<p>Anyone have thoughts on this program? How are the acting classes changing? Rumored they will take them with bfa acting now? Is it possible to get additional dance classes? Performance opportunities? Where are recent alums working? Are current students getting hired for summer stock? Other thoughts or information?</p>
<p>There is a whole sub-forum on OCU (which I am guessing stands for Oklahoma City University?) I’ll bet you can find some answers here.</p>
<p>[Oklahoma</a> City University MT - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/oklahoma-city-university-mt/]Oklahoma”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/oklahoma-city-university-mt/)</p>
<p>Thank you theatermom2013. I did post a similar thread over there but had not had any responses so thought I would try the main forum to see if perhaps it might trigger someone to respond. I truly appreciate your help!</p>
<p>My D has a good friend that is a freshman there this year and she loves it. I saw her audition this Spring break for a regional Theater and I was amazed at the difference in her voice. She has definately improved by leaps and bounds. She was raving about her school, trying to convince my daughter to attend. However, my D doesn’t want a BM degree, so we did not consider this school.</p>
<p>So good to hear about your daughter’s friend MTDancerMom. Our D had originally only wanted a BFA as well, but loves OCU so is strongly considering it. Still concerned about getting the amount of acting and dance she would like…so trying to find out more. I know they have a top rated dance school but not sure how much the MTers get to dance there. And I think acting has not always been strong there? Also a concern but I know they were making changes in this area but am not sure what those changes are. But the voice training sounds amazing!</p>
<p>My child was accepted to OCU and when we did our site visit (and research) we determined the dance program at OCU is very strong, equal to the vocal training. If we were to sight a discipline that was less outstanding, we would have identified ‘acting’ as the less intensive part of the program. That said, it sounds like they are revamping some of their acting classes now - I encourage anyone considering this option to find out directly from the school about recent changes. I recall that there was a lot of flexibility to take the classes that your child felt they needed most weather it be dance, voice and/or acting - it was not a set curriculum like some of the conservatories.</p>
<p>My daughter is a freshman MT at OCU and very happy. I have asked her to answer your questions and will post her reply.</p>
<p>I have the same question, FrancescaBennett, about the acting. My D thinks the vocal and dance programs are phenomenal, but knows very little about the acting program. However, when we were there for her audition, we got to see a rehearsal for the Barber of Seville. The singing and acting were wonderful! They were truly amazing. But any info your D could give would be much appreciated!</p>
<p>I am also interested. Maybe we will be lucky enough to see a rehearsal of a show. Looks like they are doing 110 in the Shade.</p>
<p>Here’s the scoop from my daughter:</p>
<p>Acting classes are all with Acting majors, through the School of Acting, except for an “Acting in MT” class through the School of Music. There are 4 required classes, but plenty of options to take more, which most people do. There are also various stagecraft classes, some required, some optional. This is a change from previous years–daughter thinks the current Sophomores are the first on this track.</p>
<p>Dance classes are very carefully leveled each semester. There are two levels–Basic and Beyond Basic–for non-majors. After that, there are many levels for majors. MTs are placed in classes with Dance majors according to the leveling. Right now, daughter is in all Beyond Basic classes, but has been told she’ll be in the first major-level Tap class next semester. She has MT classmates in all of the different dance levels.</p>
<p>MTs are required to take 12 credits of dance. My daughter has been told that scheduling priority is given to students who need to meet their requirements, so once she’s earned 12 credits, she may be less of a priority for scheduling. But she’s also heard that it’s usually possible to make it work out.</p>
<p>The thing to remember is that this is a Bachelor of Music degree program, not a BFA. The students are getting a rigorous music education. My daughter is loving the fact that she’s immersed in music every day and that it’s all working together–voice, music theory, piano study. Things are clicking for her musical understand that just never came together before. </p>
<p>Performance opportunities . . . MTs are required to audition for all musicals and for all operas. It is optional to audition for the plays, but most students do. Plus, there are student-run productions every semester. Daughter was cast in a student-directed opera in the fall. She had a callback, but was not cast on campus this semester. So, she and several others auditioned for a nearby community theater production, directed by an OCU alum. It ran for 4 weekends; such a long run was a new experience for my daughter. She also liked getting to know local OKC people–one even cooked dinner for the students staying in the dorms over Spring Break!</p>
<p>OCU does a great Spring Break program in NYC, free to students and enthusiastically supported by alums in NYC. It included a workshop with Kelli O’Hara this year!</p>
<p>Upcoming mainstage productions are INTO THE WOODS on April 26 - 28, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST on April 5 - 14, GROSS INDECENCY: THE 3 TRIALS OF OSCAR WILDE on April 25 - 27, plus two Black Box shows: MEDEA on April 11 - 13, EMOTIONAL CREATURE on April 18 - 20.</p>
<p>I think that covers all the questions asked in this thread. Should we take this conversation to the OCU folder? I’m happy to answer any other questions.</p>
<p>Thank you so much FrancescaBennett. This is very helpful! </p>
<p>I am happy to move this over to the OCU thread but don’t know how to do so – I had asked the same questions there but had no response which is why I posted on the main forum hoping someone might see my questions. I’m so glad you responded as your information is very helpful.</p>
<p>I did have a few other questions:
- are things like yoga offered on campus for all students (not necessariy part of mt or theatre or dance – just offered somewhere)<br>
- are recent graduates of the mt program finding work and do you know where? what about summer stock work for current students? are they getting hired? where do they audition?</p>
<p>Sorry for all of the questions! I appreciate any other insights you have :)</p>