Summer programs for college acting students

Greetings! My S is a BFA Acting freshman in college and he is trying to figure out what he is going to do during the summer. He is looking at summer acting workshops, intensives, and apprenticeships at regional theatres. Most of these require an audition and/or prescreen video and an application fee. We are not sure how competitive these programs are so we are not sure how many he should apply to so that he gets accepted to at least one. Does anyone know how competitive these programs are or how to find acceptance rates? Thanks so much!

Not sure if you are aware of SUTE (Summer University Theatre Experience).
My Daughter (now studying for at Syracuse) went to this program and loved it.

They are now accepting applications via Accepted/

https://app.getacceptd.com/summerunivtheatre
June 2019 includes exciting faculty from the following universities: Boston University, Carnegie Mellon University, Chapman University, The Hartt School, Otterbein University, Pace University, Rutgers University – Mason Gross School of the Arts, Syracuse University, Texas State University, UCLA, University of Michigan, UNCSA and USC.

The Acting Track offers classes in scene study, monologue prep, Shakespeare, voice, movement, improvisation, text analysis, interview tips and techniques, and much more. Students are challenged to explore the creative process necessary for a successful College Audition. Each faculty member discusses the different aspects of their program and audition process.

The Musical Theatre track offers students the opportunity to learn different vocal techniques and styles and gives them the chance to perform potential audition material for feedback on their song choice as well as how to act their song. Musical Theatre students learn about the importance of vocal health. Along with their singing training, students participate in acting classes. They will also experience the rigors of a University level Musical Theatre dance class. Each faculty member discusses the different aspects of their program and audition process.

Thanks, @DramaRama! I did not know about SUTE.

http://siva.org/

@Griffilus your S is a college freshman, correct? I have had students and friends participate in acting programs geared towards current college students at:

The Shakespeare Theatre of NJ
Commonwealth Theatre Company
Powerhouse Theatre
Stella Adler
Circle in the Square
Williamstown Theatre Festival
The Theatre at Monmouth
National Theatre Institute

Some are tuitioned programs (although I have had students receive partial to full scholarships).

If he is also a singer, and would consider musical theatre companies and programs the opportunities open up more, particularly for opportunities that pay.

Thanks @KatMT! My S is a college freshman. He does sing and has done several MT shows but is more of a mover than a dancer so that might limit his MT opportunities.

I appreciate your help and I will pass these on to him! Thanks again!!

@Griffilus if I think of more I will post them.

@KatMT My son is looking at the Powerhouse Theatre actor training summer program due to getting a ‘callback’ at a high school theatre festival. Do you have any details about the program you could share? He did Cherubs at NU last summer and loved it, and I think is looking for a similar experience in regards to intensity and rigor. If you have any insight in the Powerhouse training program at Vassar, we would appreciate it. There is not a lot of info online about curriculum etc. It is pretty pricey and just want to make sure it is worth it! Thank you!

My student did the program between freshman and sophomore year of college (I think… either than or between sopjomore and junior year), so I am not sure of her experience would be different than a rising high school seniors. I will ask her of the high school and college participants are integrated. From the website it looks like they probably are, but I will ask her.

She had a wonderful experience… found the classes interesting and challenging and was in three productions.

The opportunity to be surrounded by and offer support to the professional summer theatre festival in residence on campus in the summer gave her the opportunity to watch the work of the professional artists in residence, and see the development of new work.

Because there are both high school and college students in the program, I think the experience would be different than something like Cherubs or CMU summer program where all those involved are high school students. Depending in the student, and what they are looking for, this could be a positive or a negative.

Thanks @KatMT. My son will have graduated high school by the time he would start the Powerhouse program so technically a college student :). He is comfortable working with people older than himself so no issue there. Just want to make sure that the students have a rigorous enough schedule to make the time and $ worth it. Thanks for responding!

@songbird17 I was able to talk to my student who did the program 2 years ago. She reiterated how much she loved it and how much she learned in classes, performing in outdoor productions, working on the professional productions and watching the development of the professional new works.

She said the summer she was there that only about 2 of the participants were rising college freshmen, and that the age range of those in the program was from 18 - mid/late 20s. She was 19/20 and one of the younger participants.

Thank you so much @KatMT !

TPAP is a great program. They have both high school and college students. Their “Panorama” is geared for older students. My son did TPAP for two summers: Between Jr & Sr year, and post HS graduation. TPAP is not your traditional training program. There is a lot of emphasis on the creative process and figuring out who you are as an actor and person. Incredible faculty and guest teachers. Lots of Broadway actors come in for 3 day workshops within the 3-week session.

Thanks @STHmom!!

Late response here, but hope it helps. My son was a summer acting apprentice with Commonwealth Shakespeare of Boston. He auditioned at his regional KCACTF, got a call back, and then he was invited to apply. I have no idea how competitive it is, but I do know he was one of the youngest students there (rising college sophomore) and the only student who participated from the Midwest. Most of the other apprentices were rising seniors or recent grads or graduate students from the eastern US. Since your son is also younger, it might be a little harder (but not impossible at all) to get into the apprentice programs, but the straight training programs like Stella Adler are open to all ages. My son knows several people who’ve gone to summer programs at Stella Adler in NYC and really enjoyed it.

The goal of some of the apprentice programs like Commonwealth are to fill the gap between graduation and going out in the world seeking professional work. At Commonwealth they train heavily (everything from movement to heightened text), provide support to the mainstage show on Boston Common, and then perform in supplemental shows throughout Boston. Some apprentices are also understudies to the mainstage professional actors. Although it was very intense, my son had a great time, learned a ton, and really matured as an actor and a person. He’s straight acting and really enjoys Shakespeare anyway, so this was a great opportunity to really dig in and go deep in that area. Commonwealth Shakespeare is a good program. They also offer EMC points, if that’s something your son is ready for.

We decided that spending the money on summer acting apprenticeships and supplemental training programs made sense for our son because he decided to follow the scholarships and stay close to home at our state university. He’s in a BA Theatre performance program, although it does have a highly competitive admission process. He loves it, and he’s receiving solid classical training, but since our region has limited opportunities for networking and outside training, the summer programs in more urban, arts oriented areas fill that gap. He’s doing a summer abroad this year, but next year he’ll be looking at all the programs someone listed above, as well as a few others. The American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco has a 5 or 7 week “summer training congress” that’s supposed to be amazing–it’s also not too pricey, and starts later in the summer and has later application deadlines, so you may want to look at that. Another acting apprentice opportunity is with the Great River Shakespeare Company of Minnesota–also a good program. Good luck!

@sugarpiehoneybunch Thank you so much!! My son applied, auditioned, and got accepted to the Commonwealth apprentice program. He will be a rising sophomore at his BFA Acting program. He was super excited. Where we are from, he didn’t have any opportunities for Shakespeare (or classical) training and he also wanted to experience acting in a large city known for the arts.

He got accepted to a few other apprentice/internship programs but was most interested in Commonwealth so it is awesome to hear that your son really had a great experience and really grew personally and professionally! My son already committed to Commonwealth and it will help to know he made a good decision.

Your son’s training and summer work sounds amazing! Best of luck to him at his summer abroad!

Thanks again! You have been a huge help!

@Griffilus - my D’s favorite college summer was at commonwealth! And after graduation, they often hire former apprentices to be a part of their CS2 program, an April-August gig that starts with performances for pubic schools, and then moves into supporting roles in the summer main stage production

My daughter, who is graduating from CalArts this year, did Theatricum Botanicum’s Actors Internship two summers ago and worked their last summer as well. Theatricum is in the Los Angeles area and the interns earn their AEA credits to join the union and they get cast in the summer season plays. My daughter has all her AEA credits thanks to Theatricum.

@toowonderful Thanks!! That is so great to know!!

Thanks @astute12! I didn’t know about that program. My S wants to go to LA at some point so that is great info to have!