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academic merit, artistic merit and / or need

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It's May 1st! Congratulations to all the seniors who have gotten into a MT program they like, and I hope the remaining seniors keep the faith and land something they like from a wait-list or through alternative plans. There are so many paths to a career, not one.

I would appreciate learning the names of any colleges or universities, where you or your S or D was accepted to the MT program and received scholarships and / or grants (based on academic merit, artistic merit and / or need) that covered 55% or more of the total expected cost to attend that particular school. If it is a public institution, and you qualify for an in-state or regional cost of attendance (as opposed to an out-of-state cost of attendance), please note that as well.

Thank you for sharing this information.


switching from Classical Voice to MT, need advice

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Posting for my daughter, will tell her about this board just found. Daughter is lyric soprano (with good strong chest voice), doesn't belt. Experience in high school musicals and with show choir (simple jazz dancing), as well as Irish step dancing when real little. She wants to switch to either a combo program like Illinois's lyric theatre, or a program with good vocal teaching and coaching. Want to stay in middle plains states (base now is Missouri), would consider mid-south (TN, OK), or SE (strong ties to Florida, gets in state tuition there as well).

Her vocals are amazing for her age, 19. Would have a great career in Classical were she to continue, but she LOVES MT and says although she's great at Classical, she doesn't love doing it.

I would love program suggestions as she needs to "step on it" to get apps and/or pre-screens in. What programs to avoid (ie, lack of good vocal teaching/coaches/overly dance focus, or will force her to try and belt; she should stay lyric/legit, it's her strength and will get her the jobs in the future).

What programs would be good for her? (And we don't want a program that only mounts one musical a year because the strength is dance, but given time constraints and how new this is to us, need help.)

She will have four semesters of voice, theory, piano and tons of GE classes including foreign languages, so is already well-geared for a BM type MT program.

Thanks for any and all help!!! :)

MT major with little dance experience

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Hey all!

I’m looking at applying to colleges as an Acting / MT major this year. I’m primarily auditioning for acting, but MT schools are also on my list. However, I have a severe lack of dance training. As of right now I’m in a beginners ballet class, and I’m a good mover, but not a dancer. I tried to tailor my list of schools so that most are less selective and more focused on acting / voice. My list is as follows:

Carnegie Mellon
Baldwin Wallace
Point Park
The Hartt School
CCPA Roosevelt (Voice)
U Arts

Like I said, I’m mainly applying to Acting schools, so this list is smaller. Any advice for schools is should add or remove? Any advice for further steps to take to prepare for dance auditions? Let me know, thanks!

tranfser of schools and major to BFA MT

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Hello!
I'm in search for some school/program recommendations.
I'm currently enrolled in a BM vocal performance program and am thinking about making the switch to MT.
Although a strong lyric singer; I don't have much experience in dance. I do move well though and pick up choreography rather quickly.

I don't know very much about the MT world as far as schools go. I'm knowledgeable about the "big names" like BW, NYU Tisch, Michigan.... but need some more options preferably in the midwest (ok if they aren't.)

in search for schools that:
- don't focus on dance and being a "triple threat" so much
- have GOOD voice teachers coaches. I don't want to lose my good technique.
- affordable/ give out good scholarship money
- not extremely selective in audition process

All comments are welcome; thanks!!!

Big List of MT Colleges: By State

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MODERATOR NOTE: FOR THE MOST UPDATED LIST, PLEASE SEE POST #2 WHICH IS MORE COMPLETE THAN POST #1'S LIST.


Here is the big list of schools that offer a musical theater degree. This list was formerly part of a FAQ MT college site that a now CC "alum", Shauna, had compiled as a Geocities site that CC posted a link to at the top of our MT Forum. As the Geocities site is no longer available and is discontinued by Yahoo, CC is posting this valuable resource of the list of MT Colleges that was formerly compiled.

As Shauna wrote on her original Geocities site, this list was made in large part by Dancersmom and doctorjohn, two CC members, and although pretty much everyone on the board has contributed at some point, these two did the vast majority of the work. (Thanks also to ILMomsk, Lauren Z., Nick, klass, Lexasmom, Mary Anne, and MusThCC for updates.) The list begins with colleges that offer undergraduate musical theater degrees. They are organized alphabetically by state. Following the name of the school in parentheses is the type of degree they offer, and, in some cases, the number of students the school offers admission to.

Colleges that offer graduate degrees are at the bottom of the page.

If you know of any colleges that offer a musical theater degree that are not listed on this page, please let us know.

KEY:

A + next to a school indicates that they are especially selective (that they admit only a small number of applicants).

A ~ next to a school indicates that they are non-audition (that they do not require an audition to major in musical theater). Schools without this mark do require an audition.

COLLEGES WHICH OFFER UNDERGRADUATE MUSICAL THEATER DEGREES

ALABAMA

Birmingham-Southern College (BA, audition at the end of sophomore year)
University of Alabama (BA)
~University of South Alabama (BFA)

ALASKA

ARIZONA

Arizona State University (BM)
+University of Arizona (BFA) (9)

ARKANSAS

~Ouachita Baptist University (BM)

CALIFORNIA

~California State University, Chico (BA)
+California State University, Fullerton (BFA, audition at end of second year)
Notre Dame de Namur University (BFA)
University of California - Irvine
+University of California - Los Angeles (BA, audition at the end of first year)
+University of Southern California (BFA in Acting, Minor in MT)

COLORADO

~Metropolitan State College of Denver (BFA)
University of Colorado (BFA)
University of Northern Colorado (BA)

CONNECTICUT

Hartford Conservatory (3-year diploma)
+University of Hartford--The Hartt School (BFA) (25-30)

DELAWARE

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

American University (BA)
Catholic University (BM)
Howard University (BFA)

FLORIDA

+Florida State University (BM and BFA)
Palm Beach Atlantic University (BA)
New World School of the Arts (AA and BFA)
+University of Central Florida (BFA)
University of Florida (BFA)
+University of Miami (BM and BFA)
~University of West Florida (BFA)

GEORGIA

~Brenau University (BFA)
~Shorter College (BFA)
Valdosta University (BFA)
~Young Harris College (AFA-Associate of Fine Arts)

HAWAII

IDAHO

ILLINOIS

~Columbia College
Illinois State University (BA)
Illinois Wesleyan University (BFA)
Millikin University (BFA)
North Central College (BA)
+Northwestern University (BA Theater or BM Music, MT certificate, audition at the end of first year)
Rockford College (BFA)
+Roosevelt University (BFA)
Western Illinois University (BFA)

INDIANA

Ball State University (BFA)
Indiana University (BFA)
~Vincennes University (AS, 2 year degree)

IOWA

Drake University (BFA)

KANSAS

~Friends University (BA)
~Wichita State University (BFA)
University of Kansas (BFA Theatre & Voice, through Music)

KENTUCKY

~Northern Kentucky University (BFA)
~Western Kentucky University (BFA)

LOUISIANA

Tulane University (BFA through Music department)

MAINE

University of Southern Maine (BM)

MARYLAND

MASSACHUSETTS

+Boston Conservatory (BFA)
~Dean College (AA, 2-year program)
+Emerson College (BFA) (24)
Northeastern University (BM with MT minor)

MICHIGAN

Central Michigan University (BFA)
Oakland University (BAPA)
+University of Michigan (BFA) (20)
Western Michigan University (BFA)

MINNESOTA

~University of Minnesota-Duluth (BFA)

MISSISSIPPI

~University of Mississippi (BFA)

MISSOURI

~Avila University (BFA)
Missouri Valley College (BFA)
Southwest Missouri State (BFA)
University of Missouri, Kansas City (BA Music with Theatre concentration)
+Webster University (BFA)

MONTANA

NEBRASKA

~University of Nebraska (Minor)
University of Nebraska at Kearney (BFA through Music department)

NEVADA

~University of Nevada, Las Vegas (BA)

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Plymouth State University (BA)
~University of New Hampshire (BA and Minor)
NEW JERSEY
Montclair State University (BFA)
Westminster Choir College (BM)
NEW MEXICO

College of Santa Fe (BFA)

NEW YORK

American Musical and Dramatic Academy (2 year program, may lead to BA or BFA with the New School University)
Circle in the Square Theatre School (2 year program)
+Ithaca College (BFA)
Marymount Manhattan (Minor to accompany degree in Theatre or Dance)
Nazareth College (BA)
New York University: +Tisch School of the Arts: +CAP 21 (BFA) Other studios offer some MT courses
New York University: +Steinhardt School of Education (BM) (20-30)
Pace University (BFA)
Russell Sage College with NYSTI (BS)
SUNY, Buffalo (BFA)
SUNY, Cortland (BA, and Minor)
SUNY, Fredonia (BFA)
SUNY, Geneseo (BA)
SUNY, New Paltz (BA)
+Syracuse University (BFA) (25-30)
Wagner College (BA) (approximately 30)

NORTH CAROLINA

~Catawba College (BFA)
East Carolina University (BFA, audition at the end of first year)
+Elon University (BFA)
Lees-McCrae College (BA and BS in Performing Arts Studies)
~Mars Hill College (BFA)
Meredith College (BA)
University of North Carolina at Pembroke (BM)
Western Carolina University (BFA and BM)

NORTH DAKOTA

OHIO

Ashland University (BA Theatre w/ MT concentration)
+Baldwin-Wallace College (BM) (10-12)
Kent State University (BFA)
~Marietta College (BFA)
Ohio Northern University (BFA)
+Otterbein College (BFA) (8)
~University of Akron (BA)
+University of Cincinnati - College Conservatory of Music (BFA) (22-24)
Youngstown State University (BFA)
Wright State University (BFA)

OKLAHOMA

+Oklahoma City University (BM)
University of Central Oklahoma (BM)
+University of Oklahoma (BFA) (12)
~University of Tulsa (BA and Minor)

OREGON

Southern Oregon University (BFA Acting, audition at the end of first term)

PENNSYLVANIA

+Carnegie-Mellon University (BFA) (10)
~DeSales University (BA)
Muhlenberg College (BA Theatre)
+Pennsylvania State University (BFA) (15-20)
+Point Park University (BFA)
Seton Hill University (BA Theatre w/ MT emphasis)
Susquehanna University (BA Theatre w/ MT emphasis)
+University of the Arts (BFA)
West Chester University (BA Theatre w/ MT emphasis)
Wilkes University (BA)
RHODE ISLAND

Rhode Island College (BA Theatre w/ MT concentration)
SOUTH CAROLINA

Coastal Carolina University (BA)
Coker College
SOUTH DAKOTA

TENNESSEE

Belmont University (BM)

TEXAS

Abilene Christian University (BFA)
KD Studio (2 year program)
+Sam Houston State University (BFA)
~Texas Christian University (BFA)
~Texas State University-San Marcos (BFA)
University of Texas at Arlington (BM)
University of Texas at El Paso (BFA)
West Texas A&M
UTAH

Brigham Young University (BFA in Music Dance Theatre)
Weber State University (BA or BS)
VERMONT

~Johnson State College (BA)
VIRGINIA

James Madison University (BA and BM)
+Shenandoah Conservatory (BFA)

WASHINGTON

University of Puget Sound (BA Theatre)

WEST VIRGINIA

~West Virginia Wesleyan College (BA and Minor)

WISCONSIN

~Carthage College (BA in Music)
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay (BA)
+University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point (BFA) (7-8)
Viterbo University (BFA)
WYOMING

Casper College (AA)
COLLEGES WHICH OFFER GRADUATE MUSICAL THEATRE DEGREES

Arizona State University (MM)
Boston Conservatory (MM)
New York University: Steinhardt (MA Vocal Performance w/ MT concentration)
Oklahoma City University (MM)
San Diego State University (MFA)
University of Central Florida (MFA)
University of Montana (MM)
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (MFA)

TCU BFA MT

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Page 1 of 2

There is not a lot of discussion about Texas Christian University’s BFA MT in this forum even though it's on the big list, so I thought that I would contribute now that my daughter is a freshman. Most information will be factual; however, we did interview close to 8-10 current students and alumni in the program before making a decision, so I will include some of their input if there was a strong consensus. My hope is to paint a picture of the program and university for you to decide if it is a match for your student.

LOCATION: TCU sits about 5 miles south from downtown Fort Worth. FW is a charming, historic city with a strong economy, lively nightlife and vibrant theatre scene. It is 30 minutes to Dallas and there are two accessible airports (DFW 30 minutes, Dallas Love, 45 minutes), giving a student a lot of options for flights. It is also a relatively milder climate than some other MT school options. Restaurants, Uber, upscale and mall shopping, as well as culture are nearby. There are a few restaurants and other basic needs within campus walking distance.

CAMPUS SETTING & ENVIRONMENT: It is a stunning 290-acre, park-like campus in a residential neighborhood. The campus makes a lot of the top rankings for its beautiful facilities and reflects a well-funded private university. The maintenance and amenities are exceptional and their top-rated dorms are continually being renovated as well as their state-of-the-art Rec Center. Additionally, their outstanding football stadium, sports facilities and academic buildings are continually being upgraded.

MT PROGRAM SIZE & ENVIRONMENT: There are 43 total students enrolled as BFA MT majors within the entire 4-year conservatory-style program and 33 total students in BFA Acting. My D’s Freshman MT class is 12 students, with a balanced male/female ratio. The smaller program was enticing to her because of the personal attention by faculty and more performance opportunities.

ACTING: The MT program is under the School of Theatre and my D and I have been very impressed with the 4 performances we have seen combined. The faculty has experience in the local professional theatre scene as well as Broadway experience; every summer they run a Shakespeare Festival on campus with professionals and students in the cast. OnStage Blog rated TCU #6 in the country this year for BFA MT programs.

DANCE: There is leveled dance class offerings that rotates each semester in the MT department. My D took advanced tap this semester and will take advanced jazz next semester. There is also opportunity to take classes in their top-ranked dance department, but you do have to audition into some. My D’s schedule is full with 18 units, so she has chosen to take dance in an outside studio for her first year because it works and the price was reasonable. The professional studio is close to campus so she is perfectly happy with this arrangement. I have been told by upperclassmen and alumni that the BFA schedule opens up more after the first year to fit more dance from the dance department.

SINGING: My D currently takes ½ hour private voice lessons through the School of Music each week, which is offered for MT majors all four years. She had extensive voice training prior to college, so the ½ hour is sufficient for her. It is possible to take one hour lessons as you progress into the upperclassmen curriculum. They also have MT Performance Lab twice a week, which incorporates singing and acting.

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES: First, there are eight on-campus performance opportunities each year, two of which are musicals. Every other year they perform their musical at a larger, regional theatre in town. Additionally, they do the same thing for one of their plays. Freshman are often cast their first year and the smaller program size allows a reasonable opportunity to be cast every semester of their four year program. Students report fair casting in the program and honest feedback during this process,

CAREER DEVELOPMENT/PROFESSIONAL EXPOSURE/ALUMNI. TCU has great accessibility to professional experience for your resume by the time you graduate in order to build a network of references. According to rankings, DFW is the 4th largest theatre market in the country. While on-campus performances take precedence, there are at least 5 equity theatres in the DFW area that are well respected and known in the industry. Dallas Theatre Center won the 2017 Tony Award for best Regional Professional Theatre. The department emails the students with multiple opportunities to audition in-between their on-campus commitments. Additionally, their teachers provide the resources to apply and audition for out of area summer stock professional theater and encourages the students to work with them on their audition material.

Almost every semester there is an on-campus master class or a professional who comes in to give industry advice. While there are alumni on Broadway, students also easily end up in national tours and professional regional theatre. The department is supportive of students who have school schedule conflicts for professional auditions or work on national tours that may overlap. Students and professors come and support their fellow students in the regional professional theatre scene. Many motivated students have graduated with enough EMC points to go equity, if they desire.

MARCAS Audition

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I know this is a regional type event but I am wondering if it is worth attending to just get out the nerves and get some experience? Do any schools actually accept students at this event? Any feedback would be great as I am considering since we live within a few hours drive.

University of Tampa BFA in MT?

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Can anyone tell me about this program?

Chicago/ NYC Unified Auditions~ Musical Theatre

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My daughter is currently in the 10th grade. Should she attend unified auditions in the 11th grade or 12th grade?

Final MT Decisions Background - Class of 2024

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Below are the categories from prior years and a link to last year's thread:

Programs Applied to:

Prescreens:

Accepted to:

Withdrew:

Rejected from:

Wait-listed at:

Coach:

Summer Programs:

Background:

Final Decision:

Western Carolina School of Stage and Screen

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Hi, my sone will be attending as a MT major for the class of 2023. Are there any other Stage and Screen students or parents on CC forum. I'd love to chat.

Using Multiple Coaches....

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Just wondering... has anyone ever used 2 large scale college audition coaching services before? Is this considered immoral, or is it frowned upon?

Student funding of senior showcases

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I hope this thread doesn't get me a trouble. I am really just curious about all of this and would be really interested in hearing other opinions. I don't even really have a strong opinion, more just puzzled.
As an MT college coach and voice teacher I have quite a number of students graduating MT programs every year. It seems this year, more than ever, several of them have started fundraising campaigns for their senior showcase. I struggle with how I feel about all of this and what is the "right thing to do" for my kids. I can't donate to one vs. the other so it is kind of an all or nothing : (
I just wonder, has this been happening for years and I have somehow missed out? Is this a new thing that will become common place for more and more schools? When a school promotes a "senior showcase" would you expect it is covered by tuition and school expenses or does it seem logical that the kids need to raise the money to make it happen? Is it something that has always occurred but with platforms like GoFundMe it is now just easier to make your request public?
Again, this is more just a conversation than anything else. Feel free to pipe in...

The A1 Auditions 2020 (waitlist question)

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Have any of your college students had any luck coming off of the waitlist for the A1 Auditions? I know they have had tons of people send in prescreens and attend the prescreens... Just wondering how the wait list works, if it's depending on people registering or if it's depending on how much other talent they see at prescreens.

Pre-Screen Time Limit Question

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When submitting my pre-screens, I did them very early back when slates were not included in the time limit. Because of the new common pre-screen, the guidelines state:

"This time limit includes the slate at the beginning of the piece and is strictly adhered to; please do not upload media files longer than 90 seconds."

My college coach informed me to submit them anyway, but I am worried that I will not pass pre-screens, especially for some of my top-choice competitive colleges, like Elon. However, I don't want to re-record everything. Will it be okay if I go eight or so seconds over the time limit? Will it harm my chances of passing?

New Musical Theatre BA Program at Xavier University

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Xavier University in Cincinnati has not been mentioned as of yet on the Musical Theatre Major board, so I thought I would give detailed information about the program in case anyone might be interested. My daughter went through the audition process last year and I lurked here daily and loved getting the inside scoop on programs, so here goes my impression!

I was beyond impressed with this small but mighty theatre department lead by program director, Stephen Skiles. My daughter ended up at a state school BFA Musical Theatre program due to a too good to turn down scholarship offer, but Xavier was her favorite as well as mine and her father’s once audition season ended. Xavier’s BA in Musical Theatre is a new degree program, currently in its 2nd year. They also offer a BA in Theatre and Theatre Education as well and those programs have been around a bit longer. I think they just graduated their first theatre students last year. What made Xavier a favorite of ours? Well, first of all, the audition process is truly centered on getting to know the prospective student. This is not a sing a few bars, do a short monologue and you're out the door type of thing. The director, Stephen, sat down and talked to my daughter for a half hour before even hearing her sing or do her monologue. This is done with each applicant. Also, all those auditioning get to sing full songs (ballad and uptempo). After the audition process was over, we were given a personal tour by a current theatre student who was happy to answer any questions we had. Another thing that we loved about Xavier is that since it is a BA program, double majors are allowed and encouraged. The theatre student who gave us our tour was a TRIPLE major and she told us she was set to graduate on time in 4 years.

Xavier is very ambitious when it comes to productions. Their season includes three musicals and around four or five dramatic plays. Combined with being a smaller theatre department in regard to the total number of students (the Musical Theatre program admits around 8 students a year), this means plenty of stage opportunities. They also work with New York’s Fault Line Theatre on a yearly basis, workshopping new plays. Stephen directs some of Xavier’s productions, but he also brings in noted guest directors. This coming spring they will be doing Sondheim’s Company and it will be directed by Pamela Myers who was nominated for a Tony in the original Broadway production. The theatre facilities are very nice. Large stage, state of the art technical aspects, and comfortable seating. They also have a smaller, more intimate theatre space. However, I will say that there is a shortage of classroom space for the theatre department. They are making do with a few rooms near the theatre. I think this is because the theatre department itself is relatively new—hopefully as they grow this will change. The lack of dedicated classroom space did not bother my daughter, but I suppose it might some.

I can vouch that Stephen is very responsive when it comes to students and parents wanting to learn more about the program. I emailed a few questions before my daughter’s audition and he was very warm, welcoming, and prompt in getting back to me. Once my daughter was accepted artistically into the program we inquired about her having a visit day. Stephen went over and beyond in arranging a great day for her. She got to work with Stephen and several other instructors one on one with her material, including a private voice lesson. She traveled around doing a normal college day with theatre students, having lunch and dinner with them. Afterwards they were currently rehearsing for a production of Cabaret and Stephen invited our daughter to stay for the rehearsal as well. She gushed about her visit when we picked her up and reported the students were wonderful and made her feel quite welcome. My husband and I got the chance to talk to Stephen at the beginning of the day and also at the end. One thing we noticed was that Stephen seemed very approachable and well loved by his students—they didn’t hesitate to ask him questions or come over to talk to him. He waved one girl over to tell her he had heard from New York Public Theatre and things were looking promising for an internship she applied for (which she eventually got!) He is a passionate advocate for the theatre program that he developed and a passionate advocate for his students.

My daughter loved Xavier and thought the world of Stephen. It was a bit heartbreaking to have to turn down admission there. If not for the full tuition plus scholarship from the state school she would be there right now. She is happy where she is at now and thriving, but I’m confident she’d be happy at Xavier as well. Stephen has set the tone for a very nurturing and positive environment. For those with sons or daughters open to a BA Musical Theatre program or wanting the opportunity to double or dual major, I’d heartily recommend checking Xavier out! It is kind of difficult to find information and direct links going through the main homepage for Xavier, so I’d suggest doing a google search using the terms Xavier Theatre Department to get you directly to audition information and more details about the programs they offer.

tranfser of schools and major to BFA MT

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Hello!
I'm in search for some school/program recommendations.
I'm currently enrolled in a BM vocal performance program and am thinking about making the switch to MT.
Although a strong lyric singer; I don't have much experience in dance. I do move well though and pick up choreography rather quickly.

I don't know very much about the MT world as far as schools go. I'm knowledgeable about the "big names" like BW, NYU Tisch, Michigan.... but need some more options preferably in the midwest (ok if they aren't.)

in search for schools that:
- don't focus on dance and being a "triple threat" so much
- have GOOD voice teachers coaches. I don't want to lose my good technique.
- affordable/ give out good scholarship money
- not extremely selective in audition process

All comments are welcome; thanks!!!

Did anyone attend CAP Unifieds in Atlanta?

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Just curious to hear others' experiences. We live within driving distance and are considering for next year. My understanding is you perform in front of a panel and you get callbacks for certain schools who are interested in you? I believe you have to use CAP for coaching in order to attend...kinda like Moonifieds. Any feedback would be great!

Musical Theatre Acceptance Rates

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Would love to get acceptance information for schools offering BFA in Musical Theatre. How many applicants, number of call backs, number accepted. My daughter has 23 schools on her list and is starting to get call backs. Thanks! Nancy

Final MT Decisions Background - Class of 2023

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