BEST COLLEGES BFA MUSICAL THEATER — Page 11

From the videos I've seen on YT, I've been extremely impressed by U Michigan's students. And, their alumni did A Very Potter Musical, so that raises them in my esteem as well.

American University is in Washington, D.C. I interviewed for a graduate program there, but it wasn't related to theatre so I have no idea how good or bad their MT program is.

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some insight on the Penn State University's Musical Theatre program...its very very impressive.


http://live.psu.edu/story/40804


and the best part, I start there as a Musical Theatre major in 10 days!

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"Really, it truly doesn't matter where you go, at least from the schools mentioned thus far, because they all have great faculty who will really work to cultivate and motivate their students. The passion, hard work, and luck is up to you."

Well said. College is what you make of it.

How about some of the Ohio schools: Wright State University, Baldwin-Wallace, Otterbein, Ball State in IA?

What about Columbia College in Chicago? I would love to go to college in NY but I can't get out there to visit and I'm looking for something a little closer. One of my top choices is Elon but again, I can't get there to visit.

What school depends on the career you want? Who do you admire? Do you want to be a triple threat? Do you just want to do musical theatre or act in straight plays/films etc?
In my experience, working on 2 broadway shows and 2 national tours in the last 10 months and also teaching at a major conservatory, get the best acting training you can. Look at the actors playing lead roles who are now in their late thirties or older. Many, but not all, went to acting schools and developed their musical chops by learning a strong acting technique and applying it to Musical Theatre. The actors who finaled as Principals for one show I worked on had, without exception, NOT gone to an MT school. Some went to major acting schools while some went through "vocal performance" programs.
The principal actors I've worked with and respect have mostly gone to schools like Juilliard, Tisch grad, NCSA (or UNCSA as it is now) and BU. They can produce actors who can sing.
The ensemble actors who I respect tend to be from top MT schools like CMU, UMich, Baldwin-Wallace(rising to the top) or CCM. Or they've been to schools that don't have a reputation for MT and have had the drive to succeed. I'll be honest, I haven't had great experiences working with people from middle rank schools like Elon. Sorry, Elonites, but that's my experience.

What about Sam Houston State University? It's my first choice. The only notable alumni is Katie Rose Clarke, but students that have attended say that it has an excellent program in Musical Theatre.

anyone know how good (or bad) the one and two-year conservatory programs are at New York Film Academy?

So, there seems to be some very well informed people on this message board.

Anyone have some good advice on which MT school is best in California? I live here and can't really afford to go across the country.

Any legit feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Most of the ones people have posted are good. CMU, CCM, Michigan. Ithaca College has an amazing program. And look at the alumni in shows on Broadway!
Kerry Butler(Little Shop of Horrors, Hairspray, Xanadu, Rock of Ages), Aaron Tviet (Hairspray, Wicked, Next to Normal, Catch Me if You Can), Matt Cavenaugh (Grey Gardens, West Side Story), Joe Aaron Ried (Curtains, Chicago, Finians Rainbow), Eric Jordan Young (Suessical, Chicago, Ragtime) Sara Schmidt (Jersey Boys), Jeremy Jordan (Rock of Ages) and more. And these people are always LEAD roles in Broadway shows. Ithaca must be doing something over there.

As for great programs in Cali, there are a lot of talented people coming out of USC! I've heard great things about their program.

"As for great programs in Cali, there are a lot of talented people coming out of USC! I've heard great things about their program."

They don't have a Musical Theatre program, my friend... Their FILM & STAGE ACTING programs is what you're talking about (I hope).

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No, I dont think so. Call and ask..

They'll still be doing the 2 year certificate program though.

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