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Advice Needed: (especially from Ed Hooks)

Question:

If you want a degree in theatre, an MFA degree is the one that’s going to get you the furthest.  You don’t need a BA in theatre to get into a grad theatre program.  I know a guy who majored in Government, then got into Julliard.  

Yes, that’s true, and also probably more beneficial for some.  The MFA isn’t in theatre, but in a very specific field, for example Acting or Costume Design, so your work is very specific and focused on the simple process without the distraction of ‘how to build a flat’, for example. I think a different undergrad degree helps some because one trap many actors with only theatre majors and no other experience fall into is debating the "well I know for a fact that Ibsen’s brother ….blah blah blah" instead of having a worldly/literate perspective from have studied other classical worlds outside of the theatre proper.   Acting involves human nature, so perhaps studying human nature in history, psychology, even politics or just plain literature will make an actor that much better. Lollar

Response:

Tena and other Teens, Most important for you is to recognize that you love this and that the healthiest thing a person can do is something they love.  So act, sing, dance- do most of what you love the most.  Get into any kind of plays- musical or non-  get involved in International Thespian Society.  Audition for colleges at their conference in Lincoln Nebrask next summer. If you are a great singer, then getting good dance training will help.  If your singing is not great, you would need to have about 15 years of dance training to be competetive on Broadway. If that’s not you then,  focus on your singing lessons, supplement with your dance lessons. As far as when in college, try to get  into a college as a theatre major- but if you can afford to get into Yale -try  for Drama but also as an english major- you could take theatre classes and lay the foundation for your network upon graduating. While in highschool and while young, best acting training is with Viola Spolin’s theatre games and Michael Chekhov’s imagination based techniques. Memory based techniques don’t work well for those who haven’t been around long enough to have a variety of memories and they don’t support presentational theatre like Musical comedy-you shouldn’t really be crying while trying to sing for example because the tone will be lost.  Use of imagination is unlimited and freeing and it is the natural state of "Play". Also, if you have astrong regional dialect, begin to work towards standard american speech as this willimpact your college auditions. Good LUck, LIsa Dalton, Acting Coach,LA

Response:

(snip) That’s something you need to figger out for yourself. If you’re convinced theater is the only thing that’ll make you happy, go 4 it — major in theater, at a good theater school. If you’re still a little wary, major in something else, and as you said "minor, and just take lots of classes".  I took the second route, and to be honest, I’m not much worse off than many of my friends who majored.

It seems to me that having an undergrad theatre degree isn’t really necessary.  If you want a degree in theatre, an MFA degree is the one that’s going to get you the furthest.  You don’t need a BA in theatre to get into a grad theatre program.  I know a guy who majored in Government, then got into Julliard.  However, some theatre classes in some programs are only offered to majors.  I majored in theatre, but in retrospect I think I could have majored in something else and still gotten what I did in terms of production experience and classes from the theatre department. -Mike

Response:

For your info: There are two musical theatre training programs at NYU. CAP21 is the Tisch school’s Musical Theatre program and is more for actors who sing.  The Musical Theatre Dept of the School of Education is more for singers who act.  Both are good although the Dept of Ed group is getting significant input of funds at present and is both expanding and boosting quality.  For example, I gather they’ve just lined up Judy Blazer as a vocal coach. An alternative to NYU is Syracuse, very competitive but a good reputation. And if you go round the musical Theatre auditions at NETC, SETC etc, you’ll find lots of Syracuse students getting work. Good luck. Angus Hepburn Peekskill Rep – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I fifteen/F…I would really like to persue theatre when I get out of high school, and especialy musical theatre…. Well, New York is your destination.  That’s where musical theater lives.<g I recommend that you get into as many plays as you can and, meanwhile, study dance (jazz, ballet) and singing.  Finish your high school education and get into a good liberal arts program in college.  If you can afford NYU, that would be a good bet.  It would put you in The City and open up a lot of opportunities while you are still in college.  If NYU is not an option, then consider colleges like Northwestern, Carnegia-Mellon, maybe UCLA.  Private conservatories such at Julliard in New York are good. (check out their web site). The best thing you can do for yourself is to get in front of as many audiences as possible.  And, while in school, read deeply in philosophy, history and literature because these subjects will come in VERY handy in your professional life. Good luck! Ed Hooks

Response:

I fifteen/F…I would really like to persue theatre when I get out of high school, and especialy musical theatre….

Well, New York is your destination.  That’s where musical theater lives.<g I recommend that you get into as many plays as you can and, meanwhile, study dance (jazz, ballet) and singing.  Finish your high school education and get into a good liberal arts program in college.  If you can afford NYU, that would be a good bet.  It would put you in The City and open up a lot of opportunities while you are still in college.  If NYU is not an option, then consider colleges like Northwestern, Carnegia-Mellon, maybe UCLA.  Private conservatories such at Julliard in New York are good. (check out their web site). The best thing you can do for yourself is to get in front of as many audiences as possible.  And, while in school, read deeply in philosophy, history and literature because these subjects will come in VERY handy in your professional life. Good luck! Ed Hooks

Response:

I fifteen/F, and have been doing theatre all of my life. This is just in small local theatres, some youth Companies and a small proffessional theatre here in Memphis. I would really like to persue theatre when I get out of high school, and especialy musical theatre. Right now I know that I dont’ have enough experience in dance, as well as maybe in some other areas such as special voice work-shops. What is your oppinion on how to spend the next few years of my life in highschool? Should I really focus on just some dance for a while, because I know that is really important in big-time musial theatre; or should I keep doing small shows. I feel like these shows won’t realy have a long term – effect on my future, but dancing would – On the other hand, the bigger the resume, the better right? …. Also, once you get to college, do you reccomend majoring in theatre, or just possible a minor, and jsut take lots of classes and auditions. I am so lost and concerned about the moves I need to make in my near future! Please help!!! tena22

Response:

(snip) What is your oppinion on how to spend the next few years of my life in highschool? Should I really focus on just some dance for a while, because I know that is really important in big-time musial theatre; or should I keep doing small shows. I feel like these shows won’t realy have a long term – effect on my future, but dancing would – On the other hand, the bigger the resume, the better right?

Well, hate to sound overly diplomatic, but how about both? IMO, training, especially early, is invaluable. I wish I had kept up w/ my dancing. Not doing so just cost me a primo role in a big show. OTOH, experience in shows is also a rewarding experience. If I were you — actually, I’m going through the same dilemma (SP?) right now — I’d consider every show that comes along, and see if it will help me GROW. Don’t stop doing shows altogether. If you get a role that will expand your limits as an actress or singer, do it. If you just get chorus, I’d say it’s better to take dance classes. In a class, you’re learning technique. In a show, even a dancing show, you’re usually just trying to look right. Does that make sense? Also, once you get to college, do you reccomend majoring in theatre, or just possible a minor, and just take lots of classes and auditions.

That’s something you need to figger out for yourself. If you’re convinced theater is the only thing that’ll make you happy, go 4 it — major in theater, at a good theater school. If you’re still a little wary, major in something else, and as you said "minor, and just take lots of classes".  I took the second route, and to be honest, I’m not much worse off than many of my friends who majored. Good luck! –Amir Talai, Berkeley, CA

Response:

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