Hi everyone! I’ve been trying to read through threads and find info but have only seen a few posts that mentioned the theatre program in passing. I’m a current junior and am looking into colleges and have recently started looking into Barnard as a possibility for where I might apply. I do want to pursue theatre, but I appreciate an intellectual and academically challenging/inspiring setting as well.
I suppose my main confusions lie with how the theatre program works with the whole ‘all-girls but cross registration with Columbia’ thing - are all the acting classes co-ed? How many productions a year take place and do columbia and barnard students both participate? With student-run theatre groups on campus, are they also a mix of columbia and barnard students?
Also, is double majoring typically possible at Barnard? (likely in music (if they have vocal performance), or in English)
Generally, I’m unfamiliar with their theatre and music programs outside of what is on their site which was a bit confusing, so any information anyone has to share would be awesome. Thanks!
I don’t have any personal experience with the theatre department at Barnard, but I did get the following info from the department website:
(located here https://theatre.barnard.edu/faq)
Under the FAQ section--
[quote]
The Department of Theatre, Barnard College, is the theatre department for all undergraduate students at Columbia University (Columbia College, Barnard College, School of General Studies, School of Engineering and Applied Science).
[/quote]
.
This means, of course, that the classes will be co-ed since students from Columbia College, General Studies and SEAS will be taking them. Put another way, a Columbia College student who wishes to major in theatre will take those classes in this same department.
Also under the FAQ-
I don't know about double majoring in music and theatre....I suspect that double majoring in two performance-intensive fields would be hard and perhaps not feasible. But of course you could take music classes and you could be a part of the campus musical theatre organization. There are also, apparently, potential internship opportunities with Broadway theaters.
For your consideration---
My D (who graduated form Barnard in 2009) started at Barnard with the idea that she wanted to be a professional performer in musical theatre (she was primarily a dancer). She actually was cast in some professional shows. She never really wanted to major in theatre, though---she thought she'd be an english major. I know many here have read this before but i think it rather clearly defines the difference Barnard can make: my D ended up majoring in neuroscience because she fell in love with the subject while taking required courses for Barnard's "Nine Ways". She is now nearing completion of her PhD.
Point is: I think you are very wise to look at attending an academically challenging college and getting a broad-based liberal arts education. You will have opportunities to pursue your interest in theatre…and you might just discover other interests as well!
@churchmusicmom Thank you!! I did not see the FAQ page, so thanks for pointing that out. Definitely clears some things up! And very interesting to hear about your daughter. I think things like that can happen very easily once you get out in the world! For me, I know that at this stage of my life, I’m a very committed artist - but you never know where life might be taking you. It’s very early on in my journey so I try to be open… I think it’s important for me to apply to at least a few schools that are more tailored to a liberal arts education in case that is what I end up wanting a year from now - even if at this point I’m leaning towards the BFA route.