Which are the top Musical Theatre Schools? and why?

[Jessnat22]

Katymac

I too agree with the views above.

Like FelixGirl we had the benefit of very trustworthy teacher to advise on suitability - honesty was exactly what was needed. BUT for both DS and girlfriend gut feel then took over. Very clear through the audition process which were their favourites...... and this was often different from their thought process when applying.

Often the decisions are made for you but for both of them they were lucky enough to get multiple offers and that's where the gut feel kicks in. They were both very clear where they saw (and didn't see themselves) and this is very much an individual feeling. That's the advantage of what is a very intense and time consuming audition process. I totally agree with FelixGirl - all the accredited colleges offer GREAT training and then up to the individual to maximise the opportunity.

In our case we applied for more than FelixGirl - 8 I think. It was a lot - (expensive and application forms take ages) but unlike FelixGirl there was no plan B for either of them! I confess to being a bit surprised how many applicants/ mums we spoke to who only applied to 2 or 3 (Urdang/Laines/Birds came up a lot) but I don't believe we could have coped with any more than we did.

Lots of luck - your research and dedication will pay off I'm sure

[Robsmumma]

They are funny things these kids.

I really thought my DD was going to stay at Urdang after doing the foundation, but they made them audition at other places and she totally fell in love with Laines. She rang me as soon as she had auditioned and told me it was THE place for her, and luckily for her they agreed. But then we have heard others say they didn't like it there. They are all individuals and we wouldn't have it any other way

[Dancersmum100]

As most applicants aren't in the enviable position of having multiple offers and going by the law of averages, I would apply to as many as time and money allow. For MT the list would definitely include Laines, Birds and Arts Ed. I would also look at Millenium, Perfomers and Italia Conti.
When my dd was doing the audition rounds, she applied to 8 schools, (all ballet focused though as opposed to MT). It was very time consuming, not to mention expensive but it gave her a good insight into those she would happily accept if successful and those she felt weren't right for her based on gut instincts on the day. One thing to bear in mind is that if your dd auditions early and is successful and needs to live away from home, she will almost be a year older when she starts the course. One of the schools dd auditioned for was a long way from home and when she was offered a place, I was horrified at the thought of her living independently so far away. She'd auditioned in November for the following September but by the time she went, almost another year's maturity made a big difference in how I felt at her going.
Looking at your previous posts, you've already done loads of research so try not to over analyse things. All anyone can do is what they feel is right at the time but there are no guarantees in such a precarious profession that the training route chosen is still the best path a few years later on. Your dd is very lucky to have such a supportive mum who is doing all she can to help her achieve her dream. Good luck to your dd for the future.

[Katymac]

If DD listens to her teacher and does 'dance' rather than MT are the colleges the same?

They are the ones we had come to plus Northern Ballet School (for Jazz) & maybe Tring (not that we could afford) (but isn't Arts Ed 18?)

I want someone else to make the decision so then I can blame them rather than me or DD when it all goes wrong.........no, not really

Her teacher thinks she will get offers; but we have nothing to compare her to & that, I think, is part of the problem. Big fish, tiny pond - I hope summer schools will help us

[Robsmumma]

The colleges look for different things too I think.
My DD was offered places at four out of the five places she auditioned including 3 DaDA's. Interestingly Bird offered her the foundation course which they were keen for her to take up. I asked them why they offered foundation and they said her ballet was weak. She has actually done RAD ballet since the age of two and passed every exam with high distinctions up to intermediate.
We were very confused by this, but as it made no difference to her decision I left it!

[Caroline A-C]

I am no expert here but I thought that places like Urdang, Northern Ballet School, Laine's were more dance based (although I think they do do musical theatre). Arts Ed, Mountview, GSA etc are more musical theatre based. My ds is at Arts Ed on the musical theatre BA and there is also an acting course (not sure of the exact college title). Both courses start at 18 years. There is the school which runs from 11-18 years though but I really don't know much about that part. Not sure whether this helps or or not really.

[Katymac]

Thanks Caroline - that helps clarify it a bit

Thinks have been a bit easier for me since she got a place at London Studio Centre's Associate Scheme; it gives me a better idea of where she is within her contemporaries; to use my previous analogies we knew she was a big fish in a tiny pond, now she can be a tiny fish in a significantly larger pond - but at least she was good enough to get in

[carriesdream]

Hi I would just like to add Hurtwood House near Dorking to the mix. It is a performing arts school but also in the Telegraph top 50 academic schools in the country. I believe it is the only one
like this for 16 -18 year olds. So if your child is clever and talented think of sending them there.
Beside normal A levels there is dance, acting singing and a spectacular once a year musical. This is put on near Christmas with a big budget and top class choreographers, singing teachers etc
there are pop concerts, plays etc.
Downsides are that iit is expensive but there are several scholarships up to half off fees, there are slightly more girls than boys.

Emily Blunt is one of the many successes from there.

[Caroline A-C]

Hurtwood looks great, but at at over £36,000 per year is not for the faint hearted.

[Welsh Mum]

Hurtwood looks great, but at at over £36,000 per year is not for the faint hearted.

[Selina2]

Haha, it's like the Eton of performing arts schools - only for the very rich and privately educated!

[Katymac]

Is it a boarding school? I haven't looked yet

How does it compare price wise with Tring?

[2dancersmum]

Over £12,000 per term and even the one scholarship on offer for performing arts is only 50% off fees!!! That's the most expensive one I've come across yet - definitely only for those who win big on the lottery!!

[carriesdream]

I agree it is expensive but my friends daughter won the scholarship which makes it £6,000 a term which is equal to any senior private school in the country.

Tring Park, Herts is for boarding £10,300 a term
Hurtwood House, Dorking, Surrey is boarding £11,800 a term, slightly more but academically worth it! Both take day pupils
Laine's, Epsom, Surrey is £5,504 a term plus an extra £1,500 to £2,000 for out boarding and food equals £7,500 a term

Hurtwood have 4 main scholarships for dance, singing and drama and 4 academic for science and maths plus headmasters discretionary scholarship.

As to why I think HH is top , it's because this industry is so hard to succeed in so I think getting all the training plus some decent A levels is important too for a back up plan or career.
Also HH is the only school I think to have a full film studio with banks of computers for editing, green screen, fab cameras , lighting etc.

We are thinking of trying to get our daughter in there next year on a scholarship to HH if we are so lucky . Will also try Tring and Laine's.
Everything costs in this game from headshots to showreels, to training, it's ongoing but it is her dream!

[pg]

Just in case anyone without money is reading this thread and despairing:

I know dancers need to train while they are still relatively young, but MT performers can wait until they are 18. There is a lot more money available (in the way of student loans) for 18+ training.

I don't know much at all about dance training - but I do know a bit about MT and more about the acting side of things.

Drama students certainly don't have to have specialist schooling before drama school.

It should be perfectly possible to get adequate training to see you through to the 18+ audition stage (through lessons/classes) without going to a specialist school. There are certainly very large numbers of drama school graduates who have not attended any kind of specialist school before drama school (and I include MT graduates in that). I understand that dance specialism is likely to be different.

Schools look for potential - not the finished article.

Good teaching and an individual's own talents and willingness to work are what is needed.

I know that the funding situation is worse than it was, but my ds studied at RADA with very little parental contribution, because of lack of funds (just student loans plus our own fund-raising and some very fortunate small local grant help) and my dd went to a Conservatoire paid for through student loans.

Although lots of shiny facilities are fun - they are not needed for good training. Certainly not pre-drama school. You should see the seedy nature of the facilities in some of the very top (and very well respected) drama schools! RADA has good facilities compared to some - but it doesn't have the sort of thing carriesdream describes. OSD has a smart dance studio but lots of rehearsals happen in a barn. They still have plenty of graduates who go straight in to mainstream film, TV and theatre.

If I had any spare money (which, alas,I don't) I would be inclined to save it for when my dc were out in the profession and needed to eat. That's when they are likely to need it. Earning money is so very hard for 90% of graduates.