BEST COLLEGES BFA MUSICAL THEATER — Page 12

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.

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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.

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

"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.

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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

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

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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

^^^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

MT at Tisch is faltering? Gee, tell that to all the working actors in NYC that came from there...regardless of whether or not they graduated.

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One of the most inexpensive Mus Thtr BFA programs is at Cal State Fullerton on the west coast. Since it's a state school instead of private, tuition is about 4,000 a year.

Some of our alums are...

Dashaun Young (one of the only people who DIDN'T get fired from The Lion King last month), Mara Davi (Maggie in ACL Revival, Janet in Chaperone, and Judy in White Christmas). One of our juniors just ditched us to join West Side Story as ensemble & u/s Chino. We also have recent grads on tours...the upcoming non-eq Grinch tour, the just closed Chorus Line tour and the new Sonny, u/s Usnavi for the In the Heights tour.

I go to Ithaca (for music ed, though). I'd like to say that Kerry Butler and Matt Cavenaugh graduated from here. So did the actor that plays Lurch in Addams (I think his name is Zachary Taylor?). And, Aaron Tveit went there for a semester but he left because he got in a show. =]

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I'm starting to think about college, and specifically colleges with a good MT program. Below are the colleges I've already explored (through their websites):

College of Charleston
Elon
Syracuse
Rockford College
Florida State
Ithaca

Of that list (this list will most likely grow), which colleges do you think really stand out? Also, I'm really looking for a school that's not huge. I know some of these schools are big. I'm coming from a small high school (600 students grades 3-12). I'd love feedback on the schools I listed, and also other schools that anyone has in mind. I want a school that's semi-small since I'm coming from a small high school, and a place that has individual attention... I don't want to be person in a crowd of people.

Updated On: 7/10/10 at 12:17 AM