Webster University

College Majors Musical Theater Major
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<p>EBW33,3ThreatMom and Music22242:</p>

<p>Thank you for sharing the insights of current parents and students…i appreciate it very much. My D is considering Webster MT for next year. She loved the folks at the audition. We have a visit planned…one question i do have is that the word “intense” comes up a lot on the Webster thread. Would any or all of you be willing to expound on that aspect of the experience at Webster? BFA’s seem pretty intense in the numbers of credits, variety of topics/skills to master and late nights…wondering if its just that or if there is something more at Webster.</p>

<p>Again, thank you for your comments already. So helpful.</p>

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<p>I believe when the kids talk about the program being intense, it is all of the above. I believe they spend 20 hours in the Conservatory each week, in addition to 11-13 other credit hours. Their evenings are consumed doing productions or working crew assignments as well as homework. Lastly, it is my understanding the students are expected to show progression, which requires a commitment out of the classroom. A lot of time is spent at the Spaces working on their own - sometimes late into the evenings. It is not uncommon for my kid to get out of rehearsal or crew late, and meet another student at the Spaces at midnight to work on something. The Faculty communicates with the students on their progress. When someone slips or does not show progress, they are told this and given the opportunity over the course of a semester to make the adjustment. My impression is the program demands a lot of work and commitment, hence the intensity. I hope that your D can talk to current students during her visit and find out more about this, but hopefully this reply helps a bit.</p>

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<p>Webster is one of the schools not currently represented in the Freshman Experience thread. It would be great if a current Webster freshman could post their typical week on there:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1067706-freshman-experience.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1067706-freshman-experience.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Let me say that when I talk about the program being intense, I’m speaking of performance majors. I’m not sure if the same holds true for the tech majors, although it may.<br>
I think there are several things that add up to what I mean as intense in the program at Webster that I’m sure is true of just about any theatre program. Unlike “normal” degree programs, where the students go to 3 classes 2-3 times a week, and then have the rest of their time to do their homework, write papers and have a social life outside of school, theatre kids are at it all day everyday and often into the night.<br>
At Webster, the conservatory students take their non-conservatory classes in the mornings, things like foreign language, psychology, literature, dance (tap, ballet, MT dance), private music lessons (voice, piano), etc. They have a wide choice of what they can take to fulfill their elective requirements. They have all their conservatory classes from 1:00 to 5:20, every day. Then in the evenings, if they’re in a show (either in the cast or tech), rehearsals start at 7:00 and go until 11:00. In between all this they have to get their homework done AND schedule rehearsal time with their scene partners in class and practice time for their private lessons.<br>
They literally live and breath theatre 8-12 hours a day or more, so they have to love what they do. Fortunately, this is what most theatre kids thrive on, but it can be exhausting and they have to keep up if they want to succeed.<br>
Freshmen aren’t cast in shows, but they are assigned to tech for shows both semesters, and depending on the area (props, costumes, set build, lighting, etc.), they can be as busy as a cast member. It’s a great learning environment because the students are involved at all levels of a production and there’s a great sense of accomplishment once it’s come together in a show.
Needless to say, they don’t have much time to get involved in extracurricular activities, and they don’t have a lot of time to make friends outside of the conservatory, so they become a very tight group, which is great because they support each other.
I hope this helps. And I don’t believe this is unique to Webster. It’s going to be very similar at just about any BFA program.</p>

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<p>Thank you so much 3ThreatMom and Music 22242!</p>

<p>I am glad to hear that the intensity issue is simply a virtue of being in a BFA Performance program. From what i can see this is true for most BFA programs. There are lots of classes, and lots of time spent outside the class room that is a requirement, in a different way than is necessary in a non-BFA program. </p>

<p>I have to agree that a BFA is a very specific kind of training and one must be up to the challenge. Even those programs that offer “a lot” of GE’s within the BFA (say 35 credits), are still only taking 1 or maybe 2 non-program classes per semester.</p>

<p>From what i can see at Webster, there are 12 GE credit “requirements” to cover. Have any of your kids had any success using AP credits for any of those?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

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<p>Yes, 2ThreatMom & Music 22242 really stated what my D has been doing this year. In addition, there are journal assignments that are written frequently in movement, voice and acting that are turned in various times in the semester. These journals reflect on various ideas and/or thoughts that come up over the course of the day, in and out of class. I know the first time my D came home for fall break, she was writing in her journals often. While the subject is not difficult, it can be time consuming and difficult for students who try and “cram” in their journaling the night before. Everything else aside, my D has thrived on the individual attention received from her teachers. Even though freshman cannot audition the first year, they are involved in scene work with a lot of rehearsal time and at the end of the year, they are placed in directing scenes by the Junior class. All of these rehearsals take a lot of time, especially if you are placed in more than one scene. I am looking forward to seeing her growth as an actress next year, when she is able to audition for shows.</p>

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<p>Except basically everyone does their journals the last minute, and to be blunt, what professional actor journals the biographical details & intentions of their latest chorus job? The amount of time spent on crew & superfluous exercise/classes dwarfs any audition or rehearsal opportunities, even for the most successful students. I was cast well at Webster, and even I spent way too much time at a sewing machine or stage light. I do not envy what the less-well cast students go through.</p>

<p>If you’re an acting major, there’s some chance it’s worth the money. At least you’ll be introduced to Shakespeare, which is relatively marketable. A MT major has no business going to Webster: you take dance classes with all the local dance majors, voice lessons with the teachers local students take, ALL of your Conservatory classes with straight acting majors for 2 years. There is essentially no attention paid to musical theatre performance on stage until sophomore year (if cast), and in class until junior year (halfway through your MUSICAL THEATRE major). </p>

<p>End of the day, Webster is as useless as most public schooling. If you learned anything, you taught it to yourself: those with less talent tend to stay that way, those with more talent tend to stay that way, just 4 years older and notably deeper in debt. Avoid it, move to NYC or LA now…they won’t wonder why you’re so young and inexperienced; they’ll wonder why you’re so old and inexperienced. Most working actors have been doing it in some capacity since childhood. At 18, you’re already a decade behind, you don’t have 4 years to waste stressing out about learning “the massage sequence” or imagining a vivid backstory for minute-long scenes between characters named “A” & “B”. If you want to do this, get out there and audition like hell.</p>

<p>p.s. There is a cut system. However, it is arbitrary and consistently denied before and after it occurs, as if a cut system isn’t cruel & unnecessary enough when transparent. They most often happen the end of your sophomore year, after they’ve made enough money off of you.</p>

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<p>Hey Haterade:</p>

<p>I appreciate your feedback, along with the feedback of the other folks on this board…i’m wondering if you are in school now or working?</p>

<p>One of the things that we were told over and over again is that the reason NOT to head to NY or LA right out of HS is because there are tons of kids just out of college who are trained, who you would be competing with in auditions…</p>

<p>I am also wondering when your tenure at Webster ended? It seems lots has changed in the last few years…not everything of course, but some things. The kids are still at The Spaces, they are still journaling, there is still a heavy focus on journaling for freshmen, but the dance program seems to have changed (my D is in 3 classes this semester,), freshmen meet not only with their voice teachers weekly, but with the music director individually each week for coaching (Mt’s) Lara Teeter is teaching tap classes as well as the rest of the MT curriculum and he is bursting at the seams to provide more…they are forging a new relationship with the Muny…and lastly i have heard about a lot of “differentiation” for kids in my D’s class…for instance some kids don’t need “music theory”…they don’t take it…some kids really are advanced dancers…they don’t take the same dance classes as the more elementary dancers…etc …etc…these seem to be good improvements.</p>

<p>Just a comment on the “cut system”…it seems most schools have some sort of “board” or jury happening, with the results varying at each school…Michigan is the only school i know about that really does not have this. The one thing that Bruce and Lara told me personally is that being put on “warning” or “probation” is a result of lapses in “professional suitability”…timeliness, completion of hw, good communication with team (scenes, etc), reliability, professionalism, work ethic, etc…and NOT on facets of a students talent. That is a CHANGE, i think. I believe that some years ago (sounded like not too many) students went to faculty and voiced concern about “warning” happening on talent based issues, as they are too subjectively decided. The faculty took heed. I was told at our visit that the goal is for all Webster Conservatory grads to have the reputation of being solid insofar as talent AND professionalism, and if they let kids go on the professionalism piece then all Webster grads suffer by association.
Anyway, i know you aren’t a fan of the place, but i thought you might be interested in hearing about some changes that may give you pause to reconsider.</p>

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<p>I too am interested in a little more background from Haterade. When was your tenure? Did you graduate or leave the school. What were the circumstances? What are you doing these days? It would help a bit in understanding your opinions. As it stands now, you come across as “disgruntled” since you seem to post something negative every six months or so. Put things in the correct context and we will understand your feelings against the program better. You certaintly have the right to your opinion as do others that disagree with you.</p>

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<p>It’s not that I don’t want to explain my backstory, it’s that I’ll no longer be anonymous if I do, and the staff & students (at least used to) ■■■■■ this site and gossip about it regularly. So lets talk about Webster…</p>

<p>I’m not disgruntled. As I’ve said, I did relatively well at Webster. I’m trying to help others avoid the mistakes I didn’t. Think me bitter, but I would call most people who post here hopelessly naive. I realize parents pay large tuition for unnecessary classes like mine did, and that students lie to their parents about the program’s efficacy like I did, and after it’s all over they’ll most likely be dealing with unemployment like I did. Acting school, hell, any liberal arts school, should not be advised in this economy. It’s hard enough getting a decent job with a legitimate degree. In a field like medicine? Get that paper. In a field like acting? Move to NYC or LA now…yes, you’ll be competing for a ridiculously small number of jobs. The same will be true if you procrastinate at Webster for four years, but you’ll be even older with just as little paid work under your belt. No one I ever auditioned for in NYC has ever cared I went to Webster. No one cares who you trained for, they care if you’re experienced, talented, or most importantly, a friend.</p>

<p>As far as the cuts system “changing”, that’s the same garbage they fed us. “We don’t cut based on talent, it’s all about your work ethic.” Fact is, people were cut based on talent. Arbitrarily, but cut nonetheless. Others seemed to be cut for social reasons (personality). A few were cut for professionalism. As a result, many of the least professional (and talented) students made it to graduation. In hindsight, I’d say the most professional students seemed to be the ones that left willingly freshman year. Penny dropped sooner, I guess.</p>

<p>And why do you all insist on calling it the Spaces? It’s a strip mall, own it!</p>

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<p>I don’t agree with all Haterade says above however one of the reasons my D did not choose Webster was the class room setting. She hated that the dance classes were in a strip mall. It just didn’t fly with her either. Just expressing her opinion for other parents/students to decide for themselves. She did love Lara Teeter though so that was probably her biggest disappointment in not attending Webster.</p>

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<p>haterade,
While it is true that studying acting in this economy perhaps should not be advised, I think you may be a little out of touch with what is or is not happening at Webster now. My D has been gone from there a little over a year and I suppose even I may be a little out of touch. However, I do go to the MidWest Theatre auditions on that campus every year and I hire students from Webster regularly. Those “spaces” whether they are in a strip mall or not - who cares - are really nice and recently remodeled. If they cut people or not - well people get cut in this business all the time-at least they are saving you the tuition. My D has chosen to live on the west coast and while not a ton of people there may know Webster, they do recognize the names of some of the faculty and have commented favorably about them at auditions. I believe she feels she got a strong education at Webster. </p>

<p>No program is going to be perfect and not every student should study at a conservatory. I believe you get out of an education what you put into it as well. </p>

<p>I wish you the best in your career.</p>

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<p>As an outsider who only toured Webster for a day after I was accepted for MT a couple years ago, I thought the program seemed great. There were a few organizational things that occurred during one of the classes I was observing and the students kept complaining about that issue, but I feel that is something that occurs everywhere and could’ve been just an issue with a teacher getting used to things or having too much on his plate, etc. I was thoroughly impressed with the production I saw and how welcoming the students were, and I still even talk to some of them today. I chose to go to school in NYC based on location (which was my only downside with Webster) because the Groves just wasn’t the place for me and as a transfer I wanted to get out of school a bit sooner. A professor of mine last year who is a prominent director in NYC and a well-known voice and speech coach/instructor commented to me when he found out that I almost attended and referred to the students at Webster as “some of the most well-trained and professional actors he has worked with especially as students”. Just wanted to send some positivity out because I think the program, people, and instructors there are great, especially Lara who was so warm and helpful to all of us that were making the difficult decision of choosing a college program. No program is for everyone and every program has it’s negatives, but I think people are where they are for a reason. I just don’t want parents to be scared to send their kids to this school because of someone’s past experience in which I believe has very valid reasons, but one person’s experience may not be what your experience is going to be.</p>

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<p>Well said bcbMTfi!</p>

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<p>I go to Webster right now as a freshman MT. My class is amazing, we are like one big supportive talented family. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable, understanding, and challenging. My life has never been busier, and as an MT major I have a LOT to cover. Between acting, movement, voice/speech, musical theatre, music theory, 2 ballet classes, jazz, MT Dance Styles, private voice, piano, MT voice with Neil Richardson, text analysis, and seeing acting, MT, and directing major student directed shows every Tuesday I am BUSY. But I also have never learned so much in such a short amount of time.</p>

<p>THERE IS NO LONGER A CUT SYSTEM! Although some people do leave, that is because the faculty looks out for all of us and some people find that being in a conservatory is not something they would like to do. The first few weeks the faculty repeated that they are here to support us, but also to push us, and for all of us not to be afraid of failure because that is how you learn. The conservatory (techies, theatre design, acting, MT, and directing majors) is a great place to grown and learn together unlike any other environment i have been in.</p>

<p>You are able to audit classes as you wish as long as they don’t interfere with your basic schedule. I am auditing 3 dance classes, and i am learning to much. Seniors that have taken dance since they were 3, say their classes challenge them.</p>

<p>Also as a student I have over 500 musical librettos and scripts, all musical theatre anthologies, and MUCH more music at my finger tips online thank to the WONDERFUL and GENIUS Neil Richardson.</p>

<p>Finally, in a school I believe it is important to look at the graduating class. These people are AMAZING. Look up Audrey Rae McHale on youtube, she is a senior this year and is one of the most talented people I know. She and all others in the program say that if you use all of time that the program provides you will grow SO MUCH!</p>

<p>-Webster MT
Class of 2015</p>

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<p>You rock Gymnast! Stay focused! :)</p>

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<p>Thanks for a great post Gymnast! There ARE changes at Webster and those improvements need to be recognized. Plus, the incredibly strong acting program is still … well incredibly strong! That’s such an important component to being a stand out exceptional musical theatre performer. ( if you put in the effort ) It’s one of the main reasons our daughter chose Webster. Plus, I understand that this year Musical Theatre Song Study ( acting the song ) is now open to freshmen too. Last year they added the sophomores, which benefited my daughter. and the musical theatre dance and tap taught by Lara ( also open for anyone to audit ) are also great additions to all the other dance classes. This year my D added Directing to her schedule. Anyone can do that if they want. There isn’t a facet of training left undone for all four years. Only thing still the same is no auditioning that first year, which makes sense for their program. ( if it doesn’t make sense for you, then this could influence your decision. )</p>

<p>The thing to remember is EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT! What is one person’s perceived waste of time will be another’s great turning point.</p>

<p>It’s just sad how some people are so focused on the negative in their lives, that it spills over in an effort to poison the well for everyone else. Thankfully, I believe most people are smarter than that and will weigh the pros and cons for THEMSELVES, taking everything into consideration, going to the school, shadowing a student, talking to faculty and staff & students and asking the tough questions. That’s what researching is all about.</p>

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<p>You can stop the patronizing “so sad & bitter” comments. As far as I know, I’m the only former student posting here recently, so unless you attended (past tense), I don’t see how you can pretend my experience is less valid, or even equally valid. It’s more valid. A freshman insisting there are no cuts is not convincing. As I said before, we were told the same thing, I parroted the same thing. There are cuts. A person who never attended insisting parents shouldn’t be scared, also not convincing. I’ve already highlighted why a parent’s testimony is unconvincing. Like a parents testimony of their child’s looks: there’s some bias.</p>

<p>No surprise Neil and Lara are mentioned here…they’re the only faculty deserving of their pay. Still not enough, in my opinion. </p>

<p>This is not personal, I just don’t like getting ripped off and won’t sit idly while it continues. If they want to take money from me, I’ll hopefully take some money from them here. It takes a bigger person to admit they have regrets. If you can’t admit what you did wrong, you’ll only continue doing it. Embrace the regret, embrace the haterade <3</p>

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I have recently Webster Univrsity BFA’s acting program due to their inability to handle sexual assault. Please read my story here: http://itsonyouwebsteruniversity.blogspot.com/2015/01/webster-university-celebrating-100.html