Author Topic: NC School of the Arts  (Read 11337 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

dallas10086

  • Superstar!
  • *****
  • Posts: 562
  • Gender: Female
    • View Profile
  • Current Gig: Freelance PSM; currently Charlotte Squawks 12
  • Experience: Professional
NC School of the Arts
« on: Mar 16, 2007, 09:09 am »
Can anybody give me the lowdown on North Carolina School of the Arts' SM program or the school itself? Your likes and dislikes, the facilities, the professors, the jello in the cafeteria...it's all appreciated :)

Balletdork

  • Permanent Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 210
  • Gender: Female
    • View Profile
  • Affiliations: AEA
  • Current Gig: PSM, The Human Race Theatre Company
  • Experience: Professional
Re: NC School of the Arts
« Reply #1 on: Mar 16, 2007, 11:10 am »
They have an extraordinary dance program!  ;D That's pretty much all I know... :-\

thehayworth

  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 82
  • Gender: Male
  • Uh oh.
    • View Profile
    • Propaganda Pipeline
  • Current Gig: Santaland Diaries
  • Experience: Professional
Re: NC School of the Arts
« Reply #2 on: Mar 16, 2007, 12:32 pm »
I don't know anything about their theatre program.

HOWEVER.

When I was in high school I took a film class.  We toured on a field trip the NCSA film department.  The tour was given by the Asst Dean.  One of our students was mouthy and the Asst Dean and he got into a physical altercation, and the mouthy student was pinned up against a wall with his air cut off.

I didn't like the mouthy student, so I thought this was great.  The film dept's attitude was to treat students like they are already working, so they are very hard on them, cut them no slack, and tolerate no grief.

The police were called.  I don't know if charges were pressed.
"This time for sure."

Jessie_K

  • Superstar!
  • *****
  • Posts: 528
  • Gender: Female
    • View Profile
    • International Stage Manager of Mystery
  • Affiliations: AEA, AGMA, SMA (on leave)
  • Current Gig: Queen of the Night
  • Experience: Professional
Re: NC School of the Arts
« Reply #3 on: Mar 16, 2007, 02:00 pm »
I know a great deal of people that have come out of the dance program as well as the Design and Production program.  They are all top notch people.  They tend to favor their own and have a good network.

KC_SM_0807

  • SM Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 118
    • View Profile
    • http://
Re: NC School of the Arts
« Reply #4 on: Mar 16, 2007, 06:04 pm »
Growing up in North Carolina, I've heard all about NCSA from a variety of people.. former students, current students, professors, you name it.  Bottom line? Welcome to boot camp.  They do not treat their students well, especially the ones who are in the high school program.  I do have friends that are currently in the dance program, and although they are getting a great education, they have a lot of complaints.  Students have no free time (granted, I know that every program is rigorous and you don't get a lot of time, but the stories I've heard from students is a little mond-boggling.)  They don't have a SM program, and although they do have a technical program, it's not as well known as their acting/dance area... they definitely stick to their own and don't have a whole lot to say to people who are looking into the program... I looked into it at first and was immediately turned off.  They do have a good network and a great reputation, but the negative things that I've heard from a variety of people doesn't balance it out to me.  I'm personally not a fan of the school, but if you are really interested then I would look at more information and definitely talk to the current/past students to see what you think.
"Perhaps, therefore, Stage Managers not only need to be calm and meticulous professionals who know their craft, but masochists who feel pride in rising above impossible odds."

malewen

  • New to Town
  • **
  • Posts: 36
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Affiliations: AEA, SMA
  • Experience: Professional
Re: NC School of the Arts
« Reply #5 on: Mar 18, 2007, 02:02 am »
I've worked with a lot of students and graduates of NCSA (probably 50 people or so) and most have been great.  They seem to have an excellent production and design department (which does offer a concentration in stage management by the way).  All the people I have worked with were at NCSA in the undergrad or the graduate program.  I don't know anything about the high school program that KC_SM_0807 mentioned.  I have heard folks talk about the workload but I've never heard people complain about the treatment they get in a negative way.  I'm not doubting what KC_SM_0807 says, just that I have heard a different story.  If you are interested you should check it out. . .

SMJorge

  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 60
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Affiliations: AEA, SMA
Re: NC School of the Arts
« Reply #6 on: Mar 19, 2007, 08:57 pm »
NCSA does not have a graduate program in Stage Management, but they do have an undergraduate program. I also have known many people who went to undergrad at NCSA in Production (LD, TD, SMs). The SM I knew had to miss graduation because she was an ASM on the non-equity tour of Oliver at the time. She said that was not uncommon and she was not the only one. The NCSA kids (and I mean no offense by the term kids) are a very tight group and look out for each other.

ljh007

  • Permanent Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 340
    • View Profile
  • Affiliations: SMA
Re: NC School of the Arts
« Reply #7 on: Mar 20, 2007, 01:45 pm »
From what I've heard, it's an extremely well-renowned program.

I have personally worked with one graduate and she was - terrible! She also had a major ego and was spoiled with the level of production she had always enjoyed. She couldn't deal when we had to run a first tech rehearsal without headsets. I know it's not ideal, but life needs to go on. I really think that this was just the attitude of this particular individual, however.

LisaEllis

  • Guest
Re: NC School of the Arts
« Reply #8 on: Mar 21, 2007, 11:08 pm »
Bottom line? Welcome to boot camp.  They do not treat their students well, especially the ones who are in the high school program.  I do have friends that are currently in the dance program, and although they are getting a great education, they have a lot of complaints.  Students have no free time (granted, I know that every program is rigorous and you don't get a lot of time, but the stories I've heard from students is a little mond-boggling.)  They don't have a SM program, and although they do have a technical program, it's not as well known as their acting/dance area...

It's been 10 years, so some of this information will be dated...

The high school program referred to is completely seperated from the college.  They have their own dorms and their own classes, and is predominately dance and drama.  There is also a visual arts (drawing, graphic design, sculpture) in the high school program.  They have curfews, no boys on the floor, etc., and if your information was from anyone under 18 at the time, it does not in any way apply to the college experience.

That said, there are 5 schools:  Dance, Drama, Music, Filmmaking, and Design & Production.  Stage Management is a major in D&P.  All degrees are BFAs, or MFAs.  Some majors are not offered at the graduate level, undergrad only.  D&P supports all 4 other schools (although I don't know to what extent with the Film school at this point). You are exposed to Dance, Drama, Musical Theatre, Opera, and Film disciplines to work on, giving you the ability to find your own strengths, weaknesses, likes, and dislikes.  Freshmen in D&P generally take the same classes, so you can apply to change majors if you find a better fit with one department or the other.

And it is a boot camp.  You work your butt off.  It's definitely not for everyone, but if you survive it, you've hopefully had the attitude kicked out of you.

I have already exchanged PMs with dallas, but I'm happy to respond to anyone else out there with questions.  The alumni office can also offer other people to contact. 

gNat

  • New to Town
  • **
  • Posts: 15
  • Gender: Female
  • it's a dinosnore!
    • View Profile
Re: NC School of the Arts
« Reply #9 on: Mar 22, 2007, 12:07 am »
I attended their summer program for theater in 2004, and it was amazing.  I can't speak on the courses, and I think most of the professors were guests, but the campus itself was beautiful.  I wish I could go back for the library alone, sometimes!

A few students from my middle school were accepted to NCSA's high school dance program.  One of them I kept in touch with, and he left a year before graduating to work with a dance company in Houston.

As for the jello, well, the cafeteria was up two flights of stairs from the dorms, so we worked for our food!  :D
You rush a miracle man, you get rotten miracles.
- The Princess Bride

Here2serv

  • New to Town
  • **
  • Posts: 21
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: NC School of the Arts
« Reply #10 on: May 14, 2007, 07:45 pm »
SO. Is NCARTS a great college or not? I live in Knoxville, so I would like to stay close to home. For now I would like to stay in the South, so NCARTS looks wonderful. I have fallen in love with it. Now I just need to hear more about it. I have not been to visit it yet. I would like to do that this summer. I would go into the college as an undergrad in SM. Just wondering about the workshops, theaters, teachers, and the courses. Anyone there now in the SM course?
~pay it forward~

KMC

  • Forum Moderators
  • *****
  • Posts: 963
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Current Gig: Project Manager, Systems Integration
  • Experience: Former SM
Re: NC School of the Arts
« Reply #11 on: May 14, 2007, 09:20 pm »
Here2Serve - Below SMJorge mentions that NCSA does not have a grad SM program.  This is something you may find extremely valuable, and I feel it's often overlooked by folks looking for an undergrad SM program. 

NCSA does not have a graduate program in Stage Management, but they do have an undergraduate program.

Quite simply, if there is no graduate program, the undergraduates stage manage the shows - it's a potential for tons of good experience, especially with the scale of productions NCSA puts up.  Classroom theory means very little without experience to back it up.

I'm not endorsing NCSA in particular, but personally I think you're wise to look at schools without grad programs.
Get action. Do things; be sane; don’t fritter away your time; create, act, take a place wherever you are and be somebody; get action. -T. Roosevelt

ljh007

  • Permanent Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 340
    • View Profile
  • Affiliations: SMA
Re: NC School of the Arts
« Reply #12 on: May 15, 2007, 08:18 am »
Since we're trading hearsay here...
I spoke with a hiring professional at a major company and she referred to NCSA as "NC School of the Attitude" and insisted that her company is disinclined to hire grads from this school. She claimed candidates from NCSA were often spoiled and expected a certain procedure and protocol that didn't really apply to the real world chaos of the theatre. She said they were not good at thinking on their feet and had a certain air of entitlement because of their undergrad pedigree.

I'm not endorsing her comments or attitude, but thought it might be useful for fellow posters to realize that this attitude and preconception was out there - from those on the hiring side.

04sdwall

  • New to Town
  • **
  • Posts: 25
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Affiliations: AEA membership candidate
Re: NC School of the Arts
« Reply #13 on: May 28, 2007, 03:49 pm »
There's nothing like bashing a school that people love to hate.  I'm not trying to criticize people's comments about the school but I am guessing people love to hate the school because a budget for a show is more than some colleges for their entire season.  However that being said, I go to school at NC and I work at a nearby theatre with a contract to hire Lighting Designers from NCSA.  One was a horrible lighting designer who basically hung a plot and programmed the show and turned it over without ever having seen the show.  So there were gaps all over and he never came back to fix it.  Then we had a lighting designer who was great and drove the 90 minute track multiple times.  I think they are most well known for design and technical direction and acting.  I have heard very little about their stage management program.  However while the program is rigorous, you will literally not have a life outside of the classroom which for some people is great.  Also it might not realistically prepare you for an average professional theatre that isn't up to your standards.  Visit talk to students try to get as much first hand knowledge as possible.  Thats the best way to get to know the college.  How they treat prospective students is a good indication on how they will treat freshman. 

Firemagic

  • Tourist
  • *
  • Posts: 4
  • Gender: Female
    • View Profile
Re: NC School of the Arts
« Reply #14 on: Jul 16, 2007, 05:50 pm »
Okay... as someone from NC, who goes to school right near NCSA, and has personal connections with Dennis Booth there, let me clear up some things.  There is a SM program, undergrad.  The entire Design and Production sector of the school is really hard core conservatory with really high expectations.  The stage managers just got a new office, but don't take me wrong they're still shoved in a corner like everywhere else.  There are some great opportunities.  Honestly alot of the stuff that's getting confused on here can be found on their website.  newbielink:http://www.ncarts.edu [nonactive] I would suggest you look there.  I would also suggest feel free to contact the faculty there.  They're quite nice.

 

riotous