<p>I’ve heard that Irvine’s program is becoming much better, but I haven’t seen anything about it here, they aren’t listed in the schools at the top.</p>
<p>We live in California, and my junior D is looking at schools in the midwest and east, just not much out here.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help</p>
<p>I live about 5 minutes from UCI. (Which is a primary reason my D did not audition there...too close to home)
I have heard some kids perform from the school, and they raved about the program. I have also seen an increasing number of their grads listed in programs for touring companies.
From what I remember you audition after freshman year for the program, and they offer a semester study in NYC. UCI does have a nice facility for shows, but I have never seen one of their musicals. If you are looking at UCI, check out Cal State Fullerton too. Chapman University may also fit your needs, although they do not offer a BFA in Musical Theatre.</p>
<p>If you use the search tool on the main musical theatre forum you will find more posts about UCI, Chapman and Fullerton.</p>
<p>D and my husband visited, as D accepted into their Theatre program for Fall '07. They both went on and on about the fabulous facilities, rooms for practice-voice in her case. The musical was in their opinion VERY good. She thought facilities were newer and more extensive than UCLA. She did not audition, but she was an ELC student(top 4% of her graduating class-calif.public school). She had visited UCLA and NYU. UCI offered her the most $$$. She did not audition, FYI. She is a member of her hs perf.arts academy which she did have to audition. I hope this helps.</p>
<p>The drama dept. doesn’t require auditions for freshmen to enter UCI as a drama major, since drama includes technical theatre, directing, stage management, etc. Auditions for the musical theatre BFA program are after the first year.</p>
<p>UCI is my safety and the only school I’ve gotten into so far…still waiting to hear from 6. Is it true that all the grad students get the leads? Also is there any mechanism for a showcase? I’ve also heard horror stories about the size of the program and people saying it is hard to get through. My friend assures me that they will like me but of course you can’t be sure. My worry is I will spend $20,000 a year an not recieve the kind of training I’m looking for. I mean I could go for four years and never progress past MT 1 right? I know everything happens for a reason but I’m just not sure about Irvine.</p>
<p>It is VERY competitive to progress through the program. It is very impacted. Only about 5 freshman have entered MT2 this year for they have been letting in more upper classmen. It can be very discouraging to those who don’t have a thick skin. However, if you are good and keep trying, you should probably get in with due time. The grads do get a lot of the leads, but there are exceptions. There are many oppportunities for undergrads to perform, including the undergrad musical and two undergrad plays. This year was the first year that the BFA & Honors MT students (2 girls, 4 boys) had a showcase in New York. They actually just had it on March 23.</p>
<p>Any offers made to the BFA and Honors undergrads from the Showcase? Just wondering how fledgling showcases from our neck of the woods are doing. Thanks!</p>
<p>I know most, if not all, got several agent offers. They were very happy with the turnout, especially since this was UCI’s first showcase. One agent went fruity over one of the boys and immediately set up an appointment for him to be seen for the lead in spiderman the musical (he really is perfect for peter parker, and immensely talented), which went very well. One of the girls got a callback for Kim in Bye Bye Birdie through her agent. That’s the biggest buzz I heard, not sure about other details.</p>
<p>Thank you! How many MT went, do you know? Sorry for all the questions. :)</p>
<p>just 2 girls and 4 boys (3 BFA and 3 Honors). :)</p>
<p>Additionally, I know a few people on UCI’s satellite program this year also got call-backs for the new Bye Bye Birdie revival while they were in New York.</p>
<p>Thank you! That’s GREAT odds for a small group!!! :)</p>