Theatre/Drama Colleges Part 8

<p>Ooops, sorry, just realized you said you already looked at Florida State</p>

<p>Now I know it has been disgussed before but does anyone have any information about The University of Cincinatti College Conservatory of Music? It is fairly close to me and I read that they have bi-coastal senior showcases, which sounds pretty good to me.</p>

<p>University of Cincinnati has a very fine conservatory. My daughter, who is into visual arts, did consider a music career at one time. Cincinnati Concervatory was certainly on her list.</p>

<p>CCM has, what is usually considered, one of the top Musical Theatre programs. It also has a very good acting program, although it doesn't get as much ink as its musical theatre program. The acting program isn't at the same prestige level of the MT program, but I'm sure one would get excellent training there.</p>

<p>Here is a link to a registration handbook that will answer some of the frequently asked questions about Tisch <a href="http://students.tisch.nyu.edu/attach/1723%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://students.tisch.nyu.edu/attach/1723&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>How many students a year do they let into CCM's MT and Acting programs.</p>

<p>Knox,
The website says they admit 18-20 for the BFA Acting program. The training would have to be good since they share the same acting faculty with the extremely elite MTs. I'm not sure, but I think I read on the MT thread that they admit around 24 for MT with a fairly brutal cut system. If you search the old</a> MT archives, you might be able to find out for sure because they were discussed early and often. </p>

<p>If I were looking at CCM, I'd seriously research two things ... Does the BFA Acting program use the same cut system as the MTs? If so, is that something you're willing to accept? Also, do the MTs audition for the same roles as the BFA Actors in the straight plays? If you're like me and are "merely competent" as a singer and dancer, you'll probably have a hard time competing with the MTs for roles in musicals, but a lot of them might be right on level with you as a straight actor in an elite program like theirs. I mean think about it ... The casting pool for the musicals could for all practical purposes be half the size for musicals as straight plays and this could very well influence your ability to build a performance resume if that's important to you. That's actually one of the things that moved some of the schools I looked at that had MT programs down or off my list. I got the feeling that at a couple of places, the MTs were the "golden ones" and the straight actors were afterthoughts. Just a couple of things to consider ...</p>

<p>I have student who is a BFA Acting major at CCM, and they DO cut - the students are evaluated after 1st and 2nd quarter freshman year and then cuts are made. This year, either 3 or 4 freshman students were cut; I can't remember precisely. In addition, this cut system goes on throughout their sophomore year as well. However, my student felt the cuts were not brutal, but rather very fair and very expected. She said one of the cut people constantly challenged teachers in performance classes, one had transferred in from an academic and didn't have "it," etc.</p>

<p>On the "up" side, they had a freshman acting showcase that was attended by local casting people and several students got voiceover and commerical work from it, which is cool. :)</p>

<p>It is sounding pretty good so far. I have been checking their website. I am interested in MT but am afraid that the acting training won't be as dedicated as a straight acting program. If CCM's MT's get as much acting training as their Acting majors then I should seriously consider it. Is there a way to audition for both programs at CCM? If so, that might be a good option for me.</p>

<p>Oh, I've only had a year of jazz when I was 11, and that worries me. I mean, I'm always the kid having the dance-off at the prom and such, but I'm afraid that I might be so behind kids who have been training for musical theatre all of their lives, the Terminators of the theatre world, that I will look like a total slob with all the grace of a poodle on roller skates.</p>

<p>haha if you REALLY want to do mt it would be good if you started taking ballet at a good studio now. by meaning REALLY wanting to do mt, are you one of the kids that listens to cast recordings of obscure musicals all the time and skips down the street singing them with your friends? can you sightsing music and do you have good keyboard skills? have you taken any music theory? those are the kids that should major in mt. if you are going into an intense mt program like ccm, you better live it and breathe it or i doubt you will last. sorry if that sounds harsh, but what you really want to do is screen acting ... right?</p>

<p>Yeah, I just really like singing. Although I was raised on musicals I would have to say I have read more plays and seen much more movies. Thanks for the warning, cause I was thinking the same thing. I'm not one of those lost in their art crazy people who are so obsessed with theatre they can't function in society. I just really enjoy it and have an extreme, deep love for cinema. Oh, and I live in hickville, there aren't any dance studios.</p>

<p>As far as I have been able to see, MT and BFA acting students at CCM do not compete for the same roles. Musicals at CCM are for MT students only. Roles in straight plays go to the acting students. I cannot recall ever seeing any crossover by the students. However, the MT department chair did direct one of the straight plays this past year. I suspect that the MT students are kept pretty busy performing in the musicals. </p>

<p>At my D's school, Florida State, MT and BFA acting students are allowed to audition for all productions. However, the MT students are not often cast in the straight plays because the rehearsal schedules for the musicals overlap with them. My D was in 2 musicals at FSU this past year. It would have been very difficult for her to be in any of the plays because of rehearsal conflicts.</p>

<p>I'm going to post this on a couple of threads, so that searchers can find it. But I'm pleased to be able to tell you where the Unifieds will be held this year:</p>

<p>February 4,5 - New York City
American Management Association
1601 Broadway </p>

<p>February 6, 7, 8 - Chicago
Palmer House Hilton
17 E. Monroe St.</p>

<p>February 11 - San Francisco
Marriott San Francisco
55 Fourth St</p>

<p>February 12 - Los Angeles
LAX Hilton
5711 W. Century Blvd.</p>

<p>And here's the link to the website with the contact information for the individual schools: <a href="http://www.otterbein.edu/dept/thr/unified.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.otterbein.edu/dept/thr/unified.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Please remember that you have to schedule auditions individually with each school.</p>

<p>I hope to see many of you on the road this year!</p>

<p>Best wishes,</p>

<p>Dr. John</p>

<p>I’m going to be leaving for school in the not-so-distant future and have decided I need to go ahead and break a few of my online addictions for time management’s sake at least until I get a better handle on what my schedule will entail. I also want to say that this forum has been an incredibly valuable resource for me as well as a form of therapeutic entertainment and diversion during what was a fairly crazy senior year. Some of you have also become very special to my heart. Though I’ve never met you in person, the generosity of spirit in your words is something I’ve found rare in this world, but will carry with me always. I only hope I’ve been able to give back as much as I’ve received.</p>

<p>Thesbohemian-</p>

<p>I will miss your posts so much! I hope when you can you will touch base with us and tell us how you are doing, and what types of wonderful experiences you are having.</p>

<p>The tears are welling in my eyes as I write this. Even though we have never met you are very close to my heart! I wish you the very best of everything!
I know you are going to do wonderful things!</p>

<p>WCT</p>

<p>Thesbo, I'm wishing you all the best. I thank you for making our journey this year less lonely, less scary, less perplexing and less serious. If you ever need an extra mom, remember my email address. It has been a privilege knowing you.</p>

<p>Congrats Thesbo, I am wishing you all my best. The future loooks bright, knowing you are there - spreading your spirit to others while reveling in your own essence of becoming. You are truly special.</p>

<p>Theatre/Drama won't be the same without you but I am hoping it will carry on through other learned guides here. There is so much information that you provided from a student's perspective over the last year that is invaluable for those seeking in the future.</p>

<p>I am sincerely apppreciative of all your efforts. Please stay in touch.</p>

<p>Evansville is really lucky to have you!!</p>

<p>Valerie</p>

<p>Valerie, Wow just saw your name today. Welcome back and thanks for the update on your son. Sorry you were ill. </p>

<p>Thesbo, best of everything. I will miss reading your posts.</p>

<p>LA</p>

<p>could anyone please list any smaller colleges in Illinois that have a great theatre program? thanks</p>