Marymount Manhattan College

[Joshua488]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 6:47pm

Does anyone here attend/know anything about Marymount Manhattan College?

I am looking for any details that anyone has, especially regarding their theater program. Thank you!

[Joshua488]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 8:34pm

*bump*

[theatreguy]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 10:18pm

I know there are a few people here who go there. I'm going there next year, so I know a few things about the program. Feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer. Updated On: 3/9/05 at 10:18 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 11:10pm

I go to MMC....what do you want to know?

[Kimmygonbefamous]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 11:11pm

My best friend goes there as a dance major, so I've actually been there a few times. The 55th Street dorm is really nice, if that matters. I also considered applying to the theatre program and attended the open house and all that. They're really nice and helpful people, and very much willing to answer your questions. The curriculum sounds really great, very competitive, but great. The movement/dance lady is especially nice. I've also met a few of the theatre majors, and they all have nothing but good things to say about the program. They said it was hard, but they're learning tons. It was cool to just walk down the hall of a dorm and hear incredible voices singing incredible showtunes

Updated On: 3/9/05 at 11:11 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 11:14pm

The movement/dance lady? Do you remember her name?

[Kimmygonbefamous]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 11:15pm

Not offhand, but she was at the open house. I think she had long dark hair...I'm so bad with names...I just keep replacing her in my head with Donna Murphy in Center Stage. I know..it's bad.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 11:20pm

I know EXACTLY who you're talking about. She's not in the dance program, she teaches dance in the musical theatre program. Her name is Haila, and she is one of the rudest, meanest women you will ever encounter in your life. Stay on her good side, or she will literally make your life a living hell and make you feel like you don't deserve to be living. I still run the other way when I see her - I wouldn't take her crap, so I stoop up for myself and other kids when she would get out of hand. I really despise this woman, but don't let my words dissuade you from the program - she IS exactly like Donna Murphy in CENTER STAGE, but with a raging temper. Let me know if you end up going to MMC.

[Kimmygonbefamous]

Posted: 3/9/05 at 11:22pm

My goodness...well, I can see why she's in the theatre. She can act...my mother thought she was ever so sweet lol.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 3/11/05 at 3:56pm

*thread revival*

[CapnHook]

Posted: 3/11/05 at 6:54pm

Too much competition.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/11/05 at 6:57pm

What do you mean too much competition?

[Joshua488]

Posted: 3/11/05 at 6:58pm

I've PMed CapnHook, asking him to elaborate.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/11/05 at 7:01pm

Well, he doesn't go there. I'm trying think about what to say to you Joshua, but I don't really know what you want to know. Ask me specific questions, and I'll answer as best I can. Don't do it through PM's, I hate PM's.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 3/11/05 at 7:10pm

Okay. Well, to start...

Do you enjoy MMC? What about it makes it so great?

What do you dislike about MMC?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/11/05 at 7:15pm

That's not specific enough, come on! Ask really specific questions, I'm not a fan of critiquing the program...

[Joshua488]

Posted: 3/11/05 at 7:18pm

Well, that's what I want to know.

I just want to know your opinion on the school!! What the hell kind of questions am I supposed to ask??? LOL

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/11/05 at 7:22pm

I do'nt know, I guess I'm just really too lazy. Okay, I'll try.

I like that the school is relatively small, and basically all the theatre people know each other. Most of the faculty and some of the adjuncts are professional performers themselves, and are absolutely brilliant. Like any school, there are some questionable teachers. The Musical Theatre program, which started out pretty weak, is growing very nicely and rapidly, thanks to the wonderful woman behind it. I like the school because it's nice LOOKING, and it's a very liberal and artsy environment - plus it's in a great location. The school does 4 mainstage productions a year - usually 3 plays and one musical. Last year they did 2 musicals and 2 plays. Some of the talent is absolutely top-knotch amazing - among both students AND faculty. It is a liberal arts school, so although one might be a theatre major, you are still required to take core classes. I don't know what else to say...

[Joshua488]

Posted: 3/11/05 at 7:24pm

Okay.

Now tell me anything that you DON'T like about the school. I'm looking for true, honest opinions.

Also, do you know if it is very difficult to get in? I have no idea how difficult or not it is to be accepted.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/11/05 at 7:31pm

I don't like some of the teachers. I do'nt like how every theatre student has to take Tech Crew and Stagecraft, only 4 credits combined. They're basically an excuse to get free labor from students to build and work on the mainstage shows. I don't HATE anything at all about the school, though - it's quite good.

It is very competitive, as far as admissions are concerned. Not as competitive as CAP 21, but it's pretty hard to get into. When I was a freshman a year and half ago, I believe the acceptance rate was one in five.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 3/11/05 at 7:33pm

What are some of the classes you take? How about some of the required classes, including regular liberal arts classes?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/11/05 at 7:40pm

Just the usual....script analysis, theatre history, voice and speech, movement, dance and voice for musical theatre students, tech crew, stagecraft, acting....etc.

Required for everyone...

a math class, first year mentoring, first year seminar, critical thinking 2, public speaking, and core classes. There are 5 categories of core classes: arts, science, english, etc, and 2 levels: 100-200's and 300-400's. You must take one class from each category and of each level. So, 10 classes in total. It's VERY difficult to explain.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 3/11/05 at 8:05pm

Thank you very much! I will probably have more specific questions later on, but right now, that will do. Thanks again!

[CapnHook]

Posted: 3/11/05 at 8:11pm

Joshua, feel free to post my response to you from PM in this thread.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 3/11/05 at 8:24pm

"Well, in the school, there are hundreds of theatre students. For productions, all theatre students shall be auditioning. Say there are 200 students, your chances in getting into say 6 shows are 6/200, or 3/100. Not good odds. So you will have less experience. And more minorly, less to put on the resume.

Go to a small school with a good theatre program, say with 50 students, then you will be on stage all the time, get a LOT of experience, and have good material to put on the resume.

College is not for performing, it is for training.

This doesn't mean MMC is a bad school, but it also doesn't mean other lesser known schools are any worse. Some may be better. It all depends on you and what you want. But a FACT is that you will be on stage less than a typical school, or a typical school with a better-than-average theatre program.

You need to really do your homework in finding the right school for you. Make a list of all things you look for in a college, the theatre program in the college, and the city the college is located in. Then see which schools offer the most on your list.

I attend a college with an exceptional theatre program. A celebrity's son goes here, our technical professor is well-known in the tech world (he invented a stage paint, and even invented the Nickelodeon slime and other stuff), it's small with no more than 50 theatre students, and offers 6 semesters of acting courses (as opposed to the typical 4). Many other pluses and minuses to my college. But I am happy, and I believe it will allow me to be successful in my career. It's the training I need.

Hope this helps."

-CapnHook


Feel free to comment, munkustrap178... or any other students of MMC.