<p>I've heard some pretty mixed reviews about NYU Tisch theatre, some of which warn that the experience depends on the studio you're in. What have you heard about this, and, in your opinion, which studios are "reputable"? Thanks!</p>
<p>Hey Peggysue, thought I might be able to share some information about the studios with you as I just finished my essay for class tomorrow. I’m a freshman at the Playwrights Horizons Theatre School, but I have friends in all of the studios. Yes, some people will tell you that some studios are better than others. Of course, the fact of the matter is that the adler studio, the atlantic studio, and the strasberg studio (now to be replaced by the New Studio) are all world renowned acting studios that people from all over the world go to. However, this does NOT mean that the other studios are in any way inferior. Quite honestly, because it is Tisch and because all of your teachers are among the best people on the face of the Earth, you can’t go wrong by attending the school.</p>
<p>Quick breakdown of studios:
Atlantic- David Mamet’s “practical aesthetics.” If you don’t know about practical aesthetics buy A Practical Handbook for the Actor. Basically that is what you’ll be doing in class. Classes include: repetition, games, technique, movement, voice and speech, some sort of dance (can’t think of what). My friends that go there love it, although it is definitely a break you down, so we can build you back up type of mentality. Personal opinion: if you’re looking for love or want to really understand theatre it’s probably not the place for you.</p>
<p>Adler- My favorite description of Adler I’ve heard is: It’s a spa where they tell you to relax and yell at you a lot. You have movement (with alexander technique and MASSAGE!!O.O), ballet, Adler technique, voice and speech, improv, and I think there’s some sort of singing class, but don’t quote me on that. For some reason everyone thinks all the adler kids are gorgeous, I don’t know what they’re talking about. Oh, and because you can only wear black to studio you always look like a ninja.</p>
<p>Experimental Theatre Wing- By far the most mysterious group to me considering I’ve only seen 2 ETW kids since I’ve been here. One of them eats lunch with us sometimes so I can tell you what he tells us. Basically if you don’t want to take your drama home with you this is the place to be. Founded in the 70’s by a group of artists whose work is anti-textual, you’ll be doing a LOT of physical acting. Everything in the studio is about getting you out of your head and into your body. Many impressive faculty, and the two people I know who go there absolutely love it. Highly respected studio as well.</p>
<p>Meisner Studio- It’s meisner. You’ll be repeating and then you’ll be doing independent activities, etc, etc… My directing teacher also teaches at the meisner studio, so I’m sure it’s good. It’s the smallest studio (this year they only have 15 so it must’ve been painful for one group of three to meet and repeat) and that group is probably the most tightknit as a whole studio. Can’t tell you too much as I’ve only ever run into one meisner. But considering this is Tisch, it’s got to be amazing.</p>
<p>Playwrights Horizons- Our teachers tell us to have sex with all kinds of objects, moving or non. We get naked. We make sounds and then physicalize them with our bodies in voice and speech. We have african dance on thursday. We draw stuff for Michael Krass. Everyone’s either going insane or already there. You’ll be the person in your group of friends who can’t go out tonight because tomorrow you have to memorize your personal movement for Peter Bass. And then after that you’ll start rolling around on the ground making strange sounds with Elizabeth Hess as she talks out of her ass. Then you’ll go and see Maggie and you’ll do meisner repetition. And did I mention directing? Well you’ll do that too. It’s basically the most insane experience I’ve ever had. All of the teachers are happy to be there, they love us, and they love working with us more than anything else as far as we know. Except for sex. And being naked. My RA/suitemate likes to define the Playwrights kids as the really smart philosophizing theatre students who can get you psyched up about anything and are really fun to have a conversation about theatre with. And I almost forgot to mention Salty Brine. Yes, that’s his name. </p>
<p>As you can kind of tell I biased that a bit at the end for Playwrights… because I really love the studio. However, I do have friends there that are trying to transfer out because they really want to JUST act. That’s where I was, and where I still am (wanting to only be an actor), however I absolutely love having directing and design (I can finally draw!) and I’m learning a **** ton more about theatre than anyone in any of the other studios is, that’s for sure. Now that I got that out of the way… If you want in depth info on any of the particular studios I’d be more than willing to ask my friends. Honestly though, if you’re worried about whether the experience will be good or bad you’re worrying about the wrong things. It’s New York City, there are so many amzing theatre opportunities, you’ll meet the most amazing people in the world, AND you’re going to tisch so you’ll get a great liberal arts education to boot. Best deal in the world. </p>
<p>For better articulated information on each of the studios purchase and read “Training of the American Actor” by Arthur Bartow. The book contains essays from teachers at each of the studios. But trust me, they’re all amazing.</p>
<p>@ nabende: thanks so much! i’ve attempted research of the studios, but i always feel overwhelmed at the amount of info available. your quick, insider’s guide is a great start.</p>
<p>thank you!!</p>
<p>^ You left out Strasberg! And CAP21, though it’s undertsandable because they won’t be open to Freshman next year, but there is the New Studio on Broadway, which no one really knows about yet.</p>
<p>I’m a freshman at NYU. I was originally in ETW, but I transferred studios, and now I’m in Strasberg (yes, it’s possible!) The admissions people are usually great at placing people, but ETW was really not a fit for me. Like nabende said, ETW is really physically based. There’s a separate movement class, but even in the designated acting class you’d be doing a lot of movement exercises. It’s really great for some people, but it didn’t click with me- and that’s ok. ETW is the 2nd smallest studio and is in 721 Broadway-the main Tisch building) so that’s probably the reason theyre so mysterious and not always around.</p>
<p>I can also PM you the Tisch studio lightbulb jokes- they’re really funny and give a pretty good idea of the studios. If you have any specific questions about ETW (or Strasberg!) et me know! :)</p>
<p>If you have more specific questions</p>
<p>Enjoy! </p>
<p>How many Strasberg students does it take to screw in a light bulb?
- I touched a light bulb once and it felt warm.</p>
<p>How many Adler students does it take to screw in a light bulb?
- I am the light bulb.</p>
<p>How many Meisner students does it take to screw in a light bulb?
- How many Meisner students does it take to screw in a light bulb? How many Meisner students does it take to screw in a light bulb? How many Meisner students does it take to screw in a light bulb?</p>
<p>How many Atlantic students does it take to screw in a light bulb?
- ***** you and your *****ing light bulb.</p>
<p>How many CAP21 students does it take to screw in a light bulb?
- I don’t do tech.</p>
<p>How many Stonestreet students does it take to screw in a light bulb?
- It’s not about the light bulb.</p>
<p>How many Experimental Theater Wing students does it take to screw in a light bulb?
- Purple.</p>
<p>Thanks to all for their answers, and especially to Nabende (thank you thank you!) and alwaysamom (:D)</p>
<p>Ok but what is the joke about the Playwrights kids!!</p>
<p>Tim,</p>
<p>Sorry I missed the one for Playwrights!</p>
<p>How many Playwrights Horizons kids does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Five.
1 to design a lightbulb, 1 to write a script about a lightbulb, 1 to direct the screwing in of the lightbulb, 1 to actually screw in the lightbulb, and 1 to run around naked saying that they’re better than ETW.</p>
<p>Thanks so much, how true!</p>
<p>Here’s another version to the last one:</p>
<p>How many Playwrights Horizons Theatre School kids does it take to screw in a light bulb?
God. I designed the show. I directed the show. I’m IN the show. And now you want me to do tech? Well okay… does it have to be a light bulb?"</p>
<p>This one is hilarious, I cannot wait to share it!</p>
<p>Ha! So true about the playwrights people. Have to say I love NYU and the community here, totally worth every penny. </p>
<p>And I didn’t include Strasberg and Cap21 because of the New Studio thing. Is it true that they’re now letting the cap and strasberg students already there stay there for the full four years (3 and a half for CAP)?</p>
<p>The kids who are currently sophomores in CAP21 will be able to continue in CAP21 (at that studio … not in the New Studio on Broadway) through to the industry practicum and showcase in their senior year.</p>
<p>There was a discussion at Parents weekend and a very negative vibe about Senior Showcases from the Drama department… does anyone know more about this topic as regards the Tisch studios? I know that there are Freshmen at Cap21 that are limboed by the changes… any word on what will happen to them? The last I heard they could transfer to another program at Tisch, but will they go to the New Studio?</p>
<p>Averagetim, you might find more people who could address your questions in the NYU/Tisch MT subforum, the link for which is at the top of the Musical Theatre forum webpage. </p>
<p>There are a lot of people who read posts both here in the Theatre/Drama Majors forum and in the MT forum, but not everybody does.</p>
<p>Just wanted to say that I heard from the group of freshmen cap21 girls in my academic classes that they would be able to say for the full program there and that apparently the same thing was true with Strasberg. Could be wrong, but that was what they told me.</p>
<p>^ I’m in Strasberg and my roomie is in Cap21 and we were both told that should we choose to, we can stay all four years in our current program.,</p>
<p>hello, I was recently accepted into the ETW studio at tisch. I am really hesitant about it mainly because of the “experimental” part of the studio. I am not sure what to expect and I never really classified myself as an actor who would perform in experimental theater. Do people generally like this studio? I also never felt during my audition that my auditioner asked me what I wanted, which sort of bothers me. I am so happy to accepted into Tisch but I am worried that this is not the studio for me.</p>
<p>Grindon22, if at all possible, you should physically visit the ETW studio. You may or may not be able to observe classes, but you should definitely find more than one current ETW student to have a personal conversation with…either through facebook, through CC contacts, through the school, or whatever.</p>
<p>My son is not a student at Tisch, but he was accepted there last year (Adler), and I have done a fair amount of reading/research about the various studios.</p>
<p>Here are some items of information about ETW:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>It is a popular studio among Tisch students. Many people audition to get into ETW after their first two years in a different primary studio.</p></li>
<li><p>ETW’s focus of instruction is primarily movement-based rather than text-based. (One comment on this is that I think when students get into conservatory training they often discover how extremely vital movement training is to their development as an actor. My son had this experience in a program at another school.)</p></li>
<li><p>For whatever it’s worth, the actor Hailey Joel Osment (who either is presently or was very recently a student at Tisch) was placed in ETW.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Good luck to you in your research!</p>
<p>grindon, I replied to your inquiry about ETW on the MT Forum. </p>
<p>Yes, Haley Joel Osment is a fellow actor in my D’s studio, ETW. So is Mara Wilson, another well known child actress.</p>
<p>While ETW does do a lot with physically based acting, they also have students explore many acting methods, not just one.</p>