Odd Training Question

[Missed The Boat]

Hello all,

I'm in a bit of an odd scenario and I'm looking for any advice/help from people that know a great deal more than I.

I am 24 years old and already have an undergrad degree in Finance and a Masters in Business. I didn't really discover the wonder of Musical Theatre until I spent a semester in New York City a couple years ago.

Luckily, my university had a musical theatre program and I immediately signed up for a script analysis class.

It wasn't until I began dating someone *in* the MT program before I really got a firsthand look at what it was all about. It didn't take long before I took a songs and arias class, and built up the courage to begin auditioning. Luckily, and with some work, I actually got the chance to participate in my university's Broadway Cares show, as well as some cabarets and two plays (including one play where the cast was 6 people and I actually got to speak quite a bit... in thrust no less!).

You could say I was hooked on performance!

However, the reality was that I was earning an MBA at the time. I'm no longer in that initial relationship, I graduated last August and I've moved to a larger city to work full-time in a muggle job (haha).

Enough time has passed that I realize I really miss those performance opportunities and I can't get the idea out of my head that I wish I had discovered it all sooner and trained in it. I really missed the boat!

Now I'm 24 years old and already have fairly substantial student loan debt.

I plan to audition as much as I can, my city has a *somewhat* decent musical theatre scene. There are some community college classes I can take in the future. I am currently enrolled in some beginning dance classes. I take voice lessons weekly.

Here's my dilemma:
I'm too old to do a regular 4 year degree. By the time I could get everything started and eventually graduate, I would be nearly 30... hardly a great age to start a career this tough.

However, I acknowledge the extreme benefit of a good training program. Not just to learn the trade, but to also network and build a professional portfolio (there's that business degree speaking!).

I'm religiously saving as much of my decent salary as I can and taking every course that I can currently. I know auditions are tough and there are million talented people with more training going for the same thing.


Here's my question:
Are there any reputable programs that condense the MT/Actor training process? I don't need another degree - I already have two - I need a program that will train me and will give me a network with which I could start a career.

Do such programs exist? Do they exist and also have the pull of a name school (like Carnegie Mellon, NYU, etc.)? Is it worth it? Am I already too old for this?



Any and all advice is GREATLY appreciated.

And apologies for the novel!