2010 Festival News & Notes #2-college auditions

One of the best opportunities for our students at the International Thespian Festival is the opportunity to audition with colleges. In theatre, college auditions are often a must, but because of our distance from mainland colleges, our students have few chances to participate. At Festival, at least 40 different universities and colleges will be conducting unified auditions. Juniors in high school can audition in either performance or technical theatre.

A complete, interactive list of the participating colleges is on the ITS site here--just scroll down to the "auditions" list.

In addition to the schools auditioning, there are exhibitors--usually theatre-related businesses, but also some schools who have a booth or table set-up where you can get information and give information.

For your convenience, I'll try organizing the auditioners and exhibitors by state (below). But first some auditioning tips:

1. Have copies of a current resume (headshot-optional) and a business card to hand out. Have these in an accessible, neat place.

2. Look over the information about the colleges BEFORE you get to Festival, so you are informed and make a good impression. This includes knowing basic things like 1) what state the college is in; 2) what majors and degrees it offers; 3) how big it is.

3. Consider what your strongest points are, and what your weaknesses are; figure out how you can "pitch" yourself as a good candidate HONESTLY.

4. You will get information from various colleges. Figure out your organization system ahead of time--will you have a folder where you put all the information you get? Or do you want to have a binder with separate pockets for different schools? or some other method of keeping track?

5. Make a list of questions for each of the schools from whom you get call backs. DON'T ask questions about basic information that is available on their websites--you should already have checked that. DO ask questions about your concerns and interests.

NOW the colleges and universities by state :

CALIFORNIA
AMDA (The American Musical and Dramatic Academy)
University of Southern California (LA)

Exhibitor:
US Performing Arts


COLORADO
University of Northern Colorado


CONNECTICUT
University of Hartford (the Hartt School)

Exhibitors:
Dramatic Publishing
Stage Vet, LLC

University of Hartford (Hartt School)

FLORIDA
Florida International University

Exhibitor:
University of Miami-Dep't. of theatre Arts


GEORGIA
Savannah College of Art and Design


ILLINOIS
Roosevelt University-Chicago College of Performing Arts
Southern Illinois University
DePaul University-the Theatre School


INDIANA
University of Evansville

University of Evansville


IOWA
Cornell College


KENTUCKY
Murray State University


LOUISIANNA
Loyola University


MASSACHUSETTS
Exhibitor:
Emerson College


MINNESOTA
Gustavus Adolphus College
St. Mary's University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota (Guthrie Theatre)


MISSOURI
Drury University
Missouri Valley College
St. Louis University
Webster University
William Woods University


Saint Louis University

MONTANA
Exhibitor:
Next Step Prep-the Academy for Musical Theatre

NEBRASKA
Nebraska Wesleyan University

Exhibitor:
Heartland Scenic Studio


NEW JERSEY
Rowan University


NEW MEXICO
College of Santa Fe


NEW YORK
CAP 21 (Collaborative Arts Project 21)
NY Film Academy
NY Conservatory for Dramatic Arts

Exhibitors:
Field Studies Center of NY
The Offstage Group
Play scripts, Inc.
Samuel French


NORTH CAROLINA
Wake Forest University


OHIO
Ashland University
Ohio Northern University
Otterbein College

Exhibitor:
Costume Holiday House


OKLAHOMA
University of Oklahoma (drama and musical theatre)


PENNSYLVANIA
University of the Arts


SOUTH CAROLINA
Coastal Carolina University


TEXAS
SMU (Southern Methodist University)
Texas Christian University

Exhibitor:
University of Houston


WASHINGTON
Central Washington University


WISCONSIN
University of Wisconsin (Stevens Point)
Marquette University
Viterbo University


WYOMING
University of Wyoming


Note that most of the colleges and universities that are auditioning also have signed up as exhibitors. I didn't double-post their listings for the sake of space.

Thinking about college is really enjoyable. Don't let auditions stress you out, because the college recruiters aren't looking for great performances or perfection--they're looking for potential. Show that. And have fun!