Colleges with fun theater programs

[Anonymous]

My dc is a theater kid. Decent voice, decent acting abilities, but is not top, definitely not professional. But they love theater so much and want to do it as a heavy activity in college. Which colleges have a big/strong theater program where a kid who loves to perform can have opportunities and a lot of fun?

Fwiw: Kid is also has a great GPA and rigorous course load in public school, good extracurriculars. Loves history, art, and writing. But theater is their passion, even if it’s not their future.

[Anonymous]

A friend’s son went to Syracuse for theater and is a broadway actor who has had some TV roles as well.

[Anonymous]

Are you looking for a college that allows non-theater majors to be involved in productions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you looking for a college that allows non-theater majors to be involved in productions?

YES. Thank you for clarifying for me. This is exactly what I’m looking for.

[Anonymous]

Friend's son is very involved in theater at UVA but is a business major. They apparently have a shiny new theater facility.

I am also interested in responses. My daughter is similar --NOT going to be a theater major but would still enjoy as an extracurricular- but also not with a UVA GPA.

[Anonymous]

University of Chicago back when I was there, not sure about today

[Anonymous]

I wonder if you should look at colleges that DON'T have a strong theater program. If your kid goes somewhere like Syracuse with a strong theater program, they accept 15 students per year into the theater minor program. But then your kid would be auditioning against those who will eventually become professional actors who already have incredible voices and acting ability.

Your kid should look for colleges that align with their other interests and then inquire about the theater program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if you should look at colleges that DON'T have a strong theater program. If your kid goes somewhere like Syracuse with a strong theater program, they accept 15 students per year into the theater minor program. But then your kid would be auditioning against those who will eventually become professional actors who already have incredible voices and acting ability.

Your kid should look for colleges that align with their other interests and then inquire about the theater program.

Agree with this advice. My DD is at a school with an amazing undergrad theatre program. She did theatre all through high school but knows she has no chance of getting into their productions. It’s fine she does lots of other things. But schools that are known for theatre will draw the hard-core theatre kids. Nearly all colleges will have some kind of performing arts going on just make sure that there is something there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dc is a theater kid. Decent voice, decent acting abilities, but is not top, definitely not professional. But they love theater so much and want to do it as a heavy activity in college. Which colleges have a big/strong theater program where a kid who loves to perform can have opportunities and a lot of fun?

Fwiw: Kid is also has a great GPA and rigorous course load in public school, good extracurriculars. Loves history, art, and writing. But theater is their passion, even if it’s not their future.

Are you asking about colleges with good student run theatre groups where a non-major has a good chance to participate or is your kid looking into a minor in theatre? Also is it theatre specifically or would they also be interested in theatre adjacent like student run groups for dance, film, improv, or singing?

University of Michigan has several student-run clubs for theatre as well as many more if you include dance, vocal, and improv. William & Mary, has lots of a cappella groups and is known for having a strong extracurricular in that area.

[Anonymous]

Northeastern.
It has various combined majors with theater.
It also recently acquired Marymount Manhattan in NYC which is known for theater art.

[Anonymous]

Most schools have theater. Just ask as you go on tours and narrow down your selections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most schools have theater. Just ask as you go on tours and narrow down your selections.

You don't randomly go on tours.
Need to do a lot of research, narrow down, go on tours, then select schools to apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Northeastern.
It has various combined majors with theater.
It also recently acquired Marymount Manhattan in NYC which is known for theater art.

Northeastern has various theater related minors.

- Minor in Theatre
- Minor in Performing Arts Administration
- Minor in Playwriting
- Minor in Improvisation and Storytelling
- Minor in Theatrical Design
- Minor in Theatre, Performance, and Social Change

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most schools have theater. Just ask as you go on tours and narrow down your selections.

You don't randomly go on tours.
Need to do a lot of research, narrow down, go on tours, then select schools to apply.

NP. I don’t think PP was saying to randomly go on tours? I think they were saying that when you are on tours, ask about theater.

I have a kid very much like OP’s, and this is what they did. Is a total theater kid, loves it, but doesn’t have any career aspirations. So they looked at schools holistically but made sure to ask about theater opportunities on the tours. It was helpful to see whether the tour guides knew anything; at schools where there’s a robust theater scene, the tour guides usually said something like, “Oh, I’m not in theater, but I have a lot of friends who are” or “I’ve seen some great productions” or “There are a bunch of student theater groups,” etc. At schools with less robust theater scenes, the tour guides were much less likely to have anything specific to say.

Wesleyan and Vassar are great options, OP—both have really deep theater/performing arts cultures, and you don’t need to be a major to get involved in school- or student-run productions. Have also heard good things about Macalester.

[Anonymous]

Skidmore
Northwestern