the university of michigan is amazing. the talent there is unbelievable. ive seen a few productions there and they are without a doubt better then all the equity national tours that i have seen. the one that sticks out the most in my mind is their production of jason robert brown's parade. that production left me breathless. it was phenomenal. my voice teacher has her masters degree in voice from u of m and she has an amazing voice and is a bottomless pit of information.
i saw audra mcdonald in concert this past april and she raved about the school. she did a residency there a few years ago and was shocked with both the staff and students. she said that whenever anyone comes up to her and says something along the lines of "oh i love you i want to go to julliard and be just like you! your voice is wonderful!" she says to them, "wait a minute, wait a minute. you need to check out these people in ann arbor michigan. because i would highly recommend you go there instead."
i dont know of any "stars" that has graduated from u of m besides gavin creel (and im sure most dont really consider him a star). another person who graduated from there is celia keenan-bolger, who some of you might have seen in little fish off-broadway earlier this year, summer of 42, and is currently in the new adam guettel musical that premiered in seattle this summer and is playing at the goodman theatre in chicago this january.
anyway, i hope some of this helps ... i think its definitely worth looking into.
Thanks for the words about U of Michigan. I was looking into them but I've had some problems with them. They said their on- line application would be available at the start of August (cause it had to be in by Sept for early auditions), yet it was never available on that date and they kept changing the date it would be posted. When I called the school they said the earlt application deadline would be changed since it as not available on line. Then I called the office the following week (for another matter) and just mentioned this situation again and they said they were not going to change the dealine and if you couldn't get the on line application, tough. And they said it would take 6 - 8 weeks to mail me an application? Pleeze. Come on. If they can't get their act together and keep their promises, why would I want to think they would have their act together to teach people? If you work or go there, please mention this to them. They need to be more responsible.
Thanks for the suggestions and crticism, it will be very helpful in my college search! I am strongly looking in to the Joope Van Den Ende Academy in Hamburg, Germany. I am also looking into New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Manhattan School of Music, and The Julliard School.
Phantom05
------- "We Drink Your Blood And Then We Eat Your Soul, Nothings Gonna Stop Us Let The Bad Times Roll"
-------"Past The Point Of No Return, No Backward Glances, Abandon Thought And Let The Dream Begin"
yay! it's back! go musical theater colleges! sick, lil jr, i took psat this morning so i'm expecting letters from everywhere soliciting their programs. NOW i can ask you all your opinion on the unknowns!!! woo!
Since I work in the business, I thought I would give you a run down of the names of musical theater colleges that seem to keep coming up with people I work with or from the production end:
University of Michigan (probably the best in the US right now) CCM (exsisting on past rep? It is looked at as a "chorus school") NYU Tisch (haven'r run into a lot of Steinhardt people) CMU Indiana U Oklahoma City University Boston Conservatory (but I've worked with some real jerks who went there so..............) Emmerson
Those are the names that seem to come up frequently. Also..make sure you know that you want a conservatory or a college program. I would go with the college based one that gives you a real degree. Make sure you look into all kinds of different schools. Research everyone! You never know what's out there till you look for it.
Good luck.
Ignorance is temporary. Stupidity last forever.
Watch out BWW...
HE'S BACK.
I would shoot for The University of Michigan, and if not there try Western Michigan University ... while a smaller program, its still amazing - lots of talented kids. Just saw the Marin Mazzie/Barbara Marineau reunion concert there. I also might be biased because I live here and they are all my friends, lol.
I find that there are alot of places around big names that have the same amount of talent, and programs that are just as good, that tend to fit people better, they are about half the size in numbers, and yet still have the same intensity, such places to me are: Northern Kentucky University ( 5 minutes from CCM), Oklahoma University ( Right by Oklahoma City U) and possibly this Western Michigan (same state dont know how close), Syracuse (near Ithaca, well sorta)
STEVOS
"IF I TRY THERE MAY BE A CHANCE / WE COULD LOVE WITH OUR EYES CLOSED/ WITH OUR EYES CLOSED WE COULD CHANGE THE WORLD!"- Stephen Dwight
OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITY!!! #2 on my list! i've talked to their musical theatre chair...dr. kunish, and was very impressed with the dept. we hung out all day and sat in on dance classes and a voice lesson (*sigh* amazing) it seems to be a pretty good program...:)
Their program is not as organized as it looks and they tend think too highly of themselves for no reason.
I know for the past five years, none of their students have took first place in the Oklahoma City NATS Contest (an important, highly respected national vocal competition) while OCU has swept first palce in most every catagory.
There was a real irritating girl on the Bradway.com board who went to OU and posted a bunch of lies about their program. That's a good sign.
I currently go to a film acting school and absolutly hate it. To much bad to get into but anyway I am going to Circle In The Square next Sept. for Musical Theatre where I belong...:
Oklahoma may not be as organized as they come across, but I've seen some of the talent there, and enjoied the people that taught, they also keep a good enrollment cap of 60ish, so they keep a good crop in, which is possibly why they have a great success rate, but I was disapointed when I asked if they helped you prepare for Grad school, they dont believe that it is necessary after atending their school. Which was a little stuck up to me. They are alot like Yale in that they seem to cast their acting classes. It could be a fluke that you get in, since they take look over talent sometimes. So if you know what is leaving, ie Big Leading Baritone, and they are in need, be good and look the part, you will get in.
STEVOS
"IF I TRY THERE MAY BE A CHANCE / WE COULD LOVE WITH OUR EYES CLOSED/ WITH OUR EYES CLOSED WE COULD CHANGE THE WORLD!"- Stephen Dwight
true, ou is sorta stuck up... i could tell that by sitting in on some of the classes, but i think they're really trying to build up their program. they described the auditons and how the scout, so i think they're trying...i know alot of people who have really mixed feelings about that school, but i'm still watching it. i have a friend who is a frosh there, so as soon as sweet charity is over, maybe i'll be able to interrogate! OCU is still top, for SEVERAL reasons, but we'll just have to wait and see. woo hooo!
i go to ocu and i can't seem to get any of my friends here to go with me to see sweet charity. i'm sad cause i really want to see it, but its probably better this way, cause a brotha is poor.
will
"Your voice is not for you, its for me your audience. Why spend your time listening to yourself when you sing." --Florence Birdwell
kidding? that's sad!non of those fun ocu kids wanna go to norman? lol funny. i'm going sunday after reh...gonna try to make it! i have a friend in it...and a guy i luv is in it ... shhh. haha. i'm pretty excited since i haven't seen a show there in a long time...it should be a fun time..hopefully...
Anoyone know anything of East Carolina University's theatre arts program? Or University of North Carlina - Greensboro (UNCG) or Greensboro College or Catawba College? :-P
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
saw sweet charity. pretty good, ok. i was surprised at the size... ocu's still top. kinda bitter i missed the special college whatever day today. ah well.
and seriously, anyone know ANYTHING about college of santa fe's musical theater program? i just had about 10 friends get offers...!!!!
yeah there were herds of high school kids here on campus yesturday. i tried going to lunch in the cafeteria and there wasn't a single empty seat. They completely took over campus for a day. sorry you missed out, i'm sure you could have found out some more info. Next time.
will
"Your voice is not for you, its for me your audience. Why spend your time listening to yourself when you sing." --Florence Birdwell
The University of Miami has a magnificent musical theater department. Even though she is freshman, a certain Ms. Luckinbill (Lucille Ball' granddaughter) is creating great buzz as a musical theater star ready to explode.