amda

[Blackqt18]

Posted: 8/11/04 at 12:36pm

does anyone have any advice for me going to amda???????

[PJ]

Posted: 8/11/04 at 3:10pm

How many times did you post this question on the board? Geez.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/11/04 at 3:12pm

haha...

[judy_in_disguise]

Posted: 8/11/04 at 4:05pm

um...
don't go.
spend your money on a degree so you'll be able to make money in the future.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/11/04 at 11:28pm

haha...i started chattin w/ this guy who got accepted into the academy. funny...

[CJR]

Posted: 8/11/04 at 11:41pm

Judy -- you stole my advice! lol

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 8/12/04 at 12:02am

advice..yeah.

They hate people who keep asking the same stupid question.

Now we call know the "quality" AMDA attracts.

[bogey_LIVE]

Posted: 8/14/04 at 1:43am

I went to AMDA...I'm making money. It depends on how seriously you take it when you go. In other words...disect the classes you know you need to take seriously, and bull**** through the rest of them. Like I said, I'm making money.

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 8/14/04 at 2:35am

What is AMDA

[bogey_LIVE]

Posted: 8/14/04 at 5:06am

AMDA is a school for losers...like me. But I make money.

[cvapb]

Posted: 8/14/04 at 12:04pm

dont go.. i have seen a few performances there. it was bad. there is not much talent there.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 8/14/04 at 12:07pm

I've heard good things about this school, actually. And bogey is right. A lot of people make money after they leave. It's still going to depend on talent and luck, but at least you'll have some good training behind you if you do decide that is the school you want to go to.

[shesings]

Posted: 8/14/04 at 12:07pm

Oh all the people bitter against AMDA... people who didn't go there. Why does anyone care if the AMDA kids have degrees or not? I feel pretty certain that last year (2003) one of our graduates won the Tony for best actress. But no, definatly don't go there! I mean what could a school with alumni like that possibly teach you?!?
And just to point out once again - you CAN get a degree! You spend 2 yrs at AMDA, and then your credits transfer if you want for 2 more years at The New School. SO really its a win win situation. You get to spend time in a highly intensive training program that focuses only on what you actually want to do, then you can move on to the regualr college stuff. You can actually finish in less time than a regular university if you want. So really where's the downside? Most of the people bashing AMDA have no real knowledge of how the program works. You're not wasting your money or throwing it away. Unless those kids are AMDA students I wouldn't listen to them.
(then again the only former amda students i know who didn't really love the experiences there are the ones who got kicked out ... funny how that works....)

[Roxie]

Posted: 8/17/04 at 10:48pm

It's so confusing cause all I hear about amda is bad stuff "don't waste your money" "it's not respected" etc. but my best friend goes there and he loves it. Confusing! I'm not looking to go there casue of it's insane tuition but it would still be good to know the truth.

[brunettebabe]

Posted: 8/17/04 at 11:20pm

The thing about AMDA, a lot of people think its great just because it's in the city. You can get just as good of an education--if not better--from a school that is not in the city.

And as for the Tony comment made. I went to Michigan, and although it took time and lots of effort, I got my degree. Look at all the successful alumni that Michigan has turned out.

Would you rather go to a school that had one big success story or several?

[bogey_LIVE]

Posted: 8/18/04 at 1:43am

Actually 'brunette', AMDA has turned out with quite a few successful alumni. If you are going into this busines sto win a Tony like that fat rat Marissa Jaret Winokur, choose another business, cause it's likely NOT to happen. Winning a Tony does not guarantee success. Successful is all of the HUNDREDS of AMDA students who are getting job after job out there and surviving in a performing arts world. I am not going to even question why it has a bad reputation. But I agree with Shesings when it's said that the only people that complain about it are the people that were kicked out. Not to mention the peopole who werent good students. So give up the fight. If you want to go to AMDA, go...but don't take it for granted...and soak in everything they teach you. It will go by ina flash and you will think too quickly...don't let it. Carry on and enjoy it. P.S. I love Michael Phelps

[bogey_LIVE]

Posted: 8/18/04 at 1:47am

Oh, and I am not disputing that your school in Michigan has been successful as well...it's just that AMDA students are usually a little more humble about these things, pet.

[brunettebabe]

Posted: 8/18/04 at 4:00am

I'm not going to argue the "humble" thing with you. I see your point, you just don't hear much about AMDA, I guess. And yes, Michael Phelps is glorious.

[marge2033]

Posted: 8/26/04 at 8:39pm

Actually my daughter goes to AMDA right now. She is very satisfied with what she is learning. My husband and I are both in theater and did some research before sending her there. Yes you can get credit for classes and continue on to the New School. The thing that really appealed to us was the faculty. Almost all of them were formerly on broadway or directing or choreographing on broadway. As far as alumni, there are many on broadway right now. The only ones you hear about is Marissa Jaret Winokour. There was also Tyne Daly, Gretchen Mol, Daniel Letterle, Paul Sorfino to name a few. I feel we have gotten a lot for our money. And also it has made her humble, just being in NYC. I have met many college theater graduates from many prestigious colleges and they have a lot to learn!!!!

[shesings]

Posted: 8/26/04 at 8:48pm

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! you CAN use your degree at AMDA, it rolls over into the program at The New School where you get a real live BFA. And you can actualy do it in less time than a regular 4 year university. Obviously its not the school for everyone, but the ignorance regarding the program is getting really irritating.

[robyn525600]

Posted: 8/26/04 at 8:57pm

I went there from '90-'92 when it was more "one-on-one". There were no more than 18 people in each class. Now its turned into a money-making circus. I have a friend who still teaches dance there (he was there teaching when I was there too) and he even says its gone downhill.

[shesings]

Posted: 8/26/04 at 9:00pm

they are letting too many people in. I'll admit that. I guess they had to do it to get the money they needed to better the program. Hopefully now that they have their new theatre built they can finish up their projects and start being more exclusive again. I honestly felt at times that my time was being wasted by people who were there who they were clearly using for the money!
However that deosn't change the fact that you can use those credits!

[SanchoPanza1996]

Posted: 8/27/04 at 1:51pm

Sweetie don't be so combative and defensive...there is no need to justify your choices. Our choices are what defines us and informs us and you seem satisfied with the choices you have made and that is all that matters. I have had several friends who have gone to AMDA and I have worked with faculty there in professional productions I have done around the country. With every program you get what you put in and if you are taking your dance classes, voice lessons and acting classes seriously then you will be fine. As an aside, don't measure a school by how many Tony awards or Broadway performers they have produced...those people are using their natural talent and reaping the rewards of the efforts they put into their training, not where they were trained. Hope this helps and gives all pause before they behave so judgemental and defensive.

[WayWicked]

Posted: 8/27/04 at 6:07pm

AMDA is for kids who think all they want to do is sing and dance, and then forget that there's a whole world outside the theater that invloves knowledge about history, languages, math and science. I'm so sick of the "I didn't want to go to University of Michigan cause I would have to take non musical theater classes".

And anyone who thinks the AMDA and the New College thing will give you a practical liberal arts education, think again.

AMDA is a scam. They have been accepting anyone AND everyone for the past ten years. For example: you take two semesters of music theory and finish up the second semester by learning key signatures. WTF? That's like the first week of a real music university.

Go to a real school. Get a real education that goes along with your voice, acting and dance lessons. Yes. You may have to learn something about science or math, but that's a good thing.

[SamIAm]

Posted: 8/27/04 at 9:25pm

As for there not being much talent there...this is a gross generalization. EVERY school has talented students. Some years are better than others.

I went to the Academy and did OK for myself. As someone else says every school is what you make of it. I had some great professors and some not so great, but you can say that of any university or trade school.

Go where you feel comfortable. Visit the school, talk to people, etc.