<p>I believe the MT program is around 15 years old.</p>
<p>I have to admit that, before I was ultimately rejected from the school, I PERSONALLY didn't like the fact that they had no senior showcases whatsoever. The woman told me that they used to but that they weren't getting many agents, managers, casting people, etc. to show up when they invited them. So they did away with them completely.</p>
<p>I would have thought that with such a centralized location that they would at least have a Philly showcase, I'm sure they could get a lot of directors and casting people from the neighboring regional theaters to check out the talent. It's not like getting an agent, but at least you could get work.</p>
<p>I kinda doubt that the showcases are all PR and marketing hype. It's obvious that a good majority of the graduates from these top schools get high profile jobs very quickly out of school. While you don't NEED to have a showcase to eventually make it, I'm sure that it is a big help when you have an agent right out of college.</p>
<p>While I too have been viewing Senior Showcases as an important feature of any MT program, it was with startling candor that at a presentation at one of the major nationally known MT programs (that does have a Senior Showcase held in NYC), it was stated openly that Senior Showcases in most cases do not have an impact on employment for most of the students that are in them. While students at top programs may get employment upon graduation, I question to what extent senior showcases are the reason. I also wonder how many students in senior showcases actually get picked up by agents as a result. While every piece of exposure is a potential opportunity, I guess I question now whether Senior Showcases have more impact as a marketing tool for prospective students than a career development tool for graduates. Which is not to say that no students benefit from a senior showcase but simply to pose the issue of whether undue significance is being attached to them.</p>
<p>As to a "Philly Showcase", I can't speak to why UArts does or doesn't have any type of showcase. I have observed, however, that there seems to be a well developed network of communication about audition opportunities that UArts grads and students avail themselves of.</p>
<p>I believe Uarts brings the agents, etc. to the campus, as opposed to having a NYC showcase. My daughter can better address this question, but I do KNOW that they have an alternative approach.</p>
<p>My college age kid left UArts after a few years. Hoped from the beginning that the experience would get better but it did not. When you visit talk to the other students. Ask how many people leave and why. Just ask all your questions and don't leave without the answers.</p>
<p>Hi! I auditioned today (2/24) for UArts and was wondering if anyone knew the name of the head of the department that led the vocal warm-up and was the accomp. for my audition. I wanted to drop him a quick thank you note, but wasn't sure of his name.. I looked on the website and want to say Charles Gilbert but there is no picture. Does anyone know if that was him.. an older man?</p>
<p>Charlie is, indeed, the head of the MT program, and I know he was running some auditions today, if not all of them. He's older, I guess, but that's not very descriptive around our department. :) Sounds like he would be the appropriate person to send a note to, though. Did you get to talk to any of the people running auditions today? Divasmom's daughter was there running things!</p>
<p>shoot! his email isn't on the website.. does anyone know it by heart? I want to say it would be <a href="mailto:cgilbert@uarts.edu">cgilbert@uarts.edu</a> like some of the other teachers, but it isnt listed!</p>
<p>I'm not sure of all the "numbers" but I think they are looking for a yield of about 12 students in the freshman MT class. In general, decissions go out about 2 weeks after the audition.</p>
<p>Actually, MichaelNKat, double that. We tend to be about 12 for each gender each year. Classes are often smaller than that as well. Last year we graduated 13 people for MT and this year we're graduating 15. The freshman class, however, is around 22 or 23 right now. I suppose a few will leave in the coming years as that is usually inevitable, but those are the numbers we tend to be around.</p>
<p>Glad you enjoyed the area despite the weather, lockstock!</p>
<p>I'm eagerly awaiting hearing about the acceptances! Good luck, everybody!</p>
<p>Well, you weren't completely wrong at all! Everybody IS "competing" against for one of the twelve spots of their gender. This is just a bit more heartening than six, that's all. :)</p>
<p>MichaelNKat, do you guys have any plans to come to an open house, to shows or to do any more tours of UArts? Please let me know! You have been a wonderful correspondent and I would love to meet you and your daughter face-to-face if she has any questions or would just like the opinion of somebody who goes to the school. I'll admit, though, that I'm biased. :)</p>
<p>Now that my daughter is done with her auditions, my wife and I finally feel like we have our weekends back! We would love to come to a show. What's the upcoming schedule - any that you are in? Our daughter is shifting into high gear for her high school show and has rehearsals everyday after school through the beginning of May and is working several weekends in March and April for a local entertainment company so I'm not sure what her availability is (and I've learned not to exceed my parental jurisdiction :) ). I'll pass the schedule on to her and hopefully things can mesh. It would be delightful to meet you in person.</p>
<p>Shana attended UArts summer MT program in 2005 and my office is up the street from UArts so she probably won't be taking any more tours (except to Cosi, Starbucks and Marathon Grill). We were at the Fall open house. Were you among the students who participated in the presentation in the auditorium (at the Gershwin "Y", if I recall)?</p>
<p>Do you happen to know Ellie R. (freshman BFA acting), Melvin L. (freshman BFA MT) or Kellie M. (soph BFA dance)? Shana met Ellie and Mel at the 2005 summer program and is still very close to them. Kellie and Shana work together and are also very close friends.</p>
<p>Take care and thanks again for sharing your thoughts and experiences.</p>
<p>Here's a list of our upcoming shows:
- SOLISTICE - Takes place this weekend in the studio. Very short notice, I know. This is a student-directed piece and it should be VERY good. :) (March 1st-4th)</p>
<ul>
<li><p>YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU - March 28th-April 1st in the Merriam Theatre</p></li>
<li><p>EQUINOX - April 12th-13th in the studio. Student-written, student-directed, student-acted pieces. A yearly tradition. (Pieces this year include TEARS FOR SANDRA, FRANK & AUDREY, GRACE and THEY DON'T)</p></li>
<li><p>BACK 2 BACK 2 BACK - April 20th-28th. The mainstage musical this semester, comprised of three one-act musicals: LAVENDER GIRL, BACK TO BACK, and THE MICE. I will be playing Virga in THE MICE, and it should be a lot of fun. It's rather experimental, but it looks like the audience is going to have a good time. :)</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I know OF Ellie, though I don't know her personally, I don't know Kellie at all, but Melvin and I are very good friends and he was just wonderful earlier this season in BERLIN TO BROADWAY. </p>
<p>I think everybody at the Fall Open House had the good fortune to see what we've dubbed "The Gala Act." If this is the case, you saw some of my very talented friends, a few of who will also be featured in the same musical. </p>
<p>Tell Shana to break a leg in her shows and, once again, let me know if there's anything I can do. I remember how crucial the mentoring experience was to my comfortability in the program (I think it would be this way at any school) and I remember how scary it was to be a freshman. :/</p>