Wonderful 4 Years at IU

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>I haven’t posted in awhile, but am starting to get a little teary-eyed knowing that my D will be graduating with her BFA in MT at IU this coming spring. The time has just flown by, but it is great knowing that she is ready to move on to the next phase in her life. She has had wonderful training at IU -the acting, voice and dance classes have all been terrific. The program is definitely designed to produce triple threats if you take advantage of everything that is available at the school. </p>

<p>An earlier post was acting about recent graduates…I don’t have a complete list and hopefully someone else will chime in, but I know a boy from last year was on the Grease tour and a girl was on the Beauty & the Beast Tour. Another girl was in Rent in NY and a girl from the prior year was on the Seussical tour after she graduated. MT is a new BFA program, but it was in independent major at the school for many years before that. I was told by the program director that last year there were 7 IU graduates appearing in Broadway shows.</p>

<p>If anyone is planning on visiting IU this week, please go and see their production of Hair - it is phenomenal! I saw it last weekend.</p>

2

<p>and wanted to give a shout out to a freshman Kelsey Shaw from Pasadena, Calif. thought her voice and stage presence were striking in a secondary role, as “Jeanie” <not related=“” first=“” time=“” seeing=“” her=“” perform=“” btw=“”>
cast list:
[IU</a> Theatre: Hair](<a href=“Indiana University Bloomington”>Indiana University Bloomington)</not></p>

3

<p>I’m currently a freshman Musical Theatre Major here at IU, and I just wanted to build upon what CA-Mom was saying about the program, but from the prospective of a freshman. From the moment I arrived here, everyone has been so welcoming; it is clear I am surrounded by passionate, hard-working artists (both the faculty and students). Before classes even began George Pinney held a meeting with the freshmen, where he spoke to us about the expectations of us for the next four years and the importance of our growth as artists as well as human beings. Then we were introduced (although most of us had already met them) to our “older siblings” in the program who are there to help integrate us into the great BFA Family. (Which is wonderful, we had a real Thanksgiving meal together, and Friday we are having a Christmas Party!)</p>

<p>Although IU is a relatively new program, George Pinney, Terry Labolt, Ray Fellman, and many other incredible faculty members have laid a great foundation for the program to grow. IU is quickly picking up momentum, and I have no doubt, will be a big player in the Musical Theatre scene in the next few years. Just an example of how the program is gaining distinction, there are students in the freshman class who were also accepted into MT programs such as Boston Conservatory, Ithaca, Syracuse, Carnegie Mellon and others, and chose to go here! There is a wonderful push to keep growing, and there is much excitement about the new developments in our Showcase (now partnering with BW). Just last week we had a masterclass where the seniors got a chance to perform in front of an agent from the Krasny Office in NY. It was very exciting for the seniors to get feedback on showcase material, headshots, resumes, and what is necessary to begin forging your career in NY as an actor fresh out of college. </p>

<p>Also, this semester we all got a chance to work with Award-Winning Composer John Bucchino. He came in for a masterclass and we all got to sing for him and perform in a cabaret of his songs, with him playing the piano! It is so exciting to be able to work with a composer on his own music; what John Bucchino was able to inspire in our performances was incredible and very rewarding. He is a true artist. </p>

<p>The performing opportunities here are also wonderful. HAIR at IU was a great success, and thrilling for the cast, who got to work with guest director Patti Wilcox. I am currently having a blast doing an adaptation of the Aristophanes’ comedy, “Lysistrata.” We were very excited to have the opportunity to meet with Ellen McLaughlin, the playwright, who came for a masterclass and talkback. (It was great to hear about her experience in originating the role of the Angel in Angels in America on Broadway). There are also wonderful opportunities outside of main stage productions (which also included The Three Musketeers and In the Next Room: or The Vibrator Play). I got a chance to work on all new material with the Bloomington Playwright’s Project, where I met and spoke with Paris Barclay (Emmy Award Winning Director). Some of my friends just finished doing a cabaret of An Evening of Kander and Ebb featuring the songs of “Chicago,” which was also a lot of fun. That was a completely student-run production; one of my freshman classmates had the opportunity to co-choreograph the dances! (He was great!) </p>

<p>I have so many wonderful things to say about the program it’s hard to fit it all in… Personally this semester I have grown a lot as an actor working with Jane Page, who just directed “Tom Sawyer” at the Denver Center in Colorado, and Gavin Cameron-Webb, who is a great director and has even taught at Juilliard. The resources we have at our disposal as BFA students are endless, and with a beautiful campus, fantastic facilities and such strong training, for me it is the complete package. </p>

<p>Also, I figured I would post a couple of links to some videos featuring BFA students performing and highlights from some of our current and past productions!</p>

<p>[hannahslabaugh's</a> Channel - YouTube](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/user/hannahslabaugh]hannahslabaugh’s”>Hannah Slabaugh - YouTube)
[IUtheatre's</a> Channel - YouTube](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/user/IUtheatre]IUtheatre’s”>IUTheatreDance - YouTube)</p>

4

<p>I understand that Indiana’s classical dance major is absolutely superb. How does this affect the musical theatre program? What is the dance training like at Indiana?</p>

5

<p>The ballet major at the Jacob’s School is superb. The students in that program could have signed with any number of major ballet companies in the country had they not chosen to attend college instead. Select individuals in the BFA MT program are allowed to take classes with the ballet majors, but most do not. The regular dance classes are challenging enough for most dancers - there are various levels of ballet (outside of the Jacob’s School), plus modern, jazz,tap, hip hop,etc, plus each semester there is a different musical theatre dance style class that most BFA’s take where they focus on learning about and dancing one MT dance style; such as Fosse. But, it is great to have the ability to take the Jacob’s School ballet classes if you are an accomplished dancer who wants to maintain your technique while in the BFA program.</p>

6

<p>my son is pursuing a dance minor along with the BFA MT; this allows him to take a heavy dance load with other students pursuing dance majors; he auditioned for the head of the program his first week at school last semester as a freshman and has not regretted his decision. in the spring semester he will take two dance classes. the IU program is very flexible and strives to help students achieve their goals.</p>