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

[Cristina Jones]

Hia, Cierra, 
You can absolutely follow your dream and passion in majoring in what you'd like to major in. 
As far as practicality goes, honestly, you never know. I think it's fair to say that a lot of us have had negative or less than satisfactory experiences with directors, etc. when it comes to performance. But we're also moving toward and forging ahead into the next decade with more of a realistic and positive outlook on ability in general, but in the arts in particular.
Knowing that you might not end up performing solidly on stage consistently for a living is true. But it doesn't mean you won't be performing in other ways. 
I initially went to college thinking I wanted to be a music education major. I changed that when I was bitten by the opera bug, and I decided I wanted to be an opera singer, damn the success rates and what the naysayers still say. I graduated from Cal State Fullerton with my BM in vocal performance, and I decided to go to the Royal Academy of Music for my graduate studies in performance. I graduated in 2015, and I'll be honest in saying I was so lost and confused about everything when I moved back to the States. I didn't know what to do, where to go, who I could reach out to, and it made me feel really hopeless for a bit. I lacked direction. I started teaching at the Academy of Music for the Blind on Saturdays, and I still do that. I continue to audition and perform for things. That said, I'm very selective with what I choose to spend my time auditioning for since a lot of the companies don't pay much for the amount of work you end up doing, especially as a blind person running around town on public transport. 
That said, that doesn't mean I'm unhappy. I'm actually feeling quite happy and fulfilled, thank you, even though ow'm not performing as much as I'd like to. I'm doing other things, though, in the music and acting world. I've opened myself up to film opportunities, as well as studio recording opportunities. A lot of it is building yourself a group of supportive people, working hard on your artistry and craft, and surrounding yourself with, not just forward-thinking, sound-minded people, but creative people who are positive and are going to encourage you and maybe give you ideas when you run out, both in your craft, as well as in the advocacy and accessibility aspect of your desired work. 
As far as selecting a program for yourself, that really depends on where you want to end up, for one, but also what you want to do, what you value in a program, and what you personally need and are comfortable with.
Musical theater's leading program in the States right now is Carnegie-Mellon. University. I have no idea how forward-thinking their MT program is, but it's worth looking at the program and speaking with Katelyn Macentire about it as she went to CMU for her graduate studies as a vocal performance major, I believe.
That said, MT programs are and are not similar to vocal performance. There are a lot of similar concepts etc., but MT people, I per sopersonally find, tend to be more progressive and forward-thinking. I mean, look at Ali Stroker's major win for the disabled community as a whole! There's a guy who is blind who has been on broadway quite successfully, but ow'm not remembering his name right now. So it's doable. 
Surround yourself with positive people who will remind you how amazing you are when you're not as confident in yourself. Surround yourself with people who might be able to give you opportunities to explore and find your own strengths and comfort level on stage. Make it a lifestyle and commitment if this is what you want. Work on your physical gestures, facial expressions, dance, etc., as those are usually going to be the bits that sighted directors and such will be the most concerned about. That way, you have the power and the choice to use your body the way you want to. 
You're in a great group of people here who are empowering themselves and barging up to the table and making room for themselves in the conversation. Be part of it, and learn where you're comfortable backing off, and learn when and how you're willing to assert yourself. Remember, too, that being assertive comes in multiple forms. It's not always immediately aggressive. You'll capture more flies with honey than with vinegar. And if you need to pull out the vinegar, you'll know when and how to do it and walk away eventually feeling more powerful.
NYU is where Ali Stroker went, and they have a good reputation, and Ali Stroker spoke very highly of the program, but I'm sure she, too, had her issues in figuring out how to do things. 
Remember that no matter where you end up, they're going to accept you based on your potential. Then they will either tell you what they think you're able to do as a blind person, or they won't know how to deal with your blindness or what to do with you. So this is where you'll have to get creative and figure out how you're comfortable and build on that. Having plenty of transparent conversations with those professors is a learning experience for everyone, but mainly you. And it's always okay to say that you're not sure how you'll be doing one thing or another, but that you'll do some thinking and reaching out to others.
There are so many programs and so many things to talk about with those. Feel free to reach out to me off list or carry on this conversation on list if others might find that more useful. 
Future work will be mix, and you might have to take a job outside of your field altogether to make ends meet and whatnot, and that's okay, too. It's actually good for you. That said, try taking on other jobs now, either during summer or during school. Either online jobs or whatever to get work experience. Remember that work experience is life experience and will only make you a more rounded human being, which will make you a more rounded performer. There's nothing wrong at all with taking jobs outside of your field to live Most sighted people end up having to do that as well. It's the great equalizer in that sense. 
Free yourself up to explore and make mistakes now. The right program will eventually make itself known to you, even if it's not your first choice. 
Good luck with everything, and keep us posted! I'm looking forward to hearing more from you in the next decade! :) 
^
Best:
Cristina Jones
+1(562) 308-7591
www.theblindsoprano.com



> On Dec 28, 2019, at 6:51 PM, Cierra Theriot via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 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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