BEST COLLEGES BFA MUSICAL THEATER- Page 11

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 12:20pm

From the videos I've seen on YT, I've been extremely impressed by U Michigan's students. And, their alumni did A Very Potter Musical, so that raises them in my esteem as well.

American University is in Washington, D.C. I interviewed for a graduate program there, but it wasn't related to theatre so I have no idea how good or bad their MT program is.

[i am the one]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 12:43pm

Okay guys, it's NYU Tisch, not "Tish".

Let's keep it educated.

[matineeidol2013]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 3:26pm

some insight on the Penn State University's Musical Theatre program...its very very impressive.


http://live.psu.edu/story/40804


and the best part, I start there as a Musical Theatre major in 10 days!

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 7:42pm

I don't mean to diss UMich kids - no doubt the training there is fantastic.

Really, it truly doesn't matter where you go, at least from the schools mentioned thus far, because they all have great faculty who will really work to cultivate and motivate their students. The passion, hard work, and luck is up to you.

[CateBroadway]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 7:53pm

"Really, it truly doesn't matter where you go, at least from the schools mentioned thus far, because they all have great faculty who will really work to cultivate and motivate their students. The passion, hard work, and luck is up to you."

Well said. College is what you make of it.

[broadwayworldreader]

Posted: 8/12/09 at 8:25pm

If your interested in a small liberal arts school in IL check out Illinois Wesleyan University. I've heard from many that they're program is quickly picking up steam and marketing itself as a program that isn't a machine. Apparently, it's also highly selective and there appears to be a lot of individual attention, there's about 35 ppl in the MT program. They don't seem to connect to much with their alum, but I know Richard Jenkins who was nominated for an academy award this past year went there for acting. My friend told me that Dave Clemmons taught a master class there and recommends. In fact, he sought out the school to take the class after he saw some great alum audition for various shows he was casting. Anyone else heard of it?

[Gigi1223]

Posted: 9/5/09 at 10:22am

How about some of the Ohio schools: Wright State University, Baldwin-Wallace, Otterbein, Ball State in IA?

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 9/5/09 at 11:03pm

I'm far from a student, but I'll give my two cents as a season ticket holder for CCM and Wright State.
CCM is never a miss and is always a good show, Mainstage and Studio. The talent is amazing to me (in all departments). I always look forward to seeing their names in various Playbills for tours and Broadway after they leave.
Wright State is not on the same level for me as CCM. Some productions are great while others have been off. Next year will be interesting as the students playing most of the leads were seniors.
Like someone said college is what you make of it, and I have seen really great shows at both schools.

[justbreathe007]

Posted: 9/11/09 at 3:52pm

What about Columbia College in Chicago? I would love to go to college in NY but I can't get out there to visit and I'm looking for something a little closer. One of my top choices is Elon but again, I can't get there to visit.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 9/11/09 at 4:02pm

I almost applied to Columbia College...it seems like their program is pretty nice.

As others have said, though, it really is what you make of it, and once you are auditioning in the professional world nobody is going to really care where you went to school.

[lillebjorn]

Posted: 9/11/09 at 5:37pm

What school depends on the career you want? Who do you admire? Do you want to be a triple threat? Do you just want to do musical theatre or act in straight plays/films etc?
In my experience, working on 2 broadway shows and 2 national tours in the last 10 months and also teaching at a major conservatory, get the best acting training you can. Look at the actors playing lead roles who are now in their late thirties or older. Many, but not all, went to acting schools and developed their musical chops by learning a strong acting technique and applying it to Musical Theatre. The actors who finaled as Principals for one show I worked on had, without exception, NOT gone to an MT school. Some went to major acting schools while some went through "vocal performance" programs.
The principal actors I've worked with and respect have mostly gone to schools like Juilliard, Tisch grad, NCSA (or UNCSA as it is now) and BU. They can produce actors who can sing.
The ensemble actors who I respect tend to be from top MT schools like CMU, UMich, Baldwin-Wallace(rising to the top) or CCM. Or they've been to schools that don't have a reputation for MT and have had the drive to succeed. I'll be honest, I haven't had great experiences working with people from middle rank schools like Elon. Sorry, Elonites, but that's my experience.

[willact4food]

Posted: 9/11/09 at 5:53pm

You guys have it all wrong about Oklahoma City University. OCU has a good VOCAL PERFORMANCE program, which is the degree that Kristin Chenoweth and Kelli O'Hara graduated with. Their musical theatre program is a travesty, mostly because of their acting teachers.

University of Oklahoma has a wonderful School of Musical Theatre (the only actual School for musical theatre in the nation) and an awesome School of Drama.

The only schools up north are wonderful as well, especially UMich.
Updated On: 9/11/09 at 05:53 PM

[BroadwayBound92]

Posted: 9/11/09 at 7:32pm

What about Sam Houston State University? It's my first choice. The only notable alumni is Katie Rose Clarke, but students that have attended say that it has an excellent program in Musical Theatre.

[*brina-doll*]

Posted: 9/11/09 at 8:13pm

The University of Minnesota-Duluth is another great school to look out for (in terms of a BFA for musical theatre). It's in a rather small town up North but the program is wonderful and the teachers are fantastic.

[bwaybound2010]

Posted: 9/11/09 at 9:48pm

anyone know how good (or bad) the one and two-year conservatory programs are at New York Film Academy?

Posted: 9/16/09 at 5:09pm

As an NYU student, I wanted to update anyone looking to apply to Tisch on some changes in our drama department. No more CAP21.
http://www.nyunews.com/#/news/2009/sep/16/tisch/?ref=ajax

Sigh.

[KeatonWilliams]

Posted: 10/29/09 at 3:51am

So, there seems to be some very well informed people on this message board.

Anyone have some good advice on which MT school is best in California? I live here and can't really afford to go across the country.

Any legit feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 10/29/09 at 8:14am

There aren't many great ones in California. Most are better for art and acting programs...

I'd suggest UC Irvine (I don't think it's a bfa) and Pepperdine (that should be BFA). Might be a couple of others but the pickings will be slim.

[mosessupposes]

Posted: 10/29/09 at 9:40am

Most of the ones people have posted are good. CMU, CCM, Michigan. Ithaca College has an amazing program. And look at the alumni in shows on Broadway!
Kerry Butler(Little Shop of Horrors, Hairspray, Xanadu, Rock of Ages), Aaron Tviet (Hairspray, Wicked, Next to Normal, Catch Me if You Can), Matt Cavenaugh (Grey Gardens, West Side Story), Joe Aaron Ried (Curtains, Chicago, Finians Rainbow), Eric Jordan Young (Suessical, Chicago, Ragtime) Sara Schmidt (Jersey Boys), Jeremy Jordan (Rock of Ages) and more. And these people are always LEAD roles in Broadway shows. Ithaca must be doing something over there.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 10/29/09 at 9:41am

I smell an Ithaca College student.

[mosessupposes]

Posted: 10/29/09 at 9:48am

As for great programs in Cali, there are a lot of talented people coming out of USC! I've heard great things about their program.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 10/29/09 at 11:14am

Oakland University in Rochester Hills, MI, is an up and coming program. A few years back they totally re did every aspect of their musical theatre program. While they don't have multi-million dollar facilities, they never fail to put on good musicals and plays.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 10/29/09 at 12:10pm

"As for great programs in Cali, there are a lot of talented people coming out of USC! I've heard great things about their program."

They don't have a Musical Theatre program, my friend... Their FILM & STAGE ACTING programs is what you're talking about (I hope).

[SoMuchBetter44]

Posted: 10/29/09 at 1:29pm

Wow, I hadn't heard about this! Will Cap21 still be operating independently for their summer programs and 2 year professional program? I'm looking into their summer 6 week professional program for this coming summer. Does anyone know if I can still get college credit from NYU for it this summer?

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 10/29/09 at 6:50pm

No, I dont think so. Call and ask..

They'll still be doing the 2 year certificate program though.