Jan. 2014. It’s also incredibly inexpensive compared to other schools. </p>
<p>My son is a senior MT major at TSU, but will stay one additional year and will graduate in May 2012. It was a round about way of finally finding his “home” at TSU - cut from CCM after freshman year in 2008, a year at a community college in our home town, a year of community college in CA trying to transfer into CSUF before the budget crisis made it virtually impossible for out of state students to get in (3.75 GPA or higher, which my son didn’t have), and then finally TSU beginning in Fall 2010. My son loves the faculty and the students at TSU and couldn’t be happier. Good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>MYguyMom - There is not “regional” public transportation at this time. So while San Marcos is an easy drive to either Austin or SA, you really do need a car. My guess would be that lots of kids on campus do have cars and car pool.</p>
<p>We regularly see TSU kids in shows in Austin. I don’t see them as much in San Antonio. As mentioned above, Robin Lewis does lots of work with ZACH. And Lauren Lane appears regularly at ZACH as well. She is currently at ZACH in “August:Osage County.”
[August:</a> Osage County | ZACH Theatre](<a href=“http://www.zachtheatre.org/show/august-osage-county]August:”>http://www.zachtheatre.org/show/august-osage-county)</p>
<p>There are other professional theatres in Austin as well so lots of performance opportunities.</p>
<p>Thank you SO much for your detailed replies, this information is very helpful! We’re concerned about regional opportunities particularly for summer stock, but also so that after graduation, S will hopefully have some contacts in the area in case he wants to stay there for awhile and try to build his resume. </p>
<p>SM2- it’s great to hear from someone who has a child in the program. I’m glad your son found his “home” and is happy at TSU – things really DO happen for a reason. My older son (not the theatre one) is, after two undergrad schools, still trying to discover where he “fits.” I hope he eventually finds himself in a place, like your son, where he can truly be happy. Then it will be worth the long trip to get there.</p>
<p>MYguyMom - One thing about summer stock in this area. Summer Stock Austin is a great program for high school and college students (only) but it is non-paying except for the college mentors and there is no housing provided. The other big summer show is Zilker Outdoor Musical, which is also non-paying. Don’t get me wrong - there are paid professional shows here at numerous theatres but they are not the “traditional” summer stock theatres. Austin has a vibrant theatre and live music scene so there are always opportunities to be cast. </p>
<p>And Houston is another really wonderful theatre city and not really that far. My D did a summer show there at Miller Outdoor Theatre and loved everything about TUTS.</p>
<p>^^^O.K., thank you austinmtmom, that’s good to know. I appreciate all the info you’ve provided!</p>
<p>My son is also an MT at TX State - he is a freshman and absolutely loves it! One of the many great things about the program is that every one is being trained to be a triple threat, while at the same time having their own individual talents cultivated to an even higher level. For example, everyone takes dance at their level, but the advanced dancers have had opportunities to dance in campus shows with dance majors, and have been cast in shows in the Austin community. Others play and write music and have had opportunities to hone and showcase these skills. Everyone auditions for all musicals and plays, so performance opportunities, while not guaranteed, are many and varied. </p>
<p>In terms of training and performance, what the kids do in the summer is as unique as it is during the year - a few are staying to do shows in Austin, some are going to be performing at other regional or community theaters - around the country or near home, some have set up internships with theaters or individual mentors, and/or some may be taking gen ed classes - online, on campus, or near home.</p>
<p>As far as getting to Austin for auditions, rehearsals and performances, as well as to and from the airport, my son has been able to get a ride from someone who does have a car. For the next 3 years, he will have a car and will pay it forward. The Bobcat Tram has the BT Interurban Bus Service which is a bus that goes between San Antonio and San Marcos and Austin. He hasn’t used it; details are on the school website.</p>
<p>I cannot fully express in words how wonderful the faculty is… but I will say I do not worry about my son because I know he is in good hands, the best hands for him. And that is saying a lot because, he is very far from home and, since mid-August, has only been home between semesters and for part of March break. We made 2 very brief visits in the fall and will be there next week to see him in The Wild Party. He has grown in every aspect as a person, a student and an artist. It may not be the right place for everyone, but when the fit is right, it is a godsend!</p>
<p>Wow, thank you d-w-u-l, for this information. It’s very good to know and will factor into S’s decision. It must be hard to have your child so far from home, but how wonderful it is knowing that he made the right decision and is now happy and thriving. Makes this whole crazy process worth the effort, tiime and $$$. Thanks again.</p>
<p>I live in Austin; my son graduated from TSU’s music school; my girls both have MT degrees from elsewhere as TSU wasn’t an option in their day! There is no public transportation to/from Austin and San Antonio from San Marcos. There is no regional or other theater in San Marcos other than what is at the school. Robin Lewis is a great person to have on your kid’s side as he really does cast ‘his’ kids in shows all over Austin…much to the chagrin of performers who aren’t from TSU. Hairspray at Zach Scott will have an abundance of TSU kids compared to kids from anywhere else…clearly a sign that who you know makes a big difference. Just part of the game. The Zilker Summer Musical does pay…not much…but does pay a small stipend…at least the last time my kids performed there which wasn’t that long ago. At Zach you can get EMC points; not so at Zilker. There are a few other Austin area theaters that do equity shows…Austin Playhouse being one of them but I think they recently moved to Round Rock which is the north side of Austin…so further from San Marcos. Tex-Arts, which Robin is also affiliated with, also puts on good shows and is located to the west of Austin in Lakeway.
Good luck to all at TSU…I hate we didn’t have that good option when the girls were looking for programs.</p>
<p>Just a quick correction - Austin Playhouse did not move to Round Rock. They are still at Penn Field until their new theatre is completed at Mueller Austin. Penfold Theatre is the professional theatre that is based in Round Rock. :)</p>
<p>Thanks, Austinmtmom. I was over that way last week to see Carousel at St. Eds and it looked like the theater was closed and was told by someone else they had moved. So, Penfold was performing at Austin Playhouse but have now opened their own theater in RR?</p>
<p>This may be just my naivety – but Austin is only 20 minutes away by drive right? I’m sure if your son goes there he can get a ride from one of the other students there who has a car…but I’m sure he will be too busy to be able to go there very often. </p>
<p>As for summer stock…Going to a university nearer to those theatres doesn’t help you book the job - so it doesn’t matter where you go to be honest. I have friends from the west coast who worked at the MUNY and other places on the east coast and up north. A lot of summer stock is cast in NY at Strawhat and at NETC and kids from schools all over the country fly out to go to these open calls.</p>
<p>2DsnMT - Penfold does not have a permanent home in Round Rock yet. It is in the works. Their next show “I Love You Because” will be at Hyde Park Theatre. “Servant of Two Masters” after that will be at the Round Rock Amphitheatre. </p>
<p>MTkidd - Austin is 20 minutes away or an hour away depending on time of day and what part of Austin you are going to. I agree with you that summer stock theatres cast actors from all over, especially the theatres that go to the regional auditions like StrawHats and NETC. But I will say that I think it helped my D book her work this summer that she goes to school close to the theatre she will be working at. Apparently a number of people who work at the theatre saw her in a production at her school and really liked her. She feels like she also really nailed her audition and call back, but perhaps the fact that she had been seen in a production, or that the director has worked with other students and alumni from her school, or that the faculty are involved at the professional theatre in various ways helped “seal the deal” so to speak. And I can tell you that in Austin the vast majority of the casting is from the local area. ZACH does audition in NYC but still casts most of the actors from the Austin-area.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for the information. It all makes good sense.</p>
<p>check out the new Andrew Lippa song “It Gets Better” featuring Texas State MT majors on YouTube- great job!</p>