Illinois State University

Date: Sep 01 2012
Major: Perfomance Arts (This Major's Salary over time)
I am from a rich suburb of Chicago of which I grew up with the academic style of teaching throughout all my four years of high school. I know academia, and I know partiers, and I know this school already. I am an Acting major, and ONLY acting. I wanted to go to this school to understand my craft, and so far it has given me more gen-eds than acting. In the past I have worked with professional actors and have even been in the professional world, paid, with 2 agencies.

As a freshman, you are not allowed to audition for plays at Illinois State the first semester, which is fine (many schools do this). However, the lack of actual teaching in the craft of acting is what is bringing this down for me. If you have had any prior REAL training (professional work, professional training, agencies, REAL WORLD SCENARIOS outside of your community theatre or high school), THEN BE AWARE.

Once you get a taste of the professional world and start working with actors and people who WANT to do this truly and you can see the passion in theirs eyes and YOU have this passion, it's hard to be thrown into a world with people who are really just starting out and a curriculum of which feels the same way.

WARNING: The teachers are fantastic and are currently professional working. Acting teacher Lori Adams is just about to leave for Off-Broadway to direct a show. New teacher Kevin Rich is the artistic director for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. I cant put into words how brilliant the staff is there. THE FACULTY AND STAFF ARE JUST AMAZING.

HOWEVER: It is the program itself that is the basis of these problems. Rather than being some form of artistic conservatory or anything of that stature that focuses on the profession of acting, ISU's acting area is more of a "building blocks" kind of approach meant for someone who might not be 100% sure about going into this. Their motto is for those who might not be comfortable being in the world only acting and their approach is definitely more "real."

The first day we were literally told that we might have to have a real job for awhile before we get into it, so double majoring was a good idea. That's not the attitude I personally wanted going in. First day I was pretty much told that acting isn't secure, so get something else too. I KNOW acting isn't a secure job, but that's why I went into it. Because I love to ACT, not enjoy it. I have to act. So when someone says that to me I get demoralized. There's no true inspiration in the class so far and I feel like getting drunk every Thursday (called Power-Hour) is the main event of the theatre world there.

I just find myself feeling like I cant fit in with the program. THIS DOES NOT MEAN IT IS BAD. IT IS JUST NOT FOR ME SO FAR.

They tell you it has a conservatory feel to it, IT DOES NOT. It is very academic. BUT it just might be right for you. Or it might not. It's all up to the type of person.