<p>I wonder if someone on this forum could tell me about the Williams theater program. I know that the summer theater program has a tremendous reputation, but that's not run by the college. When we visited earlier this year, I got the sense that there were not many students in the major but that they were trying to build the program. Is that an accurate assessment?</p>
<p>Williams has one of the finest undergraduate theater programs in the nation (pretty much second to none- Yale is also top-notch).</p>
<p>Dad2 (or others) could you provide more information to support that statement? What you’re saying doesn’t fit with what I’ve read elsewhere which gives high marks to Vassar, Wesleyan, UCLA, and Northwestern. I haven’t seen Williams on any of those lists which is why I’m looking for feedback from CC members.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>The summer program is definitely run by the college, though the Williamstown Theater Festival isn’t.</p>
<p>I have no comment to make about the caliber of the program since I have no knowledge there.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about the program itself, but it does help to have one of the top theater facilities, if not the top, of any small college in the country, featuring three spectacular performance spaces for theater, plus one for dance. Some students get opportunities to intern at the theater festival, or at least have in the past, which is also a a major plus. And Williams I think is well-known in theater circles due to the association with the festival. </p>
<p>Also, I don’t believe any small college can approach the number of prominent theater alums Williams has … most famously Stephen Sondheim, but also William Finn, David Turner, Lee-Hom Wang, Sebastian Arcelus, Purva Bedi, Jason Howland, David Strathairn, makes for a strong alumni network …</p>
<p>…and if you count film: Frederick Wiseman, John Sayles.</p>
<p>Keithdg, which aspect of theatre are you interested in? Acting, directing, costume, scenography, theory & history? The program at Williams is very uneven.</p>
<p>Ponornica,</p>
<p>My interest is primarily in acting with directing as a secondary interest.</p>
<p>Just in case anyone following this thread is interested, the theater department’s summer program which involves students interning in all aspects of the Theater festival sounds like an incredible opportunity for students.</p>
<p>I should probably have added writing to the list above, but I was thinking of that area falling under the domain of the English Department.</p>
<p>What about play writing? My kid is interested in acting, directing and play writing (and probably some of the technical stuff – lighting, set design, etc.). What is the current status of teaching, learning and opportunity in these areas at Williams during the school year? (I’m not sure if summer opportunities – which are probably pretty competitive, so no guarantee you’ll get one – make up for a lack during the school year. Do they?) When we visited campus last August, a student told us that the there are very few theater majors these days and that the department is pretty small, at this point in Williams’ history.</p>
<p>Comments from current students and parents would be most appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>Some acting classes are terrific, some not so much. If you can get in touch with some theatre majors - and people interested in theatre who work a lot in student productions but don’t want to major in theatre - you can get a very specific story about that department. Directing classes are very very few, but some are great. Summer work is by no means guaranteed. In other words: working with some of the faculty and with some majors, you will get an amazing education in theatre, and some serious training. Working with others… You’ll be having fun but if you want to pursue theatre you may have to “unlearn” some of the habits you’d get into as an actor/director. (As I said in my earlier post: very uneven department).</p>
<p>Ponornica, I appreciate your honest reply. It matches what a couple of current students told us when we visited last summer. We were surprised. I know full well that Williams theater had its heyday – and I know all about the Williamstown summer festival, and that it’s separate from the college (with some unbelievable opportunities for a select few Williams students) – but what’s most important for my family is what theater is like at Williams now.</p>
<p>Anyone else want to add their two cents?</p>