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Baldwin
Wallace
University's
acclaimed
Music
Theatre
program
has
risen
to
number
one
in
the
2018-19
OnStage
rankings
for
Best
Bachelor
of
Music
(B.M.)-Music
Theatre
Programs.
In
crowning
the
University's
program
best
of
the
best,
OnStage
called
BW
"a
top
destination
for
any
student
wanting
to
study
musical
theatre."
The OnStage research team was impressed that the BW program "has produced six regional premieres in partnership with Playhouse Square [the country's largest performing arts center outside of New York] and received national attention for academic premieres of Broadway productions."
BW music theatre director Victoria Bussert credits strong professional theatre ties as critical differentiators for BW. "Along with our Playhouse Square and Beck Center collaborations, our relationships with Great Lakes Theatre, Idaho Shakespeare Festival and the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival have truly made all the difference for us in terms of building our program and distinguishing our training," Bussert said.
In addition to her role at BW, Bussert serves as resident director at all three regional theatres, and new BW music theatre music director Matthew Webb serves as their resident music director.
"We began our Great Lakes Theatre partnership 23 years ago and added the other two theatres over the last 15 years; they are an invaluable part of our training, allowing all of our music theatre students the opportunity to graduate with professional credits."
The latest example is the Bussert-directed "Mamma Mia!," which just wrapped up a record-breaking run at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival and moves to the Hanna Theatre in Cleveland's Playhouse Square for Great Lakes Theater, September 28-November 11.
The production features 13 BW music theatre students and graduates in a cast of 20!
OnStage
also
noted
the
highly
successful
career
launch
that
takes
place
each
spring
for
BW
graduating
music
theatre
seniors:
a
widely
attended
annual
New
York
Showcase
that
has
resulted
in
New
York
representation
for
every
grad
over
the
past
ten
years.
BW Conservatory of Music Dean Susan Van Vorst also referenced BW's strong Broadway pipeline in expressing pride and gratitude for the OnStage distinction.
"BW fosters remarkable professional partnerships that provide students with a leading edge. We are committed to training that prepares students for current industry standards and sets a high bar for excellence," she said. "Victoria Bussert and our entire faculty are dedicated to helping each individual student discover a personal best path forward."
The rankings at OnStage are based on the independent research and evaluation by "current and former educators, students, alums, and working professionals," using a rating system that considers factors that are "most important to those pursuing a career in the theatrical arts" including:
In describing what sets Bachelor of Music graduates apart in general, OnStage columnist Gretchen Midgely wrote that "having a better understanding of music and a wider set of musical skills leads to more self-sufficient singing actors."
