BEST COLLEGES BFA MUSICAL THEATER- Page 5

[BroadwayBettini2]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 7:42pm

Emerson is supposedly a great school...on'y about 4% if applicants get in.

NYU Tish, Despite The program has a more Conservatory feel (or so my Tish Friends say)

AMDA...Now I'm going to this school come fall, but I too have heard Mixed things. I know alot of people from this school, and most of them LOVE IT, but they say it's ALOT of work..and if you even slack off a bit you wont get anything out of this program. Recently it has changed...Students who go there now say that the SCAMDA thing has either changed or was just a matter of oppinion. I also talk to some "people" (Working actors, casting directors) Amda does NOT have a bad reputation in New York. In Fact many of those "People" think AMDA is a good school. Trust me, I wouldn't waste my time...I'm serious about my work.

But the truth of the matter is...Everything is a matter of OPPINION. You can't really judge that way...I would look at turn out, costs, location, programms, and percentage of applicants accepted. AMDA has a 40% acceptance rate. And NYU is some where is the 20's because SAT's SAT 2's and ACTs and academic grades are requiered for acceptance.

Good luck)

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 7:51pm

Emmerson has had some big problems lately. Last year they had to get a new department head. Certainly not one of the "leading" MT programs.

[BroadwayBettini2]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 8:01pm

I should tell that my friend who is going to try out there next year.

But My firends who auditioned for Emerson didn't get in, and they were good so I thought it would a better school than that, thanks for the information.

[briarbrad]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 9:03pm

Hey Bwaybettini - congrats on UArts. Was just wondering if you'd share why you chose UArts over other BFA programs (if any) you got it into. Thanks.

[BroadwayBettini2]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 9:13pm

I ultimatly chose AMDA over NYU and other 4 years becuase of a personal situation with Academics. i'm one of those all or nothing people, I tend to unintentually slack off in things I know I can't do (Like math for instance) I knew that if I went to a 4 year I would have to take a form of Mathmatics and I would most likely fail, and I wouldn't be able to concentrate fully on Theater. I'm horrible at things like math and science so I wanted to steer clear of things I didn't need and put all my focus on Theater (Things I love, and I know I will never give up doing.) So it depends on what type of person you are. And do you believe enough in yourself to devote to one subject and forget about a backup plan.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 11:10pm

Emerson as a school has been going through a lot, but I don't think the theatre department has been too affected. I mean of course it has been affected, but the faculty and students are great. I've worked with the new department head and he seems fine. He's a lot of fun and he puts out great work. He's still new, but he seems to fit right in. I don't think Emerson's political problems should keep people away from it. The show must go on, after all.

~Steven

[Aigoo]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 11:13pm

unintentually


::giggles::

[BroadwayBettini2]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 11:37pm

oops hahaha

I suck at typing!

[Aigoo]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 11:40pm

It sounds like a "Wicked" word.

[BwayLeadman]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 11:42pm

Its funny that for most schools you have to go to a small town to study Musical Theater...

That's one problem Im having...
I want to go study Musical Theatre (for most part away)
but I want to stay in NYC.

[briarbrad]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 11:46pm

Well in NYC, you've got:

NYU
Marymount Manhattan
Hunter College
Hofstra (Long Island)

But ya, you're right...it's strange that there's only four schools in NYC that offer MT, with only one of which being a really notable program (NYU). But, if you want to stay in a large, urban city, that's still very possible outside of NY!! Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Chicago...

[BroadwayBettini2]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 11:52pm

Then your going to want to go to NYU Tish or AMDA which are both in Manhattan.

[NYUstud]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 12:00am

Well as you all know I'm a proud student of the MT program at Steinhardt at NYU! If anyone has any questions please PM me!

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 12:17am

Emerson is in the heart of Boston's Theatre District. Three of the four major Boston theatres are a block or less from my dorm and Emerson's campus. It's a real plus for going to the college. You truly are immersed in theatre at Emerson.

~Steven

[IveGottaBeME]

Posted: 6/25/05 at 3:24pm

uarts is in the theater district of philly.. like a mini nyc

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 6/26/05 at 9:33pm

nyustud, I was just going to post about Steinhardt's program but you beat me to it. Steinhardt's MT program is a great one with lots of talented students. :)

broadwaybettini2, it's TisCh, not Tish. :) If you got into NYU and decided not to go because you thought you'd have to take math, you made the wrong decision. You don't have to take math, if you don't want to, at Tisch. I don't know where you got that idea!

There are many excellent MT programs in cities: Tisch, Steinhardt, Emerson, BoCo, Syracuse, CMU, UArts, CCM just to name a few.


Updated On: 6/26/05 at 09:33 PM

[BroadwayBettini2]

Posted: 6/26/05 at 11:20pm

No, I declined to try out for Tish, because admittance was based 50% on academics and Sat's. My math scores have dranged me down my entire life. I didn't want me to drag me down any more.

I know it's spelled that way, I'm just a bad at typing.

[dory the nun]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 3:34am

Just because it shouldnt go unsaid---

none of this really matters in the end.
what i think (and who am i.. right? but i am going into my senior year successfully in my Musical Theater BFA... so maybe i know something... maybe not..)

what i think- is that you need to decide what is really important to you and study that to its fullest. certain schools focus on different pieces of the pie to differing degrees... do you want to be a singer who can read lines... or an actor who sings... or a singing dancer.. or an acting dancer.. you want to order the three in your priorities and make sure that the schools you select to apply to hold the same standards.

and i'm telling you- from here to the moon- the name only impresses people who would be impressed by only a name. but again if you want to go to a big name school just to say i went to so and so school- then go there. but know that there are lesser known universities with phenominal programs out there. and when performers have the training they need- they won't need a name.

and know what role you'd like to fulfill as a grown artist and performer... different schools prepare students for differing careers... a chorus line position... a leading lady... a dancing sensation... you know?

and visit each school because you have to live there and be passionately in love with your experience.. you may never know till you see a place if you will flourish there. and THAT is the important thing. you must mesh with the program.



that- is what i have to say.

that aside-- just because i have had a phenominal first three years- i put it out there:

UArts in Philadelphia has a very quickly growing phenominal program for musical theater. They select around 25 students each year (though I think it was more like 22, 20 this past year) but that number dwindles- my senior class in the fall has 12 people.
You study Meisner with some of the top NY Meisner teachers... but they also integrate a myriad of other methods into your freshman and senior acting studios. The teach in depth Shakespeare, 4 years of Singing Acting training, Cabaret, voice lessons... yadda yadda...

Its a truly solid program in my humble opinion. I'd just like to put it out there for consideration.
If you have any questions- my email address is Storygoeson @ yahoo.com and my AIM is Dorythenun. i'd be more than happy to field questions.

and for anyone looking UArts does offer a pre-college intensive summer program in acting or musical theater that is quite wonderful. I know many other places offer them too- so you may want to shop around... but I'm working my second summer as a teacher's assistant for this program and i can say its pretty wonderful...


just another option to help get a feel for certain colleges...

best of luck to you.
this is a hard time and a hard thing to figure out--- but just keep auditioning and the right thing will fall into your lap.
i promise.





sincerely
kati

[Sassypants77]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 4:12am

Well I'm Canadian, and for anyone else who is interested in great Canadian Universities or Colleges with emphasis on fine arts, I have some great info!
Sheridan is quite a good option, and as has been said, you can apparently combine your fine arts certificate from there (it's primarily a trade school) with a programs from the awesome University of Toronto, to earn a degree.
Another newer college that is gaining popularity and prestige immensly quickly is the Canadian College of Performing Arts, which is located in Victoria BC. I have some friends who attended, and were so grateful for the opportunity, and learned an incredible amount of very useful information and training from the program. It has become even with Sheridan in terms of popularity lately, and has even had to add on a third year to keep up with student demand. They go through rigerous classes in dance (ballet, tap, jazz etc) music theory, audition processes, finance lessons, career management, drama, both classical and belt technique, and a bridge class, with is basically throwing it all together. Unlike Sheridon, which is also a technical college, this is strictly a musical theatre school. It has a 99% employment rate, and is growing rapidly by th year. I highly recommend it if a good start in musical theatre in Canada is what you're after.
Concordia University also has a wonderful fine arts department, and is located in Montreal.
The two top rated MUSICAL Universities in Canada, with an emphasis on classical voice and performance, are definately the University of Toronto, and the University of British Columbia, which is located in Vancouver. UBC is reknowned throughout Canada for their music program, and it certainly helps for casting calls, to be located in "Hollywood North."
Hope I could be of some help!!

[Aigoo]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 4:21am

Wow, Dory, thanks. That really gave me some insight on things.

[freeadmission]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 8:48am

crazycrazyasha - I'm glad you're having such a great experience at Elon. It gives me hope. LOL Two questions:
1) Do you have a professor by the first name of Richard (can't for the life of me remember his last)? I think he teaches voice, but I'm not sure. Anyway, he was in Centennial's production of A Grand Night For Singing last month. Love him dearly. He did one the of best performances of "Honey Bun" I've ever seen.
2) Is the music theatre program at Elon such that I can commute? I live about an hour away and commuting would save me a great deal of money if it were possible with the class/performance load. Thanks.

lyfeisacabaret - I completely agree with you on the liberal arts bit. Knowing a little (or even more than a little) about everything can certainly help with any roles an actor may get in the future. That's why I'm taking my first two years at a school that specializes in liberal arts education, only offering two degrees, an AA and a BA in Liberal Arts. From there I hope to transfer to Elon for a solid music theatre education.

[Yankeeboy]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 2:56am

Entering my senior year at an incredible BFA Musical Theater program, allow me to bestow some words of wisdom to those in need.

As students, we've had this same discussion many many times, and it is consistently agreed upon that the best schools for a BFA in musical theater are, in no meaningful order:

Boston Conservatory
Carnegie Mellon
Cincinatti Conservatory of Music (CCM)
Michigan
Northwestern
University of the Arts


It is evident from reading this thread that there is so much time and energy wasted on the idea of going to a "name" school. And believe me, I understand its allure. It is simply not necessary, though. The best thing you can do right now is research and visit these schools, and also GET YOURSELF READY TO AUDITION. It won't matter where you apply if you've blown these precious months agonizing over which school will look better on a resume. Trust me - nobody cares. When certain school reach such a godly status in one's mind, they can do little but disappoint when fully experienced. You shouldn't worry about what the school's name can do for you, you should think about what you are bringing to the table can do for the school's name.

It's important to keep in mind that no school is without its faults. Certain frustrations many people have had with some of the programs I mentioned include blatant favoritism, disorganization on an administrative level, cut systems, physical qualifications ("you're too fat", etc), and a cookie-cutter mentality of asking each student to fit a certain mold. That all being said, these programs, some old and established (as CCM and CMU) and some extremely green (as UArts), continue to produce talented individuals and have proven themselves exciting and vibrant talent pools that are most definitely places to consider when applying. THESE are the hotspots.

I, like DorytheNun, am entering my senior year at UArts. This school is enduring a period of rapid growth, and in the past three years even, I've seen it change and develop much for the positive. UArts, like CMU, is an acting based program. If your dreams put you in the company of a national tour or in the tapping chorus of 42nd St (which is fabulous, and something I will never be able to do), look into CCM or Boston - they WILL get you that work, undoubtedly.

Perhaps UArts' greatest strength is its focus on the individual. Where other schools rely on a cookie-cutter mentality (as that IS the nature of the work sometimes), UArts puts a strong emphasis on self-reflection and discovery. It is their thinking that if you are able to develop your individuality, it will make you a much more dynamic and exciting and UNIQUE performer down the road. Looking around my senior class of 12 and even the entire program here, we cover nearly about every conceivable "type" in the dramatic canon: character actors, leading men and women, song and dance types, and beyond. The program is a synthesis of a conservatory and a liberal arts college, if that is something you're concerned about. As the name of the institution suggests, this is a school that understands the ART of theater, and ESPECIALLY musical theater. This is important, as art frequently escapes the medium today amid jukebox musicals and the rest of the crap that's beind produced.

People frequently know so little about UArts because, well, our publicity sucks. Most of what people know about us is by word of mouth. Talk to professionals though, and the name IS getting out there. Both Hunter and Sutton Foster, among many other credible sources, have been quoted as saying our program has a lot to offer, and Sutton even spoke here last year. Also, Philly is a GREAT city for regional theater, and it is close enough to NYC and DC for travelling. It really is a lot like a mini-NYC, only very friendly, very safe, and very very manageable. Between the rest of the University as well as residing on the Avenue of the Arts, students are immersed in an artistic environment that really facilitates excitement and inspiration throughout your time here.

If you have any questions about the program or the audition process or anything else, feel free to AIM me at Superben444 or email me at BlueMinstrel1 @ yahoo.com.

-Ben


Here are just some parting words of advice that someone told me when I was looking at MT programs that I've never forgotten, because it's so so true:

If you are going to a BFA MT program worth its salt, EVERYONE will have been the lead in their high school musicals. You're not special anymore because you can sing, dance, or act. Be prepared, it's a tough pill to swallow.

[Theater_Maniac07]

Posted: 7/6/05 at 9:52pm

I live in Atlanta. Does anyone know of any good schools with music theatre programs in Georgia or the "deep" South.

[stagebeauty]

Posted: 7/6/05 at 10:11pm

the colleges that im applying to are...

University of the Arts
Ithaca
Marymount manhattan
Shenandoah
University of Southern Colorado
American

they all have GREAT MT departments

[brdwaybaby17]

Posted: 7/6/05 at 10:15pm

Hey, my sister went to American! She told me not to apply there... lol Granted she loved it... but... she said that the MT wasn't that great... maybe she's just an idiot!