This may be a redundant post but are there any posters that can comment on their child’s experience in a lesser known program? It seems like all the posts are referring to the big well known schools and there’s very little info on other experiences in lesser known programs. Anyway if anyone can give general info on programs that aren’t as well known it would be much appreciated.
@theaterwork, it only takes one enthusiastic poster to make a lesser known program well-known and well-represented in this forum. The MT forum already contains a wealth of information on great programs in schools that are mostly known on a regional basis vs. recognized for their program by a national or even international audience. To be clear, I’m not implying that wider recognition has anything to do with strength of the program. I’m only talking about name recognition. Are there specific schools you want help with? The trouble will be of course that if they are never talked about here, chances are no one who posts here has direct experience with them but you never know.
Well I have a slew…lol. Plymouth State, Christopher Newport, Seton Hill, Desales, Emory and Henry, Kent State, Youngstown, western Kentucky, Catawba, etc
I have a master’s degree (in education) from Kent State, and have seen their summer shows for years. I would be happy to answer questions about the school as a whole- though I am not an expert on their theater program (I know it is respected, but was WAY too close to home for D)
@Theaterwork – I used to teach in the program at Plymouth State before I moved to James Madison. I have also hired students from there when I was the Artistic Director at a NH summer theatre (through summer of 2014), and am still connected to the program through my mother (who is the primary full-time voice teacher there), and friends and colleagues who still teach there. If you have specific questions about the program, please feel free to post them here, or PM me with the questions. I am happy to do my best to answer them.
I have less direct information about Seton Hill (the department head at JMU used to teach at Seton Hill), DeSales (the department head at DeSales used to teach at James Madison), Emory & Henry (I have seen shows there and seen students from there go through the SETC Pre-Screen process), and Christopher Newport (have a student at JMU whose brotherr goes there, and I have seen students fo through the SETC Prer-Screen process)… I am happy to try to answers those as well, or try to put you in contact with people I know who teach at/ attend these schools.
Have you or your child tried emailing the program heads at the schools? They could answer questions, and also likely put you in touch with current students.
@KatMT thanks. I guess I am just wondering some general info. I actually did get an email I believe from Plymouth State and the program sounded very nice. I guess my questions concern , for the other schools, how many they admit approx per year and if those students have been successful after school, etc. I know they are smaller programs and actually James Madison is on our list as well…I guess I was just looking for some student and parent experiences that perhaps are there now at these schools or have graduated, etc. I suppose I would have to get the dept heads to put me in contact with current students who are willing to be frank about the programs…
@theaterwork … for admit numbers it is probably best to go straight to the source. Students and parents will for the most part have anecdotal/ second hand information.
I know that I am always happy to put prospective students in contact with current students and alums. I imagine that most schools are. You may want to have your child contact schools with questions, and ask if it is possible to be put in touch with a current student or alum via email.
There will be students who are “successful” after school from most programs… and students who are less immediately “successful” from most programs. This may or may not have much to do with the training and connections at a particular school. Commercial viability at a particular time, work ethic, skill set, and student desire to pursue a professional performance career when the dream becomes a reality all come in to play.
I know quite a few alums from Plymouth State, and the ones pursuing professional work in the performing arts seem to be doing well. Off the top of my head I can think of alums working on cruise ships, in regional theatre, touring, etc… I know others who have successfully transitioned into working in arts management.
Plymouth, NH is a cute little NH town, with a nice main street. The college is in the center of town. There is a bus daily that goes to Boston, which is about 2 hours away.
Hope that helps a little
If your child has questions about James Madison, shoot me PM or an email.
Take a look at Salem State University (Salem, MA). They have a wonderful program with great networking. They just tore down their theatre and are building a new one on campus. They are finishing up building beautiful new dorms. Hop skip and a jump from downtown Salem MA, and easy commute into Boston.
I can speak indirectly to two of those:
Western Kentucky: boy who just graduated will be with the Nashville Ballet starting this Fall (was an excellent dancer prior to starting college). Know two others who are seniors/just graduating who have had success being hired for summer stock in the region and through SETC. Not sure yet their future plans.
Catawba: boy got his BA in theatre arts from Catawba. He went on to get his MFA in Physical Theatre from Accademia dell’Arte in Italy. He seems to have a busy career throughout Europe now.
I think the truth of the matter is, there are going to be success stories from most any program. Some of the success can be attributed to the school, it’s training and contacts. But much of it will be due to the talent and persistence of the individual student. And the right roles being available for their “type”.
@theaterwork My daughter goes to Nebraska Wesleyan University. It is more regional but students in the theatre program come from all over the US spanning Alaska, Texas, California, Colorado, New Hampshire and most of the Midwestern states. I would say there are about 100 students in the department with varying majors. They bring in current working professionals, agents and alumni that are currently working on television, broadway and regional theatre, to choreograph, direct, teach and hold master classes. For a smaller less known school, she has had many opportunities to work with a variety of people.
@Marbleheader I will look up Salem State thanks!
@vvnstar thanks for the info on those. Both are on THE LIST! lol which is taking on a life of its own!
@KatMT I will message you with questions if we have them about JMU. That program takes so few it looks like but is BA program which is interesting. Close to us to as we are in MD, my D says she has interest in Plymouth State and we just found out someone went there for another major so we will quiz them on area etc. it’s far from us though and cold!!
@theaterwork My daughter attends Western Kentucky University. I would be happy to answer any questions that you have. She is home for the summer so I can get the answer straight from her. The program at WKU is audition later as you probably are aware. My daughter is going into her sophomore year and will audition af the end of her next semester. She had 2 juries in her freshman year at the end of each semester. The first jury was a “get to know you” jury and the second jury was performance based where she received feedback. Her schedule is similar to what others have posted with 1 to 2 gen eds per semester. She loves the school and she can’t wait to go back. Again, let me know your specific questions and I will get them answered.
@theaterwork - I don’t know a lot about the Kent State program - but I can tell you that several MT students from KSU are currently in the same production with my D (who is at BW) and their talent level is great!
@katiegrizz i have heard much positive about Kent State. Again…on the list ! LOL I think I also got an email from a person there about the MT dept.
@LoveMyMTGirl I think I did know that it is audition later…is your daughter concerned about that and what happens if you dont make it after the audition, just continue in a BA program? Does she have private voice and enough dance?
@theaterwork - Since you are in Maryland, just a note that your D would qualify for in-state tuition if she majored in MT or Physical Theatre at Coastal Carolina University, via the Academic Common Market. It’s a great opportunity for those in states that qualify.
http://www.sreb.org/index.html
Yes @austinmtmom I saw that about Coastal! Yay! My D is defintely applying there.
Since my daughter went through the audition process and was accepted artistically to 2 programs and waitlisted at 2 others, we were pretty confident that she would be accepted into the program. We did visit the school and met with the musical theatre director who thought that my daughter would do very well there. Given her latest feedback at her last jury, my daughter feels very confident. If one doesn’t get admitted, they can try again at the end of the next semester. If they still don’t get admitted, then they could change to another major of their choice or to a BA in Theatre with a minor of their choice.
Given that it is an audition later program, they have both group voice and private voice for those “seeking admission” to the BFA program. I believe the student needs to be “recommended” for private voice as a freshman. The first year and half of private voice is taken in the music department with those teaching vocal performance. Once accepted into the BFA program, private voice moves to the musical theatre department.
She has dance every semester, and can take as many as she wants. However, time constraints have limited her to 1 per semester so far.
@theaterwork - I am totally “outing” myself, but I got my MFA from Kent State. This was a few years back, but their MT program is top notch. My gut tells me that KSU is the strongest program on your list, right now
Also, @kategrizz is your daughter at Porthouse? If so, awesome! Was she in Night Music? I heard great things, and hear Violet is STUNNING.
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@TheaterHiringCo - No… She is at the Beck Center in American Idiot… But there are 4 KSU students (maybe one is an alum) in the cast.