<p>Not much activity on theatre thread, so will post here. One of my sons is looking at theatre (BA/not BFA) programs. He has not been in many productions to this point because he has been heavily into sports -he was a nationally ranked fencer, but last year started playing football. He was being contacted by colleges this year as a HS junior for football, but recently sustained two head injuries over a four week period. His football career is over. His true passion, however, has been acting, and from what I have seen so far, he is good. We are thinking of applying to programs the caliber of Syracuse, Catholic Univ. and Penn State. They require auditions. Will his lack of acting experience hurt him, assuming that he auditions well? (he also has a nice voice, but he is not interested in a straight-MT program). He is taking classes in the evening and he plans to attend a camp this summer. He is likely to get leading roles this Spring and next year. Someone mentioned on the theatre thread that some programs like kids with potential who have not yet developed bad acting habits.</p>
<p>Why not have him look at a few of these LACs:</p>
<p>Trinity (CT)
University of the South
Occidental
Skidmore
Sarah Lawrence
Wheaton (MA)
Hampshire
Vassar
Denison U
DePauw U
College of Wooster
Furman U
Gettysburg</p>
<p>I thought it was the BFA programs that required auditions.</p>
<p>But anyway, you might try asking/looking here:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=166214%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=166214</a></p>
<p>monydad - you are generally correct. BFA programs require auditions, but someone can audition for the BA program. We would want to do this because we think he may do well and because of his lack of production experience.
Re: the above list - we plan to apply to a good number of LAC's and the theatre thread has been very informative here, with the exception of Sewanee/Univ of South. I like this place, but I know little about its theatre program other than it has very nice facilities and has been endowed by the estate of Tenn. Williams. We are also looking at Centre, Beloit, Muhlenberg, and Franklin & Marshall. These LAC's do not audition. He is not interested in a theatre career, but he wants to go somewhere that takes its theatre [program seriously. Thanks</p>
<p>I hope you realize that your son has something of a "URM" status when it comes to theatre programs. Most productions require more men than women, while theatre department enrollment reflects the reverse ratio. A friend's 6 foot son switched from baseball to theatre while in high school, and batted 1.000 during his year of auditions with several excellent programs. Yours should get more experience, perhaps a class in auditioning, and aim high.</p>