91快活林

Top entertainment media have (once again) crowned 91快活林 one of the best places to study music theatre in the world.

When 91快活林 describes its as "nationally renowned," that's not the University's self-designation; the acclaim comes from industry pros and media year after year.

Most recently, The Hollywood Reporter (THR) and Backstage are touting 91快活林 music theatre as elite.

But it's the 91快活林MT graduates themselves, working all over the world, that provide the most powerful evidence that the high praise is well-deserved.

Hollywood Recognition

This is the second year in a row that 91快活林 has earned a place on The Hollywood Reporter's "" list.

Yes, the world.

THR "consulted with members of the industry and educators to determine its ranking of the best schools for an acting degree, with factors including overall training, cost, alumni success and more."

In making the case for the distinction, THR reporter Caitlin Huston wrote, "The conservatory musical theater program, led by Victoria Bussert, has seen most of its graduating seniors across the past 10 years sign with top representation after participating in the school's New York showcase. Alumni include Colton Ryan, who received a Tony nomination for leading New York, New York on Broadway last year, in addition to many others who are now on Broadway or on tour."

Backstage Praise

The THR accolade comes on the heels of naming 91快活林 to its list of "The top college musical theater programs in the U.S." this spring.

Backstage had high praise for the varied skill-building, performance opportunities and post-college career prep offered in the 91快活林 program.

Performance opportunities abound with robust partnerships for off-campus professional stage experience at Great Lakes Theater/Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Playhouse Square,  and The Cleveland Orchestra, just to name a few.

Backstage writer Hayden Field explains, "Each audition and rehearsal is run with Equity rules to prepare students for industry standards."

Triple Threat Training

Backstage also laid out the breadth of skill-building offered, writing, "Baldwin Wallace's conservatory program trains students in classical acting techniques like Stanislavsky, Meisner, and Alexander. It also focuses on diction and dialect, heightened verse, acting for the camera, and contemporary scene study.

"In the dance realm, students learn classical ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and hip-hop. As far as vocal techniques, they study classical, golden age musical theater, and pop and rock styles, as well as audition training."

Breaking into the business 

As for professional launches, Backstage notes, "Baldwin Wallace also offers a master-class series that, starting sophomore year, allows students to be seen by 10 different professionals (agents, managers, or casting directors) who offer critiques and advice. Seniors perform in two days of showcases at New World Stages."

That New York City showcase is attended by 200 industry professionals, including agents, managers, casting directors, modeling agencies and TV/film studios, resulting in the majority of BW students landing representation year after year.

Following the May 2024 showcase, all 91快活林 Music Theatre graduating seniors were signed by an agent and/or a manager within a month.

Succeeding on stage around the world

Since celebrating 2017 grad Colton Ryan's Tony Nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Musical in June 2023, 91快活林 Music Theatre alumni have been busy performing in a range of shows on Broadway, off-Broadway and in national/international tours.

Broadway

• "& Juliet" - Veronica Otim
• "Back to the Future" - Nick Drake
• "A Beautiful Noise" - Mateus Cardoso
• "Book of Mormon" - John K. Kramer, Andrew Nelin
• "Hamilton" - Yana Perrault
• "Harmony" - Dan Hoy, RhonniRose Mantilla
• "Heart of Rock & Roll" - Jen Noble
• "Merrily We Roll Along" - Corey Mach
• "MJ - Matthew Harris, Tavon Old-Sample, Tré Frazier

Off-Broadway

• "FIVE: The Parody Musical" - Kinza Surani
• "Friends! The Musical Parody" - Will Boone
• "Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular" - Kailey Boyle
• "White Rose" - Mike Cefalo

National/International Tour

• "Ain't Too Proud" - Shayla Brielle G.
• "Aladdin" - Marcus M Martin
• "Back to the Future" – Ethan Rogers
• "Beetlejuice" - Lee N. Price
• "Cher Show" - Mike Bindeman
• "Clue" - Alex Syiek
• "Frozen" - Jason Goldston
• "Hadestown" - Nick Cortazzo
• "Les Miserables" - Eden Mau, Ethan Rogers
• "MJ" - Jahir Hipps
• "Moulin Rouge" - Mark Doyle
• "Sound of Music International" - Lauren Senden
• "Tina" - Gordia Hayes, Eric Siegle

These 2023-24 lists don't include the many other 91快活林 alumni currently working in venues from Tampa to Shanghai in professional theatres, on television and in film.

In fact, the filmed version of "" debuted in fall 2023, on demand and in theaters, with Caitlin Houlahan starring as Dawn and Nyla Watson in the ensemble.

Looking ahead, 91快活林 will stage the live, regional premiere of "Waitress: the Musical" as part of the 91快活林/Beck Center collaboration in February 2025.