College Inquiry

[Behind-the-Scenes]

Posted: 9/12/15 at 6:08pm

Hello! I've been a big fan of these boards for a while and I have a question for you all. I'd appreciate all of your insight on this topic.

I love theatre. It's always been a part of my life and I want to continue to study it during my college years. Pace University is currently high up on my list. I was just wondering if Pace has a good reputation within the industry. I plan on working behind the scenes (I'd go under the major "Management- Arts and Entertainment" specifically).

Also, are there any schools that you guys would reccomend/ have any experience with?

I'd like to go away for college (I am a NYC native), but why leave when I have what I want to pursue right here? 

Thanks for the help and the entertainment you guys gave provided over the years. I'm excited to finally have an account!

Updated On: 9/12/15 at 06:08 PM

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 9/12/15 at 7:09pm

I've never heard Pace mentioned in a discussion of the better theater schools, but that may not mean much, considering I live on the opposite coast.

 

But based on my experience at other theater schools, I'd look at how many opportunities Pace will give you to interact with people in the business. Some schools use their management students primarily as free labor in the box office. (This was once true at UCLA, until they realized it was cheaper to cancel their management program altogether and let central ticketing handle the b.o.)

 

Otherwise, unless somebody knows of a school that is a traditional theater management "pipeline", I don't know your choice of a school as an undergrad matters much. (If your interest is live theater, you are probably smart to stay in the NYC area.) Obviously, there will always be a certain cache associated with Ivy League schools and their equivalents, but that's true in any field.

 

Finally and speaking as someone who spent years in management and then went back to college, it wouldn't kill you to get a good liberal arts degree in theater as an undergrad. An overall knowledge of the art form will only make you a better manager/producer/whatever. And you can always get a one-year M.A. in arts managements if and when you find it necessary.

[GaryinLA]

Posted: 9/13/15 at 12:59pm

I just took a tour at Pace last month with my niece who desires to attend next fall in the stage mgmt/costume design area. What impressed me the most is that a great percentage of the faculty are currently active in Broadway theater, and of course, the proximity to Braodway itself is a plus. 

[RingOfKeys2]

Posted: 9/13/15 at 1:29pm

Updated On: 1/21/16 at 01:29 PM

[bwaychae5192]

Posted: 9/14/15 at 12:52am

It's not in New York, but the University of Evansville has a really awesome Theatre Management program and the department itself is ranked really high nationally. They do all sorts of different things and you're placed in a practicum freshman year. Plus, the business school where you'd take those sorts of classes is nationally ranked. Most of my friends who were Theatre Management majors got awesome internship placements at places like La Jolla Playhouse. I wasn't a part of UET myself, or I could speak more on the topic.