The College Audition Pros Podcast

In this episode of the College Audition Pros Podcast, Whitney Keater sits down with Elizabeth Davis, Assistant Professor of Costume Design and Theater Arts Coordinator at California State University, Chico, to discuss what makes Chico's theater program such a unique and deeply supportive environment for students interested in technical theater, performance, stage management, and arts leadership. The conversation dives into Chico State's collaborative culture, emphasis on social justice and ethical artistry, and the program's commitment to preparing students not just for graduation — but for sustainable careers in the entertainment industry. Elizabeth shares how students gain hands-on experience from day one, participate in dozens of productions annually, and develop professional portfolios, leadership skills, and real-world industry confidence before they leave campus.

Are you interested in participating in a BFA program at a theatre college that's located on a Hollywood studio lot? ME TOO! Scott Barnhardt is the lead faculty for the Contemporary Musical Theater and Film program at the Hussian College in L.A. (previously The Studio School). Scott grew up in SoCal attending the OCSA school and taking part in the CLO circuit. Scott attended Wagner college where he received his BA in theater and speech, and then spent 15 years in NY! Scott was part of productions in NY such as Big River, The Boyfriend, and Book of Mormon! After performing for 15 years, Scott decided to make a shift and attended UCLA grad school, where he discovered his love for teaching. He ran the OCSA theater program for about 4 years before coming over to the Hussian College. Hussian College is one of the most unique programs around. The school itself is located on a Hollywood Studio lot, specifically the LA Center Studios right in the heart of L.A.! The school only has four programs, so it is smaller than your average college. This can be a huge plus though! The opportunities for performing are endless as they open auditions to everyone. Plus, you have the opportunity to receive your BFA in film here! Scott's class particularly teaches students how to act for stage AND screen. The opportunities for students to let their creative juices flow are endless here. As we speak, they are working on building a program around projects pitched by the students. There are showcases for these projects in L.A. as well! If you haven't already, go look at the virtual tour of this campus. I promise you will be amazed! This campus is in an amazing environment that allows the students to get a feel for what it's like on a real film set. Now for that question I know is nagging at you. How does housing work if the school is on a studio lot? Well, there is no housing with this school. There are plenty of options in the L.A. area however! Most students rent apartments with other students in the area. Which means that room and board are not included in the tuition fees. These fees are around $40,000 a year. And most students receive financial aid and scholarships. Merit scholarships are also an option! I will say this- This school is not for everyone. Because of its unique location and specialized focus, some students may not thrive here. But for those who are a match for this school, this is a STELLAR match! For more information, visit our CAP Parent Portal!

Meet me about two hours south of St. Louis! Southeast Missouri State, or SEMO, is home to a beautiful performing arts campus! Josh Harvey is discussing the program and opportunities here, and let me tell you- they are abundant! Josh Harvey is a professor in the college theatre program at SEMO which offers BA's and BFA's in this program. Josh taught at Washington Lee for a few years, completed his masters at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glascow, and finally made his way to SEMO. The school itself consists of two campuses. Main campus, and the River campus. The River campus is where most of the classes for the arts program are held. They also have the distinction of being the only fully accredited arts campus in the state of Missouri, and one of only a few in the Midwest. With about 13,000 students at the school, and only around 220 students in the arts programs, you are sure to get a very in-depth and personalized experience here. But where is Cape Girardeau you ask? And is there anything to do there for entertainment? Well, it's about two hours south of St. Louis, and it is a smaller town with around 60 thousand people. There are your standard amenities available in town, but you are also close to so many other areas, you'll never run out of things to do. The program itself is outstanding. They put on around 9 or more productions a year from musicals, plays, dance recitals, etc. You'll have ample opportunity to perform and hone your skills. Now I know you're thinking, "Well yeah, after my freshman year maybe." NO! They do not have a "first year rule"!! You can start performing your freshman year. You may even get the lead if you're the best for the role! Where else can you get opportunities like that your freshman year? They audition twice a year, once in the fall for the spring productions, and once in the spring for fall productions. If you will be attending in the fall and would like to audition for any of the productions, you can do that this spring! They accept video auditions, or you can even go in and audition. This program really caters to students creating their own opportunities, and sometimes their own specialized tracks. From student reading workshops, classes, and multiple productions you will always stay busy here. And if you come into the school for the BA program and decided you want to get a BFA instead, awesome! They can help you do that! You can audition at the end of each year to join the BFA program. Now I've saved the best for last. Are you ready? Tuition is up to $21,000 PER YEAR!!! You heard me the max tuition WITH room and board would be around $21,000 PER YEAR! WHAT?!?! That is amazing! AND if you have a GPA of around 3.25 (for confirmation of this number see their website) to 3.5, you could possibly get the change to apply for instate tuition. I don't know about you, but from where I'm sitting, this is a great opportunity! For more information, you can contact Josh Harvey at jharvey@semo.edu. Or join our CAP Parent Portal! You know you want to!