What Colleges Expect of Freshmen Theatre Students
Generated by a panel discussion at the South Carolina Theatre Association Convention
November 12-14, 2004 Converse College, Spartanburg, South Carolina
 

• Panelists: Jack Benjamin, USC-Aiken, Brad Christie, Erskine College, Glen Gourley, Francis Marion University,
  Dennis Wemm, Glenville State College,  Dewey Scott-Wiley, USC-Aiken.
   

• Theatre students should be grounded and have a mature understanding of the nature of the art.
• Theatre students should have a broad awareness and experience of dramatic literature across historical periods and cultures.
• The theatre student should have a broad sense of theatre history with a strong sense of chronology, periods and styles.
• Theatre students should be open-minded and prepared to approach modern dramatic literature analytically and maturely.
• Theatre students should enter college with a variety of theatre experiences and a willingness to serve their department in many ways. The true theatre artist does it all to a degree.
• Theatre students should be aware of the seriousness of the work and how important it is to the professors and staff.
• Theatre students should be aware of the time commitment the art requires.
• Theatre students must be able to juggle and manage their time.
• Theatre students should be aware of the audition process (prepared and cold reading) and be able to find their own monologues.
• Theatre students should have an extensive theatre and acting vocabulary.
• Theatre students should be able to analyze and understand the nature of plot structure.
• Theatre students should have a clear understanding of correct theatre etiquette from both audience and backstage points of view.
• Some college theatre programs expose students to the business of show business. A mature and realistic understanding of the demands of this process is expected.
• Some college theatre programs use the liberal arts model, providing theatre experiences for future teachers, community theatre participants and arts patrons.
• Theatre students should be aware that although they are concentrating on theatre, they are involved in a complete university/college experience which includes math, science, foreign language courses, etc.
• Regardless of their success in high school, theatre students should be prepared to leave their egos at the door. There is always more to learn.
• Theatre students must be prepared to work for themselves in the art, not for a previous teacher or director.
• Theatre students should not expect the same kind of nurturing they may have experienced in high school. The theatre student must be prepared to work independently, seeking mentoring or guidance as needed.
• Theatre students must be prepared to take criticism. Criticism is for the art, not of the individual. Professors and directors rarely take the time to comment on what was done well.