<p>And I have to decide by tomorrow! Princeton is really working to build their dept, and putting tons of money into it. Yale has 120 shows per year, but their curricular theater doesn't have too many practical classes...</p>
<p>I mean Yale School of Drama is INCREDIBLE. But that's not undergrad.</p>
<p>Any insights as to how I should make this decision? You don't just have to talk about theatre - I'll take anything!</p>
<p>my friends who are undergrad, freshmen actors here at yale--including the guy who was far and away the best actor i watched during high school in new york--are in plays constantly. i don't do any theatre here personally, but the size and energy of the drama scene here is staggering. it's worth remembering that a lot of the well-known yale actors, like edward norton, jodie foster, and ron livingston, were undergrads. yale is also just an amazing place to go to school, for all the reasons you've probably heard before.</p>
<p>wow i haven't been to this site in soo long, but i'm procrastinating writing a theatre essay so this is only appropiate...</p>
<p>as a freshman actor, i just wanted to second what the last post said about "the size and energy of the drama scene here is staggering." i have to say that this has been one of my favorite things about this place. the number of opportunites both on stage and behind-the-scenes is enormous. the extended theatre community is also just full of very cool and talented people.</p>
<p>more importantly, princeton sucks!</p>
<p>but no, in all seriousness, i would simply go with your gut (or follow your heart, or some similar cliche) and i'm sure this "princeton" school will have adequate theater.</p>
<p>and i'll admit, yale's theater studies program is known for not being especially exciting but there does seem to be a handful of really good professors (my current prof NOT being one of them), and there are definitely practical classes, if not a ton. another general complaint is the limited number of chances to work with professional directors...which is a shame, but is mostly made up for by the fact that there's some truly wonderful student directors.)</p>
<p>lemme know if you have any more questions or anythin.</p>
<p>So you have lots of opportunities as an actor, but do you feel you're growing as an actor? </p>
<p>If the program's not "exciting," does that make you not want to be a theatre major?</p>
<p>Sorry that you have Professor Lane - I've heard (and witnessed a little) the torture (okay, maybe that's a little extreme... maybe...) Is Joe Roach going to be teaching that class, for sure, next year? And what exactly do you hear about him? Is he as dense as what he writes?</p>
<p>What about opportunities for theatrical training over the summer, or for internships? I love Yale, and I hate to bring up Princeton, but I have to be comparing right now - Princeton seems to be desperate to give out their money to fund just such summer training or internships. Anything similar at Yale? Wishful thinking, probably, huh?</p>
<p>Thanks for your help, by the way! And I hope the essay's not too painful.</p>
<p>I recently accepted Yale over Princeton, and the theatre scene was a huge part of my decision. I've heard mixed things about the freshman classes of course, but some of the upper level stuff is apparently great. And the opportunity to work with the directors, writers, actors, etc. that Yale attracts is invaluable. Princeton may be building its department, but Yale is still the theatre ivy. It seemed like every third person I met at Bulldog days was somehow involved. And the two shows I've seen and rehearsals I've sat in on have been fantastic. I personally felt that the chance to constantly be engaged and challenged by fellow students was greater at Yale. And while the classes will be great at either school, I felt the sheer energy of the theatre scene at Yale would make a great four years. I'm sure you'll be happy either way of course.</p>
<p>YALE!!!</p>
<p>I will be attending Yale in the fall, and even though I'm not going to be very involved in theatre there (maybe set design), I am the stage manager and student director for my HS's theatre program, and I could not help but be impressed by Yale's theatre offerings. (Yes, I realize that was a long sentence. ;))</p>
<p>The theatre scene is incredible at Yale, and the Shubert Theatre is widely recognized - frequently hosts Broadway shows and such. I would hate to see you pass all this up!</p>
<p>"So you have lots of opportunities as an actor, but do you feel you're growing as an actor? "</p>
<p>Absolutely! I don't know about you but personally I feel that plain old experience can be just as enriching as actual instruction. And next year, I'll be taking a "practical" class anyway. </p>
<p>"If the program's not "exciting," does that make you not want to be a theatre major?"</p>
<p>Yeah sort of. But I'm going to see if higher-level classes are better, which they will be, so I might major in it anyway. Or you could emulate Ed Norton who got his BA here in History and took every Theater course he could without technically majoring.</p>
<p>"Sorry that you have Professor Lane - I've heard (and witnessed a little) the torture (okay, maybe that's a little extreme... maybe...) Is Joe Roach going to be teaching that class, for sure, next year? And what exactly do you hear about him? Is he as dense as what he writes?"</p>
<p>Hah thanks. About Roach, the sophomores I know who had him loooved him! Whoever's teaching it, it won't be Lane because she's got a baby comin.</p>
<p>"What about opportunities for theatrical training over the summer, or for internships?"</p>
<p>I don't really know if Yale gives out funding...maybe?</p>
<p>As far as getting money for summer study of ANY kind is concerned, Yale is wonderful. I talked to a sophomore history major who has been given $9,000 to go to South America for several weeks, and he said it's hard not to get money from Yale. I think the same would be true for theatre majors.</p>