Theatre/Drama Colleges Part 8

<p>What makes this a great forum is the helpful nature of the participants. I promise after this thread to stop theorizing and do more listening to those of you who are way ahead of us in the process.</p>

<p>Fishbowl, those are some good tips. My Alma matter is University of California at Santa Barbara. Is it a “gem”? Maybe. Great facilities, great campus, beautiful place to live (the campus has two miles of its own beach on the Pacific Ocean) and they have turned out some solid professionals working in the industry. Downsides would be a very large student body, not a great reputation in the industry and you don’t get into the BFA program until sophomore year. First you have to get accepted to the school academically and since it is a popular CA school the bar is pretty high. Then you addition for BFA at end of freshman year with no guarantees of acceptance. </p>

<p>Mom, thanks for your thoughts. I am sure you are correct about the actual information being more important than how you find it. I guess I need to remember this is academia. As a business owner who simply cannot function without web site connectivity it is an important issue for me. In commerce an illogical or poorly thought out web site usually indicates that entire business functions in that way. </p>

<p>Also, we are all likely familiar with schools with great academic reputations that it turns out that the reputation far exceeds the academics. To avoid that I am looking for substance, and, as I said beginning with their web site. </p>

<p>I was not trying to pick on NYU, I used them as an example because they are talked about so much around here. You just must be familiar with their web site as I went to it twice specifically looking for pictures and never found any. </p>

<p>My point about the name was not acting vs drama vs. theater. Rather in my cursory review programs that lump more than one discipline into the name of the department seem to have less impressive programs. Or if a more generic term is used like the “school of performing arts”. Nothing scientific just an observation so far. </p>

<p>We can agree that nobody expects elaborate sets all the time from a school putting on dozens of performances a year. We can also agree to having seen great theater in minimalist fashion. However, when I see photos of production after production of no set and props that consist of a chair a table and a crate, that concerns me no matter what the name of the school. </p>

<p>Maybe I am wrong but I will tell you why I think that way. First what are we seeking? I presume we are after good theater of which good acting is a part. Second, theater is fantasy if you will, i.e. not real. It may or may not be staged to emulate “real” but it is not. In order to effectively bring the audience along for the ride (if you will) they have to be asked and be willing to suspend conventions. The conventions of time a space as an example. </p>

<p>You can convince me that we are outside in Victorian England when we are inside in the US with just acting but it is far more compelling with a good set. The interaction of the actors with the set is a big part of theater. That’s because it is how our world works and a black box does not do justice to an English garden or Tudor house. Not for our sake (the audience) or the actors sake. The best directors I have known are very good at “blocking” which is not just the actor’s movement on stage but their use and movement and interaction with the sets. </p>

<p>In his book “The Stage Craft Handbook”, Daniel Ionazzi (he runs the design/tech program at UCLA) does a better job explaining this relationship than I. He claims it to be uniquely important to drama as contrasted with TV, Big Screen, music, dance, etc.</p>

<p>Sometimes the pictures on the websites might not even do the school's performances justice. Look at the pictures on the Evansville website <a href="http://theatre.evansville.edu/photogallery.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://theatre.evansville.edu/photogallery.html&lt;/a> and compare them to the pictures that Thesbohemian gave links to last summer.
<a href="http://www.danielknightstudiob.com/Handler/main.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.danielknightstudiob.com/Handler/main.asp&lt;/a>
<a href="http://www.danielknightstudiob.com/JaneEyre/main.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.danielknightstudiob.com/JaneEyre/main.asp&lt;/a>
<a href="http://www.danielknightstudiob.com/FlyinWest/main.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.danielknightstudiob.com/FlyinWest/main.asp&lt;/a>
<a href="http://www.danielknightstudiob.com/OurTown/main.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.danielknightstudiob.com/OurTown/main.asp&lt;/a>
Those look lots better than the website to me. I don't know why they didn't use better ones when they upgraded. Those make me want to go there. HOT BOYS! I know ... I know ... NOT a good reason to pick a school. :)</p>

<p>Hey I was wondering what people thought about The Neighborhood Playhouse... I was also wondering if people knew how many people they accepted, I looked on their web site and it looks like their admissions is based on interview..</p>

<p>Scrap my theory of the name of a program or department. I should have gathered more data prior to throwing out even preliminary conclussions. </p>

<p>Still sticking to my thoughts about sets though. </p>

<p>It was really insperational to read some of the threads of where the class of '06 was accepted. Hardworking kids rewarded for thier efforts and excited about thier future, what could be better.</p>

<p>I have a question about audition etiquette. Background: daughter is a HS Junior who plans to pursue a BFA program. She will likely be able to get into a top school or a great school but not sure about the elite programs. Her senior year is going to be very busy and we live in a smaller town in Washington State so travel to schools and auditions is time consuming as well.</p>

<p>The question is this. Will the schools and unified’s allow her to audition in her junior year? That would allow her to the ability to audition on campus at more places and get her some experience?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>You should contact the schools to see, but I doubt it. I can't think of anywhere the audition result is permanent. I mean, I turned some down last year that I would have to reaudition for this year though I'm only going for one of those. I think it works that way just about everywhere. I have, however, heard of seniors getting accepted and deferring a year at some schools to do national tours, etc. ... but not to finish h/s. If you find out different, that would be a cool tidbit to know.</p>

<p>Really, if you want her to have audition experience, it would be good to schedule her to go in cold and do mock auditions for the various acting teachers around your area. I did a few of those over the break with my old teachers and some older actors I've worked with in the past to get ready and feel like it helped my confidence a lot. Yay for being a lot better than I was this time last year! :D The only downside to doing that is that she could get some conflicting advice.</p>

<p>Oh, yeah ... Since you're in Washington State, do you know anything about Cornish? They're one of my targeted walk-ins though I don't know much about them except what's on their website.</p>

<p>Fishbowl
There are only two schools in WA state with a drama program worth mentioning, The University of Washington and Cornish. The UW would not be a good place to attend for a BFA type but would be for an in-state BA type or an MFA candidate, in or out of state, IMO. We know a prof. actor with a great job who went to Julliard for undergrad and UW for MFA and is very happy with his choices.</p>

<p>Cornish came to our HS to recruit my D and two other kids. I was not familiar with them (we live on the other side of the state) so asked the drama director your same question. He has an MFA and is a prof. actor, member Actors Equity Association. He said Cornish has a very good program and regional reputation. He said that they are very good at working with the local and regional theater companies which means that most of their grads find work right away. </p>

<p>I am a foundation member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival which besides being frequently ranked one of the top rep companies in the country is just a great place to work as an actor. We have noticed numerous actors in their company from Cornish and OSF can draw from the best of the best. Agents, recruiters, directors and the like from NY fly into the little town of Ashland Oregon every week to bring auditions to the OSF Company. I have seen theater all over the world and they are that good. </p>

<p>From an arts perspective, Seattle is no SF or LA or NY but things have changed there very dramatically (sorry) in the past 15 years. With the boom in technology and the wealth created by it a ton of money has been thrown at the arts. Their symphony is first rate and opera is probably top three in the country.</p>

<p>Downsides (IMO); Cornish is right in downtown Seattle and housing is an issue. Not unsolvable but an issue. It seems like a small program to me lacking the resources of a major university.</p>

<p>My sense is that you are capable of getting into better programs with more resources and better reputations yet there is something to be said for a program that is good at getting their grads good jobs.</p>

<p>Hey I hate to be pushy but if anyone knows what The Neighborhood Playhouse in New York is like, I would love to know. I was also wondering about their acceptance rates...thanks so much everyone!</p>

<p>Neighborhood Playhouse is a very good training program if you want NYC and don't want a 4 year college setting. They offer an Associate of Applied Arts Degree in Acting. It's a two year program.</p>

<p>You might also look at Circle in the Square. It's also very good and they also offer musical theatre as well.</p>

<p>Don't forget about housing. It's not included at either</p>

<p>Good luck,
xxx,Mary Anna</p>

<p>Wallyworld, I think the simple answer to your question about auditioning early is, no. These auditions are held as part of the application to college, as you know, and since your D would not be applying at that point, then she would not be able to schedule auditions at that point. The audition is only one part of the application process, and without all of the other 'parts' - application, essays, transcripts, recommendations - she would not be considered. Most audition slots fill up quickly so it's understandable that the schools would not want audition slots taken up by someone who isn't even applying.</p>

<p>Hey everyone, so I know that for The Neighborhood Playhouse they only require an interview, it doesn't say anything about an audition. What do you think thats about??</p>

<p>In the general discussion area there is a thread about school interviews. I am wondering specifically about Theater/Drama and MT interviews. </p>

<p>What have your experiences been. Tough/easy, topical, Q&A, conversational, etc. </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>Wallyworld, I can only tell you what my D's was like at Tisch, as she was accepted E.D. and thus didn't have any other official interviews. It was part of the audition day and it took place after she did her monologues. It was fairly informal. They discussed the plays from which she chose her monologues, her drama experience, roles she'd played, why Atlantic was her first choice studio at Tisch, her experiences at an arts h/s, her favorite playwright, favorite play, what plays of that current season she'd seen on Broadway, and then the conversation somehow morphed into a discussion of her playing soccer since she was 5! :)</p>

<p>Yes, the Tisch interviews, which I have had many students experience, are all pretty much the way alwaysamom describes. It kind of depends on who you get as your auditioner.</p>

<p>After many auditions you can see that all universities' interview styles are a little different, but are along the same general lines as above. Some are longer and sometimes more than one person may interview the student.</p>

<p>I rehearse a "mock interview" with my students because I think it is important. The interview can tell an auditioner more about the work ethic, personality and focus of a student. It gives them a more complete picture beyond the audition and application. </p>

<p>I feel it is always to the students' advantage to have the opportunity for an interview. Think of all the college applicants who are never given the chance to talk about themselves to another human being!</p>

<p>Best of luck,</p>

<p>xxx,Mary Anna</p>

<p>Different schools vary as to the amount of time they spend interviewing you but they are generally pretty informal. They'll ask about your training and experience and may go down your resume asking about the plays you've been in. They might even ask you for a snippet from one or two of them. Be prepared to discuss your favorite role you've played. They will also want to know about where you are from and some about your personal background. They'll ask about why you chose your monologues and will discuss the plays so you better have read 'em. They'll definitely ask about why you are interested in their program and some will ask about where else you're auditioning. Know as much about their school and program as you can and if you don't really have any questions or are kind of stumped when they ask if you have any, ask about something you already know that isn't totally obvious from their website or printed materials. Once you get them talking about that, it may lead to more legitimate questions or you might suddenly have a real one dawn on you.</p>

<p>Also, be prepared for them to work with you on your monologues. They may ask you about some of your acting choices and might even make you defend them. Another good thing is to have a couple of non-off-color but not-too-lame jokes ready because some schools may ask for one. Basically, just smile, relax, be confident, and be ready for anything. Most importantly, make it fun for yourself. No matter what their approach is, their goal is to see what you bring to the table and this is your chance to show them. No point in letting yourself get in the way of that.</p>

<p>Of course, some won't ask you much at all and might even be downright stony. If that's the case, don't read anything into it. Really, don't read anything into anything. It is what it is. I probably shouldn't say this because I'm sure there are exceptions, but generally the common wisdom where I'm from is that the most enjoyable auditions are Carnegie Mellon and SMU and the stoniest is Purchase though I'm sure this varies and it could well change from year to year. Hartt almost made a friend of mine cry last year but still let her in. Amazing that she didn't accept their offer. Go figure ... LOL Most are somewhere in between. None actually bite, so don't be afraid. Simon Cowell will be much to busy with American Idol too attend your college audition. ;)</p>

<p>OMG ... Could I be any more of an actress? I have been looking at the Drama page for NCSA for over two years and never bothered to look at their Design and Production Page. Yes, NCSA has some pictures</a> on their website. LOL</p>

<p>Thanks everyone for your great responses about interviews. For The Neighborhood Playhouse-it doesn't say anything on their website about auditions, just interviews. So I was wondering if anybody knew anything about how many people actually get accpeted there...</p>

<p>What does anyone know wbout Columbia College Chicago's BFA in Theatre/Acting program?</p>

<p>Help! I want to know if it's worth the application fee.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>I don't mean to get off the interview subject cause there has been some good info shared and welcome more. </p>

<p>Below is a link to an audition video produced by URTA (University/Resident Theater Association). While it is designed to inform those attending unified auditions for graduate MFA programs it has some good information that could apply to undergrads.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.urta.com/video.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.urta.com/video.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>julieann I went to DePaul so everything I know about Columbia is somewhat snobby hearsay ;). It has a reputation of being the place people go when they get cut from our acting program. I also hear they accept just abot everyone but there is good work going on there, its just a matter of making sure you're the one doing it. I'd apply if you don't have a safety on your list.</p>