Is a BFA in Musical Theater really necesary to be a Broadway Actor?

[BwayLeadman]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 4:44pm

I have a problem, Right now in college I am studying Theatre. I want to do Musical Theater, which means that I would have to go up-state or even to another state.

I was thinking I could finish my Theatre degree and just keep auditioning for shows as I've been doing and take voice and dance classes at my college or even someplace else..

Or should I go for the BFA Musical Theater?

What do you guys think?

[Aigoo]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 4:48pm

It's not necessary at ALL. MANY performers have not even finished college. It's just a decision you make. Sutton Foster, is a good example. She left CMU to join the Follies tour at 17.

The BFA program just gives you specific training that might HELP you, but it's not a necessity.

[Pinguin]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 4:49pm

In my opinion, you don't NEED to get the musical theatre degree; it's pretty easy to get good voice/music performance training and dance training anywhere. It's much harder to get good acting training, and acting training is what will set you apart from all the chorus members who were trained at CAP21, and will also make you slighly more prepared to do work in straight theatre and have other options available for you besides musical theatre.

The advantage of going somewhere to get a musical theatre degree is that there is probably more opportuntities to get experience doing musicals.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 4:59pm

Of course not. There are PLENTY of Broadway performers who did not major in musical theatre. It helps you... hone (sp?) your craft. It's great, and it looks good, but it's absolutely not necessary. It gives you a chance to work on musical theatre without being in harsh NYC yet (unless you are at NYU, but you're still not in the real world yet).

[briarbrad]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 5:17pm

a BFA can only help, it can't hurt (that is, if it is from a good program). That being said, not having one might not hurt you, as long as your training and skills are comparable to those who will be out there auditioning with the BFA's. On top of the training, the only other thing that you'd really get is exposure to agents and casting people (if you're at a top school that offers a sr. showcase) and the "brand name" that would prove to casting people that you were well trained.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 7:13pm

Aigoo-Sutton Foster was in Will Rgoer's Follies BEFORE CMU. She left CMU for personal reasons.

[PJ]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 7:19pm

It's not necessary. A person with no talent can't come out of a "brand name" school as the next Sutton Foster or Kristin Chenoweth. If the talent is there, you'll make something of yourself through perseverance.

[Aigoo]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 7:25pm

MFl- Sorry...I read somewhere that Sutton left for Follies during her attending CMU.

[PJ]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 7:29pm

Sutton left CMU because she wasn't sure if performing was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. She didn't want to be spending $25,000 a year* if she was unsure.

*Yes, Carnegie Mellon cost that much in the 90's.

[briarbrad]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 7:31pm

Yes, but someone coming out of a "brand name" school will be talented. They had to get in over 1000+ applicants.

And, something important to remember, talent does not equal training. Someone could have tons of talent, and tons of promise, but that doesn't mean they know what to do with themselves on stage. So, as I said, you don't need a BFA, but make sure your training equates to the training of those who have them (whether it be through acting studios, private voice, etc).

[PJ]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 7:44pm

Getting a job in this business has a lot of outside factors besides what school you went to that determines your future. Timing and luck play in to it as well. Believe it or not, there are people who graduate from NYU, CMU, CCM, you name it, and can't get work. At auditions when they see on your resume you graduated from one of them, they don't automatically give you the job. Your talent is what gives you the leg-up on competition.

[briarbrad]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 8:03pm

I really dont feel like getting into an argument, but you're twisting my words. Yes, of course, undoubtedly, talent is important. But a casting director is not looking for the same things that a drama school faculty member, say, is looking for in a college audition. They want to see talent, they want to see a well-polished acting style, they want to know you're going to understand how to take direction and use your voice to the best of your ability. A director of a professional production doesn't have the time to teach a budding young talent HOW to act or HOW to sing. Wherever you choose to get it, whether be in a college program, at a NYC acting studio, through private vocal lessons - the training can be just as important as the talent. Plenty of people are talented, the people that "make it" have learned, SOMEWHERE, how to harness that talent.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 8:22pm

If this is what we're "arguing" about, schools want to see POTENTIAL. They don't want you to be perfect already.

[briarbrad]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 8:34pm

Ashley - Yes, schools do want to see potential...we were talking about what casting directors and agents want to see.

[kitkatgirl54]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 8:49pm

"Yes, but someone coming out of a "brand name" school will be talented. They had to get in over 1000+ applicants."

Actually.. you'd be suprised. In my 2 years at a "brand name" school, I have learned that college auditors can't get nearly enough out of a 5 minute college audition to decide if someone should be in the school. There are all kinds of levels in there.

[Aigoo]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 9:18pm

You're going to have to trust that the college adjudicators know what applicants are right for their college, in terms of potential, adaptability, versatility, marketability, and just in general, how well they would fit in with the school itself. It's amazing how these admission judges are able to find out so much about a candidate just from that short audition time. Some people say it's nigh impossible, but it's your job to show the adjudicators that you WANT to go to their school, that you WANT to work with them, and that they won't regret making their judgement.

[itstheM]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 6:01pm

I am having this dilema as well. I'm not sure if I should spend four years in school paying LOADS of money when I could live in NY and take classes there. My parents tell me that the networking I get in college is the most important part and that I can get better "real" jobs with a college diploma.

[briarbrad]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 6:39pm

I'd agree with your parents; the networking that you'd get at (certain) schools could prove to be INVALUABALE. That is one of the perks of training at a prestigious program vs. training at studios/private lessons. Also, living in NYC and paying for those studio classes could end up being just as much, if not more than paying for college (no financial aid or merit aid for NYC apartments and classes!). One piece of advice that is important to remember is to NEVER rule out schools because of money, you never know what they might end up giving you in terms of aid. And also (b/c I assume you want to go straight to NY to possibly start working) do you think you'd be ready right out of HS to land roles? Remember - training is NECESSARY to hone natural talent!