NothingButDramaLLC

Glad to hear your daughter is keeping up her creativity during this crazy time!

I think she's onto something. While your daughter might be just under the age for this, many summer high school programs have been operating remotely over the summer. While it may be a little late for this summer, there are training conservatories in NYC that have teen and youth conservatories that operate during the school year. If any of these programs, decide to bring that programming online, she may have the opportunity to learn with her field of theatre. Studios like Stella Adler Studio of Acting, Atlantic Acting School, The Barrow Group are all in NYC and have youth programs.

Also, might she create her own online performance opportunities with her friends? Do play readings in a Zoom chat, for example, or do some wonderful outdoor backyard performances!

Ah, I'm sorry to hear that. No one should feel excluded from the arts! I hope that challenge caused you to create wonderful art.

NYU is a very supportive environment. Not competitive. It is a large department with several training studios. Students spend the first two years of primary training in one studio, so it becomes a little home within the greater department. They get to know their teachers, staff and fellow students quite well during that time. Also, beginning in second year, they will have the opportunity to do shows with students at other studios, which creates an atmosphere of cross-learning and increased curiosity. It is this process of creating performance together that I believe mitigates the potential of inter-studio rivalry or cliques. Students from all studios take theater studies together. And they take general educations classes with students from around the university.

Another thing to consider is that NYU Tisch Drama is a BFA program, so all students had to do an artistic review to enter. So, there is not an opportunity for non-Drama students to participate in productions or classes. Tisch and NYU have drama clubs for non-Tisch Drama students to engage with their love of theater.

I think an education in theater is really an education for life. Cheezy as it sounds. Many grads do find work and places within the field of theater: as actors, directors, designers, stage managers, casting directors, artistic directors, talent agents, educators, the list goes on. But many find their way into other fields, like teachers, trial lawyers, customer service, public speaking, all that would benefit from the skills they developed in their theater degree. Students learn valuable skills like teamwork, collaboration and trust. They become great interviewees because they are used to being in the spotlight and learn to advocate for themselves and have improvisations skills that give them an agility with which to navigate job search and other similar situations.

Ha! Indeed I can't answer why. But remember, applying to Tisch Drama is a two-part process that weights the NYU application and the artistic review equally. As there is a "no feedback" rule, students have no way of knowing if it was particularly one or the other that may have set them back. However, having said THAT, it's not necessarily that clear cut. It really is a holistic process wherein the admissions office looks at the entire application package that is presented to them, including the artistic review.

The NYU admissions office purges application files annually, once they're through with the process, as does the Drama department.

And you're saying a wonderful thing for prospective students out there! One rejection sent you in a different direction which turned out to be even better than you would have known!

Thanks for your questions and advice! Take care!

Toughie! We look to see what the student is making sense of already, what do they have a grasp on so far? What do they need to work on? We're teachers, of course, so we need to assess what they will need and will they benefit from training.

We also look for passion and talent. Do they love this? Is there a spark there? A student with no theater experience could come in and demonstrate raw talent that we know will respond to training.