<p>I read the one thread regarding UCI/UCLA, but it didn’t really have the info we need. Does anyone have any info comparing the two MT programs? It seems UCI is more theatre oriented, with the satellite program in NY, while UCLA is about film/television. The former seems to offer more stagetime and individual training, while UCLA has the name and reputation. Does anyone have any other insights?</p>
<p>UCI has one of the better MFA Acting programs in the country, so I wouldn't count on a lot of stage time early on as an undergrad unless you're phenomenal.</p>
<p>YEAH i'm also interested in learning as much about the two schools and processes as possible-UCI may be my match school, but i have so little experience in MT that im getting scared...</p>
<p>Don't think I'm being snobbish, but neither of these programs is a BFA (much more concentrated and intense a study than a "liberal arts" BA degree).</p>
<p>UCI is not a BFA program - it is a BA with "honors" in musical theatre. I agree, it is VERY heavily weighted in opportunities to graduate students (look at how many they accept), and undergrads have to really work for any breaks there; but it is an excellent education. Robert Cohen, who wrote SOOOOO many seminal theatre texts (acting, directing, appreciation, etc.) teaches there. Superb school, just that the undergrads are paying for the grads assistantships.</p>
<p>From their website:</p>
<p>"The Honors in Music Theatre Program is a unique series of courses which provides advanced training in scene study, song interpretation, dance, voice, acting, audition technique, and study in the history of the American musical. Performance experiences vary from fully staged musicals to intimate revues. Honors students are introduced to Broadway performance techniques through the Advanced Music Theatre Workshop and the New York Satellite Program."</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Likewise, UCLA does not offer a BFA, but only a BA in Musical Theatre. It, too, is a grad-heavy program (look at the numbers they accept!), and as such the undergrads will have fewer opportunities onstage, and to study with senior professors. Their catalogue states:</p>
<p>"The Ray Bolger Musical Theater Program electives train selected students in acting, singing, and dance for the musical theater and provide knowledge of musical theater history. The dance courses (Theater 1A, 1B, 1C) are open to all freshman Theater majors and must be taken as requisites to be considered for the program. Auditions are held during Spring Quarter of the freshman year. Junior transfer students are also eligible for consideration for admission. Additional courses provide hands-on training with professional artists and a range of performing experiences from workshops to full production...</p>
<p>All entering students are admitted as Theater majors and must audition and interview at the end of their freshman year or beginning of their sophomore year for elective courses in acting,...musical theater..."</p>
<p>If you are looking for a BFA in Musical Theatre program on the West Coast, check out Cal State Fullerton. The Theatre and Dance Dept. program is rated in the top 16 in the nation (Performing Arts Guide), and the BFA in Musical Theatre ranks among the biggies like CCM, NYU Tisch, Boston Conservatory, Carnegie Mellon and Emerson.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Professor, Thank you for the info on Fullerton and Irvine. I know a sophomore at Fullerton who loves it and has just started her summer job at Disneyland as Mickey Mouse!!! How incredibly fun is that? (Imagine telling your grandchildren you used to be Mickey Mouse?) One thing people on the east coast may not understand is the tremendous pressure on CA high school students to attend a UC school, rather than a state school. It is absolutely overwhelming, but is not always the best choice for everyone. They hear it since elementary school and it becomes part of the psyche. I suggested Fullerton, but my own son chose UCI....partly because of the NY satellite program. Again, that may seem like a small thing to east coasters, but to the typical southern californian NY seems like a very scary land of OZ. I love this (new to me) website and will keep you posted on UCI. They also are talking about making it an auditioned program, but who knows. I just hope my son will be happy in this incredibly tough profession.</p>
<p>Mom, you've got it right, there....NYC experience is a DEFINITE bonus! It will be great to study in the Musical Theatre capital of the WORLD!</p>
<p>Congrats to your son!</p>
<p>"bump" for Irishcharm - you get the picture.... I bumped pages 1-4 of the listings.... just go back and check out the rest :)</p>
<p>So, I graduated with a B.A. in Musical Theatre from UCLA. It's a great program if you aren't married to the idea of the traditional conservatory approach. There really isn't a fair comparason between UCLA and UCI. The UCLA faculty has about 5 or 8 tony nominations between the lot, and most all of them work with both the grads and undergrads. If you want classical dance, go to UCI, but for either straight acting or musical theatre, UCLA is the best program on the west coast. I've taken classes at Emerson College, NYU CAP 21, The Boston Conservatory, Ithaca College and others. Most of the programs are very similar with subtle differences separating them. Geographical location and campus life can be as determinate a factor as the program curriculum. Hope my feedback helps. Goodluck.</p>
<p>uclaactor:</p>
<p>Great hearing from someone within the program, and one who has successfully graduated and moved on to the "real world." Your advice is more valuable, as it is first-hand.</p>
<p>A question has come up in the past regarding voice lessons - when, with whom, and how often/long they are. The website doesn't state voice lessons as one of the courses, and so I'm interested to find out about them. If they are provided, are they "unit bearing" (meaning you get credit toward the degree requirements)?</p>
<p>Also, can you tell us about what your recent grads are doing in the way of work?</p>
<p>Thanks, and welcome to the thread!</p>
<p>So, here's the honest and in-depth deal on the UCLA program.</p>
<p>As with most BA or BFA's in musical theatre, the first two years are spent mostly integrated with the acting students, with the only differences being that in addition to speaking voice classes, you also have one private singing lesson per week, and during some terms, a weekly or bi-weekly group lesson where ensemble material is worked on. As well, in addition to stage combat and the like, you'll also have 3 days a week of dance, rotating between the disciplines, but with a constant foundation of classical ballet. The 3rd and 4th year your acting classes are only with musical theatre majors in your track/year and some of the study is geared towards textual scenes from musicals, and the dance classes are opened up to guest classes and less ballet.</p>
<p>Now, here's the real dirt on the program..... please understand that this is strictly an opinion, albeit an inside one....</p>
<p>There are TWO musical theatre programs at UCLA. One within the theatre department (the relatively new "Ray Bolger" program), and one within the music department ("workshop") taught by Professor Hall. The truth is this, although the theatre department has everything in place to compete with all the other BA's and most BFA's around the country, the singular best class I ever took at UCLA (not withstanding "partying 101") was the music department's 90L taught by professor Hall. He is is honest, brutal, and caring all rolled up into one, and the setting for the class is the closest thing I've yet to see in a collegiate environment that mirrors professional classes here in nyc. Now this class is not part of a musical theatre major within the music department, but simply an elective that is open to ANYONE within the undergraduate community. Students such as Sam Harris and Susan Egan took the workshop regularly prior to the musical theatre major's existance, and while I was there, some of the strongest performers in the class were econ or psych majors, who wanted a more interdisciplinary education, but who clearly had the chops to work in the business. The theatre department quickly realized that various students (myself included, as I was part of the inagural class) were passing on theatre electives to take the workshop, but instead of trying to encorporate it into the department, have left their students having to choose between courses. Don't let this discourage you though. In some ways it's an opportunity to get instruction and feedback from a greater pool of faculty, and a chance to learn early on that this business is saturated with tough decisions. You can do both, be in the Bolger track and take the "workshop" (which would be my recommendation), and can probably fit the workshop in at least once every few quarters (ucla is on the quarter system, so there are three terms per academic year, plus two summer school sessions). "Workshop" is offered every term, with students required to re-audition for each term regardless of their previous experience in it. Some terms are spent simply studdying, and some are spent in performance.</p>
<p>Perhaps the greatest thing that sets UCLA apart from other musical theatre programs is the enviroment. UCLA is the second largest public institution in the country. With over 40,000 undergraduate applicants each year, and less than 5,000 accepted, it's a pretty amazing company to keep. The campus is 15 minutes from the beach. As a alumnus, the academic weight of the degree has definitely been worth the price of admission. If you ever want to join the ranks of the business world, the degree is going to be a huge help over any of the conservatories. Which brings us back to the initial decision BA vs. BFA. If you want a small professional studio, apply to CCM, NYU, Emerson, The Boston Conservatory, Carnegie-Mellon, Ithaca, or any of the other tier 1 or tier 2 BFA's. If you want the "American College Experience", places that give you an interdisciplinary academic schedule, sports teams, greek life, and the like, then you're much better off at a UCLA, UMich, Northwestern, Indiana, UCSD, or other comparable program.</p>
<p>Please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have. I spent the better part of two years researching all of these programs, and have compiled a pretty comprehensive list of what I would consider to be the top and second tier programs for the musical theatre major.</p>
<p>Good luck to all of you, and hope to see you in NYC.</p>
<p>Hello. This post is so old but I am wondering if you are still around. I’ve been accepted to UCLA and some NY schools and must make the final decision by tomorrow. I would love to have an opportunity to get some feedback from you so many years later!</p>
<p>It’s so hard to say…you only get one chance, and things may have changed since my student graduated in 2009. BOTH are terrific…but do you want an opportunity for extra dance in a terrific program (UCI) with a month in a NY satellite program (UCI) or teachers with Tony awards (UCLA) with a fantastic school spirit (UCLA)? Go to each school, ask questions, talk with professors, and walk the campus. Check out the list of classes, and ask about the successes of former students. Is there an alumni group for actors? Is there a fast track for agents? Do you want to live west coast or east coast? Do you want to be in film/tv or theatre? Are you open to both? These questions all make a difference. And believe me…after graduation, when you audition, no one cares where you went to college. It is completely about your audition and talent…</p>
<p>I can’t say enough about the UCI Drama dept. My D is graduating in 2014. It was a long road to get where she is right now. She auditioned for all the top MT schools in the country… UCLA, u mich, CMU, Penn st, BOco, etc etc and didn’t get in. UCI was her backup school, however, I thought it was promising because of the potential (NY satellite, BFA etc). She worked very hard from the start volunteering doing tech and auditioning for everything possible. They do “mega” auditions in the fall for the main productions but there are so many opportunities to perform in plays directed by grad students and seniors! She was in at least 2 plays/musicals per year. She worked her way up within the MT voice classes and finally made it into the BFA Major. She also just returned from the monthlong Ny Satellite trip and it was amazing. She even booked a lead in New York this summer! A paid gig! Anyway this school provides so many opportunities that it wouldn’t matter if she got into the BFA she would have taken her education and followed her dreams anyway. The important thing is to feel good about what you are doing and go for it!</p>
<p>UCI is underrated as is. UCI has one of the best theatre programs in the nation, and a growing overall arts program. Out of all the UCs, UCI is introducing several unique programs even outside of the theatre program if your student is interested in exploring options. In the arts, UCI has several programs such as digital arts, electronic arts, studio art programs, etc. I’m not in the arts school myself, but as noted you enter as a BA HOWEVER from my understanding from my Drama major friends you apply to enter the BFA program (so if you’re committed, it shouldn’t be something to worry about!). Additionally, UCI has several other opportunities including: the only UC school with a computer science school, the only other UC with a business school (obv besides UCB), superb engineering school, etc. I’m a proud anteater and I honestly think UCI needs to be given more attention (#1 school in the nation under 50 years old!)</p>
<p>Oh and don’t quote me on the stat about “one of the best theatre programs”-- my friend who goes to UCB as a media major mentioned that to me before I attended UCI (however I’m a BIM major so I’m more aware of the computer sciences and business school at UCI)</p>
<p>UCI’s program is amazing. But the BFA is pretty choosy, taking only 5-8 people total per class. The NY satellite program is also by audition. But I totally agree with LA Diva that the opportunities at this school are fantastic even without the BFA. The instructors are top-notch and I know so many people who went here and are working with or without getting the BFA. It’s a really good school and a great theater program.</p>
<p>This is all some pretty slanted information, towards UCI. 1) UCLA has a Business School, for what that matters - the Anderson School. 2) I believe UCSC is starting a Computer Science School. Even if they are not, their proximity to Silicon Valley put them way ahead of any CS school in the Southland. 3) UCLA’s School of TFT offers far more opportunities that UCI, connections, different classes, and the fact that you earn a BA, not a BFA, means that applying to grad schools could work out better - getting a BFA instead of a BA is actually a much weaker choice. 4) Cohn is fine, but the diversity of UCLA’s faculty cannot be matched by UCI. 5) I don’t know how UCB got into the conversation, but their Theatre program is terrible - strictly for Post Modernists and Performance Art.</p>