Theatre/Drama Colleges Part 7

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

<p>I thought I'd bring this one back to life. Here are the links to the old parts:</p>

<p>Theatre/Drama</a> Colleges Part 1
Theatre/Drama</a> Colleges Part 2
Theatre/Drama</a> Colleges Part 3
Theatre/Drama</a> Colleges Part 4
Theatre/Drama</a> Colleges Part 5
Theatre/Drama</a> Colleges Part 6</p>

<p>Before the change in format, Catherdingmom had asked a question …</p>

<p>“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?”</p>

<p>Alwaysamom had answered as follows:</p>

<p>“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! </p>

<p>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: </p>

<p>"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. </p>

<p>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.) </p>

<p>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." </p>

<p>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.”</p>

<p>I say ...</p>

<p>I was under the impression that lots of state universities are set up where they have an undergraduate BA program and a graduate level MFA. The big disadvantage of a lot of these programs to undergraduates is to the advantage of the grad students. Basically, a BA student at one of these schools can expect the lion’s share of her theatre courses to be taught by grad students the first two years. This is great for the MFA people, but for the BA students it’s purely “pot luck” as to who their teachers will be. Obviously, the grad students get the advantage of lots of valuable teaching experience. The other disadvantage to the BA students is that the grad students often take an overwhelming priority in casting leaving the BA students to get their stage time in “student run” productions. I saw one of those the last time I was home and it was … Blech, blech, blech.</p>

2

<p>any alumni/anyone know alumni from cornell with a theater major (B.A.)? how is the program? i heard great things about it... but it was from my mom's friend who was also the head of the department at one point so i dont think the viewpoint was very objective. he said that northwestern, ucla, and cornell are the top 3 non-conservatory theater programs? i know ranks are TOTALLY far fetched but in terms of perspective... is there anyone who thinks this holds truth? thanks! dani</p>

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<p>Thesbo, thanks so much for getting us started again! I was overwhelmed at the change in format. </p>

<p>Thesbo and Alwaysamom, thanks too for the perspectives on the MFA. The BA/BFA question was raised again for my son so I thought information about options would help. He was advised last week by a director he tremendously respects to go the BA route. In fact the theatre educators he has talked with have all seemed to favor that route. And yet, his instinct tells him to go for a BFA. There is also no doubt in my mind that he would be happier in college going the BFA route--I just don't know if the flexibility of the BA would be better once he graduates.</p>

<p>He knows what he wants (BFA) and he believes it will be a better path for him. It's just that it's hard to be certain about it when everybody else keeps pointing him in the other direction. While he's doing a quick obligatory rethinking process, I try hard not to point to my watch to say the clock is ticking. </p>

<p>Dani, I don't have any connections with Cornell, but I do have a suggestion. Some schools will connect prospective students with current students in their desired major. It's sort of a way to get the inside scoop. It may be worthwhile for you to check with Cornell's theatre/drama department to see if that is a possibility for you.</p>

4

<p>Catherdingmom,
Maybe he should just pick a couple of BA schools as well as a few of his favorite BFA programs, audition, and see how things go. He's gotta have a few favorites by now. Some schools will have playbills on their websites and he'll be able to see if undergraduate BA students ever get cast mainstage. I think you can apply for both BA and BFA at some schools, too. Remember also that BS degree they have at Evansville we talked about.</p>

<p>Dani,
One semi-devious thing I did to get information on schools to which I'm applying where I don't already know somebody was to snoop around on Live Journal until I found some theatre majors who have public postings. You can sometimes tell a lot about how students really feel about a program that way.</p>

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<p>thesbohemian... wow .. GREAT idea! thanks, dani</p>

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<p>DizzyDani88-</p>

<p>I read your post on the MT thread and my suggestion would be this.....</p>

<p>Do as much research as you can on schools in which you have some interest.</p>

<p>As someone else posted, interview with an alumni or current student. I know that CMU gives prospective students a list of graduates from all over the country that you can schedule to meet with.</p>

<p>Read and research the curriculum that colleges offer. I know many students who don't take this step and go to a particular college because of where the college is located just to find that they aren't happy with the program. Compare the BA and BFA offerings. I know a student at a particular college, (actor) who is in the BA program but feels the BFA program is stronger.</p>

<p>At some point, after applications are turned in, when you find out where you have been accepted, or anytime for that matter, get a real feel for the college by visiting. In our experience, and yes it was a stretch for us financially, it really helped our S know whether a particular college was a good fit for him or not. That is the most important thing in my opinion. You will spend 4 years of your life in this "place" so you want to be happy there.</p>

<p>In respect to becoming a well rounded person (BA vs. BFA). I have heard this from many people. I would agree that those in many BFA tracks will not have the knowledge base in regards to high level math, science and some other subjects, but actors in BFA programs do learn about human nature, behavior, and anything in relation to their role or subject matter in a play/film because their job is to study people, places,and circumstances, (and in most cases different time periods). I happen to believe that if an actor takes his job seriously, and this is just my opinion, that these are wonderful lessons that will be learned in the course of an intense BFA program. I happen to believe this provides a great deal of exposure to many subjects that help to build a well rounded person.</p>

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<p>I found another school with what’s supposed to be a really good theatre department that offers full scholarships based purely on merit. The University of Northern Illinois. This includes tuition, room and board, fees, and a small book stipend. Talk about a full ride … They don’t discriminate against arts majors in awarding them, either! I somehow missed this when I was researching it last summer. I asked about Northern Illinois in Part 1 of this thread and Valerie said the BFA Acting program is highly regarded with lots of graduates working in Chicago regional theatre, but the university as a whole is a safety. They do teach five levels of Russian Language, the Director of the School has worked translating Russian plays into English, and they offer a summer at the Moscow Art Theatre School, so I’d be able to sate my curiosity in that direction once I got the few GEs out of the way that my AP wouldn’t cover. Does anybody who is reading now know anything more about this school? Looks like I have another application to fill out and some more LJ snooping to do!</p>

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<p>Hi! I'm a junior this year and I have been reading this thread for awhile now, but I haven't been able to contribute anything until now. I have written down many of the schools that have been posted here, so my school search has been somewhat narrowed. De Paul has already sent me an informational brochure and any information or advice on auditioning and the whole process of applying to one of these schools would be greatly appreciated. I haven't taken the SAT yet (the newer one) and I just took the PSAT today. </p>

<p>BTW thesbohemian: using review.com I was able to e-mail NIU and they just sent me some information about their open houses. When (or if, it depends) I visit the school I'll ask about their theater program, or maybe I could write them again. I just don't want to be the bothersome junior :)</p>

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<p>Some time ago, Catherdingmom asked about the necessity of the MFA for students who'd completed a BFA. Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to the thread.</p>

<p>Cat, I suspect that what lurks behind your question is thinking about seven years of tuition as opposed to four. Do students <really> need the additional three years of training if they've been through an intensive BFA program?</really></p>

<p>I wish I could give you a more definitive answer, but in truth, it all depends on the individual actor. In my experience, the BFAs with the most immediate success are the MTs because musicals by their very nature have larger casts. There is work for recent BFAs in MT, especially in national tours. The ACTs, on the other hand, often struggle for a while before they start getting work, because they're competing for a much more limited number of ingnue roles in straight? plays. That's why many of them gravitate to cities with an active theatre scene where they can work in smaller theatres (Chicago, Seattle, etc.) or they head to LA to try to find work in film and television, or they create their own companies. None of these are necessarily bad routes to take, especially when you're young. They may, after a few years, decide they want the MFA and, as Alwaysamom correctly notes, head back to school after gaining some life and theatre experience.</p>

<p>On the other hand, my good friend John David Lutz at Evansville believes that since baby BFAs are not likely to get much work for two or three years anyway, they might as well be in graduate school where they can get more training, playing time, and end up with a terminal degree which would eventually allow them to teach at the college level. He and I don't disagree about this, except in his feeling that it applies to all BFAs.</p>

<p>The <training> value of the MFA, for a student who's been through an intensive BFA program, lies in three things: continued work on the voice, continued work on the body, and work in the classical repertoire. No one in Music would ever suggest that someone with a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice (or any other instrument) was finished with his or her training. Four years is not enough time to master an instrument, or to have learned enough classical repertoire. The parallel in the theatre world applies to actors who want to perform Shakespeare and Chekhov at major regional theatres. They need that additional training, at some point in their lives. But it isn't necessary for everyone.</training></p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

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<p>I'm in the process of picking a Shakespearean monologue, i'm getting excited!</p>

<p>How is everyone else's audition prep coming along?
Is anyone doing <a href="http://www.artsawards.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.artsawards.org&lt;/a> ?</p>

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<p>Devron,
Thanks. You and Dani are in suuuuuuch good shape getting on all this now. This time last year, I only had two colleges in mind and didn't start seriously looking at other places until late April when one of my teachers got all up in my face about it. So far, of all my schools, the only one I've ever visited is FSU and that was for cheerleading and gymnastics camps when I lived in Florida a long time ago. As it stands, I'll only see three before next March and two of those will be when I go for auditions. The other has a visit deadline for full rides. I'll only see the rest if I get accepted by audition and the school as a whole offers me a good academic scholarship. Then again, the closest one to my hometown is long way from home and Mommy Dearest is making me pay for my own plane tickets ...</p>

<p>BTW, some schools don't give much information about their four year plan of study on their websites or in their brochures. I've found you can get that if you email somebody on the department's administrative staff and ask for a degree progress checklist that the faculty advisors use in helping students plan their schedules. If they only give course numbers on those, you can usually find the course names and descriptions if you search out the school's Undergraduate Bulletin - sometimes called the Undergraduate Catalogue. Tricks of the trade ... Dang. Maybe I have a future as a guidance counselor if I don't make it as an actress. :eek:</p>

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<p>Doctorjohn,
I wouldn't even think about using a monologue from a play which was recently performed by a department as an audition piece, but do you think it's a bad idea to use one by the same contemporary playwright?</p>

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<p>Dotctorjohn - Thank you. Yes, it does help. Now I see the MFA in a different light. From reading your post I suspect my son may pursue the MFA sometime in the future. The comparison between classical theatre training with classical music training makes things clearer for me. My S. loves the challenge of making Shakespeare accessible to contemporary audiences. That is a special kind of magic. To be able to do that, he may be willing to spend three extra years in training. At the age of seventeen, however, seven years is an interminable length of time. To me seven years is close enough that I can touch it with my hand. </p>

<p>Yes, the burden of added tuition was one of the reasons behind the question. Unless Publishers' Clearinghouse shows up at our door with that big check, we will not be able to help him financially as much as we would like. OTOH, paying back student loans on his earnings as an actor is likely to be problematic to say the least! I think this subject was brought up on the MT board recently. In most professions if you have talent and dedication, you can earn a living. In acting it seems to me that you need talent, dedication and a great deal of luck. I believe he has the first two, but luck? Only time will tell on that one. He has an advantage in that he's not going into acting with the expectation of money or fame--he's going into it because he loves to explore the different characters and different worlds. He can do that in the smallest of black box theatres on a shoe-string budget so as the saying goes "it's all good." </p>

<p>I've read two articles recently about an actor's ability to earn a living. One was with Richard Dreyfuss who said that it was not difficult for an actor to make a living in this country if he was not focused on being a "star" and was willing to work in smaller theatres. (My thought on this is that it may be true for Richard Dreyfuss, but then that man does have quite a bit going for him.) The other interview was with Kevin Bacon who said that when he is between projects, the thought pops into his mind that this is no way for a grown man to make a living! (My thought on that-- this man is connected to the whole world within six degrees of separation so what does that say about actors who don't have his kind of connections!) It's definitely a profession that is only suited to those who believe in stepping out in faith.</p>

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<p>Thesbo, you are so good about passing on info about possible colleges and scholarships! If Publishers Clearinghouse does make it my door with the big check, I'll send a scholarship your way because of your generous spirit. (Just in case this doesn't happen, though, you'd better proceed with those scholarship searches. The only thing I have ever won is a mug from a plumbing supply company.)</p>

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<p>Awwww. Thanks, Catherdingmom. You won’t have to worry about it, though, cuz they’re comin’ to see ME! ;) This group has been sort of therapeutic to me in this whole process, so I don’t mind giving back at all. Shoot. I keep saying I’m gonna stop posting, but I keep coming back, anyway. </p>

<p>Looks like the whole making a living as an actor thing is coming up again, so I guess I’ll practice a little more self-therapy at the expense of a little bandwidth. The following is essentially how I feel about the whole question: </p>

<p>I can only speak for myself and maybe I’m arrogant, but I’m not worried about making a living with a BFA in Acting at all. My mom likes to call it a “BFA in Table Waiting,” but that’s okay. I actually LIKE waiting tables. Beats the doo doo out of working in an office. I can keyboard at around 100 wpm and am fairly computer literate, so I can always pay the bills that way if need be. I’d make a great receptionist, too. If you knew me, you’d also know I can sell ANYTHING. You don’t need a business degree to sell real estate or insurance and people who are good at it can make lots of money. Commissioned sales leave your time flexible to audition, too. Besides, with a BFA, things don’t stop there education-wise. I could move on to get a MFA. As Doctorjohn implied above, I may find I’ll need one, anyway. I could use that to teach at the college level and maybe even go for a PhD and chair a department. Then again, I could just get a teaching certificate and teach high school drama. I’m also fluent in German, semi-fluent in Spanish, and my current plan is to learn Russian in college, so I could always get a Masters in International Business after maybe taking a few basic business classes at a cheap community college. Law school is a possibility, too, though I’d probably hate my life if I did that. Ya never know … I might just end up marrying a rich dude! LOL </p>

<p>Really, what’s a Bachelor’s degree worth these days in most things career-wise? You’re no more likely to be the next Donald Trump with a business degree than you are to be the next Julianne Moore with a BFA. Most people don’t end up doing what they studied in college, anyway. Ya know … I have a cousin who graduated Cum Laude from a fairly well-respected Business department at a state university. Know what he does? Assistant Manager at Blockbuster. I was making more money than him waiting tables last summer. Of course, I won’t do ANY of those other things until I’m at least thirty and have given the love of my life a real go. Fact is, I must act. I’ll be fine.</p>

<p>Maybe I’m not spoiled and materialistic enough to understand all the talk about the slight chance of making a decent living at this. I’m from a single parent, two-child household living off a nurse’s salary. I’ve never had a lot and I feel like I can live with less as long as I’m doing something I love. I hope this doesn’t come off as a rant, but I somehow felt the need to chime in.</p>

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<p>Thesbo: You're not arrogant, and that wasn't a rant, just the nicest piece of writing I've seen in a long time from a young person who wants to be an actor for all the right reasons. Honestly, kid, any school that doesn't want you is blind.</p>

<p>To answer your question about monologues, yes, it's fine to do a monologue from another play by a writer whose work has been done recently by that school. Smart, actually. One has to assume that they like the playwright, or they wouldn't have put her play on the season. But you're also wise to choose not to do a monologue from a play the school has done recently. It's hard for us not to compare your work with that of our student who just did the role; and even if you do it well, the mental image of the other person is a distraction. Same reason we recommend that prospectives not do songs intimately associated with Barbra or Judy.</p>

<p>You're also right about job opportunities. Time was, as the parents on this thread remember, when Accounting majors and MBAs could write their own tickets. It's just not true any longer. They have to compete for jobs just like actors have always had to. (There's a certain sadistic satisfaction in that.) And you're absolutely right about the kinds of skills you've already gained by studying theatre. A business major may know how to read a spreadsheet, but does he know how to read the person sitting across the table? Has he been trained in empathy? Does he know what he wants? Does he know if what he wants is a good thing for everyone, or just for himself? Does he know himself? You cannot study acting and not learn these things, even if you don't become a great actor. And if you learn these things, there aren’t a lot of things you can’t do, with the possible exception of neurosurgery and nuclear physics. If there’s value in reading the great works of literature, isn’t there at least as much value in speaking them aloud, and bringing the characters to life? If there’s value in talking about politics in POLI 101, isn’t there at least as much value in enacting those situations in THR 151? Actors learn about literature and politics and psychology from the inside, from what it feels like to be living those scenes, and they learn it from some of the smartest people who ever lived, Euripides and Shakespeare and Chekhov and Brecht. If someone can make an argument for majoring in some other subject as a <better> way of learning how to live life, let them give it a try.</better></p>

<p>Now that’s a rant.</p>

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<p>Wow, I loved Thesbo's rant (and agree with DoctorJohn, that this kid is right for this field and in it for the "right" reasons). But I also LOVED DoctorJohn's rant. Whoa, just great. I loved the point about how actors learn about literature, politics and psychology form the inside. I also happen to think that studying theater and doing theater is a very educational endeavor that permeates or applies to anything you do in life.</p>

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<p>drjohn and thesbo....
you both make me want to shout "hallelujah!"</p>

19

<p>Doctorjohn,
Thanks so much. That means a lot. I'm going home for the weekend and Mom is going to find a printout of your wonderful rant on the coffee table Saturday morning.</p>

<p>Soozievt,
Thanks for the vote of confidence.</p>

<p>Musicalthtrmom,
It's what we do. ;)</p>

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<p>Has anyone heard of the school University of Texas at Austin? My mom's friend told her that if I was looking at SMU that I just have to look at University of Texas at Austin. Another colleague has a son who has been in commercials for Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, and he's on Nickolodean's All That-his name is Jack De Sena. But I think this guy started the "film" thing when he was much younger. My mom never wanted to be thought of as a "crazy stage mother". I never got to model or be in cute and corny commercials :(</p>