Theater/Drama Colleges Part 6

xiggi · November 3, 2008, 7:24pm

*By Catherdingmom (Catherdingmom) on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 04:40 pm: Edit *
I posted this earlier on the Theatre/Drama 5 and then realized the thread had been put in the archives. Besides the fact that I would welcome any suggestions for the theatre/drama colleges, I hated to lose the thread. I didn't know how to rescue it from the archives. Does anyone else know how to do that?

I had a long talk with my s. last night about what he would consider the ideal college. This is what he came up with.

"There are a lot of factors that would be nice to have, but I don't want to compromise on the training. Other things I can do without, but I don't want to say at the end of four years that I wish I had gone to a school with a stronger acting program. I'm afraid that I will wind up in a school that the whole program is the theater warm-ups and games I have done all these years.

Also important--the people I would be working with. I want to work with people who can help me grow as an actor rather than telling me how to act.

I'd like to be in a program in which actors are not locked away in the corner of the campus. I want the bulk of my classes to be drama/theatre, but I'd like the opportunity to take other classes. I'd like them to be classes I'm interested in, though--philosophy or sociology rather than so many hours of physics.

I want the opportunity to explore other areas. Not necessarily having to take classes in those areas, but not being hindered from exploring them either. I expect to be busy, but I would like even a little bit of time to play my music or study things on my own. Another example-- I'm interested in Native American studies. I don't really expect to be able to take classes in that, but it would be really cool if there were a resource such as a professor knowledgeable in that area I could talk with informally.

I'd like to be someplace interesting which to me could mean a couple of different things. Being close to a city would be great because of the different things available to do. On the other hand I could be happy in a place that is surrounded by beautiful countryside. But I'd like to be someplace that I won't die of frostbite.

I like diversity. I have a diverse group of friends, and I enjoy getting to know people from different backgrounds.

A school of midrange size sounds good, but I wouldn't turn down a school in either extremity if there were other things about it I liked."

As far as schools that place equal emphasis on academic record and talent, he is at a disadvantage. He has a GPA of 3.5, but he had three C's last year in core classes and I'm sure that will hurt his chances a lot. He has a LD (visual sequencing) that he has always been able to compensate for, but all three classes covered material in which correct sequencing is crucial. He also had 8 plays going on during the school year so he just couldn't juggle enough and dropped some balls. He has an ACT score of 29. He is planning to retake that.

If his "wish list" brings any school to mind, please let us know! (Sorry this is so long.)

*By Dancersmom (Dancersmom) on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 11:25 pm: Edit *

Catherdingmom,

What schools is your son looking at? You and he might want to take a look at Penn State. They have a very large, impressive theatre faculty. About 35% of the classes that MT students take are outside of the major; I assume the proportion is about the same for acting students. I'm sure you could find out by looking at their curriculum guide. Of course, the school is large and they do have winter in Pennsylvania, but I don't think your son would freeze! PSU is in a fairly small town, but all sorts of shows come through State College. You might ask Monkey or PSUcat on the MT thread for more info on the social life.

I also think that Florida State has a very impressive theater faculty. Like PSU, FSU is a fairly large university. MT students take about 27% of their courses outside the major. (Sorry I don't have the figures for acting.) Your son would definitely not freeze at FSU, but he might have to worry about hurricanes!

An ACT score of 29 should get him into either of these schools. Both have well respected honors programs which could give him additional opportunities to take interesting courses.

*By Catherdingmom (Catherdingmom) on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 06:59 pm: Edit *

Dancersmom, thanks! I have heard good things about both programs you mentioned. Yes, FSU is the one place I can be sure he won't freeze. I'll tell him to check them out!

It's been very hard for him to come up with "the list". My husband unexpectedly lost his job last month so along with the very big question of finances, we have the possibility that we may have to relocate to wherever a job turns up for him. If I knew where we will be this time next year, I'd be more comfortable thinking about possibilities for my son. (Of course this is something that concerns me a lot more than it concerns my son. He's way ready to be more on his own. LOL)

Some of the schools he has considered (for various reasons) include CMU, Catawba, James Madison, NC Arts, Otterbein, Univ. of the Arts, Univ. of Evansville, and Webster. He reminds me of the poem "The Road Not Taken". He's standing there where all the paths diverge imagining the possibilities along each. This will not be an easy year, but it will surely be an interesting one.

*By Bookiemom (Bookiemom) on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 12:58 am: Edit *

I think FSU would be a good choice for your son. My D auditioned there and we both liked the campus and the theatre program. It isn't as expensive for out-of-state as some other colleges. The director of the theatre program is wonderful, very kind and helpful to both students and parents. We thought people on campus were very nice to us--students on the bus asked us if we needed any help. The academics there are not that demanding for entrance.

Tell your son you can take a credit class in circus performance! We saw the kids practicing on the trapezes and they have a student circus troupe. My D thought that was cool.

*By Catherdingmom (Catherdingmom) on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 10:12 am: Edit *

Bookiemom, I'm cracking up at the thought of my son taking a course in circus performance. I have a hilarious vision of him in tights on a trapeze. The idea may be crazy enough to really appeal to him. Also, it's reassuring to a mom to know of the friendly, helpful atmosphere on campus. FSU sounds like a great place.

*By Dancersmom (Dancersmom) on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 08:29 pm: Edit *

Catherdingmom,

Any student at FSU can sign up for the circus class. It's a class that is unique to FSU. My D hasn't signed up yet, and I don't think she will, but she'll probably go see a performance this year.

The theatre department as Florida State seems to be very friendly. My D has been there as a MT major for a month and is very happy. She has told me that two of her classes, Intro. to Technical Theatre and Intro. for the Major, are extremely easy. They are classes that all freshmen theatre majors must take. There are Mt students, BFA acting students, and BA theatre students in these courses. The professors assume no prior knowledge, so they are explaining basic terms such as stage right and upstage and downstage. My D says she and the other BFA students sit together and yawn. Thankfully, the acting classes are segregated. BFA acting and MT students take acting class together. There are no BA students in their acting classes. The same will be true of movement and voice classes. BFA students are in one section and BA students are in the others. Sophomore year the BFA acting class will be taught by actress Jane Alexander. My D is looking forward to studying with her. Ms. Alexander was the drama faculty representative at the MT auditions last year. Each summer she takes some of the BFA students to Europe for workshops. Her husband, "Law and Order" producer Ed Sherin, is also on the faculty and teaches several classes.

FSU makes a semester of study in London available to theatre students. Seniors do a New York showcase. Last year 7 different departments from the school went to NYC for the showcase performances. Faculty members from some departments even did performances while there.

As Bookiemom told you, your S does not have to have sky-high academics to get in. On the other hand, one can't be a total dumb-dumb and get in. There were 2 students last year who were offered spots in the MT program who are not enrolled in the program because they were turned down by the university. For academically gifted students, there is a good honors program. The honors program makes courses available that students would not normally be allowed to take. At my D's audition last year, we met the sister of an auditionee who had just graduated with a degree in voice from FSU. She raved about the Honors Program. She said she was able to take a course in film production that she would not have been able to take otherwise.

Speaking of film, FSU has a very prestigious film school. In addition to other performing opportunities, acting majors (and anyone else) can audition for student film projects.

My D has a friend who is a sophomore acting major at the U. of Evansville. I believe that Thesbohemian e-mailed her with some questions about the program. You might ask her what she found out. If you would like, you can e-mail me privately and I'll see if my D's friend would be willing to communicate with you.

*By Dancersmom (Dancersmom) on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 08:37 pm: Edit *

P.S.

I thought you might like to read the latest news about the FSU Film School.

The Florida State University School of Motion Picture, Television and Recording Arts will be recognized by the Directors Guild of America (DGA) for its distinguished contribution to American culture through film and television, at the Fifth Annual DGA Honors on Sept. 29 in New York City.

A DGA committee reviewed film programs from around the country before ultimately choosing FSU.

"The school is being recognized because it has special and exemplary qualities," said Ed Sherin, national vice president of the Directors Guild.

The Film School -- the only one in the United States that pays for all its students' production expenses, including their thesis film -- has garnered more than 600 honors and recognitions including Television Academy Awards in 13 straight years from the collegiate competition of the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2004 alone, students nabbed five Television Academy Awards and two Student Oscars, a feat unmatched by any other film school in the country. Virtually 100 percent of graduates find work in the film and television industries within 12 months of graduation.

*By Thesbohemian (Thesbohemian) on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 03:46 pm: Edit *

Oopers! I didn't see this one. Here's a link to the old parts.
Theatre/Drama Colleges Parts 1-5

Maybe this one will live awhile.

*By Marissal (Marissal) on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 04:32 pm: Edit *

When applying to schools that require/recommend 3 SAT II's, what do you think is ok? Would writing, math IC, Spanish, and maybe literature too be fine? I don't really want to take a science - I am not in one this year and I already took an IB SL Biology exam (and passed). Plus, i'm not geared towards any science degree, just a theatre. What's the best combination?

*By Thesbohemian (Thesbohemian) on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 05:16 pm: Edit *

Marissal,
I'm glad none of the schools I'm applying to require SAT IIs, but I'd think you should just take the ones you're most comfortable with unless a particular school favors certain ones. You might want to call the main school admissions at the places you're applying to find out.

*By Catherdingmom (Catherdingmom) on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 08:00 pm: Edit *

Dancersmom, I love the information you sent about FSU! I think it's hard to get an accurate view of a school by going to the college website. On one hand, the purpose of the websites is to make all these colleges look good. On the other hand, the image presented is somewhat depersonalized. Thanks so much for putting some color in the picture for me.

xiggi · November 3, 2008, 7:27pm

*By Dancersmom (Dancersmom) on Saturday, September 25, 2004 - 12:58 pm: Edit *

Catherdingmom,

I totally agree with your assessment of college websites. They all tell us that their school is "the best". It is very hard to get an accurate picture of a school from what their PR people tell us.

When my D and I did her college search we relied on arts teachers, her friends, and CC. In addition we relied heavily on faculty bios and the school curriculum guides. My D knew that she wanted an MT program that had a balance of music, drama, and dance classes. It was pretty easy to see which programs offered real triple threat training. The thing that was trickier was gauging individual school's reputations. CC has been very helpful in that regard. The two schools that ended up being my D's final choices, FSU and PSU, had not even been on her radar screen before I started reading CC. No one in this area had mentioned either program to my D. She did find out after deciding to apply to both schools that her acting teachers knew that they had very strong drama programs. My D then felt that her choices had been validated by her mentors.

I'm very grateful to all the parents and students who have posted their thoughts and experiences here. The information has been a godsend. I'm pleased that I can contribute my little bit of knowledge to return the favor.

*By Catherdingmom (Catherdingmom) on Monday, September 27, 2004 - 11:02 pm: Edit *

Did anybody do the Unifieds in Chicago or New York? New York would be closer for us, but the Unifieds in Chicago are located in a hotel, and that sounds as if it would make life a lot easier. If any of you did the New York auditions, did you find a hotel conveniently located to the audition site? Did you have any trouble scheduling auditions?

One of my son's friends is only applying to one school--early decision. In my opinion it's a sure thing. It sounds so peaceful, doesn't it?

*By Reidmc (Reidmc) on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 02:31 am: Edit *

Catherdingmom - Though frostbite is a possibility, your S might want to take a look at the University of Minnesota. They have an Acting BFA run with the Guthrie Theatre as well as a BA in Theatre Arts. Along with the Guthrie, who gets a brand-new, three-stage facility pretty soon, the Twin Cities has a thriving small theatre community and two presenters of (mostly) A-level Broadway roadshows.

Here is the BFA info Department</a> of Theatre Arts & Dance : University of Minnesota

And here is the info on Native American Studies, which has been a full department there for many years and offers a ton of interesting courses: <a href="http://cla.umn.edu/amerind/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://cla.umn.edu/amerind/index.html</a>

*By Alwaysamom (Alwaysamom) on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 11:53 am: Edit *

Marissal, most colleges that look for SAT II's want you to take the one for Writing, then two others of your choice. Even the schools which don't require them but simply recommend them, it's a good idea to take them if you can fit them into your schedule.

Catherdingmom, my D didn't audition at Unifieds in NYC but finding a hotel there which would be convenient, regardless of where the auditions are held, is not a problem. If you can find the address where they're held, I'd be happy to recommend a few hotels for you. Cabbing it around the city is very easy and there are hotels virtually everywhere. Is your son's friend who's only applying to one school going for theatre? I wish him well. In my opinion, nothing is a sure thing in college admissions, especially drama programs!

*By Wct (Wct) on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 02:37 am: Edit *

Catherdingmom-

I agree with Reidmc. The Guthrie program at the University of Minnesota is a very good program. It hasn't been around as long as other programs,(the BFA program) but it is making a name for itself none the less. They made my S "jump through hoops" at the audition. He was accepted the year before last but chose to go to CMU.

*By Catherdingmom (Catherdingmom) on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 09:38 am: Edit *

Reid, thanks for sending the links! I've passed it along to my son who loves the programs and is contemplating how cold is cold. I've seen him wear a leather jacket, though, when the temperature hits 70, so I'm thinking the reality of the cold could hit him hard. I had heard that the theatre program was excellent but had no idea they had such a wonderful NA studies program there. Reading through it made me want to take some courses there!

Wct, did your son find that the audition process varied much from school to school. I'm aware that some schools hold warm-up sessions, etc. but were the attitudes and the manner of the auditors pretty much the same? I read on the MT thread that auditioning for one particular MT program can be very intimidating, and I wondered if your son ran into anything like that.

Alwaysamom, thanks so much--I'd love a recommendation if any place springs to mind! If not, I'll come up with something through a hotel search. I just thought the more convenient the hotel, the less stress the auditions would be. The auditions will be held at the American Management Association, 1601 Broadway at 48th St.

*By Alwaysamom (Alwaysamom) on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 10:17 am: Edit *

Catherdingmom, here's a link to a list of hotels near Times Square, which is where you'll be. We always stay at the Renaissance which I would highly recommend.

<a href="http://www.timessquarebid.org/hotels.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.timessquarebid.org/hotels.html</a>

There's a huge range of prices, etc. so it pays to have a look at each hotel's website for the info you need. There are so many hotels in that area that you're sure to find one you like, plus you can walk pretty much everywhere from there. Let me know if I can help with any questions. There are lots of great places to eat in the area and I'd be happy to give you some ideas.

*By Alwaysamom (Alwaysamom) on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 12:33 pm: Edit *

Just got this sent to me by my D and thought I'd share with our MT and drama thread-lovers. She and her classmates have been encouraged to attend (with comps!) and if any of you are in the area, you might want to look into it. Sounds like fun!

Playbill</a> News: "Working in the Theatre" Seminars to Feature Avenue Q, Fierstein, Albee, Vogel and More

*By Catsmom (Catsmom) on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 01:49 pm: Edit *

WCT - I REMEMBER BACK SOME TIME AGO THAT YOU HEARD THAT SANTA MONICA CITY COLLEGE HAS SOMETHING TO OFFER AND THAT YOU MIGHT CHECK OUT ONE OF THEIR PERFORMANCES. WE ARE INTERESTED IN MT AND I SAW THAT THEY DO 2 TO 3 MUSICALS A YEAR. IS THERE ANY INFO THAT YOU FOUND OUT THAT YOU COULD SHARE?

THANKS

*By Primab (Primab) on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 02:05 pm: Edit *

Any opinions on Emerson? I am interested in their BA (not BFA) and would appreciate any input.

Thank you.

*By Gadad (Gadad) on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 07:30 pm: Edit *

If he's still in the top 10% of his class GPA, that and the 29 ACT should be good for a half-tuition scholarship at U. of Miami.

*By Thesbohemian (Thesbohemian) on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 09:22 pm: Edit *

Primab,
I dont know much about Emersons BA, but people from my school have gone there for the BFA in the past and this statement in The Princeton Review seems pretty consistent with what I've heard: Students Say .... It doesnt seem to have much of a campus, but its in downtown Boston, so thatll be cool if thats what youre into. Also, the theatre training is supposed to be very good and the theatre itself is absolutely gorgeous.

Gadad,
I hope Im not about to increase my competition, but we got on the subject of schools with full rides on another thread. At Miami, I think the key score for a full ride is 1500 though it's not guaranteed. All applicants are reviewed for scholarships and the only major they discriminate against is music because that department has its own. At Evansville, the standard for a full ride is #1 in your class or National Merit Scholar with them listed as first choice. The theatre department has discretion to give them out, too. As a student who goes there told me, "If they want you, they'll get you." SMU has full Presidential scholarships and the theatre department has control of a few though the standard isn't cut and dried as far as I've been able to tell. Catawba has several full rides for theatre students along with a bunch of others that dont specify a particular major. They supposedly have lots of benefactors in the town theyre in who got rich on Food Lion stock in the 70s and my impression has been that they really, really, really, REALLY want to use them to attract students with high stats.

*By Wct (Wct) on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 03:56 am: Edit *

Catherdingmom-

My S did 10 auditions and each one was unique. He auditioned for BFA acting programs, not MT, but many of the college auditions saw that he had musicals listed on his resume so they asked him to sing acapella. Many of the schools asked for more than two monologues. In fact some asked him to do pieces from the shows he was in that were listed on his resume. I think the Guthrie audition had him do 5 monologues/pieces of monologues, and sing. Some asked him to do his pieces a second and third time after being given a specific direction.
Some schools were cold and some were warm and welcoming. Only one program, Juilliard, had a warm up session. It became apparent that each school was looking for certain things. He auditioned in February on the West Coast, (LA and San Francisco) so many of the schools had seen a lot of applicants prior to coming out West.

Fortunately he was accepted to the college that he felt most comfortable at the audition. He just connected to the people who auditioned him. These people are now his teachers at CMU and he loved the fact that it was the teachers that came out to audition prospective students.

Catsmom-
I wish I had news for you. I still have not been able to get out to Santa Monica college to see a show. I promise as soon as I do I will let you know.

*By Catsmom (Catsmom) on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 01:31 pm: Edit *

WCT - THANKS FOR THE REPLY. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE STILL HERE FOR THOSE OF US ABOUT TO START THE PROCESS. SANTA MONICA CITY COLLEGE WILL PROBABLY BE OUR BACK-UP PLAN.

*By Catherdingmom (Catherdingmom) on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 07:04 am: Edit *

I love this message board--information about everything about scholarships to Times Squares hotels! Alwaysamom, I've bookmarked the hotel site. Thank you for making it so much easier to plan this trip.

Wct, thank you so much for the info concerning your son's audition. We never thought about the possibility of being asked to do pieces from his resume. He was in a show this summer in which he had a well-known monologue. Although he had not planned to do that one for auditions, he'll have it ready just in case he's asked for it. He could have really been caught off guard about this.

*By Thesbohemian (Thesbohemian) on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 06:30 pm: Edit *

DONE! My applications are in and the auditions are scheduled. Now its work, work, work and wait, wait, wait. This list has been of great help to me in getting this accomplished and I want to thank all of you. What I need to do now is to get the whole college process as much off my mind as I can, so Im gonna need to make myself scarce around here for awhile. My email is on my profile, so please feel free to write me if you need links to new threads if nobody new emerges to do them. Thanks again, everybody, and broken legs to all! URRAH!!!

Oh, yeah. I misstated something about the scholarships. Maybe I should run for President! At Evansville, you only need to be a National Merit Finalist to qualify for the full ride. Semifinalists can get 75%. Glad I got that essay done, anyway.

xiggi · November 3, 2008, 7:30pm

*By Mtmommy (Mtmommy) on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 08:34 pm: Edit *

Thesbo--Break a leg with the auditions. Thank you for offering to do the links. Keep us posted when you can about how it's going.

*By Catherdingmom (Catherdingmom) on Saturday, October 02, 2004 - 07:58 am: Edit *

Congratulations, Thesbo! Enjoy your break from the college process. You've certainly earned it.

*By Notarebel (Notarebel) on Sunday, October 03, 2004 - 03:34 pm: Edit *

Thesbo is so efficient. I only have about half of mine done.

*By Fosselover (Fosselover) on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 11:28 am: Edit *

Thesbo--You have such great insights and real determination. Please keep us posted on how things go!!!

*By Catherdingmom (Catherdingmom) on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 03:14 pm: Edit *

Notarebel, I'm not certain where my son is in the process. I think I would gladly settle for halfway done. The only reason he is THAT far along is that I panicked when I read Thesbo's post. I imagined that all the theatre kids in the country had already completed their apps. The last train for college had left the station and he wasn't on it! I came down on him like Moses came down from the mountain top. So this weekend he's worked some on the applications, and I have calmed down a little. It's reassuring to know that he's not the only one who still has work to do.

*By Alwaysamom (Alwaysamom) on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 04:48 pm: Edit *

Catherdingmom, I wouldn't worry too much about your son. It seems to depend on which schools you're applying to, but I know the year my D applied, she turned in her app the day she was in the city to audition, in early November. All of her other apps were finished by the end of November that year and ready to go, in case she didn't get in E.D. I know that a lot of her friends were in the same boat. Most weren't due until January, and most she was interested in did not require an app to be in prior to scheduling auditions. So, it varies, I guess, depending on which colleges are on your child's list. Take a deep breath, you'll survive this, I promise!

*By Notarebel (Notarebel) on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 06:06 pm: Edit *

Catherdigmom -- ROFL! Don't worry about Thesbo. Shes like a real life version of Monica on 'Friends.' I'll go get her to do a new link to the mt thread and see if she can show me how. (Yells THESBO down the hall)- hehehe

*By Thesbohemian (Thesbohemian) on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 06:34 pm: Edit *

A Monica in a world a Phoebes and Joeys ... Such is my fate. I just wanted to get them all done and out of the way so I wouldn't have to worry about them anymore. Actually, I've been talked into doing another one for SUNY Purchase.

*By Catherdingmom (Catherdingmom) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 11:37 pm: Edit *

Alwaysamom, my son sends you his heartfelt thanks! I was under the impression that he had to get those applications done in order to schedule his auditions. It's such a relief to find that I was mistaken about that. I don't know what I'd do without you tour guides on this strange and wonderful journey my son has decided to take.

Notarebel and Thesbo, you gave me a flash of insight. The problem is that I am by nature a Phoebe who has been assigned a Monica-type job--keeper of the family schedule. No wonder I've been going crazy! Now if you'll excuse me I'll just be going off to strum a few chords of "Smelly Cat"...

*By Wct (Wct) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 12:45 am: Edit *

When we were going through the application process with my S I asked one thing of him......
that he get his apps done prior to winter break so that we could enjoy it without the pressure of getting them done.

*By Thesbohemian (Thesbohemian) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 06:31 pm: Edit *

You rock, Smellycatherdingmom!

*By Mtfan (Mtfan) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 06:33 pm: Edit *

Wow, Thesbo freaked me out too... too bad I actually finished them before reading that it wasnt't necessary (9 apps.)... oh well at least I can rest for a looooong time.

*By Wct (Wct) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 01:11 pm: Edit *

I saw an interesting article on Yahoo this morning. Check out this article:

U.S. National - AP

Enthusiasm Trend Up in College Admissions

*By Jrmom (Jrmom) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 01:44 pm: Edit *

What a funny title - we're so enthusiastic I"m already exhausted and it's only October!

*By Catherdingmom (Catherdingmom) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 08:32 am: Edit *

I understand (at least I think I do!) the BA/BFA question,now I'm wondering about the differences between the BFA & MFA. If a BFA is intensive training,then is the MFA intensive, intensive training? Does the MFA cover the same ground as a BFA, only at a deeper level, or is it covering new territory? I understand the rationale of getting the BA followed by the MFA because the student is following a broad knowledge base with intensive training. What is the advantage of following a BFA with an MFA?

*By Alwaysamom (Alwaysamom) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 07:15 pm: Edit *

Catherdingmom, I can try to answer your question by describing how it is at Tisch because we've had several friends go through the program there. First of all, I should say that very few actors who have BFAs go on to do an MFA. Tisch is the largest undergrad drama program in the country, accepting approximately 300 students each year. Their MFA in acting takes only 19 a year!

Tisch's MFA program is a three year conservatory program which uses the Alexander Technique as the basis for its classes. There are full productions going on throughout the year in the grad program (they're excellent, we saw several before my D started at Tisch), usually 15-20. Here's a description of part of the program/production from their website:

"The arc of production over the three years is organized so that you will live within various styles, various "stretches," in order to develop your instrument to the fullest degree possible and so be able to perform that actor's task. Faculty members support these productions with their involvement with your progress at rehearsals; and what you and they learn about you affects how they will teach you. It's a circle of learning and doing.

The first year doesn't focus heavily on productions, giving you a chance to concentrate on other things. In the second year, you are in four productions plus, usually, a special developmental project under a director with a unique script or point-of-view to be explored. The four productions range all over the world's repertory, with a special emphasis in each on an aspect of acting (physical comedy, language, character development, etc.)

The third year recognizes you as a professional in-the-making, and the productions move you toward the goal of taking your place in the world "out there." Four more varied roles culminate your training in a repertory of plays under directors of the highest professional achievement (as, indeed, is the case through all your training). A segment called "Freeplay" allows you to produce as a class six or seven projects chosen by you, cast by you, and rehearsed by directors you've chosen. Finally the League Presentations, allow you to present your work to professional agents, casting directors and producers."

It's not necessarily just 'more intensive' training. It's further training. One last comment. Most who do an MFA in drama do not do so just having finished a BFA. Most are actors who have been out in the 'working' world and who make the decision to return to school. Many, if not most, are professional actors.

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Theater/Drama Colleges Part 5 Theater/Drama Majors	3	129	April 17, 2021
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