<p>chrism, good, you found it. I just went looking for it myself. See also my post on Wednesday, June 16, 10:28 p.m. in Theatre/Drama Colleges, part 3. Go to the opening page of this thread and look at Thesbo's first post to find the links.</p>
<p>Chrism,
Doctorjohn, Catherdingmom, Alwaysamom, and I also discussed the MFA on the opening page of this thread. One of the biggest advantages I can think of is sort of what I've been ranting about above. In an MFA program, you already have the broad based education done and all you do is train as an actor without distractions from other academic subjects and post-high school social issues. Most of the good MFAs devote some time to musical theatre, too; so, she's safe there if that's what she's into. Notarebel and I have a talented friend who could get into a BFA, but will be taking a full ride to a state university BA program instead. He's already had two years of preprofessional training at our school and will probably audition out of the school's acting classes. In school, he'll emphasize directing and design and take summer acting intensives. After that, he'll follow it up with an MFA. I was actually considering doing the same back in December when I had a family emergency I thought might make it necessary for me to stay close to home. (Mom was in a bad accident, but is going to be okay.) Another advantage of the MFA is that a lot of the better schools get you an Equity card before you graduate. You can also get a lot of help with tuition, etc. through teaching assistantships so it may not even be more expensive - especially if you have a scholarship to the BA program. It can be a good deal. If you'll look at the faculty websites for the BFA programs you've been considering, you'll probably find that the majority of the instructors with MFAs got a BA first.</p>
<p>As for choosing BA programs, if I were going that route, I'd look for good schools that DO NOT have an MFA. That way, you don't have to worry about getting random grad students teaching your acting classes and you don't have to worry about preferential casting going to them. People who don't already have a lot of training would have trouble competing with them, too.</p>
<p>Wow thanks. This thread has been so BFA oriented that I almost felt like a loser asking about BAs. haha Anyway, though I don't think they would appreciate me quoting them by name, here is part of what two of the MFA people told me:</p>
<p>"There are certainly some very good BFA programs out there with some good training. In general, I think a young actor should get a BA, especially if they think they want to go on for an MFA. A BFA should be a terminal degree, in that you shouldnt need any more training after that in graduate school. I encourage actors to get BAs because I think it makes them more interesting people in general. I am not sure it is such a good thing to spend all of your four years in the rehearsal hall and in acting classes."</p>
<p>"I suggest that you pursue a solid general education BA. Choose the major you want. Learn about as many things as you can - in other words, get yourself a very well-rounded education. Since you know that you want to pursue an MFA, there is no point in receiving a BFA first. Both are pre-professional degrees but, in my experience, graduate level actors train professionally much better than college age students. In any event, everything you learn in college will help you with your acting down the line. You can major in Drama but still take classes in philosophy, art history, English, geology, or whatever sparks your interest."</p>
<p>I may post some more when I get responses from some of the other people I'm going to contact.
Kel</p>
<p>Is anyone going to the California State Thespian Society Festival in March? It would be fun to meet up with anyone from CC there.</p>
<p>Hi, I'm a high school junior with a deep passion for the performing arts who plans on pursueing a career in the theatre. I've studied acting at both the Circle In The Square Theatre School and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and have taken both my work and my studies as an actor extremely seriously for the past three years, though I've always been interested in the theatre. Though I plan on studying and pursueing a career in acting, I think it's extremely important for an actor to have a great deal of knowledge about history, literature, art, philosophy, etc. and I'd like to have a well rounded education. That being said, I also consider it incredibly important to study every aspect of the theatre in a serious and intensive environment where utter professionalism is key and no aspect of the actor or his craft are left unstudied and a willingness to experiment is appreciated. I'm considering conservatory training (and I'm almost certain that I want to graduate with a BFA), but I worry that I won't be a very well-rounded person after graduating. My top choice school right now is NYU (Tisch - the Experimental Theatre Wing), but I need safety schools as well as other options. Does anyone have any advice? I think that I'd like to stay in the NY area, as NY truly is the center of theatre, but I'm considering schools all over the country as well as abroad. </p>
<p>Also, does anyone have any audition tips? </p>
<p>Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.</p>
<p>~Jenny~</p>
<p>Jenny,
In New York ... I assume you know about Juilliard. ;) Purchase, Rutgers, and Hartt are nearby, too. Ithaca and Syracuse aren't too far off, I suppose. Of those, I guess Hartt would be closest to a safety. I imagine you already know about all those, though. If you're into experimental theatre, you should definitely take a look at CalArts. The</a> University of Minnesota has an experimental theatre company, too; which I linked because it's a pain in the butt to find. </p>
<p>As for broad based education, you can probably get as much as you want if you have time, but in most BFAs, you won't with the possible exception of Tisch where people somehow even find time for a double major. There won't be much besides your art area at all in a conservatory unless you go to Juilliard and have the stats to get in classes at Columbia and Barnard. I guess this is a choice we all have to make. </p>
<p>The best tip I can give based on my audition experience thus far is to be ready for ANYTHING. Most schools ask for two monologues, but you should really have at least four ready. I have six and used all of them at various auditions. Know some good jokes, too. I had two auditions where I got asked for them. Also, have more than one song ready just in case. As for the anything part, I had one where an auditor got up and did an improv with me based on one of my monologues throwing in all manner of odd choices to see how I'd react. Expect to be directed on your monologues, as well. Somebody on the MT thread said she was asked to do one of hers like a Vegas stand up comic. I personally had good experiences with all my auditors attitude-wise, but I hear there are some real d-bags from some schools out there. If you get one, don't let him/her affect your acting. And, oh yeah ... SMILE. There's some good advice on the MT thread's [url=<a href="http://www.geocities.com/musicaltheatercolleges/%5DFAQ%5B/url">www.geocities.com/musicaltheatercolleges/]FAQ[/url</a>], too. </p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Thank you for the tips, bohemian! I'll keep them in mind. I am planning on applying to Juilliard and Purchase, and I really appreciate the suggestions of Hartt and CalArts. I'll check them out! Thanks again.</p>
<p>RenoSweeneyTodd- are you interested in only B.F.As or are you considering liberal arts schools with strong theater dept.s??</p>
<p>I got some responses from the BA departments I emailed. Most didn't respond as completely as I would have liked but did send me some info. </p>
<p>Dartmouth sent a link I had not seen giving info on the careers of some of their alumni. It looks like most of the actors didn't go to grad school but went straight to pro studios and work. The ones that did seem to go to Yale and Harvard for MFAs. Here is the link if I can get it to work right. <a href="http://www.alum.dartmouthentertainment.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.alum.dartmouthentertainment.org/</a> I hope I do well enough on the SATs to get in and they don't hold my ECs against me since I have moved around so much.</p>
<p>Vassar's recent graduates have a very impressive list. They have gone to Trinity-Brown program, NYU, ART, U of Washington, ACT, UC San Diego and Columbia. I will surely apply there if I go well on the SATs.</p>
<p>UNC Chapel Hill has in the past sent graduates to NYU, Yale, UC San Diego. Some have been on Broadway in lead roles in Arcadia, 42nd Street, Copenhagen, The Elephant Man and The Lion King. I will apply here.</p>
<p>Kenyon has a senior who has a callback to Yale but that is all I was told. I might apply.</p>
<p>UVA and UC Irvine never responded. </p>
<p>I didn't email Brown because their website claims that they send more students to the top 5 MFA programs in the country from either BA or BFA programs. I will definitely apply there if I do extremely well on the SATs.</p>
<p>I still need to write to the KC/ACTF people. I will hopefully have enough time for that in the next few days.
Kel</p>
<p>Kellster and any other B.A. explorers-
I've been meaning to give a review of the Cornell theater program since I got back on Saturday. I spent a very comprehensive 3 days there and learned tons about the program, and it led me to believe that it is surely one of the top B.A. theater programs in the country. I have tons of work, and SATs are creeping up on me so I haven't been able to report in full detail. For now, an abridged list of things most notable:
1. In 1986 (?) Cornell spent $22 million creating the Schwartz center for the performing arts. It's a space shared between the film, dance, and theater majors-- and it's gorgeous. I toured the facility and was just amazed- the dance studios, multiple black box and large scale theaters, film editing spaces- all really really great.
2. The theater classes are open to anyone, they are part of the arts and sciences course offerings at cornell. For theater majors, however, of which there are only about 80 (in a school of 15,000+) there are requirements and I was told that the intro level classes often have a lot of non-actors just interested in taking the class, but as you move up the levels, it becomes more and more just theater majors.
3. Cornell puts on around 5 or 6 shows a year- including 1 musical.
4. Cornell has a program where they hold auditions in NYC for what they call "resident actors". These professional actors come to Cornell for 1-3 years and teach the intro to acting classes (they all have teaching backgrounds) and also perform alongside the students in the productions. My first reaction was, "hmm well then aren't you taking away leads from students actors"... but as the former head of the theater dept. told it: this is what differentiates the productions from just an higher-quality version of high school shows- they are professional shows. You don't have 18 year olds playing 50 year olds. The older parts go to the resident actors. Not only does this make it so the 20-year-old girl with the slightly lower voice doesn't play middle aged women for all of her college years, but it raises the bar for the young actors to be alongside working professionals.
Another kick of this program is that it makes cornell shows technically regional theater equity shows, meaning you can count it towards points to your equity card and graduate with an equity card, or (what the theater head suggests) is with ALMOST enough points to get your card, but not with the actual card because it will ban you out of non-equity roles which may mean you lose a job because of your card.
5. Some actors at Cornell are going for MFAs, others have supplemented their training in the summers and are planning to go straight to NYC. All of them feel Cornell has prepared them for this life.
6. There are opportunities to register for dance classes that Cornell doesn't offer (i.e. tap) at Ithaca College, which is known for its musical theater B.F.A.
7. It isn't hard to double major if that is something you want. </p>
<p>OK- there's much more, but I have to get to work... Overall impression was that it was preprofessional, serious training, but was simply within a liberal arts curriculum meaning there are many many opportunities to learn about anything you want, which many students feel is something that they are able to bring to their acting work, not to mention it teaches them some skills that may be valuable as survival skills. I recommend anyone who is looking in to a B.A. to consider this college if you have the stats.
Dani</p>
<p>I am considering BA programs, Dani, but I'm not really interested in them. I want an extremely strict program with a set curriculum that would make me spend most of every day in intense training. Though I do plan on studying further after college (possibly the American Repertory Theatre, Yale Drama, or Circle In The Square), I want to get as much as I can out of my undergrad years.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info about Cornell!</p>
<p>On a sort of unrelated note: While I'm looking for colleges, I'm also searching for an appropriate summer school where I can study acting. After completing the summer programs at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Circle In The Square, I'm considering returning to Circle or studying at the Atlantic Acting School or the Neighborhood Playhouse. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?</p>
<p>Hello all: I'm pleased to see that Cornell's theatre program is getting some laud in this forum. I am a student at Cornell, and I can attest to the fact that it is a solid, though often overlooked, program. I feel compelled to make mention of the OPPORTUNITIES GALORE that exist for the performing arts. There is a club or theatre troupe for every "type" of actor; in addition, aspiring directors and playwrights at Cornell have ample means to direct, produce, and/or star in their visions via the department or one of the student-run theatres. Even if Cornell's program were just mediocre, theatre students have powerful assets at their fingertips to develop as a performer.
The catch? Beware that Cornell is a very academically demanding university; "easy majors" and "light workloads" simply do not exist. It is a self-starter's school, and is definitely not for the very sensitive individual nor the faint-of-heart. For the scholar, however, there is nothing a little adjustment period can't fix. Bottom line: Cornell rocks! tee hee...GO BIG RED HOCKEY!!!</p>
<p>My son applied to 9 BFA stage management programs.</p>
<p>U of Southern California
Carnegie Mellon
Emerson
NYU
Boston U. -- Department of Technical Theatre
Syracuse
Indiana
U of Michigan -- must apply under the School of Music
U of Miami (Florida)</p>
<p>We visited the theatre dept. at Columbia College last May. We thought it was a great school. The pluses were that the faculty currently works in their field which leads to great networking opportunities. Chicago also has a llot of good theatre so the interning possibilities were good also. They had the best new dorms of any school that we had seen!</p>
<p>My son ended up not applying there because we felt because it has an open admissions policy it would not be as challenging intellectually for him. He had a 3.5 gpa.</p>
<p>My son is choosing between attending the University of Southern California and University of Miami (FLorida) theatre departments.
Does anyone have students in either of these programs that can give us feedback?</p>
<p>Over Ski Week my mom and I looked at Santa Clara University and Cal Poly for theater programs...yeah I know. Ehh, the theater department at Poly was too small, and same with Santa Clara. Over Spring break I'm looking at BU, Emerson, NYU, Fordham, Syracuse (maybe) Ithaca (another maybe) and Temple (which I've never heard of). My friend told me about Eugene Lang College or New College, and my college counselor suggested Lemoine College/University (not sure). Anywhoo I have a few questions...these three schools I haven't heard of (the last ones written) has anyone heard of them? Are they good? Also, about the auditions. You apply generally first and then audition? Or audition and generally apply, or both or...please help!</p>
<p>devron, the best thing for you to do is to visit as many schools as possible, then narrow your list down and start the major researching of programs. Every program is different, with different focuses, different strengths, different weaknesses, different locations, etc. Each school has its own procedures and processes for applying and auditioning. It's absolutely necessary to become familiar with each one and how they want it done so that nothing is missed. Some require the application before the audition is scheduled, some require that you be accepted academically prior to auditioning, etc. There's no one set way that it's handled. </p>
<p>Temple is a large research university in Philadelphia and I must say that I'm kind of surprised that it has a drama program because I've never heard it mentioned, either here or generally (and I grew up in the Philadelphia area!). I'm not familiar enough with New, Eugene Lang, or Lemoine to give an opinion. You could start by checking out their respective websites and learning something about each and what they have to offer.</p>
<p>So I got back from Chicago not to long ago. I tried out for, DePaul, Carnegie, American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Cornish, UofM, and Rutgers.</p>
<p>I didn't make it into U of minn. bfa program
I made it into Cornish
Im on the waiting list for the DePaul Bfa program
Haven't heard from Carnegie, and rutgers
But
I made it into
American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NY-do some research if you don't know about it. A lot of stars went there but...
Should I go there?
Anyone been there?
Please help me decide.
I heard Cornish wasn't that good for how much you spend.
please write back.
thank you</p>
<p>Mike</p>
<p>AADA is a certificate program. You do not earn a degree. Is that important to you?</p>
<p>not really. If I make into carnegie of course i would go there. but i didn't make it into depaul. just the waiting list. so i dont plan to make it. they called me back to audition again so that was good. but i don't think i made it.
Considering i come from sioux falls south dakota
no training
im happy with how i did.
but i need to know if
AADA is a Good program. Like teachings and everything.</p>