Anybody else's teenager applying for Musical Theatre next year?

[dancinfeet]

Anyone else in the same position who wants to share information and advice, or have a child who is studying Musical Theatre?
We are not in a position to fund her at one of the big full time dance / theatre schools, and the DADA awards for a funded place are fiercely competitive, so she is looking at Musical Theatre degree courses instead. Any advice on the finding the best Musical Theatre degree courses, or audition preparation would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou!

That's the impression I got, DancingHippos.

Dd is quite excited, not least because her strongest side has always been Shakespeare and classical, she has a physical disability, and was still able to get in on her movement. Feels it would be really good to work on that side for a year, then she can think again.

Sounds like a good plan, Cory. This would be a good year of training and would set your DD up well for re-auditioning next year.

Remember drama schools very rarely take 18 year olds straight from school, the training requires more maturity and life experience. It's very normal for even the most talented to take a few years to get in.

Was at a talk given by Maxine Peake recently. The interviewer asked her why she chose RADA for her training. She replied "after eight years of auditions they were the only ones who offered me a place!"

Love that Maxine Peake quote, Dancing

Dd is actually 21 so has had some experience of auditioning and getting rejected, but freely admits that she was not ready at 18 anyway and the training would have been wasted on her.

She is just coming to the end of her foundation year at ALRA, which she says has been very helpful, despite the bout of ill health halfway through. Certainly I can hear that her voice is much better and she seems to be taking up more space iyswim.

She is very clear that her ultimate dream is classical theatre, but would love to develop other sides first, and is really excited about the rep opportunities that come with this course.

She will be working over the summer and probably alongside her studies to help finance her studies.

I thought that I would post an update. Dd had an offer of an unfunded Foundation acting course with 4 more auditions to go. She then received 2 funded Foundation offers, a rejection and an offer to audition for foundation!
She has accepted an offer at Italia Conti so will be off to London in September to begin her actor training! The audition cycle will start again for 3 yr courses but she is on her way. We are very proud and relieved.

Great news user

Congrats, user:great news.