Wright State Talk 2018-2019

If you have any questions about WSU, feel free to post them here! There are several current and former parents who still check in and are happy to help out if we can.

Thanks for starting this @MTmom2017. My S graduated WSU MT spring 2018. As weird as it seems, I no longer feel competent to weigh in on the application/audition process. But I am happy to share my take on S’s experience as a student there (and the benefit of the extensive WSU alumni network that has facilitated his move to NYC this fall). H and I were so impressed with the main stage musicals (and most of the black box productions, as well) that we re-upped for another season subscription this year. Can’t get enough of that 1-hour drive to Fairborn, Ohio.

@MTmom2017 and @mom4bwayboy thanks for offering this. My D is heading to WSU this weekend for a Master Class (series of classes and dance audition) Friday and then the monologue and singing portion of the audition on Saturday. Any suggestions on questions to ask that would show genuine interest in the program? Any other tips?

@afterp89 - break legs to your D! She will love the classes - it’s a great opportunity for students auditioning. Encourage her to talk to the current students that will be hanging around on Friday in the CAC (Creative Arts Center) and Saturday helping with auditions - they are a great source of information. Talking with them will probably help her come up with some questions.

Some things about WSU (you/she may already know all of this): A great resource/creative outlet for the students is the D-Lab, a completely student run black box theatre. A lot of schools don’t have anything like it. There are multiple shows every weekend. Students can use it for anything performance related that they want: their own new works, cabarets, plays, comedy shows, full broadway shows, the list goes on and on! If she’s a dancer, she can take dance major classes. MT & Acting Majors get to register first for classes, and they get help with scheduling (I didn’t realize how huge this one was until younger D/current freshman was trying to register for classes at her school).

My D has been out for a year & lives in NYC (with a WSU classmate), but I’ve stayed on CC because I went through the audition process again last year, this time with an Acting major.

@MTmom2017 thank you. Looking forward to the trip and fingers crossed on the audition.

@MTmom2017 and @mom4bwayboy just wanted to follow up and say thank you again. My D had a great time at Wright State and thought her audition went very well - she was the first to audition, so either she set a good tone, or not… She did like the classes and loved the D Lab concept, especially because while she’s hoping for a BFA MT or acting program, she’s also very interested in learning tech (specifically lighting) and the D Lab would give her that opportunity outside of classes. She’s already been admitted academically, so now we wait (they said until about March 1st for a decision).

About half the kids there were from Ohio, but half were from out of state - California, Texas, Georgia, New Jersey and we were in from Maryland. They did stress they don’t give any preference to Ohio students, however. We did express concerns about the university’s recent financial issues, but they said it hadn’t affected their department and the subscription base for season tickets helps with that. Also looks like downtown Dayton is having a bit of a recovery along the river, which is encouraging as well.

Glad she liked it @afterp89. D’s MT class had more people from out of state than in. The waiting is the worst part of this process! Back in “the old days” when my D auditioned, admissions were rolling. The current senior class was the last year of that - their yield was much higher than usual, so they ended up with a much larger class than in previous years, and after that they stopped rolling admissions. I do think that they made a couple of early offers last year for the current freshman class, but not many.

Wright State is a great school for people who would be happy with MT or Acting. Acting majors take some voice lessons, and can add more, and they can also add dance classes. All MTs/Actors take the same classes freshman year. All students audition each semester for the musicals and plays, and actors are cast in musicals and MT majors are cast in plays.

She did sign up to be considered for both MT and acting, but I think her best strength is singing. I guess the only reason they’d offer for acting and not MT is more competition.

How long does it take to hear back after November audition? Is it via email or mail?

Back in the “old days” (my S graduated Spring '18) the November auditionees had an answer by Christmas break. That’s no longer the case. Now they wait until all auditions are complete to send out offers. I believe kids get first notification via email, followed by snail mail.

WSU must have changed things up again. Just saw a friend’s FB post congratulating a student’s acceptance to WSU’s MT program.

@mom4bwayboy My D has not heard either way. Pretty anxious - so far she thinks it’s her top choice.

@afterp89 - I hope your D hears something soon - hopefully, good news. When S auditioned in fall 2013, all November auditionees were notified yeah or nay by winter break. It was so nice to have that known entity going into the rest of the audition season. Good luck to your D.

safe to assume the fall auditions didnt get answers yet?

@NYYFanNowMTdad My D has not heard yet, but rumor is perhaps a couple did. It can’t be many for a class of 14-16.

My D got a snail mail saying that she is on the WL. Her brother got an acceptance a few weeks ago via large package snail mail. D’s letter was in a small envelope.

Are there any parents of current students on this board? My D was accepted for BFA Acting for Fall 2019 and it is a top choice but wanted to see the MT crossover opportunities at the school. Thanks!

There is definitely crossover - I posted this on the previous page:

Wright State is a great school for people who would be happy with MT or Acting. Acting majors take some voice lessons, and can add more, and they can also add dance classes. All MTs/Actors take the same classes freshman year. All students audition each semester for the musicals and plays, and actors are cast in musicals and MT majors are cast in plays.

Hi. My D is a sophomore MT at Wright State. Feel free to post or send me a private message and I’ll try to answer questions (or connect you w/ other parents who can).

My S graduated MT last spring. Some of the most outstanding leads I have seen in WSU musicals over the last 6 years have been Acting majors. The MT BFA at WSU is actually a degree in Acting with an “emphasis” in MT. I believe one of the greatest strengths at WSU is the focus on acting for all the BFA students. The other huge asset is the student-run D-Lab. That’s where the students produce whatever they are passionate about - doesn’t matter what your major is.