PROCESSING THE PROCESS - Auditioning for College Musical Theatre Programs, A Parent’s Perspective

Hi friends! This episode is a listen in on my chat with Giovanni about his experience of the college audition process and outcome! Thinking of you all as you take on this special journey with your child! Sending love - Lisa

How are you all doing with the wait? If I had to guess your child is processing better than you are, their parent! Let me just tell you, you are in good company! I am a Mamma Bear more than most anything else. When my kids hearts struggle or hurt, it almost takes me out. BUT, it doesn’t actually, I become a whirlwind of emotions. I definitely plummet, hit the bottom, and come to the surface fighti...

Learn from my experiences in this process! Hopefully, what we’ve done wrong and/or right will help you to avoid some things, to do some things and to prepare for some things. I’m publishing this episode just as Giovanni, my auditioning son, is about to go to Chicago Unifieds 2024. So, it’s by the skin of my teeth. Details shared in this episode, I believe, will be helpful at which ever stage you a...

This is much delayed in being published! If your child is auditioning this year, for Fall 2024 admission, these are steps you’ve already taken with them. Nonetheless, if you are anything like me, it is validating to hear that you’ve considered all the points I share. For those of you looking ahead at the process, these will be helpful points that you’ll want to think ahead about. Hope everyone is...

Has your student been seen by a Laryngologist - an Ear, Nose & Throat doctor, specializing in Vocal Health, specifically, vocal fold nodules and cysts, laryngeal cancer, spasmodic dysphonia, laryngopharyngeal reflux, papillomas, and voice misuse/abuse/overuse syndromes? This is your reminder to have this done ASAP!!!! Seriously, schedule that NOW. Best case scenario is that your child is seen whil...

This is a response to a question sent to me by a student listener who is aspiring to show her best self at workshop while performing for adjudicaters who will be evaluating and also in front of participating peers. My response is informed by attending workshops and training sessions that demonstrated strategies to get out of your head and immersed in the character and the story that’s being told....

This episode is an update on my son Tommy Thams and his path to date pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre. Our chat includes honest, open talk about his COVID prompted Gap Year and reflections on his choices, growth, lessons learned, his summer spent training in NYC, the future and many other miscellaneous insights. A great listen for parents and students. Enjoy!

This episode is jam packed with amazingness! There is so much to benefit from in listening. Mark Christine is an incredible resource and such a nice and genuine person. We focused on sharing his knowledge about the process in three areas - timing, coach -vs- no coach and money. Lots of valuable information and tips to save you time, stress and money. Please subscribe. Rate my podcast on Apple podc...

For many of you the topics & thoughts shared in this episode will be a familiar now or in your future. I want to do my best to share accurate information. My chat with this mom is current, relevant and, I think, will be helpful. It’s a valuable articulation of the potential overwhelm and realization of the magnitude of the demands of this process. I am wowed by the commitment that so many kids, in...

Erin & Michael met in college as they were both MT students. They’ve journeyed together working in the industry…on ships & land. Today they are using their experiences as actors in interesting ways. I love hearing what life up the road could entail for BFA grads. Throughout this chat you’ll also get a brief update on what my boys are up to. Please rate, comment or reach me at lisathams@aol.com or...

Meet a heart-driven powerhouse duo, ARTSBIDGE Founder & President - Halley Shefler and Vice President - Shaun Ramsay. They both have extensive experience in college admissions and are expert authorities. If you’ve listened to previous episodes, you’ve heard me speak of Artsbridge Summer program that both my boys attended as their final big push to prepare and train prior to their college auditions...

I’ve thought about recording with Antonio Cipriano for a while and finally reached out to him to recently. I think it’s important to get insight into alternative paths to the same end. Tony’s has been a special journey to the stage and now, TV. He did audition for College Musical Theatre Programs. As his path revealed itself, he did not end up going that route and has no regrets. Listen, enjoy, an...

Continued from Episode 1. This is a fabulously transparent conversation where Laura and Andrew (Mother and Son) share their journey through this process. This captures the nuances of their dynamic. We touch on many, many elements of their experieNce as they reflect back, including: communication, coaching, Senior year commitments, deciding not to audition at a school you passed a pre-screen for, t...

A good listen for more great insider info on the process! Gabriella and her Mom share the journey since they last recorded with me! Listen for tips, foresight, things to consider and much more. Enjoy!

What will life after college look like as an MT graduate? It’s hard to truly know. Bryn Rivière shares her own journey from CCM to being an aspiring actress, living the auditioning life in NYC. Lots of practical information and insight to the variable of what this path entails and how she has adjusted to day to day life as it is now.

Jack Kay is an aspiring Actor and 2019 Juilliard Graduate. We had a great chat and went a bit deep, talking about challenges and how he’s met those and kept moving forward. I’d say this is quite enlightening and invaluable food for thought as you support your child through this process. Being able to benefit from Jack’s thoughts looking back and now, having begun the real world part of pursing a c...

Dylan Mulvaney is 23 and graduated a year ago from CCM with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Shortly after showcasing in NYC he was cast as Elder White in the Book of Mormon tour. A dream come true! Listen to hear about his journey thus far, including, how the pandemic of COVID19 has affected his work. If you are interested in reaching out to him, he is @dylanmulvaney on Instagram. As always, lots of goo...

This episode is one I’ve been wanting to do for a while. I think it’s important to consider the journey of deciding NOT to go the route of pursuing an education or career in Musical Theatre. You will be listening to my conversation with Emma, who after much back and forth about it, ultimately chose a different path for her life. She shares about the variables that led her to that decision. So many...

If your child is coming up on 2020 Unifieds, this episode is especially in synch with where you are at with your child in this process. The first part of this podcast is recorded in the lobby of The Palmer House at Chicago Unifieds last year. The background noise is an accurate representation of what it’s like there during that time! The conversation is one I had with another mom I met (now, a fri...

If you are applying to school for Musical Theatre this year, 2019/20, you are currently in the throws of the process! Gabriella & her Mom, Amy, fall into exactly, that very special group of people! In this episode you will be listening to our chat. Gabriella has been thinking about and anticipating actively applying and auditioning for quite some time and is impressively articulate about her thoug...

This is the first time that my oldest son, Frankie, and I , have gone back and talked through his journey to and through the process of applying and auditioning for collegiate Musical Theatre programs. He ended up attending the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and graduated this past Spring ‘19 with a BFA in Musical Theatre. In this episode he shares, from his perspect...

A pretty in depth conversation with my son and MT Freshman at Wright State University about how he’s adjusting, a look back on the process from his perspective, what he misses, what’s hard and how he’s managing! Please rate, comment, and share! Enjoy! NOTE: sort of cont’d from Ep. 12

Kevin Chlapecka a graduate of the CCM Musical Theatre program class of 2019, chats with me about his journey to and through being an MT transfer student. Lots of enlightening information about this process in general and a bit of a glimpse of “after graduation” and just getting his career started in NYC!

Continued from Ep. 9. I recount my experience with Tommy as he heard back from the College Musical Theatre programs he applied to and the turn of events leading up to his final decision!! Listen to find out how his process ended!

This is another conversation with my friend Barbara. Last conversation was Ep. 8. We are touching base about where our boys are at with hearing back from schools and sharing our frustrations along the way! A great listen for what to look out for if you are looking ahead to supporting your child in pursuit of College BFA/BA. Enjoy! And please rate, comment or email me with questions to lisathams@ao...