<p>Hi! Im trying to decide between four schools Tulane, TCU, Elon and Muhlenberg. I was not admitted into the Musical Theater program at the first three and Muhlenberg only has a BA in Theater program. So all four have offered me BA programs, but I can re-audition for Musical Theater at the others if I enroll there. Im looking for opinions about all four and whether I can find enough musical theater options and training even if I dont successfully audition into the specific program. I got reasonable grants/scholarships at all four, so Im lucky that money is not a deciding factor. Concerned a bit about Tulanes city environment (Im not a party kid), TCU seems a bit isolated in Ft. Worth, Elon is beautiful, but they have not been too encouraging about the chances of getting into the musical theater program, and Muhlenberg seems a bit small and Im not really attracted to Allentown. Any and all opinions welcome. Thanks!</p>
<p>We are in a similar situation. My D is trying to decide which college to attend. She is torn between Muhlenberg theater and American University MT.
Does the MT program at AU ‘measure’ up ? Is the program as well developed as the theater major at MU ? Does AU use full time faculty in the MT program ?</p>
<p>We too were deciding between Muhlenberg and American for MT, and decided on M’berg partly because they gave more aid. American’s program is definitely not as well know. himself: did your d audition at both? What kind of feedback? Oddly, American’s audition notes never mentioned my kids voice, even though she sang two 32 bar cuts. They only talked about acting, which made me wonder… M’berg didn’t provide notes at all, but did show support with a theater scholarship. DC is certainly more appealing than Allentown… Alf: Seems unwise to go to a school for MT that already said you aren’t what they are looking for, but that’s just my opinion. Good luck everyone.</p>
<p>theatermom: my D did audition at both. Both schools were very accomodating, but only received feedback from AU and was specifically about her poise while singing. MU seems to have a very strong dance program. It’s a difficult decision :-(</p>
<p>himself: Interesting re: American and singing feedback. They didn’t say anything good or bad about my d’s singing - it was as if she didn’t sing at all (though they did comment on her acting while she sang - just no mention of her voice - which we always consider her strength). Let us know what you and D decide!</p>
<p>Alf and others, my daughter is a freshman theater major so I can give some perspective, although not as much about the MT aspect. I assume you know that there is not an MT major at Muhlenberg. Kids generally major in one of the three disciplines and combine that with a second major and a minor or two minors or just a lot of electives in the field to create their own program. So you are not going through a prescribed arc of MT specific classes. </p>
<p>My daughter as a theater major is planning on two non-theater related minors and is also taking dance classes and voice lessons (hey, even those non-MT kids need to be able to move and sing!) She also is taking a wide variety of electives and has to complete the core requirements. She likes being able to explore lots of different things. And feels that the English, History, Philosophy and Psychology classes help to inform her as an actor (and a person!)</p>
<p>So pluses for my daughter to Muhlenberg are being able to take a wide variety of academic classes in addition to theater classes. But American and other BA programs would also provide that (my D was accepted to American but was never really interested for several reasons but I thought it was a great program and definitely a good option for someone who doesn’t want to pursue conservatory type training). Also, there are a TON of performance opportunities. There are three tiers of productions at Muhlenberg. There are 6 Mainstage productions each year. Only one of those is a musical. But there is a summer stock type program at Muhlenberg each summer and students are cast in the productions. In fact at least two freshman have major roles in the production of Hairspray this summer. There are student run second and third tier productions and some of those are musicals. Students get opportunities to write and direct plays, even as freshman. There are also about a half dozen a capella groups and several improv groups, including a new all female group started by several freshman this year. There are performances of dance, theater or music every weekend. There is a ton of support for student performers. We have found Muhlenberg to be as friendly and supportive as their reputation. Its friendliness and small size makes it easy to get around and get to know people and to jump in feet first. </p>
<p>Negatives of Muhlenberg are well, Allentown. It is definitely not an exciting urban center with lots of theater all around. Philly and NYC are not hard to get to though and my D has visited each for performances this year. But as so often happens she is so busy on campus that she doesn’t travel as much as she could. Also, as Muhlenberg’s reputation for theater increases there are more and more theater majors, tons of talented kids. So the competition for roles is stiff. My daughter was not cast in a mainstage this year although she was cast in other things and got to direct several things (including a staged reading this week). She did get called back for two roles in this semester’s production of Midsummer’s Night Dream. 7 other girls were also called back for each of those two roles. So that gives you some idea of the depth of the talent. There are also lots of opportunities to do tech as there are in all theater programs.</p>
<p>Also, you should know that theater majors do not take Acting classes until their sophomore year. This year my daughter took Movement for Actors, a lighting and design course, voice lessons, a modern dance class and the requisite history of theater course- Theater and Society. Next semester she has a costuming course and Acting I. She of course hopes to be cast in a mainstage and/or other productions and hopes to assistant direct a mainstage production next year as well which would then make her eligible for more directing opportunities. </p>
<p>There are three theater related study abroad programs. My D is planning on pursuing the program in Italy studying commedia d’ell arte; she thinks it will be the most intense training and what a great opportunity (I am already planning my visit). There are also two different programs in England.</p>
<p>I hope that gives you some perspective on theater at Muhlenberg. Please feel free to ask me additional questions and I will try to answer them. If you haven’t had an opportunity to visit Muhlenberg and talk to Charlie Richter and Jim Peck I definitely recommend it. My D loved her visit and it really helped her come to her decision. Good luck!</p>