Disabled MTs?

[littlebird12]

Posted: 8/21/10 at 11:01pm

Hi all! I am going into my junior year of high school and have been looking at colleges with good theatre programs. I have high functioning cerebral palsy. My disability is only noticeable through a limp when I walk. Originally i had planned on doing some sort of production of directing. However, I have been second guessing this and wondering if decent schools take disabled MTs. My talent for singing and acting far out way my not so great dancing. I am aware that i would have to work twice as hard but I'm always up for a fight.

Is it worth persuing? Does anybody know any schools willing to look past the dance audition? If so what good schools should I be looking at? (My list includes Elon, Carnegie Mellon, Emerson, Hofstra, Ithica, Otterbine, Oberlin, Baldwin Wallace, DePaul and Boston University)
Or would I be better off doing a double major in theatre and vocal performance?
And in my case would I be better off being a big fish in a little pond or a little fish in a big pond?
Any info would be appreciated. :)

[Juliash]

Posted: 8/25/10 at 5:25pm

Catholic University has a great MT program and is often willing to work with your disability so just notify them of the reason. But there are some programs that don't even require a dance audition- I know OCU has an optional but not mandatory one for example. Just look around- you may find that MT programs offering a BM- bachelor of music degree (rather than BA or BFA) have no or less dance involved. In any case I would encourage you to email the music admissions staff and speak to them.