<p>I have a friend who will be going to Webster this fall. I visited it twice for a St. Louis metro Journalism convention and the Webbies, and it seemed like a nice, quiet school.
Doesn't it get boring sometimes? And how famous is the film program there? Is anyone from St. Charles County here?</p>
<p>Hi- I just wanted to share that my husband and I saw the national tour of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels tonight in LA, and were delighted to see Norbert Leo Butz on stage again. What a treat. He treats the material as though it's the first time he has done it. His stage presence is amazing, his voice sounded strong and he's just great fun to watch. If you get a chance to see the tour, I recommend it.</p>
<p>Zules,</p>
<p>I think most if not all of the theatre students would tell you that they are too busy with their conservatory schedules for their lives to be boring at Webster.</p>
<p>The campus itself is located in the quiet historical setting of Webster Groves. One I could personally settle down in to live....soooooo yes it may be kind of quiet for a student who is looking for more action on a campus. Definitely not a UW-Madison campus by any means. ;)</p>
<p>There is a lot to do in St. Louis though and hopefully some of the other students will jump in here and tell you how they spend their extra time when they have it.</p>
<p>anothermom-w-q,</p>
<p>(Great name by the way) I am so happy to hear NLB is back to his healthy self. I think that part in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels fits him to the "T". Norbert's brother Jim is another talented actor in the St. Louis area. He also went to Webster and I understand he is going to be taking on a very interesting role soon in a play about brothers who were cloned (he plays both brothers).</p>
<p>Sue aka 5pants</p>
<p>I know, I lived in St. Louis for 10 months. Besides UCity and the zoo, there's nothing really exciting there. Webster Groves is kind of nice and quiet, and the theater is really nice.</p>
<p>Well some of the other things that my guys have gone/seen/done are: The MUNY, The Arch, The Landing, Cardinals' games, City Museum, St. Louis Rep (including the off ramp series held downtown) and this weekend went to Six Flags. You mentioned UCity....the loop is a great place. No, it isn't NY or Chicago, but there still is fun to be had.</p>
<p>This summer one of my Ss friends was an extra in the new Jessica Alba film which was being filmed in St. Louis. Also, one of my Ss was an extra in some low budget SAG film (good expereince)....I mentioned these because I know in your original post you mentioned an interest in film.</p>
<p>SUE aka 5pants</p>
<p>We just returned from dropping our D off. She is a Freshman in the MT conservatory. What a great experience. The orientation was wonderful, the upperclassman in the conservatory had a BBQ for them and made sure they all had rides to and from the party. The faculty is amazing. There are 18 in the class (this includes Regional and Musical Theatre). We said good bye after her first class (Ballet) on Monday and she was headed off to watch the auditions for the upperclassman. My husband's comment was "too bad she's so torn up about us leaving". lol. It's so much easier to leave them when they seem so happy and excited about classes. On Sunday night we took her to the grocery store and in the middle of the aisle she jumped up and down and said "I wish classes would start right now!" </p>
<p>Thank you Webster!</p>
<p>I also got to meet Barbara from this Forum so I felt like I had a friend too. And thanks to Shayla, Alex and Nathan for making our D feel so welcomed.</p>
<p>THANK YOU WEBSTER!!!</p>
<p>We are also home after delivering our Freshman MT daughter to Webster. What an amazing school, town, environment. I am in absolute agreement with marianne406: the orientation was fabulous (informative, fun and never dull), the faculty was wonderful, and the upperclass students were amazing: warm and welcoming to the "freshies". We were blown away by how they went out of their way to find the freshman conservatory students as soon as their fresh feet hit the dorm room floor! And then had a bar-b-que for them, providing transportation, no less. (thanks to SUE aka 5pants sons' and all their friends who made this happen)</p>
<p>As difficult as it was for my husband and I to leave our "baby" so far away from home, the task was made less daunting knowing that she's truly in good hands at Webster! Listening to the faculty describe the conservatory program these 18 kids will be lucky enough to experience was pretty inspiring. Hard work? No doubt, but when it's work you love, it's joy!</p>
<p>Was great fun to meet up with Marianne406. A "familiar" face in the crowd! Our girls are in for a wonderful four years.</p>
<p>hey guys!</p>
<p>i'm so glad that everyone is having a wonderful first week of classes. as many people have been saying on here already, the program speaks for itself. my parents too fell in love immediately and couldn't wait to come visit, see shows, and hang out with my friends. it truly is a special place and i wish your sons and daughters all they best. they truly are in the best of hands!</p>
<p>sue i had a great time in northern IL this summer and actually drove thru your home town! the shows turned out great! give your sons my best;)</p>
<p>also in regards to st. louis life off campus... for the first few years any extra time i had i would sleep. but there is a lot of great theatre in the area and once you are old enough, some great clubs. i always had a great time and return as often as i can to hang out. great shopping, stuff always going on on the river front, it's pretty cool... enjoy!</p>
<p>-webgrad</p>
<p>WebGrad,</p>
<p>I am so happy to hear that your shows went well!! Hope your next projects are as successful. Keep us posted...would love to see you perform again sometime....we saw you in "The Lucky Chance" when you were a senior at Webster. :)</p>
<p>This week is audition week at Webster...an exciting time for the upperclassmen. Before you know it, freshmen will be up there auditioning also. Time flies so quickly.</p>
<p>Cheers,</p>
<p>SUE aka 5pants</p>
<p>P.S. will definitely tell A&N you sent your best.</p>
<p>Is the Vault the only club accepting 18 year olds?
And I saw a Webster performance too, I think it was "All The Great Books." It was hilarious. Keep it up, Webbies.</p>
<p>The first week is done already....and it was audition week where casting for first semester took place. One of the perks of going to Webster Conservatory is that The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis also draws from Webster's casting pool for their upcoming shows.</p>
<p>Very exciting news!! The St. Louis Rep. is staging the world premiere musical, "Ace". Stafford Arima (Off-Broadway's Altar Boyz) directs. It opens September 6th. BUT the best part!! Two Webster Conservatory students (both seniors) were cast as swings for the show. BTW, one of those seniors has a mom who was a poster on CC a while back...congratulations!!! :)</p>
<p>Other casting of Webster students with the St. Louis Rep. include spots in "Urinetown" and "The Pillowman".</p>
<p>ALSO would like to say that one of the sophomores at Webster was just recently cast as an understudy for the national tour of "Rent". Big congratulations!!!</p>
<p>Just a quickie post...lots of great things developing!! :)</p>
<p>SUE aka 5pants</p>
<p>How exciting for the Webster students cast in the Rep shows; what great experience!</p>
<p>Huge congrats to the sophomore cast as understudy/swing on national "Rent" tour. I hope he keeps a journal of "life on the road" for his fellow Webster conservatory classmates to read!</p>
<p>Don't have any details but daughter LOVED her first week as a conservatory student (although I think she's a little tired!!) ;)</p>
<p>Hey everyone,</p>
<p>In case you're new, I'm a sophomore MT major here in the Conservatory. I just wanted to once again extend an invitation for any questions you may have about anything at all concerning Webster! I'd be happy to help you! My email is <a href="mailto:Shayl18@hotmail.com">Shayl18@hotmail.com</a> if you're interested in shooting me a message there instead! </p>
<p>Have a great day!</p>
<p>Just wanted to let those who are interested that Webster offered a Master Class to upperclass students today....the guest was no other than Richard Dreyfus! By the way, last year's guest instructor was Michael York. Such great talent sharing their experiences and knowledge...so exciting!! :)</p>
<p>What a great opportunity for the students! Do the amount of master classes vary year to year, or is one the standard?</p>
<p>5Pants,
I think it is great when professionals come to these programs and give a master class or talk to students. </p>
<p>I'm smiling at the mention of Richard Dreyfus. Back when my D was about 10, Richard Dreyfus was visiting her theater camp because his own kids went there. My D told us she said to Mr. Dreyfus: "I really liked your movie!", to which he asked "which one?" We laughed at her story as she was so naive and she only knew that she loved him in Mr. Holland's Opus and just was not aware of his body of work.</p>
<p>BiGismama....just read your post. I think Webster tries to present every possible opportunity for master classes. I know last fall when the St. Louis Rep produced the premiere of the new musical "Ace" their lead performers (who are also married) Jessica Boevers and Matt Bogart conducted master classes for the upperclassmen.</p>
<p>I know that there are several workshops the students attend on weekends also. My Ss went to an all day workshop last weekend or perhaps the weekend prior that worked specifically on improvisation.</p>
<p>Just a small correction: I believe that the world premiere of "Ace" was in Cincinnati at the Playhouse In The Park. Composer Richard Oberacker is a Cincinnati native, which is a big reason why the musical was workshopped and premiered here :)</p>
<p>The production of Ace at St. Louis Rep and Cincinnati Playhouse was a shared one - but it did indeed play St. Louis first. However, neither was the "world premiere" - it was produced in NYC the previous fall in the NAMT new works weekend. Sometimes, when shows have been workshopped a fair amount - I'm not sure where the delineation of "premiere" occurs. Possibly, the NAMT was not considered an official production.</p>
<p>Just want to mention too that several of the performers who were in that production of "Ace" are now nominated for Kevin Klein Awards!!!</p>
<p>"Ace" is now playing at The Globe. Has anyone heard how it is going over?</p>
<p>Also, let me give credit to where credit is due...the very talented Jessica Boevers and Matt Bogart were graduates of CCM. ;)</p>
<p>Thanks MusTHCC for the correction.</p>
<p>SUE aka 5pants</p>