<p>I know that UCSC is a very good school in general (ranking 75th in the country says something about it), but we rarely hear anything about UCSC Theatre Arts program!</p>
<p>My son recently was accepted as a freshman to Theatre Arts. He wants to be in Acting. Does UCSC have a good Theatre (Acting) program? We'd like to know as much as possible so that he can make a well-informed decision.</p>
<p>We'd appreciate very much to hear from anyone, especially the students currently in this program.</p>
<p>I’m not personally involved with the theater program but a lot of my friends are. From what I understand, the theater program is pretty good but also pretty political. The theater program is very tight knit and politics sometimes play a major role in your ability to get cast in plays. There are a lot of opportunities for student directed plays and projects where students bias lead them to cast their friends for roles. I have also heard that professor directors are somewhat bias in casting. If you are not considered “good”, majoring in theater could be filled with disappointments for you. However, theater majors seem to often collaborate with film majors and dance majors. They usually develop a strong sense of community and life-long friendships.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the info. The part about close community and life long friendship are big pluses!</p>
<p>Do you know if they let freshmen audition for plays? Or you have to wait until sophomore? For those who didn’t get casted due to the politics, was any of them able to transfer out to another UC? Does the theatre program at UCSC have roughly the same amount of male/female students? (Some seem to have a lot more girls than boys!) </p>
<p>Just graduated with this as one of my majors :)</p>
<p>From what I have been told, the program is on par with UCLA’s. However, the focus is more theatre where as UCLA’s is more film. It is a great, well-rounded and well-respected program. Several of the instructors are currently involved with productions around the country and Shakespeare Santa Cruz happens every summer on campus (similar to Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon). It offers great opportunities for internships.</p>
<p>While there is politics to some degree, it more has to do with how involved one can become. I came in as a transfer and found that, as a junior, I was pushed out of many things because current juniors had the chance to boost themselves since frosh. This was made worse because I was double majoring.</p>
<p>However, starting from a frosh and being very invovled, your son should have no problem. Have him start talking to Angela (works in the theatre arts office, one declares the major through her) so he can get the ball rolling early. There will always be politics in anything, but he just has to show a desire to succeed and he should be taken under a wing.</p>
<p>One of the things I loved about UCSC theatre is that it applies both theoretical and practical to the major. Students must take a 2-unit course three times (THEA 50) and perform various jobs (light hang, run crew, wardrobe… these are assigned at the first class meeting, Angela sends out the notice about this meeting). Technically, one can concentrate in an area (dance, acting, tech), but classes are in short supply so most mish mash classes just to graduate as the concentration ones are not always offered (concentration isn’t declared in theatre anyways).</p>
<p>At the end of it, this is a major that if your son wishes to pursue a career in the discipline that relies heavily on the contacts you make. The reason the program is good is because of the staff. Tandy Beal, for example, is one of the dance instructors. Kooky lady, but she choreographed the movements of the main characters in Nightmare Before Christmas. She is a delight if you work hard. There are several others as well.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the info. It seems that you think very highly of the program! Do you plan to pursue a MA degree in Theatre now or start working? How are the job opportunities for students graduated from UCSC with a BA in Threate?</p>
<p>I have no plans to pursue an MA or MFA in theatre. For me personally it would be a waste of money (but it is not a waste for all). It is yet another opportunity to network, though, for those interested and the senior seminar for the theatre arts BA at UCSC does take seniors through learning about graduate school and has several speakers who have both gone on to work and gone on to higher degrees and worked. It was a great learning experience.</p>
<p>I currently have an internship lined up at a well-known regional theatre company. It will be hard, unpaid and full time work, but it will give me the professional experience that will help me decide if I wish to pursue theatre as a career. My only other concern beyond that is repaying my loans.</p>
<p>Note that UCSC does not offer anything higher than a fifth-year certificate for theatre if one wishes to go beyond the BA. I have heard great things about it (and the fifth-years often take the roll of TAs in some of the undergrad theatre classes), but it is still just a certificate for taking an extra year.</p>
<p>Same problem as before with editting from phone. Missed your job question!</p>
<p>Can’t fully answer that since I’m only doing an internship, but job opportunities will depend on resume, network, position desired, and the person himself. Acting is quite difficult as there often seems to be far more competition. Tech and design, on the other hand, are somethings that have more opportunities. But one greatly depends on the reputation they build in tech and design more so than acting.</p>
<p>Internships and being involved as much as possible is about all I can really suggest. There are no guarantees especially in this society. It is a business that is all about who you know and the image you have created for yourself. One of the most consistent suggestions the speakers in senior sem gave was that being willing to work for free is the best bet to build a working relationship with someone.</p>