<p>I have read a number of threads, but haven't found anything about this yet per se? Please direct me if it is already here and I just haven't seen it. </p>
<p>Does anyone have a sense of new or revamped theatre programs? Programs that may have more opportunities for students. I've read posts about growing opportunities at American University, Rider University/Westminster Choir College, and Temple University. Also, a new Dept. Chair at Connecticut College is moving things in a new direction there. </p>
<p>Any diamonds in the rough out there worth considering?</p>
<p>I know that Rider offers an annual talent scholarship (very generous), based on audition, to at least one Theater Arts major each year. Temple is supposed to have a good BA program, and Philadelphia is a great city for theater. American also has musical theater and acting programs - they do not require an audition for admission, but do require one in order to major in the department. My son sat in on two first-year classes, and was not overly impressed. I’d say that both Temple and American would be attractive for solid students who want a full liberal arts curriculum, within a traditional college environment, in a vibrant urban environment. Rider is easily accessible to NYC and Philadelphia, with Princeton’s McCarter Theatre nearby. I didn’t know they had a joint program with the Westminster Choir School. Catholic University in DC has always had a strong theater program. I’ve heard great things about Goucher’s experimental theater and writing programs (my husband’s nephew studied creative writing there).</p>
<p>Westminster College of the Arts at Rider University offers a very selective and well-regarded BFA program in Musical Theatre. </p>
<p>The BA in theatre at Westminster/Rider may be an up-and-coming program; however, I don’t think I’ve ever seen it discussed in this forum, and none of the NJ theatre kids my son knows have ever chosen that major at Rider, that I know of.</p>
<p>The academics at Rider are reportedly not particularly challenging…which I guess could either be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your point of view! :)</p>
<p>We received a call out of the blue last year from a Rider recruiter. He never called us back, and we did not pursue Rider as a possibility. He did say that they have the special talent scholarship, and I confirmed that it existed. Thank you for bringing up the Musical Theater BFA - I knew nothing about it. I don’t have any more kids applying for theater programs, but I still contribute what I can to these threads, having joined CC as a completely ignorant parent a little more than a year ago.Westminster Choir College has usually been very generous with talent scholarships, as I’ve inferred.</p>
<p>Northern Kentucky has been brought to our attention recently. Does anyone know anything about their tech program? What about the overall theatre program? The Cost of Attendance looks very reasonable.</p>
<p>@stagemum - Westminster Choir College and Rider are now one university. Rider bought WCC several years ago. There are plans underway to have a BFA in MT at Rider, and the staff is moving forward with this goal in mind, but it has not yet been approved by the various state and accrediting agencies. My son is entering in the Fall as a student in the Bachelor of Music in MT program, with the option to switch to the BFA if it is approved by next fall. If the school interests you, I encourage you to visit and meet with Mariann Cook and Robin Lewis, who are doing great things there. My son’s classmates include a lot of VERY talented kids who had their pick of a lot of great schools. Rider also awarded my son a very generous academic scholarship. PM me for more info about why we selected Rider.</p>
<p>Thanks, MTTwinsinCA, but we’re moving my son into UArts this week, and I hope that he’s happy there. I had mentioned Rider in the thread as a school that offers at least one talent scholarship for theater majors.</p>
<p>Stagemum, I tried to send you a private message. Is your inbox full, or are you simply not accepting messages? I wanted some information about UArts for my daughter. Thanks!</p>
<p>OddDad, if you go to the Musical Theatre Major forum, there is a subforum on UArts that contains a ton of information about UArts. While much of the discussion is focused on the MT program, there is a good bit of information about the Acting program. My daughter graduated from UArts as a MT BFA in May 2011, many of her friends were acting majors and my office is a block away. If you have any questions about the school, the Theatre Department or student life in Philadelphia, I’ll be happy to try to answer them.</p>