Author Topic: Colleges with well-rounded theatre programs (Was: school.)  (Read 8760 times)

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wam_sm

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hi all
i'm in my last year of highschool and looking to go into stage management at the post-secondary level. i'm really looking for a school where i can do stage management more from the artistic side. I know that sounds kind of weird. I have a fair knowledge of tech, and I know that a huge part of stage management is technical. However, at universitty I really don't want to do a technical theatre program with an emphisis on stage management. I really want to find a program that give a good all around theatre background and is really about stage management instead of tech.
hopefully that made some sense.
any help would be appreciated.

EDIT: Fixed topic to be more comprehensive.  -PSMK
« Last Edit: Nov 04, 2007, 01:40 am by PSMKay »

megf

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Re: school.
« Reply #1 on: Nov 04, 2007, 01:41 am »
Hi wam_sm,

It sounds like you want a BA program instead of a more specialized degree - so that would take out schools that have an intensive, conservatory-style approach, and leave programs that offer a general theater arts degree with open options for further study. I went to UCLA, which is almost a conservatory for actors, but has a very open program for management, design and tech, and offers a cool theory/history component for all undergrads. I pretty much built my own training process out of department shows, local internships and professional work that fit around my classes. Feel free to PM me for more details on the program.

Best of luck in your search!

supershorty

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Re: Colleges with well-rounded theatre programs (Was: school.)
« Reply #2 on: Nov 04, 2007, 04:28 pm »
At Webster University in St. Louis they do have a Stage Management program, but we don't really take any stage management classes.  We take design/tech classes in the Conservatory block, and we take Major Dramatists and Theatre History in the mornings.

We learn stage management by doing, not thru lecture and classroom work.
« Last Edit: Nov 04, 2007, 04:30 pm by supershorty »
-Katie Paige

boolabella

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Re: Colleges with well-rounded theatre programs (Was: school.)
« Reply #3 on: Nov 04, 2007, 07:54 pm »
You should look into the University of Miami Stage Management program.  It includes all aspects of theatre (design, tech, history, etc.) including practical experience every semester.  It's a really amazing program.  PM me if you want more info.
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LisaEllis

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Re: Colleges with well-rounded theatre programs (Was: school.)
« Reply #4 on: Nov 04, 2007, 08:02 pm »
If "from the artistic side", you mean a directing standpoint, you may want to look into directing/acting programs.  I know a lot of folks who have worked as ASMs, moved into AD, and are working on directing careers.

I felt like my conservatory program gave me a good basis for everything, but I didn't have to take acting and directing classes (that's what I wanted to avoid).  If that's what you want more of, then a conservatory Stage Management program may not be for you.

Good luck!


LisaS

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Re: Colleges with well-rounded theatre programs (Was: school.)
« Reply #5 on: Nov 05, 2007, 10:58 am »
I'm at Brandeis University right now and our program has one (two semester) stage management class that is basically an overview.  The rest of the major includes two technical classes (you can pick from 5 or 6 including lights, sound, directing, scenic painting, scenic construction, and maybe one or two others), at least one acting class, and a couple of theatre history/dramatic literature classes.  We also have practicums through the department and a huge student run theatre community.  I'm really happy here and I love that I can (and have to) take some non theatre classes.  PM me if you have any questions.

sievep

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Re: Colleges with well-rounded theatre programs (Was: school.)
« Reply #6 on: Nov 05, 2007, 03:12 pm »
At Webster University in St. Louis they do have a Stage Management program, but we don't really take any stage management classes.  We take design/tech classes in the Conservatory block, and we take Major Dramatists and Theatre History in the mornings.

We learn stage management by doing, not thru lecture and classroom work.

Just as a different view, this is exactly the reason I don't recommend Webster to people, nor do I recommend fresh graduates for jobs.  There are no classes in Stage Management because the program is not taught by stage managers, but by the students in the program who are ahead of you (technically the heads of the program are a lighting designer, a production manager, and a theater facilities manager).  Really bad habits are handed down through the generations of the program. 

If you are going into debt for the rest of your life over your college education, you had better have classes in stage management.
« Last Edit: Nov 05, 2007, 03:19 pm by sievep »
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zayit shachor

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Re: Colleges with well-rounded theatre programs (Was: school.)
« Reply #7 on: Nov 05, 2007, 04:02 pm »
I'm at Brandeis University right now

Yeah! Brandeis!

I second Lisa - I love the program here and feel like I'm getting solid training to be an SM and also a nice liberal arts education.  Sweet.

supershorty

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Re: Colleges with well-rounded theatre programs (Was: school.)
« Reply #8 on: Nov 05, 2007, 05:00 pm »
I really don't feel that stage management is something that can be taught in a class.
-Katie Paige

zayit shachor

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Re: Colleges with well-rounded theatre programs (Was: school.)
« Reply #9 on: Nov 05, 2007, 06:16 pm »
I really don't feel that stage management is something that can be taught in a class.

Although nothing can replace experience, I find the class at my school damn useful.  Not only does our teacher help us learn a system that works for us to do paperwork, tape out a ground plan, take blocking notes, etc (things that you can learn by doing, but when they're taught in a classroom setting there's no pressure to get it right the first time and no consequences if you do it wrong) - it's also a great place to discuss our current SM experiences.  We have a support system in our class that's very helpful when it comes to problem solving etc.

Trevor7

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Re: Colleges with well-rounded theatre programs (Was: school.)
« Reply #10 on: Nov 06, 2007, 07:36 pm »
I know it is out in the middle of no where (Muncie Indiana), but I go to Ball State University.  It has an undergraduate SM program, and because we have no grad students we get to SM at the undergraduate level.  You start off your freshmen year ASMing the mainstage shows and SMing the student directed stuff.  We have 2 black box theaters and a standard theater all to work in.  Plus its the only school I know where you get to call a huge musical with like 500 light cues 100 sound cues and use cue lights for fly cues all in undergrad level.

Here is the website if you interested. 
http://www.bsu.edu/theatre/

LisaEllis

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Re: Colleges with well-rounded theatre programs (Was: school.)
« Reply #11 on: Nov 06, 2007, 11:07 pm »
Plus its the only school I know where you get to call a huge musical with like 500 light cues 100 sound cues and use cue lights for fly cues all in undergrad level.


Maybe be a little more careful with your generalizations...there are plenty of programs that concentrate on undergrad SM programs.  The graduate programs are fewer and farther between.  And good progams mean bigger shows, bigger theatres, and most of them will do a musical.

I'm sure the program is a good fit for you, because you sound very excited about it.  Just be a little more cautious when you make blanket statements.

Trevor7

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Re: Colleges with well-rounded theatre programs (Was: school.)
« Reply #12 on: Nov 07, 2007, 02:21 pm »
I didn't mean any harm.  I know there are schools that have these programs, but from what I know in my internship experience most (not all) undergrad theatre programs don't have any focus on stage managment.  Im sure there are some out there, but I have noticed that there are few that actually have a undergrad SM focused major.  Plus we teach equity rules in our classes and follow them (as close as possible do to the fact it is college) in our productions.