What college for theatre?

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any suggestions? My DD is in ninth grade and really taking a look at going this route.

the one that insists on a double major so she can earn a better living than waiting tables.

Does you child actually have talent? I mean, serious talent. Nowhere needs another mediocre theatre major.

Says the kind of parent who belittles and then crushes her child's dreams.

That's BS. It isn't crushing dreams to say that a chosen path is a tough one and a family's finances are limited.

I suggest we stick to the subject and assume OP and family are independently rich.

I used to work with a woman whose fugly (I am sorry!) DD was going to conquer Broadway. I wonder if she did. The mom was very supportive, because she didn't dare to crush DD's dream.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eight Indiana U grads won Grammys last night.

I'm guessing they went to IU's Jacobs School of Music. Great school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell your child to defer college for a year, go to a major city (NYC) and wait on tables while auditioning for parts. If s/he says that's too scary/tough/not fun, then you will know that you should not shell out major $$$ so they can be a theater major in college because they don't have the chutzpah. And if your child truly does want to do theatre, I think real life experience will be better anyway.

+1 - I think this is a good suggestion. You could go to college after this, but if she can get through this, you'll know she'll be able to do what it would take to make it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell your child to defer college for a year, go to a major city (NYC) and wait on tables while auditioning for parts. If s/he says that's too scary/tough/not fun, then you will know that you should not shell out major $$$ so they can be a theater major in college because they don't have the chutzpah. And if your child truly does want to do theatre, I think real life experience will be better anyway.

+1 - I think this is a good suggestion. You could go to college after this, but if she can get through this, you'll know she'll be able to do what it would take to make it.

This. Or you could do what we did. Our daughter is very talented and had the lead in three of the four musical theater productions at her high school. Plus, she was in countless community performances. She is still very involved in theater and musical theater in college. But it's not her major. She knows that it's important to have a back up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any college not in New York City or Los Angeles (or closely surrounding areas like New Haven) is a waste of time and money. New York University, University of Southern California, Yale, etc. All of the rest - as good as they may be - are insulated and give a false security. Face the big dogs right away and audition and make contacts while you are in college.

Are you actually in the theater/movie business, PP? Because this post is stunningly ignorant. There is more than one way to make a living at acting and there are many schools across the country that have excellent programs. In many cases, talent who stay in regional theaters can work regularly while holding down full time jobs as well. Know how I know? Because I live in a city with a regional theater scene and I have friends who are doing it. And they are not poor, nor do they wait tables or bartend. They have families and homes and comfortable middle class lives like tons of other people. Plus they are far more interesting and intelligent and well-read and cultured than you could ever hope to be.

OP, my advice is that you are getting ahead of yourself. With a ninth grader, try to find some summer programs for your child to participate in. A 2-4 week residential program away from home is a good test of whether or not your child actually has what it takes to survive in that world, whether or not they have a developed talent at this point. Encourage your child to audition for shows - even community theater - in your area. Your child needs some solid experience of what it is like to do a show and be part of a cast before they commit to a major in theater. It is highly competitive and not for the faint of heart.

BTW, I am a former theater (and English - gasp!!) major who left the business. I now have a master's degree and a well-paying professional job where I manage an entire division and staff. The skills I learned in theater - confidence, speaking, improvisation - are all skills that serve me well in my current career, where I frequently have to give presentations, speak to people in person and on the phone whom I've never met before, handle curveball questions with grace and navigate difficult people. People who act like these skills are useless are ignorant and narrow-minded, and their opinions aren't worth much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No college is better for acting/theatre than NYU. None. And the child is in New York City. Even if he/she never makes it as an actor, it is a well-respected degree and can lead to hundreds of other entertainment related fields.

It is stunningly hard to get into -- you need talent and top scores and grades.

Someone I know got in, but turned it down to go to Cincinnati Conservatory b/c the price at NYU is THROUGH THE ROOF! She is very happy at CC and getting paid summer jobs.

+1

CCM has people in the cast and crew of virtually every major Broadway show. If you were so cultured and a regular Broadway attendee you would know this. But of course you are speaking out the left side of your face and your ignorance is showing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Encourage your kid to think outside the box too on what he/she wants to do in the entertainment industry. Actors have very little ability to control their own fate but are jsut the face of the industry. If he/she enjoys the creative process encourage them to look into theater tech, writing/screenwriting, producing/directing too. It can be ultimately much more rewarding.

Anyone who actually knows the industry knows that writers make the least of anyone. You sell your script as an option for peanuts and in order to do so you basically have to agree to let a bunch of studio flacks re-write it. Actors and actresses can make tons on the side shilling for clothing, beauty and jewelry products. No one is paying a schlub writer to be the next Cover Girl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about Oberlin? (In Ohio)

Would also add Kenyon and Northwestern to this list.

[Anonymous]

wagner http://wagner.edu/theatre/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eight Indiana U grads won Grammys last night.

I'm guessing they went to IU's Jacobs School of Music. Great school!

Awww. Yes, I'm an IU graduate - not of the School of Music though. Brings back great memories. When you are a student IU you get to see all of that fabulous talent for free too. GO IU!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any college not in New York City or Los Angeles (or closely surrounding areas like New Haven) is a waste of time and money. New York University, University of Southern California, Yale, etc. All of the rest - as good as they may be - are insulated and give a false security. Face the big dogs right away and audition and make contacts while you are in college.

Are you actually in the theater/movie business, PP? Because this post is stunningly ignorant. There is more than one way to make a living at acting and there are many schools across the country that have excellent programs. In many cases, talent who stay in regional theaters can work regularly while holding down full time jobs as well. Know how I know? Because I live in a city with a regional theater scene and I have friends who are doing it. And they are not poor, nor do they wait tables or bartend. They have families and homes and comfortable middle class lives like tons of other people. Plus they are far more interesting and intelligent and well-read and cultured than you could ever hope to be.

OP, my advice is that you are getting ahead of yourself. With a ninth grader, try to find some summer programs for your child to participate in. A 2-4 week residential program away from home is a good test of whether or not your child actually has what it takes to survive in that world, whether or not they have a developed talent at this point. Encourage your child to audition for shows - even community theater - in your area. Your child needs some solid experience of what it is like to do a show and be part of a cast before they commit to a major in theater. It is highly competitive and not for the faint of heart.

BTW, I am a former theater (and English - gasp!!) major who left the business. I now have a master's degree and a well-paying professional job where I manage an entire division and staff. The skills I learned in theater - confidence, speaking, improvisation - are all skills that serve me well in my current career, where I frequently have to give presentations, speak to people in person and on the phone whom I've never met before, handle curveball questions with grace and navigate difficult people. People who act like these skills are useless are ignorant and narrow-minded, and their opinions aren't worth much.

OP, check out Interlochen. It's not too late for the summer program, and there reputation is well known. Your 9th grader might really enjoy it!

http://camp.interlochen.org/theatre-arts-summer-programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any college not in New York City or Los Angeles (or closely surrounding areas like New Haven) is a waste of time and money. New York University, University of Southern California, Yale, etc. All of the rest - as good as they may be - are insulated and give a false security. Face the big dogs right away and audition and make contacts while you are in college.

Are you actually in the theater/movie business, PP? Because this post is stunningly ignorant. There is more than one way to make a living at acting and there are many schools across the country that have excellent programs. In many cases, talent who stay in regional theaters can work regularly while holding down full time jobs as well. Know how I know? Because I live in a city with a regional theater scene and I have friends who are doing it. And they are not poor, nor do they wait tables or bartend. They have families and homes and comfortable middle class lives like tons of other people. Plus they are far more interesting and intelligent and well-read and cultured than you could ever hope to be.

OP, my advice is that you are getting ahead of yourself. With a ninth grader, try to find some summer programs for your child to participate in. A 2-4 week residential program away from home is a good test of whether or not your child actually has what it takes to survive in that world, whether or not they have a developed talent at this point. Encourage your child to audition for shows - even community theater - in your area. Your child needs some solid experience of what it is like to do a show and be part of a cast before they commit to a major in theater. It is highly competitive and not for the faint of heart.

BTW, I am a former theater (and English - gasp!!) major who left the business. I now have a master's degree and a well-paying professional job where I manage an entire division and staff. The skills I learned in theater - confidence, speaking, improvisation - are all skills that serve me well in my current career, where I frequently have to give presentations, speak to people in person and on the phone whom I've never met before, handle curveball questions with grace and navigate difficult people. People who act like these skills are useless are ignorant and narrow-minded, and their opinions aren't worth much.

You make excellent points. I don't know a ton of theatre majors but the ones I do are articulate, self-assured, and poised.

One particular person who comes to mind is a Linguist who was has a minor in theatre. He went on to work for a major software company and does a lot of side work in the theatre behind the scenes. I'm not sure if he is paid for his theatre time but I do know he is one of the happiest, most content people I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No college is better for acting/theatre than NYU. None. And the child is in New York City. Even if he/she never makes it as an actor, it is a well-respected degree and can lead to hundreds of other entertainment related fields.

It is stunningly hard to get into -- you need talent and top scores and grades.

Someone I know got in, but turned it down to go to Cincinnati Conservatory b/c the price at NYU is THROUGH THE ROOF! She is very happy at CC and getting paid summer jobs.

+1

CCM has people in the cast and crew of virtually every major Broadway show. If you were so cultured and a regular Broadway attendee you would know this. But of course you are speaking out the left side of your face and your ignorance is showing.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eight Indiana U grads won Grammys last night.

I'm guessing they went to IU's Jacobs School of Music. Great school!

Awww. Yes, I'm an IU graduate - not of the School of Music though. Brings back great memories. When you are a student IU you get to see all of that fabulous talent for free too. GO IU!

Good for you! IU is a wonderful school! I have a relative who went to the Jacobs School and was fortunate to attend a production in the beautiful theatre there. Did you know they live stream a lot of their performances? Great way to check out the quality of the program.