So, I am really passionate about Shakespeare (I do a couple Shakespeare shows a year, run a Shakespeare club, that kind of thing) and I’ve been trying to find schools thag have really good Shakespeare programs, but i havent been able to find any. Recomendations? Thanks!
Rutgers Mason Gross: they spend 6 months in London studying Shakespeare with professionals at the Globe Theater.
UMinn/Guthrie, Hartt, and Adelphi also include Shakespeare study in London as part of the curriculum.
UNCSA doesn’t go to London, but their Shakespeare training is very strong.
Most BFA acting programs DO include Shakespeare in the curriculum. But those are a few that emphasize it.
Here’s an earlier thread with more suggestions: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/theater-drama-majors/2012777-programs-that-have-more-classical-courses-in-their-curriculum-than-others.html
The British schools: LAMDA, RADA, central
NYU upper class training offers the option of a classical studio for a year of training (where Shakespeare is a big focus) and the opportunity to study Shakespeare at RADA for a semester. (which my D did, and it was hands down her favorite thing she did in college)
In addition to what toowonderful said, at NYU, the Atlantic and Meisner studios do Shakespeare study in 2nd year of studio. A good preamble to advanced study at the Classical Studio which is a fantastic opportunity to study in a performance based studio which concentrates largely on Shakespeare. A major Shakespeare production each semester than the amazing opportunity to perform in rep, which, if you want to do Shakespeare professionally at the top locales, you’re going to need to know how to do! The faculty in that studio is beyond compare. So, if Tisch is on your list, you will have terrific options to study Shakespeare.
Hey Shakespeare fan! This is my first post to cc. My son went through the process last year, and I’ve been a lurker. Anyway, finding the best program with a Shakespeare emphasis was our focus, so I thought I’d share. We loved the British schools, but they last the dorm and dining hall aspects of American college, which was a worry. Guthrie and DePaul are wonderful, and CalArts has historically done Shakespeare all year-2 (Although they did Greeks this past year instead, and that threw it for my son.) Anyway, my son chose the new BFA Acting at Baldwin Wallace, with classical emphasis. The fact that they have guaranteed casting in Shakespeare productions during year 2 and 3 and guaranteed understudy at a classical-oriented professional theater as a senior was important for us. Also, many Acting programs offer Shakespeare classes, but also have BFA MT programs in the same Performing Arts Department that overshadow the Acting. At BW, Acting is in the School of Arts and Sciences, and MT is in the Conservatory (across campus) so there is that subtle division - but still the opportunity to audition for top-drawer musicals. Anyway, he’s super jazzed to have found a BFA with a whole nest of Shakespeare fans at a regular, medium sized, school.
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Baldwin Wallace is an amazing school. Great choice!