I run a professional summer stock theater in addition to working with High School students, and for the past few years have attended SETC to hire my actors. I have been using those auditions as a "gauge" of where current MT schools/students are - what kind of working professional they are producing.
Granted - many of the big schools in the Northeast (Michigan, CCM, BW, Syracuse, PSU, etc) do not send many, if any, students to SETC but we see around 700 college students from various programs - so it is a fairly large sample size. I will share some observations at the end regarding auditions, but I want to share the schools that stood out:
1) BELMONT! This was the year of BELMONT. Their students blew EVERYONE out of the water. Vocally, acting-wise, professionalism. It really wasn't even close. I could have hired just about each Belmont student there was.
2) Elon - Every other year Elon is at the top of this list. The one thing I will say about Elon is that they are among the best and they know it. Vocally they are incredible - acting was weaker than I remember the past few years. I think the program is getting very voice/dance oriented - and in those two areas...it really isn't even close to any other school that sends a bunch of students.
3) Coastal Carolina - These kids are probably the best actors in the actor/singer category. Vocally far behind Elon and Belmont, but they make up for in other areas.
Some Surprises:
1) Northern Kentucky - I ended up with TWO NKU students. A non-auditioned program that produced some REAL talent. I was really impressed.
2) Marshall University - Never ends up high on the lists, but these kids had GREAT packages that were well suited to their types, and they were among the best at callbacks - they could make changes with ease.
A few overall impressions:
The first thing I will say is that each passing year more and more students are about the VOICE. Great singers who can't act a lick (or barely act). It is wonderful as a summer stock company needing ensemble members, but...there were not many leads there.
Also - dramatic monologues are completely wrong for unified auditions where you only have 90 seconds to sing and act. I don't understand schools that send their students to SETC with dramatic monologues - but I know that I am not the only one who tunes out after about 10 seconds of a dramatic monologue.
Lastly - remind your children that BEING YOUNG IS a BONUS. Know your type! I went to SETC looking to cast young looking actors - even a few short ones (5'ish) - and so many girls were in HUGE heels, and dressed and done up like 30 year olds! If I want to cast a 30 year old I will find one with the experience and look of a real one!
*Each year I make a list of overdone pieces and bad no-no's from SETC, and I will post it in the near future.
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