amda???

[apdarcey]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 3:47am

i know there's a lot of hate for amda, but i'm applying there and i was wondering if anyone can tell me factually how competitive it is... i know that it is very competitive but i'm wondering if anyone knows the numbers or where i can find them? thanks...

[bjivie2]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 3:58am

With AMDA, I consider that they will accept anyone that can pay the tuition. I know of a few people that are talented in certain respects, but as an overall performer are not the caliber that you would expect going to something called the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. If you can, I'd go and try to see a show that they do, or sit in on some classes before you committ to going there, if you make it in.

[nycdncr]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 9:34am

I know many people who have gone to AMDA. My feelings on the school are this:

If you go in talented, you'll come out talented. That's kinda the way it is with most schools. You also come out with what you put into your time there. Meredith Patterson is an AMDA grad, and look at her!

Explore the classes before you commit. They don't really do shows there except for the showcases. I saw one, and it really didn't showcase anyone in a good light.

Just my humble 2 cents.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 4:07pm

ok... i understand what you guys are saying and think any school gives back only how much you put in... where else has more performing experience? i've heard about the non-performing aspect at amda a lot... but i can't think of other places in new york that have the name and degree of study in musical theatre that amda does... i don't want to go to aada because i want musical theatre... any help would be appreciated...

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 4:26pm

There are much better,cheaper places to study acting and musical theatre in NYC than AMDA. Don't be fooled into going to AADA or AMDA just because of the "names". Be sure to audit, do research and speak to former and current students before making any decisions:)

[apdarcey]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 4:40pm

i have spoken to students... and it seems to me that everyone there loves it and finds it extremely helpful and a positive experience but everyone on the outside rags on it... could you give some names of the "non-name" places? (that's kind of ironic)... i'm just an nyc outsider getting ready to move there in a year or two to pursue this and am looking to see where i should go to study...

[CrowdMeWithLove]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 4:45pm

I'm confused about this as well, apdarcey.

I'm a Junior at a performing arts high school and I want to look into conservatories because my academic grades suck, but my theatre grades are amazing...and also because I feel like a conservatory is the only place I could concentrate entirely on my craft.

I was looking at UK schools...most of which are absolutely brilliant. But my friend told me that if you get a degree in England, it won't mean anything in America and I'd just have to start all over again. It sounded kind of odd to me, but he was pretty confident.

So my questions are: 1) Is he right about the UK schools? 2) Would AMDA or AADA look good from a casting perspective once I get out there? and 3) What are the truly good conservatories out there (that you know of/went to)?

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 4:52pm

One thing you really should know is that if you are very unexperienced and do not want to jump into the NYC audition scene right away, AMDA might be the place for you. You will not be allowed to audition while you are in school there which, might be a good thing for some of the students. Of course students who go to the school are going to say they like it. They are draining 20,000 a year into it so they had damn well better. If you want "real" advice about acting school etc. you are better off posting on the Backstage message board. (www.backstage.com) They have a entire board dedicated to the topic and most everyone is a working actor and is training in the city. In the end it doesn't matter what school you have gone to, it's talent and great auditioning that count. goodluck Updated On: 10/16/04 at 04:52 PM

[pab]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 4:53pm

"I was looking at UK schools...most of which are absolutely brilliant. But my friend told me that if you get a degree in England, it won't mean anything in America and I'd just have to start all over again. It sounded kind of odd to me, but he was pretty confident."

This all depends on what you plan to do with your life. A degree means nothing if you want to be a performer. No one will care if you have a degree, only if you can do the job required. I know of no directors who will ask what degree you might have to cast you in a Broadway show. If you plan to teach theatre then that would be another story. That's where you would need the degree. So it really depends what you want to do.

Updated On: 10/16/04 at 04:53 PM

[CrowdMeWithLove]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 4:59pm

My parents say that they will only pay for my tuition entirely (like, no loans) if I go to a conservatory that has the option of me getting a degree somehow, whether they offer it or if they have a transfer program (a la AADA or AMDA). So it's more of a practicality for me. And almost all of the UK conservatories offer degrees...which is why it would be better for me. But if they don't carry over into America like he said, it seems silly to apply.

[pab]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 5:06pm

Well if you are sure that the degree will not carry over, you should go to a school in the US. When I attended AADA, one could take classes at Pace University at the same time (AADA was only four hours a day). This would allow you get an Associates of Arts Degree. You can then go on to get a higher degree elsewhere. I assume that AMDA might have a similar program but I can't be sure of that so you might want to check that out.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 5:28pm

amda has that program with new school university... still though, no one's given us any other names... am i left to assume that aada and amda are the only ones worth time or money? i'm experienced, but young... i'm going to finish college and move to new york (sound cliche?)... i feel like getting into the nyc scene through a school like amda where i would have the opportunity to study only musical theatre might be productive, even without the auditions... but what do other people know? i'm looking for names... boston (my home) and dc (college) are good, but definitely not nyc... please help?

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 6:36pm

Use the search function and you'll find many SCAMDA threads.

[SamIAm]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 7:59pm

bjiv: They do NOT accept anyone with money. The year I went there were a lot of people turned down.

You have to work in any school and you get out of it what you put in. There are any number of threads on competing theater schools on BW, so I won't repeat all the rationale. Go search and find the other comments. I got a lot out of the school but I find that whether it's theater or an ivy league school, the school doesn't make you successful.

[dancinfan]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 8:37pm

Although every casting director is certainly different, my experience has been that AMDA students and grads don't get any better or worse treatment than, say, CCM, Northwestern, or Boston Conservatory students OR high school grads with no degrees. If they're talented, they're talented and get work; if not, they don't get the callbacks.

as for the question of whether a degree counts in musical theatre, I will say that people who don't have at least some time to grow up and gain experience in a college atmosphere seem to be at a disadvantage in the highest levels of professional auditions. They just come across as green, and even when there is obvious raw talent there, most top directors don't have the time to teach someone the skills they need to do the job. It's easier to cast someone who is a bit more tried and true.

My own experience with AMDA students is that some are very impressive and some aren't. I like the teachers and training that AMDA has and gives, for the most part, but I would have to agree that it ain't a guarantee of success as a performer. What it does have that many conservatories don't have is a NYC location. That is also a double-edged sword. If you can handle the pressures of living in the city, it can be great to live there and hit the classes and auditions that the city provides. If you're not "ready" (mature, stable, confident), NYC can eat you alive.

All stuff to think about. Best of luck.

[Adoannie925]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 12:20am

AMDA will probably give back what you put in, like any other school, but I saw their showcase and it DID NOT showcase any one in a good light. It was really bad. That's my two cents. I also saw a video of someone from their acting academy, and it was TERRIBLE. You should sit in on some classes, take a tour, and then decide. If you feel the atmosphere suits you, and it will help you develop your craft, then go for it, but really look into it because I've seen some disasters come out of AMDA.

[LiLMsDramaTIK]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 10:03pm

The 'school' is awful. This is coming from a former student. I felt like I was paying for a babysitter that cost me $20,000 a semester... As for being competitive, if you can afford it, congrats you're accepted.

[BwayLeadman]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 10:21pm

I am sorry for breaking the AMDA chain, but there is a college called Five Towns College which offers Musical Theater. I am not for or against this school, but I am looking for information on this school if anybody has any. I too was thinking about AMDA, but many people tell me negatives, even my voice instructor! I guess im asking too much:
Study Musical Theater in NYC.

There is not many choices.
If anybody can help me, please!

[shesings]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 10:56pm

#1 - I know quite a few people who weren't accepted into AMDA. Also a number who were and shouldn't have been. But overall you can't say they take everyone, b/c they just don't.

#2 - pm me if you'd like some info from someone who actually went there. I'm not going to get into arguing about it on the board. I think it has a lot of good/bad aspects in my opinion, but what I think is good or bad may not be the same for someone else.

#3 - I just want to tell you you will find "scamda" threads on here. I wouldn't give them much merit. Generally they aren't comprised of any real info, just complaints of people who either never attended AMDA, or quit (which a lot did). They just don't have a lot of credit to talk about AMDA, when in reality they have no real insight into the program.

[Seany]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 11:13pm

There are some very devoted and wonderfully talented people at AMDA, but just like any other school, has a few people who are good but just don't have that much of a drive and get drunk the night before class. As long as you follow your own path, you should do very well for yourself there.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 10/18/04 at 1:48am

Well, shesings, thank you for being the self appointed ruler of who knows what about AMDA. No one has given you the right to discredit anything anyone has posted on this topic. Learn how to behave!

For your information, I have posted on those theads and I HAVE WORKED and AUDITIONED numerous AMDA students. I have seen more "graduates" (notice the quotes sweetie) than you have.

There is a reason that this schools is not looked at highly in the theater community..and I'm not talking just NY. It is a place where they will accept the majority of people..people who wouldn't qualify to be in community theater. People who have all this supposed wonderful training and still can't read music, sighting, have decent monologues or even perform a triple time step. These are the basics of this industry and time and time again I have not seen the quality of AMDA grauduates. I have know three people who left after the first year (you do have to pay for a year's education at a time). When you finish your music theory class (after a year) and all you know are your key signatures, then you are in trouble. This school preys on the kids who think "hey..I can just sing and dance all day and have have to take math! yeah!".

Go to a real university. A 4 year institution where you will not just study music but English, History and Math. Hey..there are even schools outside NYC that can teach musical theater! Get a BM or BFA. Become a well rounded person who knows that "Oklahoma" is not just a musical, but a state.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 10/18/04 at 3:56am

mr tuttle... i am going to a regular university in washington dc... i'm looking at amda for post-graduate studies... i am a music major... what do you think about amda as a resource for post-grads?

[SamIAm]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 9:37am

We can argue about this all day and never get anywhere. It really is a matter of opinion and there are theater people who will turn up their noses at an academic university teaching the arts just as there are people who will say 'don't waste your money on a theater school...go to a REAL college'.

There are people like Julie Harris and others that went to AMDA and who were very successful and some who went on to be big names who were not invited back by the staff for a second year...but then there are people who went on to be respected actors in film and in theater who lost auditions to people who are nobodys now...so that's the business.

You get out what you put in and I've seen people sail through these programs without thought and others who really squeezed every drop out of professors and teachers. Go see the schools and talk to the staff and other students. Look at the curriculum and then make a decision based on YOUR needs. You will be better off.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 9:41am

Julie Harris also went to Yale Drama. Not to mention, she was born with a freakish amount of talent.

[grownupgroupie]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 12:29pm

apdarcey, don't do it. For whatever its merits or lack thereof as a conservatory, it is NOT the place for post-graduate studies. When I was finishing college and doing the URTA/grad school audition rounds, I auditioned for them since I was already here and it wasn't clear to me that it wasn't meant for post-grad work.

No offense intended to the alumni on the board, this was just my experience, but I was clearly one of the more educated and older actors there....almost all were 17-18 and coming straight out of high school.

If you're already finishing up your undergraduate work, do yourself a favor by building on the training you already have, rather than going backwards--go somewhere that has a conservatory linked to an MFA degree....that way you have a terminal degree in your field and eventually you can teach at the college level if you ever decide to do that. And it's just more widely reconized--in this country at least--with the Masters. PLUS you have higher loan eligibility than in a non-degree program.

Music as a singer? Musician? I might have some suggestions--PM me.

Also, I'm not sure AMDA has any relationship with New School--I could be wrong, but since they already have a reciprocal deal with The Actors' Studio (which is a whole other thread entirely!), I would be surprised if they had both.

The bottom line of any training program is that you get out what you put in, and you can always cull good things from any program...in my MFA program, I had faculty members who'd taught everywhere from Yale to Tisch to AMDA and that was the consensus. But if you will already have a BA, it doesn't sound like the wisest idea.