best university to study musical theater

[Zeitoujo]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 10:25pm

whats the best one?

NYU Tisch?

[zoran912]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 10:27pm

It really depends on your learning style and what you are looking for.

[outovfashion07]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 10:33pm

There is a great student board that can help u

[vocalzone]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 10:37pm

unless you're going to juliard or ccm (which is great for getting representation), most of my favorite actors all skipped school and dove right into work. Come to NY, take classes, voice lessons, dance classes, do summer stock. There's no better way to learn than by doing, being, and following your own instincts. I find schools can turn out little robots who all have the same "techniques" and are all carbon copies of one another...I've seen them take away whats special from an actor. I went to an incredible school in the city, and it was fine for me, I learned a lot, but I don't think I'd recommend it. If I had to do it all over again, I'd just come to NY and get to work.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 10:40pm

As an Actor? Director? Singer? Dancer? Historian? Designer? Choreographer?

[outovfashion07]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 10:42pm

Contrary to popular belief, CCM is not that great of a school.

[theactorsociety]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 10:50pm

Who said CCM isn't a good school? Many are bitter at how selective they are, but almost everyone who graduates from there is working. Look at names like Shoshana Bean, Ashley Brown, and Matt Bogart.

Casting directors see CCM and immediatley are more inclined to hire because of the amazing name CCM has made for itself.

[jake6970]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 10:57pm

Each school is different for everyone. While CCM may be the best fit for someone, Tisch may be the best for someone else. It's all relative.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 10:59pm

The best university to study in is the one that's right for you. That may sound like a greeting card, but it's true.

Research programs, visit schools, know what you want.

[bkonbroadway]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 11:03pm

I kind of agree with vocalzone, but kind of don't. It really depends on you...how you learn, how you work, etc. I would have probably given up if I had just jumped into NY not knowing anyone or anything. I went to a high school that had no theatre, and did mostly community theatre...so I knew very little. I went to college and got a B/A in acting/directing and I DEFINATELY don't regret the student loans I am currently paying back. The important thing is to find a program that will not turn you into a robot where everyone has the same techniques. You should find a program that lays out all of the different techniques, lets you experience them all and find what works for you. Also, it is good to go somewhere that you can get into NY every once in a while to take classes, go on auditions, see shows, etc. Every school has is positives and negatives....but I think it has been an important learning experience for many people that I know. You're going to struggle a bit whatever you do....just make it worth it for you!

[CapnHook]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 11:18pm

Here is a single-page hand-out I have created to help get high schoolers prepared to look for schools:

If you don't know what you're looking for, then that is the first step. KNOW what you want.

Make a list of all the things you 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 are in program now? How many acting students, compared to tech and directing/stage management?)
-Classes (How many acting classes? What special topics are offered? What are the requirements to obtain your degree? How many academic classes do you need?)
-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? Other?)
-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 renovation. 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?

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 1:04am

Theaterkid1015 is right on the money. A Musical Theatre program is only as "good" as you make it to be. Every program is different and every program fits each individual in a certain way. Please don't associate schools such as New York University CAP 21 and Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music to be the "best" schools simply because their students are working quite a bit. There are many obscure schools that aren't the alleged "top 10", that are just as effective and best for some select individuals.

[elphaba.scares.me]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 1:12am

The best school for you is the one where you feel safe enough to learn and inspired enough to create.

You should definitely take a look at who their working alumni are, although people work for lots of reasons, NOT just where they went to school.

Everything else is just logistics.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 1:20am

Unless your career goal is to play Elphaba, you won't fit in at Tisch these days.

[jake230306]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 2:52am

CCM strong right now...but it is a bit of a dying school because their main source of funding...is...well..dying.

CMU is also really strong.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 3:06am

It depends what you want.

Conservatory? University? Small College? BA? BFA? BM? Acting-based? Singing-based? Dance-based? Well-rounded?

Tell us what you want and we'll be more specific.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 9:06am

University of Michigan

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 9:37am

This should probably go on the student board. I go to Syracuse and I'm not in the theatre program but apparently it's very good and I hope to become a theatre minor.

[theactorsociety]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 11:57am

Yeah, Michigan and Boston are good too

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 12:09pm

Hofstra University has a strong theater program, with graduates including Lainie Kazan, Susan Sullivan, Francis Ford Coppela, and the late, great Madeline Khan.

And isn't one of the students on tour with Gypsy?

[jaystarr]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 12:15pm

Williams College & Boston University

J

[defscott627]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 1:51pm

Boston University doesn't have a musical theatre program... did you mean Boston Conservatory?

[jaystarr]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 1:53pm

yup. youre right .I was thinking of the Boston University Theater while typing.

My bad. Thanks for the correction !

J