The real NYADA? — Page 3

I give a similar approach to posting in forums, as I give to texting or informal emails: I think, I write, I post. Obviously when I'm writing something formal I think about it a lot more, draft, revise, edit... I'm not good at everything, and I never said I was. There are many things I know I could improve, I'm all for constructive criticism. However I don't consider telling someone they should only aspire to attend community college, constructive criticism, especially when you don't know this person.

If I were good at EVERYTHING, and had all the answers, I wouldn't be posting here. But I did because I know there are a lot of people more knowledgeable than me who could help me. (BTW, I couldn't get the lead in Wicked, because I'm a guy)

This thread is developing a very creepy tone...

NYADA is definitely an AMDA clone. And while there have been successful actors to come from the program there is still a stigma attached to the school.

NYU Tisch and Pace are really your only BFA granting MT options in the city.

I studied acting at Marymount Manhattan College, actually at the same time as Melissa Benoist who's playing Marley Rose on the show this season. She was in the BFA Acting program and minored in MT. Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina) also attended Marymount, though graduated before I went there. There are also some other kids who I graduated with that are doing quite well for themselves: one is in the National Tour of War Horse, another the National Tour of American Idiot and yet another on Broadway in Bring It On. One of my really good friends took a year off and was on the National Tour of Spring Awakening. Marymount is NOT a straight conservatory program, which is something I really liked about it.

There are other great top tier schools outside of the city that have working alumni:
U of Michigan
Carnegie Mellon
CCM
Boston Conservatory

There are also dozens of amazing second tier school across the country. But if your heart is set on NYC, then really Pace, NYU and Marymount are your only real degree granting options. AMDA will get you a certificate but you won't receive a degree unless you take gen-ed courses at the New School. If you don't like any of these options you can always study privately; take dance at Broadway Dance Center, get private voice lessons, and take acting classes at one of the many studios. It would end up being about the same amount tuition-wise in the end, but you'd get to take what you want, when you want.

Updated On: 9/26/12 at 08:15 PM

Don't go to New York for college solely because it's New York. Get yourself the best education you can. There will be plenty of time for NYC after.

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It was a very menthally, emotionally and physically draining process and after extensive debating with all of my professors we decided that the best thing would be to spend another year in intensive training, so that I could be truly prepared for auditions. Right now the team from my Performing arts school is developing an outline for my year which will include workshops in NYC and potentially London. I'm still working on my lists of schools which includes CMU, Ithaca, Pace and Tisch.

Thanks! Good luck to you as well.