The Stage Door

Content for Fans, By Fans

College Theatre Christopher Peterson College Theatre Christopher Peterson

College Auditions--the Parent Perspective: Part 2

Now it’s time to delve into the necessary steps to prepare the audition materials.  Besides preparing audition material, you will have to apply to the actual school as well if you’re looking at a college or university.  Academics count here.  Colleges and universities will demand that you be academically accepted to the school before you are allowed to audition, so be careful how much you daydream about the stage in biology class! 

Read More
College Theatre Christopher Peterson College Theatre Christopher Peterson

The 5 Most Underrated Theatre Colleges for 2018 - Midwest

Here at OnStage Blog, we spend months compiling, researching and comparing college theatre programs to come up with what we feel are the very best colleges in the country. While names like Tisch, Juilliard, Emerson and Baldwin Wallace get plenty of attention, there are a ton of schools out there with incredible programs that deserve more. 

So we wanted to highlight some of these underrated programs. Whether they are programs that have amazing facilities and curriculum or have a ton of value when it comes to their cost, these are schools that are doing tremendous things in theatre that might not be known on a national level. 

Read More
College Theatre, The Acting Life Christopher Peterson College Theatre, The Acting Life Christopher Peterson

The 5 Most Underrated Theatre Colleges for 2018 - Southeast

Here at OnStage Blog, we spend months compiling, researching and comparing college theatre programs to come up with what we feel are the very best colleges in the country. While names like Tisch, Juilliard, Emerson and Baldwin Wallace get plenty of attention, there are a ton of schools out there with incredible programs that deserve more. 

So we wanted to highlight some of these underrated programs. Whether they are programs that have amazing facilities and curriculum or have a ton of value when it comes to their cost, these are schools that are doing tremendous things in theatre that might not be known on a national level. 

Remember, we're talking about schools we feel are underrated. If you don't see certain programs here, it's more than likely that they're already getting a ton of credit.

Read More
College Theatre Christopher Peterson College Theatre Christopher Peterson

The 5 Most Underrated Theatre Colleges for 2018 - Northeast

Here at OnStage Blog, we spend months compiling, researching and comparing college theatre programs to come up with what we feel are the very best colleges in the country. While names like Tisch, Juilliard, Emerson and Baldwin Wallace get plenty of attention, there are a ton of schools out there with incredible programs that deserve more. 

Read More
College Theatre Christopher Peterson College Theatre Christopher Peterson

Why a B.M. in Music is Worth More Attention

Musical theatre becomes a more popular college major by the day. Well over a hundred colleges across the United States currently offer an undergraduate degree in Musical Theatre, not to mention the countless programs in Theater or Acting alone. The most popular type of Musical Theatre degree by far is the BFA. Many of the most elite musical theatre programs confer their graduates with BFAs, and getting into a BFA program can become a bragging right amongst competitive, theatre-minded high school seniors.

However, there is another type of Musical Theatre degree, one that is often overlooked: the Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre. Compared to the vast number of schools currently offering degrees in musical theatre, only a relative handful have BM Musical Theatre programs.

Read More
College Theatre, Auditions, The Acting Life Christopher Peterson College Theatre, Auditions, The Acting Life Christopher Peterson

College Auditions from the Parent Perspective: Part 1

You think your kid is talented (what parent doesn’t, right?).  Maybe talented enough to make a career out of this music or theater thing.  But those careers are pretty unstable, aren’t they?  There must be a million actors waiting tables hoping for their big break and musicians working ‘day’ jobs so they can play with their band at night.  But maybe, just maybe--your kid could be the one to make it.  So you agree (maybe reluctantly) to look at college music and theater programs.

I’m a flutist and college music professor with over 30 years of teaching and playing experience.  In 2017, my older daughter decided to take auditions for collegiate musical theater programs.  While I am very familiar with how auditions work for music programs, adding theater to the mix brought new challenges.  I started reading as much information as I could.  I had several panicky moments--what if she had never taken tap dance lessons?  What about acting camp?  Should she ignore her school theater program for other opportunities in the community? 

Read More
College Theatre, Auditions, The Acting Life Christopher Peterson College Theatre, Auditions, The Acting Life Christopher Peterson

BFA Audition Advice for Both Sides of the Table

Now that we are towards the conclusion of the audition season for Musical Theatre and Acting BFA programs, I know that everyone involved may be a little stressed out. However, it's never to early to turn attention to the Juniors who are preparing for this process next year. As an audition coach, let me offer some observations to both students auditioning and faculty members who are adjudicating auditions next year. Hopefully, my observations will make the process a little less stressful.

Read More
College Theatre, The Acting Life Christopher Peterson College Theatre, The Acting Life Christopher Peterson

Four Non-Theatre Classes Theatre Majors Should Consider Taking

One of the great things about theatre is that it can encompass many different disciplines. Those who work or play in theatre know that it is so much more than meets the eye. If there was ever an art form where the tip of the iceberg metaphor applies, it is the theatre.

A college student or any student can sometimes seem overwhelmed with the choices of electives thrown their way. So here are some electives that I have found can help develop skills that can carry over into the theatrical world.

Read More