<p>Any feedback, thoughts?</p>
<p>Tbh, I really like what I'm hearing so far ... it's genuine meld of the Music & Theater Department - and seems to be a fairly new program as well. (Several years perhaps?)</p>
<p>The prof called my D a couple of weeks ago personally (on a Saturday!) to see if she had any questions. She was caught off guard, but recovered nicely. ;)</p>
<p>There isn't a Senior Showcase. And that is perhaps the only negative that I've found.</p>
<p>Thoughts? </p>
<p>I wouldn’t necessarily see no showcase as a negative. Many schools have audition based showcases so not everyone goes. Also check if they bring people in. Many schools who don’t do showcases bring the people in to work with the kids and see them at school. This is a great way to get “showcased”. They are not running to other showcases that day and seeing a bunch in that couple week span. It also allows the underclassmen to learn from that as well as meet agents, casting people. If time allows they often work with the younger students and watch rehearsals and performances at the school while they are there.</p>
<p>I would not worry about showcase either. They can be great, but they are no guarantee of representation. Many talented kids from even the best schools can find themselves looking for representation on their own long after showcases are over. So I wouldn’t make that a deal breaker.
I do not know much about the program at SIU, but we do have a friend who did summer stock at the McLeod Playhouse this summer. Many of the actors were from SIU and I believe the McLeod theater itself is connected to the school somehow. Our friend had a wonderful experience - said the shows were good quality, the directors were very professional, and fellow actors were great to work with. Didn’t hear a negative about it. So you might look into that.</p>