What an Acting Student Needs - Part Two

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

<p>Some time ago, I started a thread when my D was accepted to a college acting program regarding what kind of things she may need. I got some responses, but I don't recall much being there. (I apologize if I am wrong.)</p>

<p>Well, one week before she was scheduled to depart, her theatre proram sent her an email with a lengthy, exhausting and expensive list. I would venture a guess that most MT kids would have this stuff already. But she is Acting, and yet, they still expected her to have it. (She is taking Ballet in her program.) I am posting the list so that those of you future Acting Majors can consider this list, and maybe slowly acquire some of these things so that you will not get hit by this last minute charge. I would be interested in hearing how many of you had to buy such things for your college programs as well.</p>

<p>Starter Make up kit from Ben Nye or Mehron, including spirit gum (EXPENSIVE & mandatory)
Hairdryer
Hot rollers/curling iron (my D's hair is curly....like she would ever purchase these.)
Scar wax (whatever this is?)
Black jazz shoes (she had)
Black character shoes (1 1/2" heels or higher) (she had)
Black Jazz skirt - knee length
Black leotard top
Black trousers for crew (she had)
Black sneakers for crew
Black shirt for crew (nothing on it)
Black floor length rehearsal skirt
Ballet slippers (she had)
White button down shirt (for box office staff)
Enough 20th and 21st century costumes for rehearsals (can be aquired as needed).</p>

<p>This was just the stuff she needed as an actor for the program, not including the normal college stuff. Heads up.....</p>

2

<p>chrissyblu:</p>

<p>What a good idea! Here’s what we tell the incoming class (three months before they arrive):</p>

<p>"In preparation for classes and crew work, we suggest all majors bring the following:
· A daily planner.
· A set of blacks (long-sleeved plain black shirt with no logos or printing, black pants or jeans with no contrasting stitching, black socks, and black shoes) for working on backstage crews.
· A thorough, current, well typed resume.</p>

<p>BFA Design/Technology and BA majors should add:
· A good adjustable wrench.
· Leather work gloves.
· A 25’ tape measure.
· Safety glasses or goggles.
· An architectural scale rule (purchase at art or architectural supply store).</p>

<p>BFA Acting, BFA Musical Theatre, (and BA Theatre majors interested in auditioning) should add:
· Two contrasting monologues, plus one prepared song with sheet music for an accompanist, for auditions.
· An 8x10 head shot. We would prefer a professional one, but an enlargement is acceptable for the first term.
· Character shoes (for women) and black hard-soled dress shoes (for men.)</p>

<p>BFA Acting, Musical Theatre, Musical Theatre/Dance majors and Dance Minors should add:
· Dance/movement attire, including ballet, jazz and tap shoes, leotards, unitards, tights, contour-fitting sweat pants or jazz pants, and dance belt or athletic supporter for men."</p>

<p>The letter from Stella to the new dance minors is more specific about dancewear:</p>

<p>"Women: leotards, tights, ballet slippers, jazz shoes (preferably not jazz boots), tap shoes (flat and not character heel), and character heels. The following are recommended but not required: dance skirts for ballet class, jazz pants, pointe shoes (only if you are proficient in pointe).</p>

<p>Men: tights, dance belt, fitted t-shirts (preferably white for ballet class), jazz pants, ballet slippers, jazz shoes and tap shoes."</p>

<p>We do tell students that there are good dance supply stores in the Columbus area if they don’t have access to them at home. While there will be minor variations between schools, I think you can expect to need most of the things on this list. </p>

<p>I think we could collect similar lists from other program. Faculty, parents, jump in.</p>

3

<p>Here is the list we send to our incoming MT students a month or two before classes start… I think next year I will add blacks for run crew… good idea :slight_smile: </p>

<p>~Recording device to record music, voice parts, for your voice lessons and rehearsals</p>

<p>~Plays/ Theatre Books</p>

<p>~Sheet Music and Musical Theatre Anthologies (Our library has an extensive collection, but I suggest that you bring with you anything that you currently own) </p>

<p>~ Dancewear<br>
Women: Dance shoes – ballet slippers, jazz shoes (not sneakers), character shoes (recommend 2” or 2 ½” tan, however if you already own character shoes that are a lower heel and/ or black there is no need to purchase new shoes at this time.) Tap shoes (since in musicals women rarely wear lace up, oxford type tap shoes you should have character heel tap shoes) as well as the oxford type of tap shoe if you also want the lace-up kind. You each have been placed in a dance class for the fall, so if you do not already have them, you should purchase the appropriate shoes for your fall dance class first. You can acquire the other shoes listed above as you need them. </p>

<p>Dance clothes – leotards, tights, dance pants, fitted tops in which you can move. </p>

<p>Men: Dance shoes – ballet slippers, jazz shoes (not sneakers), character shoes (black – you can purchase something like a “Men’s Tap Oxford” WITHOUT the taps attached like the 4512x by Danshuz or a “Men’s Standard Oxford” like the BR02 by Capezio©), tap shoes. You each have been placed in a dance class for the fall, so if you do not already have them, you should purchase the appropriate shoes for your fall dance class first. You can acquire the other shoes listed above as you need them. </p>

<p>Dance Clothes – dance pants, dance belt, fitted t-shirts in which you can move. </p>

<p>Other things you might find useful:
~Personal Steam Inhaler (Vick’s makes one. BUT – you should use it without the Vick’s pads)
~Humidifier (dorm room heat can be dry. If they are allowed, a humidifier can be helpful)
~A small keyboard for learning material and practicing at home.
~Rain Boots (has nothing to do with your major… but it can rain quite a bit in the Valley)</p>

4

<p>Wow, chrissyblu!! I’d also be interested in knowing what other schools require that sort of purchase of supplies for actors.</p>

<p>My son is a BFA Acting freshman at Boston University, and his class received NO list of required purchases.</p>

<p>In addition, his expenditure for books was less than $300. (He only needed books for History of Dramatic Literature and a writing class that all freshmen take.)</p>

<p>Tuition…and those **!!# fees that hike the semester bill…are a different matter!!</p>

5

<p>Carnegie Mellon Production/Technology/Management supplies for their summer program (condensed version of freshman year) cost approximately $300 (plus more for books, of course). These included everything mentioned by doctorjohn above and: drafting supplies (t-square, triangles, compass, mechanical pencil, etc.), drawing and painting supplies (sketchbook, watercolors, etc.), a toolbox to store everything, and a bottle of glue—in our case confiscated by airport security (go figure) and later replaced by spray adhesive.</p>

6

<p>My son’s roommate, who is in Design and Production at the School of Theatre at BU, needed to buy lots and lots and lots of art supplies after he arrived at school.</p>

<p>But perhaps he knew to expect that??</p>

7

<p>My D goes to UCLA and is an acting student. She called this week to explain that yes, she didn’t have much in the way of books (a few plays for the “how to read a play” class they require all freshman to take). But she wanted us to understand that instead of books, we would see plays on our credit card bills. Instead of books, she will be required to attend plays at Geffen and other locations in LA. This makes sense, but I know will be pricey. And with UC just raising reg fees by 30% we are around $25,000 a year (not including books, plays and this list) for the tuition and room and board. </p>

<p>Thanks everyone for all this insight. Please keep it coming. I think it is important for incoming and future students to know this is an additional expense that is coming.</p>

8

<p>D is in the BFA Acting program at Brooklyn College, and there were no supplies that were required.</p>

<p>She also only had to spend about $50 on books. Most of what she needed we could find either in the county library system here at home (eastern LI) or NYPL Performing Arts Library.</p>

9

<p>This is our supply list at North Carolina School of The Arts:</p>

<p>LADIES:
-combination pad lock
-gym clothing
-black leotard (2)
-black footless tights (2) or black runners tights available at sporting goods stores
-black turtleneck (long sleeve, can be leotard or body suit)
-Black sweat clothes
-2 black wraparound rehearsal skirts (one ankle length & one knee length)
-tap shoes
-character shoes (no heal)
-jazz shoes (split sole slippers NOT jazz sneakers)
-white bra and black sports bra
-white blouses (2)
-“Longman Pronunciation Dictionary” (Pearson Education, Ltd. 2nd Edition-Available at Campus Store)
-Complete works of William shakespeare
-“The Elements of Style,” 4th Edition by William Strunk, Jr. and EB White
-A Good Pocket Dictionary
-Personal Voice Recorder
-Pair of rubber-soled athletic, sport, or running shoes–FOR INDOOR USE ONLY (May not be or have been worn outside)
-Pair of comfortable fingerless or tight leather gloves (Fosse, anyone?)</p>

<p>GENTLEMEN:
-Combination pad lock
-gym clothing
-Black footless tights (2) or black runners tights available at sporting goods store
-Black leotard (2) or black T-Shirts with black jazz pants
-black turtleneck (long sleeve)
-black sweat clothes (not baggy)
-men’s black dress shoes
-Tap shoes
-black socks
-jazz shoes (split sole slippers NOT jazz sneakers)
-white dress shirt (2)
-black dress slacks
-flesh tone dance belt (tight fitting athletic supporter may be substituted) or compression shorts available at sporting goods store
-“Longman Pronunciation Dictionary” (Pearson Education, Ltd. 2nd Edition-Available at Campus Store)
-Complete works of William shakespeare
-“The Elements of Style,” 4th Edition by William Strunk, Jr. and EB White
-A Good Pocket Dictionary
-Personal Voice Recorder
-Pair of rubber-soled athletic, sport, or running shoes–FOR INDOOR USE ONLY (May not be or have been worn outside)
-Pair of comfortable fingerless or tight leather gloves </p>

<p>Technical class requirements:</p>

<p>-8 in. Crescent wrench.
-Pair of OSHA-approved safety goggles or glasses
-leather work gloves (may not be leather, but leather is preferred)
-closed toe shoes
-tech clothes–clothes you don’t mind getting dirty</p>

<p>Yes, I must admit shopping for my school did get pretty pricey.</p>

10

<p>hi Son of Tranquil… by your name I assume you may be a man, but I am curious by what they mean by “character shoes (no heal)” for women"?</p>

<p>THANKS!</p>

11

<p>Hi KatMT,</p>

<p>Yes, I am in fact a man, haha. Firstly, I would just like to correct that typo, I think it’s actually “(no heel)” but I am sure you gathered that already. I’m actually not quite sure what that means, but yes, I didn’t know that character shoes without heels existed either. I swear that was on the list though!</p>

<p>-SoT</p>

12

<p>Something new to add to UCLA’s list: </p>

<p>A C clamp - 6 inches
leather gloves</p>

<p>This is because her first year, she has to do lighting. She will use these in her lighting work.</p>

13

<p>SoT – I did not even realize when I cut and pasted that “heel” was spelled “heal”… I am not the greatest speller… :frowning: … I was just curious what they meant by a character shoe without a heel for women. Hope that you are enjoying school!</p>

<p>:)</p>

14

<p>Do any of you know which version of the Complete Works by William Shakespeare that the colleges are recommending?</p>