[Perform-Talk] Question about musical theater and performing arts college

[Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter]

Cierra,

This is merely one option to consider, but have you considered a more "practical" degree, studying theatre and/or music as a minor or simply auditioning for school and community productions? Even a teaching degree where you can teach theatre if you want while persuing fine arts endeavors. Many of us have formally studied performing, and very few of us make any living from it. Like you, I could see myself doing nothing else but performing since I was born. I studied vocal performance at university, minoring in theatre, then got into the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in NYC, and I've never made a living from it; and all this happened before I was blind. For multiple reasons, I've not performed for almost 20 years and am just now getting back into it. It's not easy, but I miss it and need it in my life. In my late 20s, after going through center training, I went back to school to find a more "practical" choice of study. I probably didn't choose the most practical and still was in the fine arts, choosing creative writing, and later my master's of fine arts in writing, but it allows me to work as a writer and editor and have parlayed this into a freelance marketing career. I'm now making time to find opportunities to perform on the side. As long as I have performing in my life in some capacity, whether I'm a pro or not, that's all that matters. Anyway, just an older, veteran voice chiming in. All that being said, you follow your dreams and do what you feel is right.

On the accommodation front, I will say I'm having a mixed experience when it comes to being accepted as a blind performer now. Some directors and groups welcome me with open arms and go above and beyond to accommodate, while others not so much. And I'm still figuring out how auditioning and performing works for me now as a blind person. But it's a journey worth taking.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Perform-Talk <perform-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Cierra Theriot via Perform-Talk
Sent: Saturday, December 28, 2019 8:50 PM
To: NFB Performing Arts Division Mailing List <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Cierra Theriot <cierratheriot at icloud.com>
Subject: [Perform-Talk] Question about musical theater and performing arts college

Hello all.
as I am currently in training getting my independence trying to decide what I want to do in my life, I am also researching different colleges that have good musical theater programs. there are so many to choose from I’m just having a hard time trying to narrow down the choices and sometimes it gets a bit overwhelming because it’s like I don’t know what to look for. I just love performing and I assume like ini of you I feel like this is my only calling. I just can’t picture myself doing anything else because this is something I’m just so passionate about and I just really want to do it. I love making people happy through the performing arts. I love how getting up on a stage just wipes away my anxieties that may have happened previously the date of the performance. I love how the music just swept me off my toes as I dance. I love how the words just come out so clearly as I sing out with my tiny voice. and all of the hard work that I’ve put into a performance no matter what it is just shines through when the audience cheer at the end of the performance. as I know it is hard to get into this field especially for those of us with disabilities, I would really like it for them to understand that we have a passion just as anyone else. That we may need accommodations with certain things but we can make it work. So my question to you is, what colleges do you recommend? And I was wondering what’s the best state? Where the teachers excepting of you getting in to the college? Did you have to reassure them that you should be treated just like the other kids and if you have any accommodations that you will speak to them about? Thank you all for reading and I hope I made sense to you all.


Cierra Theriot

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