BEST COLLEGES BFA MUSICAL THEATER- Page 12

[musicalbluemirror]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 1:22am

other than NYU, what programs in NYC are really good?
Ive been hearing Pace & Marymount....?

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 10:32am

What counts as "good" ?

NYU is a top 10 (or top 15, depending on who you ask) program but neither Pace nor Marymount are anywhere near that.

The schools don't offer BFA's in Musical Theatre Performance. Both Pace and Marymount offer bigger & better drama/acting programs and specialized dance majors. Stay away if possible.

NYU is the best option in New York City. Some will get defensive and disagree but ask any qualified professional - they'll agree. Though I personally am against NYU and feel that it raises multiple "red flags"

Posted: 11/11/09 at 12:44pm

"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. "

I go to Sam Houston. It's a great program. Dave Clemmons comes twice a year for master classes. He thinks Sam is one of the most overlooked schools for talent. In fact, he has said that if a Sam Houston student comes in for an audition he will always look at them harder than the rest because of the training that is taught here. I am really enjoying it and definitely recommend it.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 1:02pm

Dave Clemmons is lying. He, along with 99.9% of professional NYC Casting Directors, could care less about your post secondary-level of theatrical education.

And I'll just leave it at that.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 1:14pm

To elaborate in re: Marymount Manhattan.

They only offer a BFA in Acting, and that is where the school's strength lies. Their acting program is very, very good.

However, I would not dissuade anyone from attending for a BA in theatre performance with a musical theatre minor. Despite being a minor, it's very intense and the program is gaining a lot of strength. It's just not a BFA, and if that's what you seek, that's not what you're going to get.

[musicalbluemirror]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 1:45pm

born and raised in brooklyn, and currently at LaG im looking into good schools for Musical Theatre in or around the city
I cant really imagine leaving the city to go way out there so im just looking for my best option in the area
Other than Marymount or Pace and of course NYU Im not too sure what else is there
ive heard AMDA is just rediculous (please give your imput about that if you have any)
other than that ive heard Wagner and Purchase

thanks guys!

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 2:17pm

Purchase??? No.

LIU C.W. Post, Wagner, Manhattanville, Marymount, New World, NYU, Pace, Rider.

** If you want to stay close.

Stay far far far away from AMDA, please. I beg of you.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 2:25pm

Hey, musicalbluemirror, I went to LaG, too (Vocal '07)!

Purchase has excellent straight theatre and voice programs, but no MT programs that I know of.
I actually have some friends that went to AMDA and they all loved it and are very talented! What's everyone's problem with it?
Have you spoken to Nancy Grilikhes (sp) about this?

Posted: 11/11/09 at 3:03pm

does anyone here actually attend (or attended, i guess) marymount manhattan? I am considering applying there for Production and Stage Management but have heard some negative reviews about it. Any opinions here? It really seems like a good fit for me but I don't want to go there if I am going to hate it and be unable to have a good career after college.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 5:03pm

I currently attend Marymount, but for BFA Acting. I love the school and the program (though I wouldn't dream of going there if I weren't planning on majoring in theatre or dance).

Everyone I know in Production loves the program.

Marymount is fairly well-regarded in the theatre world. Certainly not at the level of other schools, like NYU or CMU, etc., but well-regarded nonetheless.

At the same time, your career won't be held back by where you attend undergraduate school. And if you decide to attend Marymount, and find the school and program isn't a fit, you can always transfer.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 5:57pm

"I actually have some friends that went to AMDA and they all loved it and are very talented! What's everyone's problem with it?"

No comment.

[jake6970]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 8:43pm

musicsnob- pace IS a BFA in musical theatre. And really, don't let anyone tell you which schools are good and bad...as cheesy as this sounds, it's so crucial to find the school that's right for you. A school may not be the most reputable but if you go there and fall in love, chances are you will grow more as a performer and a human being than you would if you want to an amazing program where you were unhappy for 4 years.

[Fat Actor]

Posted: 11/13/09 at 4:56am

TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY!!! All I can say about it is, Kaitlin Hopkins.

[CanAsian Tenor]

Posted: 11/23/09 at 6:25am

I'd like to know people's opinions on these NY schools. I'm applying soon for them and want to know which offer the best in terms of being connected with the professional theaters and companies in NY.

Pace
CAP21
Marymount
AMDA

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 11/27/09 at 12:36am

I don't know what everyone's supposed beef with AMDA is since no one seems to want to say anything specific, but I went there last year (I wound up leaving the program to pursue a BFA at a different school) and while the program is not the strongest and they have some really bizarre philosophies, it's not a terrible place. I don't think it should be a substitute for college because it is not a college type of environment at all but there are some really good things about it and many of their grads do work professionally. They accept a lot of people and so there are strong performers and weak performers in every group but I had a couple of really amazing teachers (in addition to several awful ones) there who taught me a lot. And like a lot of people here have already said, it's not just the strength of the program, it's what you take away from it. The advantage to it is that all of the teachers who teach there are working professionals and it's a good place to make connections and learn about the business side of performing, which is something a lot of other MT schools don't give you. It's a very different thing than going to an actual college and I think it's an individual decision as to whether that's right for you or not but I wouldn't dissuade anyone from going there who really wanted to.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 11/27/09 at 1:18am

"They accept a lot of people"

Because they don't care about the integrity of the program - they just need the students.

We'll start with that... and go from there. It seems to have a 'trickle down effect'. I could easily list my "beef" with it, if you like.

But you've already revealed your prejudiced bias so I'll pass. No thanks.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 11/27/09 at 9:21am

I really don't want to get into a huge fight on a message board but I already acknowledged that there are good and bad things about the program there and I gave my take on it, so I don't see how this reveals my "prejudiced bias." Yes, I went there, but I left the program for a myriad of reasons and I know it's not a perfect place but it is also not the completely worthless program that many people here seem to make it out to be...I felt I learned a lot there in spite of the aspects of the program that aren't as strong.

[musicalbluemirror]

Posted: 11/27/09 at 1:31pm

CanAsian Tenor:
Pace is pretty good from what i am hearing
CAP21 is a great program but they are no longer with any school (they just released themselves from NYU) and now they offer a 2 year intensive which you can then transfer those credits to another school to get a degree
Marymount i would have some concern with...A) they dont have a BFA in musical theatre and B) ive had some experience with some teachers and they are horrible.
AMDA is AMDA so you can decide on that for yourself

[Charlie No-One]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 8:56pm

What are good musical theater programs that have a focus on voice?

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 9:12pm

Syracuse, University of Miami (the bm program), OCU, Steinhardt's program (NYU), U of Hartford (The Hartt School), etc., etc., etc.

[javertjunky]

Posted: 12/14/09 at 1:59pm

College Conservatory of Music - Cincinnati, OH.

I spent a year in at this Conservatory, it is great!

[hl2522]

Posted: 12/14/09 at 7:47pm

As of now Pace is the ONLY university in Manhattan that offers a BFA in Musical Theater and is actually a stellar program. The talent of the students and of the faculty is comparable to any "top" school.

Now that that is cleared up, I just want to echo the sentiments of whoever posted that you need to find the school that is right for you, not the one that has the "best" reputation. For the most part, casting directors/directors dont care where you go, thats not what gets you cast - so go where you'll be happiest and where youll receive the training that best suites you.
Updated On: 12/14/09 at 07:47 PM

[taintedxl0ve]

Posted: 7/7/10 at 1:38am

I don't really buy all the hype about NYU. I've heard from a few people who go there that their MT program is beginning to fall apart, and I've also heard horrible things about the way the students in the MT program are treated. Plus the fact that their tuition is ridiculously expensive, and I don't want to get out of college with $250,000 worth of loans to pay off.

Whoever said Pace doesn't have a BFA program is wrong. They have a really intense program, and I've heard nothing but good things about it. I'm going to be a senior in HS in the fall and Pace has been my top choice for a year now. I'm only applying to east coast schools...right now I'm definitely auditioning for Pace, Marymount, Emerson, UArts, & BoCo, plus Hunter & Queens College as safety schools. Are there any other good MT programs I'm neglecting?

[Soozie]

Posted: 7/7/10 at 1:49pm

^^^To respond to the comments by taintedXl0ve above, a high school student, regarding NYU/Tisch and musical theater.....

NYU/Tisch's MT program is not "falling apart." My daughter attended the MT program at Tisch/CAP21 (graduated in 2009) and I am pretty up on things at Tisch, as I also advise MT applicants to all colleges as my job.

Tisch's MT program training had been at CAP21. It still is for those who are currently in the program until they graduate. But for incoming students to NYU/Tisch who are focusing on MT training, NYU/Tisch no longer will be contracting with CAP21 for studio training, but instead has started their own in house studio called New Studio on Broadway for Music Theatre and Acting. This coming fall will be the first class in that studio and all subsequent MT students in Tisch will train at that studio.

Information about....New Studio on Broadway: Music Theatre and Acting:

http://drama.tisch.nyu.edu/object/dr_newstudio.html

Information just about the MT training:

http://drama.tisch.nyu.edu/object/dr_newstudio_musictheatre.html

Also, on the right hand side of the page I just gave the link to, you can click on a pdf document of the curriculum for the MT studio.

The New Studio on Broadway’s faculty can be found here:

http://drama.tisch.nyu.edu/object/dr_newstudio_facultyannouncement

Further, going to Tisch is more than just the studio training but you also study theater at Tisch outside of studio in many courses, and of course have the great academics of NYU.

As far as how MT students are treated, my daughter loved the program and would very much recommend it to others. When you are selecting a MT program, or any college, you must talk to many who have attended and not rely on the experience of one person who may be the person who is unhappy at their college (every college has such students) or else you simply might experience the program differently than that person did as you are different people. In any case, whatever you heard as to how your MT friends were treated at Tisch, it isn’t even all that relevant anyway as incoming students for MT at Tisch will no longer be training at CAP21 and will be in New Studio on Broadway and so who administers and teaches the program are different than who your friends experienced (though my daughter was happy at CAP21 and at Tisch overall, just saying).

Lastly, the idea of $250,000 in loans is not realistic. Yes, NYU is expensive. But nobody has $250,000 in loans. If you are someone who qualifies for financial aid and has NO money at all for college, then your family’s expected contribution on FAFSA would be zero (meaning you are low income). If that is the case, the entire cost of NYU is not going to be loans. Some will be. And if you are going to attend college, usually, unless poor, a family has to contribute SOME money toward the cost. It is not typical at all to borrow the ENTIRE cost of attending NYU (or any college).

Good luck in your search. NYU/Tisch may not be for everyone but it truly is a really great MT and acting school for many, and enjoys a fine reputation as well. We could not be more pleased with how wonderful Tisch was for our daughter who had wonderful opportunities while there and after.


Updated On: 7/7/10 at 01:49 PM

[taintedxl0ve]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 2:30am

The main issue for me is the money, though. I'm paying for my tuition entirely myself, and my family doesn't qualify for any financial aid...we're not even close to being considered low income. NYU's insanely expensive tuition plus their lack of scholarships is the main thing that made me realize I can't even consider applying.