APPLY!

THE FREDONIA ADVANTAGE

We hope what you’re seeing and reading on our website is making you interested in learning more about us and applying for an audition or a portfolio review for one of our many programs. We believe our department offers a phenomenal combination of high quality training with exceptional full-time faculty that is cost-effective. Here’s why we think you should choose Fredonia as the place to begin your theatrical education:

• A complete set of degree programs. No other SUNY liberal arts campus offers the complete range of programs that we do. All our programs in theatre are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre. With BFA degrees in Acting, Musical Theatre, Dance, Theatrical Production and Design (Costume, Lighting, Scenic and Technical Production tracks), as well as a BA in General Theatre Studies for students interested in a little of everything, we have the training you’ll want and need.
• National Accreditation. Our department is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST), which means that our department has undergone a rigorous review by an outside team of theatre professionals and academics and has met certain standards of quality and excellence. NAST has published an advisory for those students and their parents who are interested in pursuing a theatre major. The advisory is a terrific overview of how to prepare for becoming a theatre major. If you or your child have such an interest, we strongly urge you to read this information as you look through schools and think about what it might be like to major in theatre at Fredonia. You might also be interested in reading some of the other material on the NAST site to get an idea of what NAST accreditation means to you and to us.

Preparing to Enter a School, College, or University as a Theatre Major: An advisory from NAST

• Extensive production opportunities. Our department mounts over 35 productions per academic year. With 4 mainstage shows, 1 major dance concert, 1 opera, 4 student productions, 2 student dance concerts, and 30 one-acts per year, opportunity abounds. In addition, technical students get additional experience working for the Rockefeller Arts Center technical staff as support help.
• A dedicated, experienced full-time faculty. Our department has 12 full-time teaching faculty and 2 full-time technical staff who are in residence the entire academic year. 97% of the classes within the BFA and BA programs are taught by our full-time faculty. Our faculty are also well-qualified, with three members belonging to Actors’ Equity Association, one in the Screen Actors Guild, one a certified instructor in the Society of American Stage Fighters and Dueling Arts International, and one an ETCP (Entertainment Technician Certification Program) Certified Theater Rigger. All these dedicated resident teachers are here for you.
• The quality of our students. Students who choose to come to Fredonia are intelligent, creative, successful, friendly, caring and motivated individuals. We set the bar high, and each year the students meet and exceed our expectations. To see this for yourself, read what they write on our blog, view the videos of them at work, or better yet, come visit us and talk to them. We do not tell them what to say, nor do we censor their opinions or writings. They’ll tell you what they think in no uncertain terms. We think you’ll like what they have to say.
• A comprehensive liberal arts education. We firmly believe that the best theatre training takes place in a liberal arts environment. Getting a quality education in areas other than theatre expands horizons and feeds the artistic soul. Fredonia offers a quality liberal arts enducation on top of intensive training.
• Excellent facilities. The Rockefeller Arts Center houses the 1200-seat King Concert Hall, the 370-seat Marvel Theatre, and the 200-seat flexible Alice E. Bartlett Theatre. All these spaces have been recently upgraded to provide you with modern, well-equipped facilities. Along with our acting studios, newly-renovated dance studio, computer labs, scene shop and recently renovated costume shop, we have all the facilities to allow us to produce high-quality shows. And ALL our production work is student-built; we seldom rent any of the sets or costumes which appear in our productions.
• Other quality fine and performing arts departments. The Department of Visual Arts and New Media, the Department of Communication and the School of Music, along with Theatre and Dance, combine to make SUNY Fredonia among the leaders in arts education in all of SUNY. We work closely with all these departments to give you additional training and experience in artistic areas beyond theatre.
• A strong and extensive alumni network. Many of our graduates go on to have successful careers in the theatre and entertainment industry, and they are more than willing to talk to our current students and offer them aid and assistance – as well as valuable connections – as they graduate and begin their own careers.
• Cost Effectiveness. In this time of rapidly rising tuition costs, SUNY Fredonia, as a member of the SUNY system, offers one of the most cost-effective ways to receive a high-quality education. Even when scholarships are factored in to the cost of education at private schools, Fredonia often comes out ahead in overall costs on an annual basis. Students who live outside New York State will still find Fredonia less expensive overall than many private institutions. Scholarships are available as well for incoming first-year students

Interested? The department is now accepting applications for auditions for the 2010-11 academic year. Auditions will begin in December 2009 and continue into the spring 2010 semester. You can find the online form and other information about auditions by clicking this link. Slots fill up fast, and there is a limit as to how many students we can actually audition, so we advise you to make your appointment as early as possible. We’ll be sure to keep you informed as to upcoming dates and availability as the year progresses.

It’s very important to understand that the application process is a two-step process. You must apply to and gain acceptance to SUNY Fredonia itself. If you wish to be considered for one of our Bachelor of Fine Arts degree programs (BFA),  you must then arrange for an audition (BFA Dance, Acting, or Musical Theatre) or a portfolio review (BFA Technical Production and Design) with the department. You cannot be admitted to the department without having done both steps. Students wishing a Bachelor of Arts degree in General Theatre Studies (BA) do not have to audition for the program. Once they are accepted to SUNY Fredonia they can indicate their major as BA Theatre.

Here for your convenience are some critical links which will help you through the application process:

• Our Official Home Page – The Department maintains an official home page where you can get further information on what we’re about. Degree program details, faculty bios, and past and current season listing are all here. Contact information for the department is also listed at the bottom of the left sidebar.
• How to Apply – The university’s Admissions site includes information on the SUNY Application Form as well as the Common Application Form. Be sure to check out some of the other links on the left-hand sidebar of this page for financial aid and other important resources. Contact information for the Office of Admissions is on the bottom of the sidebar – plan a visit! We’d love to see you!
• For Prospective Students – This page has a number of links containing important information such as tuition and other costs, housing, food plans, and the like.
• Theatre and Dance in the College Catalog – This link will take you right to the page in the catalog which details all our programs and degree requirements. You can also look at other sections of the catalog from here.
• Rockefeller Arts Center – From this page you can see all the artistic events that happen on our campus, as well as get a view of the RAC, the building which houses our department.
• Interactive Campus Map – This is a Google Map which shows the campus from the Google Earth point of view and can give you a quick idea of the features of our campus.

If you have any further questions or would like more information, click on our Contact! page at the top of the blog. We hope you’ll consider making SUNY Fredonia your first choice for your educational future!