re: BEST COLLEGES BFA MUSICAL THEATER

[I <3 NY]

What are the best colleges for BFA's in musical theater?

[brdlwyr]

One of the best for musical theatre is certainly Northwestern in Evanston, Illinois.

[briarbrad]

Carnege Mellon
Cincinnati Conservatory
Boston Conservatory
University of Michigan
University of Oklahoma

...are a few of the very best programs. But, tell us exactly what you are looking for in a program and we could give better recommendations!

[I <3 NY]

Individual attention I think is a must have.

[briarbrad]

In regards to Northwestern, it is not a BFA program. Once you get accepted into either the school of music (BM in music) or theatre (BA in thetare - which is not an auditioned program), you can then audition at the end of the freshman year, I believe, to begin the Musical Theatre CERTIFICATE program. I hear it is a very good program, but it is not a conservatory program. It allows to double major in other disciplines, so that's good if you're interested in a double major.

[brdwaybaby17]

Is it better to major in musical theater or just theater?

[briarbrad]

If you're at a place with a REALLY good acting program, then MT is a good idea just because it makes you more versatile. However, I would say not to go in for a musical theatre program where you're not going to get great acting training, because leads can do more than just sing and dance.

[gymman]

Tisch School @ NYU

[briarbrad]

see the link below for the thread about CAP21, the musical theatre training studio of Tisch/NYU.

What is CAP21?

[Eliza0114]

If you really want to do musical theatre, get a classical vocal performance degree, and then go out to get your Masters of Fine Arts. Agencies and casting directors will take you more seriously...look at Kristen Chenoweth. I'm not saying AT ALL that this is the only way to go about doing things, but it is certainly a decent idea. Otherwise, I would say that NYU has an excellent musical theatre program...their CAP21 is top-notch. Also, NYU offers a vocal performance major within the Steinhardt School of Education that is musical theatre.

[cathywellerstein]

you've gotta watch out though if you decide to be trained in a strictly classical technique. i hate to say it, but the way it looks to me, broadway is moving further and further from the classical style.

i'd love to be trained classically, but i'm not gonna focus on only that.

[freeadmission]

What about Elon University here in crappy ol' North Carolina? I've been considering applying there and want to know what you smarter people think about it.

[WayWicked]

briarbrad...

I think you mean Oklahoma City University NOT University of Oklahoma.

There is a difference! Oklahoma City University produces legendary Broadway performers like Kristin Chernoweth and Kelli O'Hara. The other produces some of the best community theater performers in the nation. I won't go into the differences.

And Oklahoma City University offers a BM in muscial theater because it is a program from the music school, unlike others schoools who offer a BFA cause it comes from the theater department.

[I <3 NY]

i heard theres a gr8 conservatory in NC. dont recall thename though

[brdwaybaby17]

I'm applying to Elon... it's my first choice.

When I was in Stratford, I was talking to some of the actors about schools in Canada to look at. Everyone said Sheridan, but because it's a college they don't offer a degree or something? I don't understand that... Can anyone from Canada explain?

[gymman]

My nephew just finished his first year at Tisch; this is a REAL theater program, where he worked almost non-stop on real theater, NYC-style. But come with plenty of $$$--50,000 per year and climbing.

[PleaseChangeMe]

Sorry about using the topic to ask a question, I <3 NY, but I heard that while Juilliard is prestigious, it's not the best school to go to to major in Musical Theatre, and that Carnegie Mellon is better. Is this true?

[IveGottaBeME]

check out the University of the Arts in Philly

[Eliza0114]

You are probably thinking about the North Carolina School of the Arts. Mary Louis Parker attended, among many other rather famous people now. At any rate, Elon is very good as well, take it from a girl who hails from good ole North Carolina, but I hate to say it, if you want the best opportunities (not necessarily education) you need to get out of small towns. Carnegie Mellon, I agree is very good. Ithaca College also has a good program...Michelle Federer attended. Go to the school's websites and look at the credentials of the teachers, as well. Do they have actual stage experience? Go with those...they will give you the best advice.

[erinrebecca]

Please change me, Juilliard does not offer a musical theatre program. It's straight drama, voice, or dance.

brdwaybaby17, Sheridan is a great program for MT and certainly the best option in Canada, and one of the best in N.A. It's a two year conservatory program but you can also do a combined program with U of T and end up with a degree.

[brdwaybaby17]

U of T??

[erinrebecca]

University of Toronto.

[brdwaybaby17]

Ahh... so, what do you mean by a combined program? Would you do it through U of T or through Sheridan? And can you get a double major? lol Lots of questions from me...

[Jwei123]

Ithaca and Syracuse also have great programs in ny!

[briarbrad]

No, I definitely meant University of Oklahoma. While Oklahoma City University does have some good voice programs, it is definitely not considered one of the best musical theatre programs, whereas OU is.

[DivaQueen332]

Elon has a GREAT musical theatre program. I attend a small college in South Carolina for vocal performance, but if I had gone for musical theatre, Elon would have been at the top of my list.