Theater/Performing Arts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So listen, schools are great but what's the end run? You major in theater, presumably, to act. Focusing so much on the college seems somewhat disconnected from the path to the ultimate thing. Which one of these choices gets you closest in proximity to the thing?

I presume these are very rich people, and they want the college experience for their kids.

And. neither of you clearly knows anything about this major or field. Move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So listen, schools are great but what's the end run? You major in theater, presumably, to act. Focusing so much on the college seems somewhat disconnected from the path to the ultimate thing. Which one of these choices gets you closest in proximity to the thing?

I cannot speak to OP's child's specific situation (as a performer) but I know someone who got a full ride to the Emerson BFA program for technical theater and I can't speak highly enough for how it set her up to have an effective career. Besides arts classes, they had required classes on creating a professional business of yourself (everything from designing logos/resumes/portfolios to doing taxes, accounting, etc.) and opportunities for students to work toward union membership so they were set to join the working world when they graduated. I hope OP and their child are looking into the network/union work opportunities and business classes that are offered at whatever program they choose to go with, although I will say that most of the artists I know did spend at least part of their 20s working secondary jobs until they either switched careers or found something stable. The only one I know who didn't was at American Ballet Academy and went straight into a company.

And that's what I mean. Not proximity location-wise, but who does the best job of getting you to the next step.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So listen, schools are great but what's the end run? You major in theater, presumably, to act. Focusing so much on the college seems somewhat disconnected from the path to the ultimate thing. Which one of these choices gets you closest in proximity to the thing?

Again, was not looking for these types of opinions on theater as a course of study. There are absolutely colleges that create a path into the theater and performing arts world.

Was not commenting on course of study. My own DS is theater at NYU Tisch and I am a director. So definitely was not suggesting college is not a path. Was suggesting the choice of college should match the desired path in the most effective way. We chose NYU (over UCLA, USC and DePaul) because their approach to entering the business seemed more in line with his goals, as well as physical proximity to jobs and auditions and networking. That's what I mean. This is 2023 and content drives everything, so I think the field is actually the economy driver of both now and the future. So go for it, but just dig into how connected the school is to the business. not just the training.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So listen, schools are great but what's the end run? You major in theater, presumably, to act. Focusing so much on the college seems somewhat disconnected from the path to the ultimate thing. Which one of these choices gets you closest in proximity to the thing?

Again, was not looking for these types of opinions on theater as a course of study. There are absolutely colleges that create a path into the theater and performing arts world.

Was not commenting on course of study. My own DS is theater at NYU Tisch and I am a director. So definitely was not suggesting college is not a path. Was suggesting the choice of college should match the desired path in the most effective way. We chose NYU (over UCLA, USC and DePaul) because their approach to entering the business seemed more in line with his goals, as well as physical proximity to jobs and auditions and networking. That's what I mean. This is 2023 and content drives everything, so I think the field is actually the economy driver of both now and the future. So go for it, but just dig into how connected the school is to the business. not just the training.

Can you offer input on the listed schools and your child’s audition experiences?

[Anonymous]

Sure, though auditioning was still during COVID and 100% virtual. Not sure who has gone back to in-person.I'd say the auditions were fairly similar - two pieces, one classical, one modern, with the option to choose each piece. NYU suggested knowing at least 4 pieces in case someone asks you to do something else. He was sure to pick choices that showed range, and scenes that he could explain motivation. You don't want to choose a monologue without reading the full play. You should know why you chose that character and that scene, particularly in regard to your approach to how you performed it. One or two schools asked for a song, so have one or two of those in the back pocket. Remember part of the audition is general interviewing -- what plays have your read, favorite directors, favorite plays, who you want to act or tell stories, etc... NYU had a second callback round, but not the others.

[Anonymous]

https://tdps.tufts.edu/

[Anonymous]

Northwestern and NYU Tisch are the tops for theater.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So listen, schools are great but what's the end run? You major in theater, presumably, to act. Focusing so much on the college seems somewhat disconnected from the path to the ultimate thing. Which one of these choices gets you closest in proximity to the thing?

Again, was not looking for these types of opinions on theater as a course of study. There are absolutely colleges that create a path into the theater and performing arts world.

Was not commenting on course of study. My own DS is theater at NYU Tisch and I am a director. So definitely was not suggesting college is not a path. Was suggesting the choice of college should match the desired path in the most effective way. We chose NYU (over UCLA, USC and DePaul) because their approach to entering the business seemed more in line with his goals, as well as physical proximity to jobs and auditions and networking. That's what I mean. This is 2023 and content drives everything, so I think the field is actually the economy driver of both now and the future. So go for it, but just dig into how connected the school is to the business. not just the training.

PP, thanks for this (NP). What do you think of WestConn? Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So listen, schools are great but what's the end run? You major in theater, presumably, to act. Focusing so much on the college seems somewhat disconnected from the path to the ultimate thing. Which one of these choices gets you closest in proximity to the thing?

Again, was not looking for these types of opinions on theater as a course of study. There are absolutely colleges that create a path into the theater and performing arts world.

Was not commenting on course of study. My own DS is theater at NYU Tisch and I am a director. So definitely was not suggesting college is not a path. Was suggesting the choice of college should match the desired path in the most effective way. We chose NYU (over UCLA, USC and DePaul) because their approach to entering the business seemed more in line with his goals, as well as physical proximity to jobs and auditions and networking. That's what I mean. This is 2023 and content drives everything, so I think the field is actually the economy driver of both now and the future. So go for it, but just dig into how connected the school is to the business. not just the training.

PP, thanks for this (NP). What do you think of WestConn? Thanks

Never looked at it. DS attended a conservatory style high school and that school fed into Juilliard, NYU, SUNY Purchase, Rutgers, DePaul, Carnegie Mellon, Fordham, Northwestern, Pace and the west coast schools (USC, UCLA), plus summer program in the British drama academies (RADA/BADA) and of course, Howard --which quietly has probably sent as many famous folks into the business as any other on the list, if not more (Chadwick Boseman, Taraji Henson, Anthony Anderson, Marlon Wayans, Debbie Allen etc...). Strong advice would be to look harder at the schools that have realized that theater does not lie in a vacuum away from related industries. Seek out those that at least make some attempt to integrate with their Radio/TV/Film/Digital programs. I also would not choose a program that does not have a strong focus on writing and directing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not in this world directly, but a friend’s kid went to Temple and an acquaintance is at Northwestern. Just a few more to check out!

Northwestern alum here (not in the theater dept.) and the OP said her kid does not want cold weather. Northwestern is cold and there can be months of gray snow turning black as it sits around. I loved it there (and I'm from the warm South!) but a kid who was seriously not interested in cold-weather regions shouldn't go to NU unless the program there is so compelling for her that it's a clear first choice despite the weather. The theater department is incredible but the quality of life the student prefers is crucial too.

I know that some people have health problems that flare up in the cold and see to be in warm weather. I can’t imagine someone resilient enough to make it in TV, theater or film who’d be worried about cold weather.

Work on that.