BFA in MT

[jeff_thedancer]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 10:12am

hey

I posted this on the student board but no one really answered my question so i figured this would be the way.

i am in canada and have roughly 55,000 saved for school. am i bound to stay in canada or is there hope for me going to a BFA program in the states? i understand i wont be going to Umich or Penn but i also do not want to give into amda or circle for a certificate. i feel that without a BFA i have no security...which isn't true but..you know...

if i stay in canada i have basically one choice. sheridan witch isn't bad at all but i really want to head down to the states.

Thanks in advance for all your help,you guys always pull through

Cheers,
jeff

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 10:26am

Here's some schools that you can look into to. I don't know if all of them are BFA, but I would definitely check them out. I don't know their tuition prices; these are just off the top of my head:

Carnegie Mellon
University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign
University of Arizona
Oklahoma City University

Good luck with your decision!

Posted: 7/16/08 at 10:45am

sew kanada haz as beg a prublem teeching kollege kids to spel and uze proper grammer as the Amerika duz, huh?

[jrb]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 10:59am

Ignore that puerile little response. People tell you that grammar and spelling and such don't matter on forums like this. At the same time, folks with little else to say will jump down your throat if you don't scan your messages before daring to hit "post message". No worries. You were lucid - which is more than can be said of a lot of folks.

In any event, you might also want to check out Cincinnati (though that might not be viable), Ithaca College, and Syracuse University.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 11:16am

Hi Jeff!

I am not an expert on MT programs (I don't even act or sing, haha), but I can tell you that there are many reputable programs in the US. If you want to come here, you should. Check out collegeboard.com, and there is a message board related to musical theatre programs in the US. You should apply to Sheridan, if you like, as a backup, but you'll have no problem finding a good program in the US.

Random, but Eryn Murman (Spring Awakening understudy/ensemble) is a Sheridan graduate!

[UAisGREAT]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 12:17pm

Hey there,


I go to the University of Arizona pursuing my BFA and I think it is a great school for the following reasons:

1. Since it is a public university it is generally less expensive than the private schools with BFA programs like CMU, Michigan, NYU, Boston U, Juilliard, etc...

2. UA has a small program that gives you a lot of individual attention. You will not get lost in the mix.

3. The BFA program has their own theater company called Arizona Repertory Theater and they produce 6 main stage shows a season that consists of 4 plays (generally a Shakespeare, 2 contemporary plays, and a period piece) as well 2 large scale musicals.

4. As a member of the Arizona Repertory Theater you will be cast in a show EVERY semester sophomore-senior year. Freshman usually do not perform- it's a very common thing in many programs.

5. Tucson AZ is really a fun place to go to school. UA is a huge university so there it has a lot to offer in addition to the BFA program. If you want to double major or minor that is possible (quite a few of my fellow BFA classmates are doing so). Or if you want to join a frat or sorority you can do that as well.

6. The BFA program has a great partnership with Arizona Theater Company (which is the state theater of AZ and one of the country's leading regional theaters). BFA students at UA oftentimes understudy and occasionally even get cast in ATC productions. For instance, 6 BFA students this past year alone were CAST in shows at ATC while quite a few more understudied. As a performer/understudy at ATC you get to be a Equity Membership Candidate and build up points towards receiving your Equity card.

Now, any school you will go to will have drawbacks. There are a lot of good schools and even the schools dubbed "the best" will not be a fit for everyone. I think UA is a great 'under the radar' program and I think it will grow even more in prominence as the years go on. If you're looking for a small program with great acting-based Stanislavski training then UA might be a good fit.

Just so you know, UA does have end of the cuts after your freshman and sophomore years. Over the past couple years they have done substantial cuts to the classes. Some people look at this as a bad thing but I personally think it is a good thing.

If you want more info contact me privately.

[Tag]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 12:24pm

Jeff, do you have dual citizenship? If you don't, 55k is not going to get you very far in the States with international tuition. That doesn't mean don't try though. Sheridan and Randolph are reputable and turnout successful talent. Granted they don't give BFAs. But a BFA or any type of degree in theatre really means nothing. It's about talent, luck and who you know.

Posted: 7/16/08 at 12:51pm

jrb bravo on your post- perfect spelling, grammar and you even used the word "puerile"- BRAVO! Have you thought about pursuing a Masters Degree?

[jeff_thedancer]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 2:20pm

Thanks for all your help guys! i figure i can save more in the summers between school years so that will hopefully increase the amount. the main reason i want to do a BFA though is because i feel four years of training will be a lot more beneficial that the two or three the certificate programs offer (i want so soak up as much and eventually turn the BFA into a MFA in MT composition in the future)

Yeah and i totes love Eryn Murman she is a talent eh?. i have a lot of sheridan friends doing canadian shows and tours. mostly in canada-witch doesn't interest me as much.

Sorry my spelling wasn't up to scuff JoeKv99. not that that had anything to do with my question. but i mean, we all get off topic... although i did think maturity came with age.

thanks yall!
Jeffrey

[UAisGREAT]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 2:28pm

Don't rule out going to a BFA program because of lack of money. There are tons of scholarships that schools have. Quite a few people from the BFA program at UA have talent based and academic based scholarships. Dont rule it out bc of money.

[jeff_thedancer]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 2:47pm

okay so i have one more question. do all schools in the states need a SAT? and if most do... what ones do not require it? when i was in high school i never thought of it and was just going to go to school in Toronto so i had no need for it.

[jeff_thedancer]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 2:47pm

Thanks again guys

Updated On: 7/16/08 at 02:47 PM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 3:15pm

Most schools here require the SATs or ACT, but there are a bunch who don't. Search for each individual school on princetonreview.com or collegeboard.com, and they'll tell you. The school's inidividual websites will tell you. My advice is to gather a list of schools you're interested and research the websites.

Also, I don't know if because you'd be considered an international student, you can take some other test in place.