A lot of this process can be very overwhelming, especially when you feel like the entire weight of your future is on your shoulders. For this reason, people frequently seek outside help during the audition process, whether to get advice, recommendations, or simply to get some extra practice in. 

COLLEGE COUNSELORS

I had to do a lot of research, writing, and organizing because I applied to 15+ schools. To deal with this, my family and I decided to spend money on a college counselor who specialized in theatre and other performing arts college applications. I was hesitant at first because I didn't want a stranger to read my personal essays and provide feedback, but it turned out to be the best decision I ever made. Not only was my writing some of the best it's ever been, but my counselor pointed out small details in my writing that made it sound more professional, and it was things I would never have thought to do on my own. If you have the money to spare, I highly recommend spending it on a college counselor. 

⭐️⭐️Caillie Dick: caiillied@creativekcc.com  ⭐️⭐️

VOCAL COACHES

Access to a helpful vocal coach is one of the essentials for surviving in the musical theatre industry. These are the people who will help you fine-tune your sound, ensure your technique is solid, and even provide you with songs to use during your auditions! Believe me when I say that working with a vocal coach completely changed the way I sing. I have contact information for a few popular MSA guest teachers, but it's really up to you to find whoever works best for you. Again, if you have the means and are applying to musical theatre colleges, a vocal coach is invaluable. 

Kayla Gold: kayla-la@comcast.net   

⭐️⭐️Alissa Deeter: awdeeter@gmail.com  ⭐️⭐️

Scott Lacy: gscottlacy@gmail.com 

ACTING COACHES

This isn't absolutely necessary, but if you want someone other than your director/theatre teacher to give you feedback on your acting choices, an acting coach could be a good investment. This is probably better for Acting applicants rather than Musical Theatre because singing is typically more important in MT than acting. Acting coaches are available to assist you in running monologues and discussing everything you would need to prepare for in an audition room. They are a fantastic resource, but it is always beneficial to work with people you already know. Here's an email to one of SUTE's directors, an acting coach. She’s really wonderful at giving feedback and her spots for coaching fill up fast, so I’d recommend contacting her sooner rather than later. 

Susan Mascall: susanmascall@gmail.com 

OTHER

One resource I found incredibly helpful was the Facebook page someone recommended to me which is a group dedicated to those applying for BFAs! They had admins who had gone through the process and been accepted to tons of different schools, and each one of them had a different experience and different insight. It's also a great place to ask questions about things like sheet music or how many pieces to have prepared, all things that people who have been through this before would be more than happy to tell you. 

⭐️⭐️Here's the link to this year's audition group: Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Audition Season of 2024 ⭐️⭐️