What Colleges offer Musical Theatre as a Major?

[chasef2008]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 11:08am

Ok so I have been searching like crazy and I still can't seem to find any school that offer Musical Theatre as a Major. I've found a ton that offer Theatre as a major and Music as a major but not together. Since many of you are in different parts of the country can you just name a few of the best colleges where you live that offer MT as a Major. Sometimes you miss the really small colleges which are sometimes the best ones. Thanx!

-Chase

[LiLMuNkEe22]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 11:27am

-- Webster
-- Viterbo
-- Cincinatti
-- (i think) Michigan
-- Oklahoma
-- Ithaca
-- Penn State
-- Cornish


more to come!

[chasef2008]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 11:37am

thanx! Are these all local for you or are some out of state?

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 12:27pm

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/forumdisplay.php?f=501

Go to this forum, make a name, and start posting. Getting on College Confidential.com is the most helpful advice I can give you. This is an entire message board dedicated to getting into college for musical theater. It is frequented and posted on by parents of musical theater students, current musical theater students, faculty from musical theater programs, and students auditioning for musical theater.

There is a wealth of information on all the best musical theater schools and about the audition process on this site. Get on there and start searching and asking questions! Good luck!

If you have anymore questions, feel free to PM me. I just went through the audition process last year, so I'd be happy to help. There are many others on this board who also did this, so we're here to help.

Updated On: 5/8/06 at 12:27 PM

[withoutlove78]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 12:30pm

sorry to butt in, but obviously some are out of state because, well, more than one state is referred to in this list. you don't have to know where she lives to figure that out.

but to help you out, here are some more =)

NYU-Tisch(CAP21 studio)
UMiami
Boston Conservatory
Carnegie Mellon
Wagner College
Univ of Hartford- The Hartt School
Univ of the Arts
Syracuse
FSU

there are tons more but i can't think of them right now.. hope that helped!

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 1:01pm

On the college confidential board, all the schools listed are the best schools for it.

The "top five" are widely regarded as University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music, University of Michigan, Carnegie Mellon, Boston Conservatory and Ithaca. There are many other very good programs besides just these, so do your research and pick a variety of schools to audition at.

[chasef2008]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 2:20pm

Thanx for all the advice everyone! withoutlove78, I guess I didn't really read the post throughly, thanks. :)

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 4:16pm

also take with a grain of salt any sort of "ranking" system in terms of MT schools. there are a bunch of schools that are "the top" schools -- probably about 8-12 that MOST would agree are the best in the country. a lot of times people will broadcast what they think is the be-all end-all of MT schools, and many will (naturally) disagree.

there is a lot of really excellent first-hand information on college confidential (CC) about MT schools, auditioning, summerstock, and so many other topics. as always take everything as opinion, just like on this board. overall, i think you will be very grateful for the HUGE amount of experience/information the posters on CC can provide.

best of luck.

[chasef2008]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 10:45am

Thanks guys! I'm gonna go join now! :)

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 11:08am

Take sporti's advice, both re: CollegeConfidential's MT forum, and also about rankings. Don't listen to anyone who claims to know or list what the 'top five' or 'top ten' or 'best' programs are. There are no official rankings for MT or straight drama programs and you will get a different opinion from everyone you ask. There are many great programs but what you need to do is research, visit, inform yourself about several different schools, narrow down a list of programs which fit your criteria and which will be a good fit for you, then apply and audition. Entry into most good MT programs is extremely competitive so you should count on having a list of at least 8-10 audition schools, and it's a good idea to also have a couple of non-audition B.A. programs as 'safeties'. You'll find everything you need to know at CC.

[chasef2008]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 11:39am

Thankx. I'm on the path right now of loosing weight...alot of weight, about 100 lbs. I weigh about 260 lbs. and that will play a huge role on not getting accepted into schools. I'm kinda getting depressed cause I can't loose anything though. I've been at this mark for about 2 months. I guess I'm just not trying hard enough. Be honest: Can & will school turn you down for being overweight? I am also going to start taking some theatre classes as well as dance classes at a local Regional Theatre. It's about 2 hours away, but I'm willing to do it so that I can get prepared for college. I've been a musical there and it was really fun, the people are nice and I would rather take dance here and learn what I'm doing than wait till college and be the only person that doesn't know how to do a ball-change (which I do know how) lol. Thanks for all the advice, it's really helping! :)

-Chase

[jaesdare]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 12:28pm

ccm is known for accepting only athletic people with high stamina and all that jazz...
many programs are not focused on what you look like, but your abilities...so keep at it friend and good luck

[BroadwayDreams2]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 11:22pm

I go to West Chester University in PA. Its a state school so you wouldnt expect it to have a good musical theatre program but our theatre department is awesome. I'm a musical theatre major. Everyone starts as a General Theatre major and by the end of your first year you pick your concentration. You also don't have to audition to get in. I thought that was a bad thing at first but around the same time you pick your concentration, they have figured out who is really serious and who isnt so its nice. they give everyone a chance and if you're talented, it shows. check us out: www.wcupa.edu
p.s. one of our seniors is currently touring w/ Rent as US Maureen/Alexi Darling
Updated On: 5/9/06 at 11:22 PM

[withoutlove78]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 11:49pm

cool...my boyfriend goes to WCU! i just saw the rent tour at the hotel dupont and noticed that alexi went there and i was like omggg awesome!! haha just thought i'd share

[champzboy]

Posted: 5/10/06 at 12:14pm

look into The University of the Arts which is my school. Its a great upcoming musical theatre program and if you're worried about weight and all that, there are SO many different types of actors at UARTS, all different colors, shapes, and sizes and its nice to be in a program that is about the individual and not about turning everyone into a cookie-cutter image of "perfection". So give it a look. Later!

[Elphie]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 1:05am

Montclair State Univeristy's is relatively new, but it is on the right direction. Def. check it out.

[chasef2008]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 10:37am

Thanx! I def. be checking out Montclair and UARTS. This advice really helps! :)

[gustof777]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 11:09am

yay UARTS!!

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 11:15am

If you're looking for a smaller school with a great program, look into Boston Conservatory. The school and city are beautiful, the staff and faculty are super nice, and the training is top-notch.

[chasef2008]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 2:41pm

thanks. The only bad thing about out-of-state schools is that I can't visit them. Especially the ones in NY...which is where I really wanna go. My parents are pretty supportive of me wanting to go to NY mainly because they wanna get rid of me and because they don't think I'll make it and that I'll come crawling back home. I really hope everything works out for me...I wish so bad I could come to NY just to visit and watch a b-way show. Maybe our school might take a trip. :)

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 4:17pm

I wanted to go to college in New York more than anything... but if this is what you really want to do, then won't you end up in New York someday anyway? Why not see a different city? I'm perfectly happy with school in Boston, because I know I will live in New York eventually.

[MattSingsAlot]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 4:20pm

Actually no schools that I am aware of (including CCM, i have friends there and am going next year) will turn someone down for being overweight. Don't let that be a factor in your decision process for where you audition.

For instance I don't have an athletic build (working on it) nor can I dance at all. They want to see potential and eagerness to learn, That's true of any school! Updated On: 5/11/06 at 04:20 PM

[chasef2008]

Posted: 5/12/06 at 2:29pm

"They want to see potential and eagerness to learn, That's true of any school!"

That's so true! I love to dance but I've never taken classes for it so I'm kinda in the dark with alot of it. I was letting that and my weight hinder me but it's true that as long as you show up willing to learn with an eagerness to succeed they'll help you. :)

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 5/14/06 at 1:40pm

though a school wouldn't completely discount you for being overweight, image DEFINITELY factors into their decision.

basically, a MT school is looking for someone who will work after they graduate, therefore making a name for their school, blah, blah, blah. look at the "weight and theatre" thread -- weight CAN and often DOES play a role in casting. so while it's not a make-or-break issue (moreso for guys than girls), it is important to be in shape.

keep working, chase. you might be at a standstill now, but every little bit you do will help, i promise!!

[chasef2008]

Posted: 5/16/06 at 11:47am

Thanks! I've been really stressed lately and I'm starting to loose weight. Under the circumstances, that's not good. I have barely had time to do anything and within the last week I've lost 10 pounds...the last week! I've been dancing more and walking. I drink water non-stop and I have cut out all cokes/pop/soda/etc. I have a performing arts program during the summer that I go to and I normally loose alot of weight during the summer, then fall & winter comes aroudn adn I gain it back. That's gonna be different this year. My voice teacher told me that if I don't loose weight the only roles I'll get will be comic...I guess fat ppl are funny...idk...lol.