Undergraduate Theatre Programs

[brainpolice23]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 8:47am

If anyone has any opinions of the theatre programs at these schools, please post back.

-Middlebury
-Northwestern
-Amherst
-UC Berkeley
-UCLA
-Pomona
-University of Washington
-Northwestern
-UNC Chapel Hill
-University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
-University of Toronto

I'm talking about straight theatre (not musical) and tech programs (primarily lighting).


Thanks.

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 8:56am

sorry, i don't really have much to contribute about those besides what i've already said about middlebury (ps - did you like it?)....i just think it's really great to see (a) someone talking about straight theatre..we all seem to get stuck on MT a lot.. and (b) someone looking at schools that aren't all the "big name" schools that some think are the be-all end-all of theatre programs. there are LOTS of great programs everywhere!!

i don't know if you'd want to add this to your list as it seems it's pretty established already, but i have a friend in stage mananging at Wagner who is really enjoying their program. i have heard only good things about it from her, and she is a really talented/driven techie (yes, they have talent/drive, too!) -- just another one you might want to consider.

best of luck!

[brainpolice23]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 9:00am

Thanks. I'm not to interested in Wagner from a school standpoint, in large part due to its location. I'm visiting Middlebury and Amherst this Tuesday and Wednesday, and am very excited. Do you know who I'd want to try and contact at the school to learn more about the Theatre program?

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 11:57am

I'd also love to hear about UC Berkeley.

[EmieMarie]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 3:37pm

University of Washington has an excellent program, I'm probably going there

[Jesus]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 3:55pm

U of Toronto is a wastte of time.

[stella985]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 4:10pm

Well this is just my opinion, but I think you'd do fine studying theatre at any of the good liberal arts schools like Middlebury, Amherst, Vassar, and so on. No, it won't be a conservatory, but most of the students will still be hard working and also smart and creatvie. Also, you'll get a good education and it might even be a more creative environment since sometimes conservatories can be pretty rigid and people are overally conserned with getting things "right." Plus, you can always go to grad school for a conservatory. That's just my opinion though. Northwesterns theatre program is very well respected. You don't get a BFA, but everyone in the buisness knows it's a good program.
Updated On: 8/19/06 at 04:10 PM

[brainpolice23]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 10:44pm

EmieMarie are you going into your senior year of high school? What other info do you have about UWash. Did you visit and such? Sit in on classes?

Thanks.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 2:05am

Northwestern has probably that most "prestigious" theater program from your list, but from what I've heard the training really isn't that great for undergraduates. You don't have to audition to get into the program, you only have to get into Northwestern itself. This is a red flag for any theater program in my book.

University of Michigan has one of the top musical theater BFA programs in the country, although from what I understand the "straight" theater program isn't quite in the same league. But U Mich is a very good school at Ann Arbor is a nice city.

UCLA also has a very good drama program so I hear, although I think that it's really better suited for people who want to be in film rather than theater (it being in L.A. and all).

[brainpolice23]

Posted: 8/24/06 at 12:36am

I just got back from Middlebury and Amherst. Middlebury seems like an incredible school, and although the theatre department is small, it seems like a terrific place to do some training and a great environment for any artist. The campus is amazing, and they have their own ski mountain and golf course.

On the other hand, I didn't like Amherst at all. The only thing I like about Amherst is the nearby town of Northampton...great music scene.

As for Northwestern and Michigan. I sat in on 2 classes at each school and took part in guided tours of the university and the theatre departments (DEFINITELY SIT IN ON CLASSES AND SPEAK W/ STUDENTS). Both campuses are incredible, and both schools are academically rigorous and have something for every interest. However, I preferred Michigan to Northwestern for a few different reasons.

a)Facilities
-Michigan has recently built a brand new theatre facility, with tons of rehearsal space and a great theatres.

b)Student population
-After meeting with a bunch of students, the Michigan kids seemed to be more supportive and comfortable around each other, and, due to the audition process, all incredibly talented.

c)Department itself
-At UMich, the acting department is part of the school of music, located 10 minutes North of the downtown campus in a nice, isolated retreat. This gives it a "small conservatory feel, in a large liberal-arts school."

ps: the freshman acting classes at UMich seemed to be even more intense than senior classes at Northwestern. However, both schools have terrific programs.

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 8/24/06 at 10:22am

brainpolice --

thanks so much for the great feedback on those schools!! it actually makes me want to look into mich a little more.

[brainpolice23]

Posted: 8/24/06 at 11:26am

It's lot's of fun Sporti...from what I saw at least.

If anyone also knows anything about Indiana University - Bloomington...Post some feedback.

thanks.

Northwestern kids seemed very preppy and not so friendly. The music theatre kids were talking **** about each other during performances in one of Domenec's classes, and were very condescending towards me...which I didn't appreciate. Updated On: 8/24/06 at 11:26 AM

[missmezzo88]

Posted: 8/24/06 at 12:40pm

My theatre teacher said that Northwestern had an excellent program and she recommended it to me last year, but I don't know much else about it.

[brainpolice23]

Posted: 8/26/06 at 5:07pm

bump

+add williams

[i*heart*fame]

Posted: 8/26/06 at 10:14pm

brainpolice--that is very interesting, I had the exact opposite opinions re: michigan v. northwestern. I adored Northwestern and hated Michigan. Plus, as a whole, Michigan had a much less academic feel and the students taht I met with weren't nearly as friendly as those that I met with at Northwestern.

RE:Williams--this is one of my top schools. I adore it on so many levels. It has a brand new theater center which is gorgeous and absolutely amazing. It has had some absolutely fabulous grads, including William Finn and the great Sondheim. More importantly, many of their most succesful grads weren't theater majors, something that is very important to me. In addition, it is also highly academic and incredibly supportive. It is fun and amazing.

[i*heart*fame]

Posted: 8/28/06 at 6:37pm

Also, I know that you are looking at Amherst adn Williams, the two are very similar and are huge rivals. Williams has the better theater program, IMO. However, usually only about 7 people actually major in theater, but they do many productions and most of the campus gets involved in some way. They have 9 or 10 a cappella groups, which clearly are made up of many non theater and music major. As a result, you dont need to be a theater major to still be heavily involved with the theater department, which is a great thing if you have other interests.

[brainpolice23]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 10:58am

thanks for all the info.