I have been looking at college theatre programs and University of Minnesota/Guthrie is at the top of my list (along with Juilliard and SUNY). I was just wondering what people consider the strengths and weaknesses of the program. This may sound naive to ask, but they have a very impressive reputation, right? I know it is a young program compared to Juilliard, but I’ve heard that most people in the industry consider it one of the four or five best programs in the country.
ProzacNat
I am going to give you a suggestion. Instead of asking everyone you meet what their top ten acting schools are, you take the time to go on school websites and take a look at what and how these schools teach and see what speaks to you. Go visit as many schools you can and come up with your own top 10 personal list.
If you ask 15 Hollywood and Broadway casting agents, agents and managers what their top acting schools are, you will have 15 different answers with some telling you you do not even need training to be a working actor. The best of anything is purely subjective.
Just take a look at the 2014 25 Best Drama School list in the Hollywood Reporter. Your number 1 school, University of Minnesota/Guthrie is not even on this list.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/25-best-drama-schools-2014-706880
@shacherry I actually HAVE done that, and have been doing it for years (websites, college fairs, etc) and guess what?! After doing all of that, I simply want to get second opinions, from people who are lucky enough to have the FINANCIAL MEANS to visit every school and better yet, those who may have been through the programs. I am in no way only doing this (you may note I have only had two threads on this website). Just because I am asking opinions doesn’t mean that is all I am doing and it is unnecessary for you to imply that I am without knowing anything else about me.
Why the need to label programs as the top or the best? Asking people about more concrete things about programs would be far more useful then just asking them for what they think is the top program. You may have only started 2 threads on this forum but in some of your posts you seem to be chasing this illusive best, my point is to suggest you find the school that is best for you regardless of what other people think or how it ranks on charts.
@prozacNat- people on this site are here to help and support kids (and parents)trying to navigate the incredibly challenging road of a BFA application process. After 10 only posts, we don’t know you well, we have no idea what you have done or not done except what you have told us in your previous posts. Shacherry’s advise is sound, applicable to anyone researching and investigating schools (and if I am remembering correctly, shacherry has a child at one of the top programs in the world, which IS on your list- so could offer valuable information) Might I suggest that you take a look at your tone in your response. To me, it reads as hostile, which might not be the best way to get the opinions you are looking for. Just a suggestion
@toowonderful - You do have me confused with another member.
Sorry- that can be hard to keep straight! But your advice is still sound
@toowonderful I apologize if my response came off hostile. Frankly I thought the comments made that claim that I ask “everyone I meet” what their top ten programs are and implying that I am not taking this journey seriously to be hostile. I don’t come on these sights to have people gang up on me.
@ProzacNat I am also new to the site, so I am getting my footing. I don’t think anyone is trying to gang up on you. I really think people are trying to be helpful. The fact of the matter is that you don’t seem to be asking very specific question regarding your schools of interest. It simply is not productive to ask what people consider the best programs, since it is incredibly subjective. I agree that the response from shacherry seemed a little harsh, but I think it was coming from a good place. Now can any of you tell me details about this program? That is, after all, what this thread is supposed to be about.
Your totally right @ProzacNat my comment was uncessasary and I’m sorry. I just hope that you understand the spirt of my message. Just find the program that you feel is great for you regardless of where it falls on someone else’s list. There are many more working actors in Hollywood then ones that come from the so-called best programs.
This is all in my opinion:
PROS
-Probably most comprehensive classical training in the country. Entire year of Shakespeare, 6 months at Globe, and 6 months with period pieces.
-“Guthrie Mondays” For the first two years, every monday is spent at the Guthrie doing workshops and masterclasses and whatnot with guest artists and the team at the Guthrie. In the 3rd and 4th years, you’re there multiple times a week, and spend perhaps more time there than not.
-Visiting London for 6 months. Training at the Old Globe, travelling abroad, seeing shows, all the benefits that come with that.
-Everything that comes with a top conservatory level program. Lots of hours in classes, working with some of the top students in the country, and the faculty is fantastic.
CONS
-Relatively young program. I’d say a lot of the industry hasn’t become as familiar with the program as with other top 10 programs. They’ve been up and running for 15 years, which just by its nature casts a smaller alumni pool than some other programs.
-No D&P/Directing/Stage Managing majors. The BFA is just Acting- collaboration with the other practices are limited to teachers, BA students, and Guthrie people. In my opinion, one of the benefits of going to a great school is making connections with not only the next generation of actors, but also production and design majors, and this school may not offer as many opportunities for that.
-While they offer fantastic classical training, the realism may be a bit neglected. The program follows meisner for the first year, but they don’t return to contemporary training for the rest of the program. The argument could be made that the classical training directly serves realism stuff, but it’s something to take into consideration.
-The professional development isn’t that extensive outside of the connection with the Guthrie. Very little film, radio, or audition work. The ‘showcase’ of sort only happens in Minneapolis. Which has its own positives and negatives.
this is a very personal, and very long journey. I still think the advice that you do as much independent research as possible is wise, as is the idea of seeing as many campuses as possible. I fully understand traveling might be difficult depending on where you live, and finances as a whole- but it is so valuable. My D and I toured 20+ campuses before choosing the 11 programs where she applied/auditioned, and we knew that every school on her list was somewhere she would be thrilled to be.
@anotherwaytogo THANK YOU!!! Very specific and useful info!
^And you have no idea who this poster is (it’s their first comment) or how they can be so authoritative about the details and “rankings” (and for the record, I completely agree with Shacherry and toowonderful about the importance of first-hand research versus relying on so-called rankings).
This forum is full of information about programs if you search, and usually you’ll find comments from parents or students with direct experience. Lots of information to be found for anyone willing to spend a little time. 
Something you have to think about in considering Guthrie right now is that, sadly, Ken Washington who was widely considered to be the heart and soul of the program unexpectedly passed away last November. That on top of Judy Bartl who handled administration and whose brainchild the program was having retired a couple of years ago leaves the future something of a question mark. Clearly, the program rose to prominence in a short period of time to be legitimately discussed as being among the better regional theatre oriented BFAs in the country, but it was 100% under their leadership.
Does anyone have any info to share as to whom is heading things up now?
I have been checking the program out. It appears that Joe Price is now the head of the BFA. I too was concerned about what the program may be like without Washington. As you say, he was the heart and soul. But of course many other programs have sadly lost their leaders and anchors and still been able to maintain excellence. The difficulty here is that Guthrie has gained it’s reputation so quickly it is hard to pinpoint what it is they are doing right and who is most responsible. However, Marcela Lorca is still at the school and she has an excellent reputation all over as a remarkable theatre artist, and the Guthrie is still an extremely important theater in America. Also it must be notes that Joe Dowling is retiring after a two decades as Artistic Director. Does anyone know anything about the new one, Joseph Haj? I know he has been a producing Artistic Director of PlayMakers in North Carolina for quite some time. He does seem like a worthy successor to Dowling.
Our D is member of the University of Minnesota / Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program (the “official” program name - what a mouthful!), so I feel like I might be able to add to this discussion.
Following Ken Washington’s untimely passing last fall, Joe Dowling, Artistic Director of the Guthrie Theater, named Marcela Lorca as the Interim Director of Company Development at the Guthrie Theatre - she has been with the program since it’s inception, and is well suited to continue Ken’s legacy. Joe Price is her counterpart on the University of Minnesota side - he is the BFA Program Director in the College of Liberal Arts, Department of Theatre and Dance, and worked hand-in-hand with Ken Washington since the program began. Together Marcela and Joe are providing excellent leadership and continuity in the program. My understanding is that since Joe Dowling is retiring in June, the Guthrie wanted to wait to name a permanent replacement for Ken until the new Artistic Director could be an integral part of that process. Joseph Haj was named as the new Artistic Director for the Guthrie Theater in mid-February, and has been enthusiastically received, both by the community and the ensemble members.
When will they name a replacement for Ken? I honestly don’t have any idea. Marcela Lorca and Joe Price, along with their respective teams, completed the process for this admissions cycle, and the 2019 BFA Ensemble members have been selected. (My understanding is that they’re another incredibly strong and talented group of individuals.)
Just my opinion, but I truly believe that over the years, Ken was able to build a program that was incredibly influenced by him, but has the structure and support (from the Guthrie as well as the University) to continue to carry on his legacy even though he’s no longer there.