<p>Wondering if anyone knows anything , has ever auditioned for, or has personal knowledge of this program. </p>
<p>We recently heard about it and checked it out online. This is an all girls college with a BFA program that is three years and two summer, and then you graduate, eliminating the need for a fourth year. The summers are spent taking courses and performing, the first summer through the Summer Theatre Institute, and the second summer through the Okoboji Summer Theatre in Iowa. </p>
<p>They also have a professional conservatory program that is for people who do not want to go the degree route. This is I believe, where the male actors come into play. </p>
<p>We are interested in the actual BFA program.</p>
<p>From the website, it appears that that conservatory is a summer program only.</p>
<p>Looking at the BFA Acting curriculum, it seems to be very light on movement training. Stephens has no required movement classes at all, only a couple of electives. That might or might not be important to you, but it’s something to think about.</p>
<p>Acting students do not need to study singing or dance, but voice (or “voice and speech”) and movement classes are generally a very important part of a quality program.</p>
<p>When comparing curricula, other things you might want to look for are things like a dialects class (how to do accents), stage combat, etc.</p>
<p>Thank you NJTheatreMom, that is exactly why I am on this thread. I can honestly say I am not sure what to look for in the curriculum of these colleges and very much in need of help and support in that arena. My daughter may have picked up on that but I am not 100% sure of that.</p>
<p>I have been going on each college website and pulling up the BFA Required Courses along with the general educ/Liberal Arts required courses so that we know what is offered. However, I must say, now that NJTheatreMom has made mention of the lack of Movement courses and voice and speech courses in the required courses, I would not have none this was not good.</p>
<p>This could very much still be a good progam but we need to go into the search process being aware of what we are searching for. Is it possible that the voice and speech and/or movement porition is included in the actual acting classes. (Acting I - Acting IV)</p>
<p>When I first came to this site all I could tell you was that I am looking for an intense BFA acting program that is heavy on the acting and light on the academics. A program that offers my daughter the best opportunity to learn and grow as an actor. I am now learning about what" heavy on the acting" should include and would very much appreciate some “teaching moments” from those of you that have experience in this. Both parents and especially students who are now in programs and know what is needed, and what you might be lacking in training.</p>
<p>Please let me know what type of courses should be included in a strong acting BFA program and I will do my part by doing a side by side comparison on my kitchen table of the various BFA program curriculum pages.</p>
<p>Most of the programs do just fine with covering the basics, but it is helpful to compare.</p>
<p>Some of the types of course offerings that signal a richness of training opportunities are:
Specific movement training like Alexander Technique, or voice training like Linklater. When visiting schools, we even inquired directly whether they teach Linklater. Many places don’t, or they only incorporate a smidgen of it, but most students would agree that it is pure gold.
Shakespeare or “classical acting.”
Directing.
Dramaturgy.
Improv.
Classes like “singing for the actor” or basic ballet.
Commedia dell’arte.
Acting for the camera.
Dialects and stage combat, as mentioned above.</p>
<p>A program isn’t necessarily terribly deficient if it is lacking any of these. But the more it offers, the better.</p>
<p>Sometimes if student likes the school but feels they need more training in any specific area, they can acquire it in summer programs.</p>