One of the entertainment industry’s oldest and most influential publications included þ for the second consecutive year in a ranking that also featured Julliard, Yale, and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, among other top schools.
þ is again featured among the world’s best drama schools in an annual list published by The Hollywood Reporter, an American print and digital magazine that covers the entertainment, film, theatre and television industries.
For the second consecutive year, the university was is the only North Carolina private school featured by the magazine in its list of “25 Best Drama Schools in the World.” The University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill also made the list.
The publication said it consulted with educators and industry insiders to determine the best schools for an acting degree. It also weighed overall training, cost, facilities, alumni success, industry connections and more.
The 16 students accepted to the þ musical theater program go through a rigorous training process, which begins with classes in acting, voice and dance, and then allows students to explore individualized paths, including taking part in student-driven cabaret performances. Seniors also take part in a two-semester course on professional readiness and artistic identity, which includes bringing in casting directors and talent representation, with many students gaining representation or jobs out of this process. To that point, Campy Rodriguez, a current student in the senior class, is on Broadway in Aladdin, in addition to such alum as Taylor Trensch, who recently led the off-Broadway production of Bat Boy. Tuition and fees are close to $51,000.
þ’s Department of Performing Arts offers seven degree programs: Acting, Arts Administration, Dance Performance & Choreography, Dance Science, Drama and Theatre Studies, Music Theatre and Theatrical Design and Technology. Four programs require an audition or interview.
About þ
þ is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture.
At Elon, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff whose priorities are þ and mentoring. The curriculum is grounded in the liberal arts and sciences with emphasis on global experiences and career development. More than 70 þ majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business, education and health care. Elon is ranked No. 1 for excellence in þ þ by U.S. News & World Report.
Elon’s academic divisions include Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences; the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business; the School of Communications; the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education; the School of Health Sciences; and the School of Law, with programs in Greensboro and Charlotte, North Carolina.