<p>Hi, I’m a high school junior, and I’m starting to narrow down my choices for where to audition next year. I’m interested in Indiana because it’s the total package; sports, social life, greek life, as well as a reputable theatre program. But what separates the IU MT program from the rest? </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>IU is simply my favorite place in the world. I love love love being an MT major here. I believe IU’s program will begin to gain even more of a national reputation in the coming years. It is only in its 5th year of being an actual major, but the head of the dept has been here for over 15 years.
If you look at the credentials of the faculty, you will see why it’s gaining recognition. I have only been here all of two months, and I already see improvement in my voice and acting abilities. Ray Fellman is a master at what he does. THere is also a new teacher from the Jacobs School of Music, which has one of the top voice programs in the nation. I don’t take from her, but I’ve heard she’s really good too.</p>
<p>I should also say that the attitude of the students here is something I absolutely love. I have not met a single “diva” and I believe the ability to be a moldable actor and genuine, individual person is something that the faculty look for in auditionees.</p>
<p>In my opinion, the biggest thing that separates IU from other musical theater schools is their overall philosophy of musical theater education. They practice something Terry Labolt calls “Inside-Out” education, meaning they help the students work on themselves as people. In our program, the faculty is just as concerned with molding you as a person as they are with developing you as an artist. Here at IU we are encouraged to be different… they choose interesting, diverse artists with passion and a strong appetite for their craft. Part of the four years you spend at school involves learning and drawing from the people in your class, so they also look for people who will make a valuable contribution to their educational community… people with various strengths and weaknesses. The flexible curriculum allows us to be nurtured in this way. You and the faculty will figure out together what you want to focus on at IU and how you can best execute those plans. One girl in my class took the full Stage Management curriculum so that she could be paid to stage manage while still performing lead roles here at school. Another girl in the program has been working on her coloratura soprano range, and the MT voice faculty set her up with private coachings with twice-Grammy-Award-winning soprano Sylvia McNair to help her. A guy in my class came interested in choreography, and George Pinney (a Tony-nominated Emmy-Award-winning choreographer) has mentored him for the past four years, and he has choreographed mainstage musicals here. </p>
<p>When you get to IU, no one is going to tell you to dye your hair, or to lose weight, or to hit the gym. No one will automatically say “oh you’re the ing</p>
<p>Great post WSHoos11 - very insightful information. Thank you.</p>