Hey brilliant CC folks - can we make a list of the schools that offer a good bit of similarity between their straight acting and MT programs, especially those that include singing and dance, and allow auditions within their respective department’s productions? It might make it easier for future applicants to create their school list! Thx a zillion. 
I don’t know about singing and dance instruction for acting students but as far as crossover – Ithaca, Carnegie and Wright State come to mind. Their acting and MT departments are closely intertwined.
Second the Wright State suggestion. MTs and Acting take the same classes freshman year. All BFA majors audition for plays and musicals (BAs and Dance majors can, as well). Acting majors take dance, but it is somewhat limited compared to MT. Acting and Dance take voice.
At OCU, there is a good bit of crossover. MTs take acting with acting majors, dance with dance majors if that is where they level and share voice studios with vocal performance majors. All majors can audition for and are cast in shows. You may find MTs in straight shows in the theater school and in choreo shows in the dance school. And you may find acting and dance majors in the MainStage musicals which are part of the music school. Acting and dance majors do take some voice, but with different teachers than the MTs. Acting majors are somewhat limited on how much dance they are able to take I believe. Senior Showcases (one in LA and one in NYC) are a combination of Acting and MT majors.
At Western Michigan the Acting and Musical Theatre programs are well integrated:
- Basically all Acting and MTP majors audition for all the mainstage shows and "Footlights" series. Actors are routinely cast in musicals and MTP's are cast in straight plays, although significantly more Actors are cast in straight plays and vice-versa.
- They all take acting classes together and MTP's who have room in their schedules are able to take all six core Acting sequence classes plus additional acting electives. MTP's take at least 4 semesters of Acting and must take at least two additional theatre electives, usually in Acting. Some Acting majors are permitted to take some MT classes.
- Actors who have room in their schedules can take leveled dance classes with the MTP's and BFA Dance majors (at least one dance course is required for Acting majors).
At James Madison University Musical Theatre majors take the same acting classes with the Theatre majors, and Theatre majors can take voice classes, dance classes, and certain musical theatre classes.
Musical Theatre majors may audition for plays, and are often cast. Theatre majors can audition for musicals and are often cast.
Lots of opportunities for crossover if desired.
At Coastal Carolina University there is quite a bit of crossover. Everyone takes the same acting classes (MT, Acting, PT). The PT’s take quite a bit of dance with the MT’s. Acting has movement and believe they can take more dance as electives. All MT, Acting, PT audition for all of the shows, it’s a requirement.
At Shenandoah, acting and musical theatre majors spend the first four semesters together in our unique Meisner sequence. MTs are frequently cast in plays and actors are cast in musical theatre shows as the need arises. There are a lot of other core courses that integrate actors and MTs as well.
~VT
All Otterbein BFA MT and Acting students audition for all productions, including the Dance Concert. Son is a BFA Acting major and has been cast in 3 musicals. BFA Acting students may take daily dance all four years and private voice lessons, in fact I believe everyone in my son’s Junior class continue to take both.
Excellent info. Very helpful, thank you.
So far the Acting/MT “crossover list” looks like this:
Ithaca
CMU
Wright State
OCU
Wester Michigam
JMU
Coastal
Shenandoah
Otterbein
I know there was a lot of conversation about fluidity between MT and Acting at Syracuse, but since by D didn’t pick that one IDK how it plays out in action
UArts also has a lot of crossover in the same way aforementioned in other programs. Plus, Acting students can audition for a MT minor.
Excellent!
Crossover Schools:
Ithaca
CMU
Wright State
OCU
Western Michigan
JMU
Coastal
Shenandoah
Otterbein
Syracuse
UArts
Hartt has crossover as well.
@mysonggirl - there is definitely some crossover at Hartt, but not as much as they get further along in the program. Occasionally an MT is asked to perform in an AT show, but only if they need more people and don’t have enough AT’s. A couple of sophomore girls had small roles in The Children’s Hour this year because they wanted very specific physical types. That sort of thing happens. But they really don’t audition for each other’s shows, and it is exceedingly rare that an AT would land a role in a musical. I can’t think of it happening at all in recent years. The sophomores do perform in a straight play the first semester of their sophomore year as part of their sophomore projects. But, there is not an “open audition” for straight plays and musicals the way there is at some schools. However, there is a strong basis in training in acting techniques, and MT and AT students are in acting class together through sophomore year at least (I think they split off as Juniors, but not entirely sure). Some students in my D’s class have switched to Actor Training from MT after they got to Hartt, so there is that option too if someone decides that MT isn’t the right path. So I suppose I would characterize Hartt as a school that has a very strong basis of training in Acting, but not really a “crossover” school. But, both MT and AT students get to audition (and are regularly cast) in straight plays and musicals at Hartford Stage, Theaterworks and Playhouse on Park, which provide additional outside opportunities.
Sorry for the ramble - just want to give a good picture to those considering various programs!
There is a great deal of cross over from MT to acting at CCPA, but far less from acting to MT. That is, MTs get leads in straight shows, but almost never vice versa (unless it’s a non-singing role in a musical).
Ithaca has amazing crossover. All students, BFA acting and MT, have to audition for all plays and musicals. It is mandatory. This year’s big musical, Cradle will Rock, has two acting majors as leads. The kids take the same classes, with each other. MT kids get cast in plays all the time. All acting classes are a mixture of acting and MT kids. It is very, very, integrated. The only time they are apart is junior year…acting kids go to London 1st semester, and MTs go 2nd semester. They even do their showcase together.
What @Jkellynh17 said about CCPA is also true at Texas State. Quite a bit MT to acting crossover but not much the other way.
Point Park has quite a bit of cross over as well. I know my daughter has certain classes with both BA theater performance and practices students and BFA acting students (she’s a BFA MT major). All students - BFA acting, BFA MT and BA performance and practices students are eligible to audition for all performances, and do get cast (e.g. the acid queen in Tommy this fall, who was AMAZING, was a BFA acting student).
We just got home (late last night!) from Wright State & closing weekend of 9 to 5. Mr. Hart and Roz were both acting majors (and fabulous!). All MT’s & acting majors audition every semester for shows. Acting majors (and sometimes dance majors, depending on the show) are cast in musicals, and MTs are cast in plays. Freshman year MTs & Acting majors take the same classes & they can take classes in the other major in subsequent years depending on space/time availability and with faculty permission. It is easier for MTs to take Acting classes.