<p>I didn't research the specifics, but I know CMU advertises itself as "the oldest degree-granting drama institution in America." I also know they had graduating theatre classes as early as the 1920's, because each senior class had members paint their names on the walls of the old Kresge Theatre at CMU (in the CFA bulding, not the much newer Purnell Center), and replications of these wall rosters hang in Purnell Center. I don't know if CMU always granted a BFA, however - but they were definitely training actors waaaay back in the day. Cool trivia for us theatre geeks to know! :) But fishbowl is right in general - BFA programs were really rare until the 1970's at least (maybe the '80's).</p>
<p>It's baaaaaack! :)</p>
<p>Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Ben Daniels - Les Liaisons Dangereuses - London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Laurence Fishburne - Thurgood - Lincoln Square Academy (closed in the '80s)
Mark Rylance - Boeing-Boeing - Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Rufus Sewell - Rock 'n' Roll - Central School of Speech and Drama
Patrick Stewart - Macbeth - Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (1 year course when he was 17)</p>
<p>Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Eve Best - The Homecoming - Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Deanna Dunagan - August: Osage County - Undergrad Music Degree; MFA Acting, Dallas Theatre Center
Kate Fleetwood - Macbeth - Apparently none. Started with the Royal Shakespeare Company at age 11.
S. Epatha Merkerson - Come Back, Little Sheba - BFA Acting, Wayne State University
Amy Morton - August: Osage County - ??? Also a respected director.</p>
<p>Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Daniel Evans - Sunday in the Park with George - Guildhall School of Speech and Drama
Lin-Manuel Miranda - In The Heights - Wesleyan University
Stew - Passing Strange - ???
Paulo Szot - Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific - Studied opera at the University of Cracow in Poland
Tom Wopat - A Catered Affair - Studied Music at University of Wisconsin - Madison</p>
<p>Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Kerry Butler - Xanadu - None. Studies voice at the Liz Caplan Studio
Patti LuPone - Gypsy - BFA Drama, Juilliard
Kelli O'Hara - Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific - BM Voice, OCU; Studied acting with Kate Wilson and Ralph Zito of The Juilliard School, Lola Cohen and Mauricio Bustamante of the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, and Bartlett Sher in Seattle. Took dance classes at OCU and the Broadway Dance Center
Faith Prince - A Catered Affair - BFA Musical Theatre, CCM
Jenna Russell - Sunday in the Park with George - Sylvia Young Theatre School (apparently like an arts h/s) UK</p>
<p>Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
Bobby Cannavale - Mauritius - None. Started career with no training.
Raúl Esparza - The Homecoming - BFA Drama, NYU/Tisch Playwright's Horizons Studio
Conleth Hill - The Seafarer - ??? (Irish)
Jim Norton - The Seafarer - ??? (Irish)
David Pittu -Is He Dead? - BFA, NYU/Tisch Atlantic Studio</p>
<p>Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Sinead Cusack - Rock 'n' Roll - None. From a family of Irish actors.
Mary McCormack - Boeing-Boeing - BA English and Painting, Trinity College. Actor training at the William Esper Studio
Laurie Metcalf - November - BA Theatre, Illinois State University
Martha Plimpton - Top Girls - Professional Childrens' School (NYC), No college
Rondi Reed - August: Osage County - ???</p>
<p>Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Daniel Breaker - Passing Strange - BFA, Juilliard
Danny Burstein - Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific - BA, Queens College; MFA Acting, UC San Diego
Robin De Jesús - In The Heights - None.
Christopher Fitzgerald - The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein - BA Theatre, Rollins College; MFA Acting, American Conservatory Theater
Boyd Gaines - Gypsy - BFA Drama, Juilliard</p>
<p>Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
de'Adre Aziza - Passing Strange - BFA Drama, NYU/Tisch (Anybody know which studio?)
Laura Benanti - Gypsy - None
Andrea Martin - The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein - BS Speech and Theatre, Emerson College
Olga Merediz - In The Heights - ???
Loretta Ables Sayre - Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific - None.</p>
<p>correction - </p>
<p>Kerry Butler is a 1992 grad of the Ithaca MT program.</p>
<p>BTW, I saw Macbeth today - amaaaaaazing show! Catch it if you can (I think it closes next Sunday, the 24th).</p>
<p>Rondi Reed, like her fellow Steppenwolf ensemble member Jackie Metcalf and a bunch of other Steppenwolf founding members, is a grad of Illinois State U.</p>
<p>Amy Morton - One year at an undisclosed college. Studied acting at St. Nicholas Theatre with William H. Macy and Lois Hall. She was also an early Steppenwolf member.</p>
<p>I think this thread (which has had an amazing amount of information-very impressive fishbowl...) is really one we should show all our prospective MT BFA kids. It shows that there is room on the big stage for talented performers wherever they may come from, and whatever college they choose (or not.) I come from the old school as many other parents do of "get a college degree"-it was never really discussed to do it any other way. However, this shows our children that if they posess the talent and dedication and continue their training to be their very best, they don't have to come from the TOP schools (whatever they may be) to be successful.
With that said, I do want to point out something mentioned long ago on this thread which is that years ago there were very few BFA MT programs. I think this is probably why there are so few BFA degress listed-the younger actors and actresses clearly have a disproportionately larger number of BFA's than those of the older generation. I know from personal experience that a BFA MT was not offered at UMich in 81' when I graduated. The only way to take a major/minor in music and theatre was through the School of Ed which I did. Otherwise you could not take classes in both the School of Music and the LSA-Theatre Dept.
So...Fishbowlfreshman, keep the info flowing it is a treat to read!</p>
<p>My son went to high school with Robin De Jesus and had the opportunity and privilege to watch and support him in the pit through four years of top notch musicals.</p>
<p>Robin had a few choices of undergrad programs, Hartt included, and from what I understand was never able to assemble a viable financial aid/grant package at any of his admits.</p>
<p>He's an incredible talent, and one of the nicest people I've ever met. Saw him in a Radio Shack commercial a few years back, and was glad to see him pursuing his dream. I hope the nomination gives him a boost and opens a few doors.</p>
<p>Robin, if you read this, good luck to you.</p>
<p>Robin is a very talented young man who has had incredible success for a 23 year old, as well as being a very sweet kid who is very involved in GLBT events and groups in the city. He's been in the Broadway cast of Rent, has also been in a couple of PaperMill Playhouse productions, a few films, commercials, and now has found tremendous success with Into the Heights. I think stories like Robin's are what make me saddest about Rent closing in September. The show has been the starting point, or an important stop, in so many kids' careers in theatre for the past 12+ years, and it will be a shame when those opportunities are gone.</p>
<p>Kerry Butler went to Ithaca College. (Oops, Coach C, didn't see that you beat me to it!)</p>
<p>Also, wasn't Robin in the movie, CAMP?</p>
<p>On the subject of the Tony Awards, I was quite impressed with the young man who sang the number from Xanadu. Must have been some great actors in musicals to have left him off the nomination list. Great voice and easy to look at, too. :D</p>
<p>nmr, yes, Robin was in Camp.</p>
<p>musicmom, Cheyenne Jackson does, indeed, have a beautiful voice and I agree with you about him being easy on the eyes. He's very popular in the city, with both the girls and the boys! :) For those who may want to see him in Xanadu, he'll be away for the month of July, performing in what is looking to be a terrific production of Damn Yankees at City Center, with Jane Krakowski, Sean Hayes, Randy Graff, and Anna Gasteyer.</p>
<p>alwaysamom, how do you know so much about the inner workings of Broadway? You obviously are very close to the action!</p>
<p>musicmom, family and friend connections with the theatre community since my grandparents were the age I am now. I blame them! :) That, combined with my love of theatre, keeps me informed.</p>