Musical Theater colleges

I know this has been discussed a lot but can anyone give me their top number ONE choice for a musical theater college?

Carnegie Mellon....no contest

I think that Carnegie Mellon would be considered the number one school. CCM does churn out lots of Broadway performers, but most of them are just chorus girls/guys. The way they train their performers is not to really develop their individual talents, but to make them the most hireable for a Broadway show. I guess that's all some people want, but if I were training for musical theatre I would want to be able to stand out. That's why I think Carnegie Mellon is so good because they help you get whatever it is that you want out of your time there. CCM also weighs their students almost daily, which sounds creepy to me.

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The other thing to keep in mind before setting your heart on a particular school, is how many incoming freshmen are accepted into the musical theater major. The 2004 freshman class had a total of 13 students accepted. In 2003, there were only 9. And they recruit aggressively all over the country. My daughter auditioned last year, and a woman from the school told her that they audition somewhere aroune 900 students. In the end, she could have attended for drama, but did not make it into the 13 who were taken as MT majors. We inquired about the possibility of transferring from drama into MT, and were told that doesn't happen.

The CMU people were enthusiastic, warm and engaging. And the audition, itself, was a very positive experience.

All I'm saying is that have some perspective when you look at schools... there are way more than 13 extraordinarily talented people who audition. Luck, grades, and the kind of day the auditioners are having are all going to play a role, because in the end, there are just too many qualified candidates.

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I had 2 children accepted at CMU one graduated and one didn't, but both got great training. Acting was something new in our family, and I was very please with the education both boys got while there. The faculty is great and I really liked the Leagues they did at the end of their senior year. Acting is a tough field and I think they do a great job preparing the students for that world.

Exactly - there is no ONE top school. Top what? How do you measure it? The school may be successful - but will it make YOU a successful actor? It's different for different people.

Make a list of all the things you will look for in a theatre program. Also include things you look for in a college. Finally, things in a city.

Then, put each listing into a priority. Once you have a prioritized list, begin your search. Once you have some schools that seem to go along with your list, go visit them. See how they are up close. Audition for their theatre programs, even if you're not sure you want to go there. Stay overnight with a student. Attend some classes. Visit all theatre spaces.

Here are some general things to look for:

Theatre Program:

-Size (How many freshmen enter each year? How many in program now? How many acting students, compared to tech and directing/stage management?)
-Classes (How many acting classes? What special topics? What are the requirements to obtain your degree?)
-Spaces (How many different performance spaces are there? Rehearsal spaces? How technologically advanced are they? Do they get good sized audiences?)
-Shows (How many shows are done each year? Plays vs. musicals? One-acts?)
-Students (How friendly do the students seem? Would you fit in?)

The College:

-Classes (What classes not related to theatre do you need to take to obtain your degree? What is an average class size?)
-Size (How large is the campus? Would you need a car?)
-Facilities (What facilities are offered? How is the cafeteria food? How many places to eat are on campus?
-Cost (How much is tuition? What scholarships will I get? How much federal aid will I get? Grants? Loans?)
-Construction (Find out if there are plans for renevation. Will this affect any theatre buildings? Your schooling? Your housing?)
-Parking (Enough parking? Need a car?)
-Housing (How are the dorms? Big enough? What is offered in the dorms? What furniture is given? What will I need? How many roommates will I have? Internet? Heat? AC? Lighting? Policies?)

The City:

-What professional theatres are located nearby? What other colleges are close by?
-Are there recreational places close by? Theatres? Movie Theatres? Clubs?
-Closeness to shopping areas, such as malls, restaurants, banks, etc.
-How large is the city? How would I get to the city? Bus? Drive a car? Get a ride from a friend? Easy to get lost?
-How safe is the city?

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I went to CCM and nobody that I know ever got weighed. It's a really funny rumor, probably started by those nasty CMU people. (j/k)

There will be discussion about your weight if it is an issue with how you are cast. There just isn't a whole lot of work for really young character actors, whether male of female. I had a few discussions about my weight with faculty, and I wish I'd paid more attention to what was said, because they were right in so many respects. I'm just now getting to the point where I'm the right age for the things I should be playing.

CCM is a great school. It's tough, and it's certainly not for everybody, particularly those easily shaken. But, in the end, you get out of it what you put into it, and someone who is committed and works hard every day at their local community college has every bit the chance a CCM grad does.

Nobody has been to all of the schools, its silly to expect anyone to know which one is "the best" for you.

Listen to captain hook post, that's what you need to know and should go on

I think it's not so much important where you go as the training you recieve there. No one's going to say "Oh he went to NYU, let's give him the part" at an audition. I'm going to Muhlenberg next year, which is a B.A. with training at a B.F.A. level. But I also based my choice on the importance of my second major as well. I'm a firm believer in the practice of having a back-up career, but that may have something to do with my fear of not being able to support my expensive taste... lol.

You're right, Jamie. That's exactly what I'm doing at NYU. A BFA in drama with a double major in the College of Arts and Science. Many Tischies do this.