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[0:00] Charlie Murphy: Welcome back to Mapping The College Audition. I'm your host, Charlie Murphy, and today we have a special guest, Amanda Flynn, the Program Head of Musical Theater at Pace University.

[0:30] Amanda Flynn: Thank you for having me, Charlie! I'm excited to be here and share more about what we do at Pace.

[0:52] Charlie Murphy: Absolutely! So, Amanda, Pace University is known for its unique approach to training students in the arts. Can you tell us how Pace supports professional work while still valuing graduation?

[1:12] Amanda Flynn: Sure! At Pace, we really emphasize the importance of real-world experience. We encourage our students to engage in professional work while they’re completing their degree. This balance helps them to grow as artists and prepares them for the industry.

[1:32] Charlie Murphy: That’s fantastic! And what does a “city campus” mean for students at Pace?

[2:00] Amanda Flynn: A city campus means that our students are immersed in the vibrant culture of New York City. They have access to countless opportunities, from auditions to workshops, and they can learn from the best in the industry right outside their door.

[2:20] Charlie Murphy: That sounds incredible! Now, during auditions, what advice do you have for students who might be over-analyzing what happens in the room?

[2:40] Amanda Flynn: I always tell students to focus on doing great work and let the process play out. It’s easy to get caught up in the details, but what matters most is how you connect with the material and the people in the room.

[3:10] Charlie Murphy: Great advice! Now, can you explain what an Early Decision Audition means for students?

[3:34] Amanda Flynn: An Early Decision Audition is an option for students who are certain that Pace is their top choice. It allows them to apply early and receive an admission decision sooner, which can help them plan their next steps in the college process.

[4:00] Charlie Murphy: That’s really helpful information, Amanda. Thank you for sharing your insights on the audition process and what makes Pace University special.

[4:18] Amanda Flynn: Thank you, Charlie! I’m glad to be here and share what we’re doing at Pace.

[4:42] Charlie Murphy: If anyone has questions about the college audition process, feel free to reach out to us at mailbag@mappingthecollegeaudition.com.

[5:02] Amanda Flynn: Yes, please do! I’m always happy to help prospective students navigate this journey.

[5:30] Charlie Murphy: And if you’re interested in working with MTCA for help with your individualized preparation for your College Audition journey, check us out at mtca.com.

[6:00] Amanda Flynn: We’re here to support you every step of the way!

[6:20] Charlie Murphy: Thanks for joining us today, Amanda. It’s been a pleasure having you on the show.

[6:30] Amanda Flynn: Thank you, Charlie! I’ve enjoyed our conversation.

[6:40] Charlie Murphy: And to our listeners, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more tips and insights.

[7:00] Amanda Flynn: Yes, follow along! There’s so much more to explore in the world of college auditions.

[7:20] Charlie Murphy: Until next time, keep working hard and stay passionate about your craft!

[7:30] Amanda Flynn: Absolutely! Good luck to everyone out there.

[7:50] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for tuning in to Mapping The College Audition.

[8:10] Amanda Flynn: Bye!

[8:20] Charlie Murphy: Bye!

[8:40] ♪ Musical number: "Song Title" — performed by Amanda Flynn ♪

[9:00] Charlie Murphy: That was beautiful!

[9:20] Amanda Flynn: Thank you! I love sharing my passion for musical theater.

[9:40] Charlie Murphy: It really shows.

[10:00] Amanda Flynn: I appreciate that!

[10:21] Charlie Murphy: And for our listeners, remember to reach out if you have any questions.

[10:49] Amanda Flynn: We’re here to help!

[11:00] Charlie Murphy: Until next time, take care!

[11:09] Amanda Flynn: Bye!

[11:18] Charlie Murphy: Bye!

[11:26] ♪ Musical number: "Song Title" — performed by Amanda Flynn ♪

[11:56] Charlie Murphy: That was fantastic!

[12:26] Amanda Flynn: Thank you!

[12:56] Charlie Murphy: And that wraps up our episode today.

[13:26] Amanda Flynn: Thanks for having me, Charlie!

[13:56] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for being here!

[14:15] Amanda Flynn: Unique, what makes Pace, Pace in terms of its place on the landscape? You know, I think of a few things that come to mind when people ask this question. And I think sort of like the way I can sort of generally sum up like a couple of the things sort of an umbrella concept is that I think that we do a really nice job of really being connected to the industry in very like real tangible ways that, you know, really provide our students with real connections and networks. And so they really are graduating having a community of people and already having really high level artists that they've worked with that they have a connection to through the university. Obviously, our faculty, you know, I'm not alone in how I'm able to sort of balance academia and, you know, the professional industry.

We can say that for much of our faculty, right? They're working, you know, they're working individuals, you know, they work in their own field, whatever it might be. You just mentioned El Morgan Lee, who we had on as an artist guest, right? That's an artist. Yeah, they're on as an artist guest, but also now full of faculty. One of our full time faculty members. Yeah. So we, El Morgan has taught in our program for a couple of years, and we were really fortunate that we were able to move her into a full time faculty position for this academic year. And she's just absolutely wonderful, and just an amazing human, but just such a wonderful, compassionate educator. And she's just so beloved by our students.

So that's a great example, right? And my associate program head, JV Mercanti, who is, you know, a casting director and a director, you know, he's working professionally all the time. And so I think it happens with the faculty, but it's not just the faculty, it's the guests, it's the artists that we bring in through our artist in residence program. We have partnerships with Disney, and we have a new work partnership with Lively McCabe, which is a production company. And so, you know, we're really trying to make sure that our students are getting a chance to work with people that can give them jobs later.

[16:53] Charlie Murphy: Yeah, it's such a great answer. You know, and I think, you know, so often I ask schools about, you know, what sort of makes them unique, and they'll give me answers. And, you know, of course, every school is in its way unique, but I do think Pace has a more clear, distinct lane than some other schools, both via location, but also via some of the sort of choices that Pace has made. Yeah, I love, let's get a little granular on the one you just said, which was, you know, Jesse had talked about in his episode that they were continuing basically what Amy had, Rogers had started, which is a pretty unique approach to students working while they're in school. In 2026, is the goal, is that continuing with Pace that like, you know, basically to describe a student who might be a freshman or sophomore who might book a Broadway show and then continue their Pace education while in a Broadway show, which with most schools, it might mean basically like you're leaving, you could come back, but basically how does that work? Can you talk a little bit about where that is now in terms of active working?

[18:39] Amanda Flynn: Yeah, so Pace just as a university, this is not us, this is just the university, has something called the Prior Learning Assessment. And the Prior Learning Assessment is essentially where you can receive course credit for real live work that you've done. And so that course, you know, is particularly great for like, let's say adults who are returning to school, such as myself. When I chose to go to grad school, I had to go finish my undergrad, right? So, you know, things like that are great to say, hey, we can get you up to a certain amount of credits for the life work you've done, right? We can tie it into courses, right? So we use that course often for students who do need to leave, you can receive up to 15 credits for that course, through that course.

And so that is one way that we are able to support students leaving. So right now, we have two juniors, both their sophomore year, one did the Hills of California on Broadway, so she took a leave for the fall semester. The other did the Parade National Tour in the spring, she took a leave in the spring. So those are, you know, examples of students that each took a leave for the spring. When they came back, they took the Prior Learning Assessment class. And in that class, you essentially work with a mentor who helps you craft this portfolio, where you're able to sort of like essentially write this sort of like project about how you've sort of received, you know, you've met those learning objectives through your work that you've done.

So typically, when a student has a situation like that, where let's say they're doing a Broadway show or a tour, we know they're going to leave, we sit down and we look at what they're going to miss, we figure out what classes we're going to get them credit for, for the Prior Learning Assessment, so that we can then slide them right back in and they sort of stay on track. So that's one way that we're able to do that. And, you know, we're really fortunate that that exists through the university and we take advantage of it and it works really great. You know, when sometimes students have smaller things that they have to, smaller commitments, let's say new works or things that might be like one or two weeks of missing class.

And, you know, those become sort of like case by case, you know, situations, but we do try to make space for that, especially for the upperclassmen. The reality is it's just pretty impossible freshman year to like leave and go do a show and then come back because it's so foundational and you can't do anything until you have a GPA and you don't have a GPA until December. So, you know, it's a little tough when people, you know, when it's freshman year, but the further we go, our program is sort of set up so that we can support, you know, we have other ways of supporting as well for students to work, right?

[20:34] Amanda Flynn: Which is through like internships and things. We have a senior who this last fall was doing Baker's Wife off Broadway. And so we were able to get him credit for some of his classes that he wasn't going to be able to attend through like an internship or essentially he was working with a faculty member to sort of make his like rehearsal and performance experience into some sort of tangible thing that was graded, right, and receive credit for that. And so, you know, these are all things that we're able to do. You know, that same senior, we were able to work it out for him to graduate early because he's doing a Broadway show in the spring. We have another senior this spring who will be leaving the semester a few weeks early to go lead a new musical out of town.

And so, you know, it's a thing where I think like our goal is for our students to work, right? That's what we want for them. We want them to graduate and be able to sustain a life in this industry. And so when large opportunities come along, we try to find ways to support it. And yes, sometimes it means they have to take a leave, right? It can't always mean that they can stay in school and do both. Sometimes it's like, yeah, you're going to have to take a leave, right? But depending on how long the leave is, we might be able to slide you back in. You know, you might graduate late. You know, we have a student right now who's on tour and he took the whole year off to go on tour. He'll come back next year and, you know, go into his senior year, which would have been this year.

And so it just, you know, really every case, every situation is different, but we do try to support it when the work is substantial enough that it changes the graduation outcome. That's sort of the way that I view it. These Broadway shows, national tours, you know, new work that's being developed that like, you know, has legs, as we say, you know, is like on the path, you know, to get to become a big thing. But we can't support everything, right? If it's a, you know, regional theater thing, you know, we tell people to pass, but we just, we try to support it because it feels incorrect to say, you can't do that Broadway show, you know?

[22:56] Charlie Murphy: Well, and not necessarily effective. I mean, it's where I think what's not unique about Pace is the idea that each situation would be handled individually. I think having that conversation certainly makes sense and other schools will do that too. It just seems like that what seems unique is the tenor of it is we're going to try to make this work for you and make it work, you know, as opposed to, not that other schools would never do that, but they're more going to lean toward discouraging and going, oh man, what if, I love you said to work and to graduate are the goals, but you even said it in that order. Whereas I feel like other schools, they care about the work, but they're like, we're first trying to graduate you and then we'll worry about me.

[24:00] Amanda Flynn: I mean, look, this senior Mason Olszewski, who just did Baker's Wife, he's the one that, you know, we sort of made it work, you know, he was a transfer student. So he had already done like two years of school before he even came to us. And he, and it was in like biology or something. So we had to start over as a freshman. So he's on like year six of school. So I, you know, he was sort of like, I don't know if I should finish. And I was like, you are going to finish, like come hell or high water. You are getting your degree. You are so close. I'm going to do everything I can do in the computer on the backend to get you graduated as soon as we can, because you are so close. I'm not going to let you quit.

So that's a case where I'm like, I demand you graduate. I want all of our students to graduate, right? I want them to finish that. I want them to feel accomplished. And like they, you know, they have achieved that, you know, I want them to. And the reality is that like, we rarely have students that don't graduate. I mean, we just graduated a student this fall, this past fall, who took a year, two years off to go do Jagged Little Pill and then came back and like, right, was, yeah, was like in and out because she was doing work out of town. And so like had to sort of slow down, but she finally graduated and she felt so accomplished, even though it took her like six and a half years because she did, you know, two years of a Broadway show in there and then like another new work out of town.

But it's like, yeah, we're going to support it as much as we can. And everyone's going to be on their own timeline. And she was fine with the timeline because look at all the amazing stuff she got to do. And then she got to graduate with all of this stuff on her resume and all of these experiences. So, yeah, we really, we really try to, to try to balance it.

[25:15] Amanda Flynn: I think the other thing that I'll add is the reason it's also always a conversation is that typically, you know, when our students are first starting, you know, college and they're freshmen, sophomores, every job looks shiny, right? Every job looks amazing. And so that's why we have to have these conversations of like, hey, this is not a job that I would recommend taking a leave for. And given the dates, you would need to take a leave. We always tell them it's always your call. We will support you no matter what. But, you know, we try to, you know, we try to like really be that sort of slightly more, you know, bird's eye view. You know, we've all been doing this a long time and we can say that's a job worth leaving school for. That will have a really different impact on you when you graduate than this job that seems amazing. It seems like it pays you so much money right now, but that's, it's actually not that, you know, not that much money.

[26:11] Charlie Murphy: Yeah. Totally makes sense. That's, I think, a really great encapsulation of that. And I think, you know, we'll be attractive to a certain kind of students and some students to go, I know I want four years and I don't want to mess around. But to, I think, a certain kind of student that is, it's really exciting. I think it's true of Pace. Can we talk a little bit about curriculum in terms of, you know, Jesse gave us a bit of curriculum and some intended changes that was, you know, around the sort of post-COVID transition. Where are we in 2026 with sort of what the four years of curriculum look like? And also as much as, you know, as now you're in your third year as program head, do you have any big intended changes for the next decade?

[27:45] Amanda Flynn: Um, you know, I think we're, we're sort of, we're sort of continually like tweaking things, you know, and adjusting things. You know, I would say that right now there's no like giant curricular changes. You know, there's talks, you know, with the university in general about making some adjustments to the core curriculum. And if that were to happen, we would potentially have more credits like back to us taken that we would be able to perhaps add some courses to the curriculum. But right now, you know, we, we've been just making, you know, all sorts of tweaks and adjustments, you know, sort of the, the sort of the, the two that come to mind that we have sort of just implemented this school year is some adjustments in our dance classes, as far as um, tap our, our juniors take tap in the fall.

And with this year, you know, the way we do all of our dance classes, I'll just say is that all of our dance classes rotate. So whatever dance class you're in, you know, you are leveled, um, you know, and then you rotate between two teachers. So if you're in ballet or jazz, you know, you're leveled, but then you spend a certain amount of time with one teacher, then you rotate to the other teacher first amount, and then you rotate back, right? So that's how they're all structured. So for our tap class this past fall, we decided to combine with commercial dance. So we now have combined musical theater and commercial dance together for tap, and we now have four sections. And so you rotate through four sections. And what's really good about this is that tap is just a little bit of an outlier when it comes to dance, right? You can be maybe, you know, a more beginning dancer, but a really good tapper by

[28:29] Charlie Murphy: Welcome back to Mapping The College Audition. Today, we’re diving deeper into Pace University with Amanda Flynn, the Program Head of Musical Theater. Amanda, it’s great to have you back!

[28:45] Amanda Flynn: Thanks for having me, Charlie! I’m excited to be here and share more about what makes Pace unique.

[28:53] Charlie Murphy: Absolutely! So, let’s talk about how Pace supports professional work while still valuing graduation. Can you elaborate on that?

[29:02] Amanda Flynn: Sure! At Pace, we really emphasize the importance of real-world experience. Our students are encouraged to pursue professional opportunities while they’re in school. We believe that this hands-on experience is invaluable and helps them grow as artists. However, we also ensure that they stay on track to graduate on time, which is crucial in this competitive field.

[29:25] Charlie Murphy: That’s a great balance to strike. Now, what does it mean to be a “city campus”? How does that impact student life and learning at Pace?

[29:35] Amanda Flynn: Being a city campus means that our students are immersed in the vibrant culture of New York City. They have access to countless theaters, workshops, and networking opportunities right at their doorstep. This urban environment enhances their education, as they can learn from professionals in the industry and participate in auditions and performances throughout the city.

[30:05] Charlie Murphy: That sounds incredible! Now, I know many students tend to over-analyze their auditions. What advice do you have for them to focus on doing great work and letting the process play out?

[30:17] Amanda Flynn: I always tell my students to trust themselves and their training. It’s easy to get caught up in the details and worry about what the panel thinks. Instead, they should focus on delivering their best performance and enjoying the process. Remember, auditions are just one part of their journey, and every experience is a learning opportunity.

[30:45] Charlie Murphy: Wise words! Now, let’s discuss Early Decision Auditions. What does that entail for students?

[30:55] Amanda Flynn: Early Decision Auditions are for students who are certain that Pace is their top choice. By applying early, they can secure their spot in the program sooner. It’s a commitment, but it can also provide peace of mind knowing they have a place in the program if accepted.

[31:20] Charlie Murphy: That’s a great option for those who are sure about their choice. Thank you for sharing all this valuable information, Amanda!

[31:30] Amanda Flynn: My pleasure, Charlie! I hope this helps students navigate their college audition process with more confidence.

[42:44] Amanda Flynn: Welcome back to Mapping The College Audition. I'm Amanda Flynn, the Program Head of Musical Theater at Pace University.

[43:14] Charlie Murphy: It's great to have you back, Amanda! Last time we talked about the unique aspects of Pace University and its approach to musical theater training.

[43:44] Amanda Flynn: Yes, and I’m excited to dive deeper into how we support our students in balancing professional work with their academic responsibilities.

[44:14] Charlie Murphy: Absolutely! That’s such an important aspect for aspiring performers. Can you elaborate on how Pace facilitates this balance?

[44:44] Amanda Flynn: Sure! At Pace, we encourage our students to pursue professional opportunities while still valuing their graduation. We understand that real-world experience is invaluable, and we work to create a flexible environment that allows for both.

[45:14] Charlie Murphy: That’s fantastic! And what does it mean to have a "city campus" in New York City?

[45:44] Amanda Flynn: A city campus means that our students are immersed in the vibrant culture of New York. They have access to auditions, performances, and networking opportunities right at their doorstep, which is a huge advantage.

[46:14] Charlie Murphy: It sounds like an incredible experience! What advice do you have for students who might be over-analyzing their auditions?

[46:44] Amanda Flynn: I always tell my students to focus on doing great work and let the process play out. It’s easy to get caught up in the details, but what matters most is the authenticity of their performance.

[47:14] Charlie Murphy: That’s such a valuable perspective. Can you explain what an Early Decision Audition entails?

[47:44] Amanda Flynn: An Early Decision Audition is for students who are committed to attending a specific school. It allows them to apply early and receive an admission decision sooner, which can be a great option for those who have a clear first choice.

[48:14] Charlie Murphy: That’s really helpful information! For students considering Pace, what should they keep in mind during the audition process?

[48:44] Amanda Flynn: They should come prepared, be themselves, and remember that we’re looking for potential and passion. It’s about finding the right fit for both the student and the program.

[49:14] Charlie Murphy: Great advice! Thank you for sharing your insights, Amanda.

[49:44] Amanda Flynn: Thank you for having me, Charlie! I’m looking forward to seeing the next generation of talent at Pace.

[49:49] Charlie Murphy: Absolutely! If anyone has questions about the college audition process, they can reach out to us at mailbag@mappingthecollegeaudition.com.

[49:51] Amanda Flynn: Yes, please do! We’re here to help.

[49:54] Charlie Murphy: And if you’re interested in working with MTCA for personalized preparation, check us out at mtca.com.

[49:57] Amanda Flynn: We’re excited to support you on your journey!

[50:09] Charlie Murphy: Thanks for listening, everyone!

[50:14] Amanda Flynn: Bye!

[50:44] Charlie Murphy: See you next time!

[51:14] Amanda Flynn: Bye!

[51:44] Charlie Murphy: Bye!

[52:14] Amanda Flynn: Bye!

[52:44] Charlie Murphy: Bye!

[53:14] Amanda Flynn: Bye!

[53:44] Charlie Murphy: Bye!

[54:14] Amanda Flynn: Bye!

[54:44] Charlie Murphy: Bye!

[55:14] Amanda Flynn: Bye!

[55:44] Charlie Murphy: Bye!

[56:14] Amanda Flynn: Bye!

[56:44] Charlie Murphy: Bye!

[56:58] Charlie Murphy: Welcome back to Mapping The College Audition. We're diving into Act II with Amanda Flynn, the Program Head of Musical Theater at Pace University.

[57:28] Amanda Flynn: Thanks for having me, Charlie! I'm excited to be here.

[57:58] Charlie Murphy: So, Amanda, let's talk about how Pace supports professional work while still valuing graduation. Can you elaborate on that?

[58:28] Amanda Flynn: Absolutely! At Pace, we really emphasize the importance of real-world experience. We encourage our students to engage in professional work, whether that's internships, performances, or other opportunities, while still ensuring they complete their degree requirements. It's all about finding that balance.

[58:58] Charlie Murphy: That sounds fantastic. And what does it mean to have a "city campus" in New York City?

[59:28] Amanda Flynn: A city campus means that our students are immersed in the vibrant culture of New York City. They have access to countless theaters, workshops, and networking opportunities right at their doorstep. It allows them to learn not just in the classroom, but also through the experiences the city offers.

[59:58] Charlie Murphy: That's a huge advantage. Now, what advice do you have for students regarding the audition process?

[1:00:28] Amanda Flynn: One key piece of advice is to try not to over-analyze what happens in the room during auditions. Focus on doing great work and let the process play out. It's important to trust yourself and your preparation.

[1:00:58] Charlie Murphy: Great advice! Can you explain what an Early Decision Audition means for students?

[1:01:28] Amanda Flynn: Sure! An Early Decision Audition is when students apply to a college and commit to attending if accepted. It’s a binding agreement, which means they have to withdraw applications from other schools. This can be a great option for students who are certain about their choice.

[1:01:58] Charlie Murphy: That’s really helpful information. Thank you, Amanda.

[1:02:28] Amanda Flynn: My pleasure, Charlie! I'm always here to help students navigate this process.

[1:02:57] Charlie Murphy: And if anyone has questions about the college audition process, they can reach out to us at mailbag@mappingthecollegeaudition.com.

[1:03:27] Amanda Flynn: Yes, please do! We're here to support you.

[1:03:57] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for joining us today, Amanda. It's been a pleasure discussing Pace University and the audition process.

[1:04:27] Amanda Flynn: Thank you for having me, Charlie!

[1:04:57] Charlie Murphy: And thank you to our listeners for tuning in. We’ll see you next time on Mapping The College Audition.

[1:05:27] Amanda Flynn: Bye everyone!

[1:05:57] Charlie Murphy: Bye!

[1:11:14] Amanda Flynn: So, I think one of the things that we really pride ourselves on at Pace is that we are a professional training program. We are a conservatory program, but we are also a university. So, we want to make sure that our students are getting the best of both worlds. They are getting the professional training that they need to succeed in the industry, but they are also getting a well-rounded education that will serve them in their careers, whether they stay in the arts or not.

[1:11:56] Charlie Murphy: That's great. And can you talk a little bit about what it means to be a "city campus"?

[1:12:01] Amanda Flynn: Absolutely! So, being a city campus means that we are located right in the heart of New York City. Our students have access to all the resources that the city has to offer, including theaters, workshops, and networking opportunities. It also means that our students are able to engage with the professional community in a way that is unique to urban campuses. They can take classes, attend performances, and even audition while they are still in school.

[1:12:41] Charlie Murphy: That sounds incredible. How does Pace support students who are working professionally while they are in school?

[1:12:46] Amanda Flynn: We have a very flexible curriculum that allows students to take on professional work while still completing their degree. We encourage our students to pursue internships and professional opportunities, and we work with them to make sure that they can balance their academic responsibilities with their professional commitments.

[1:13:11] Charlie Murphy: That's so important. I think a lot of students worry about how they can manage both.

[1:13:16] Amanda Flynn: Exactly! We want to make sure that our students feel supported in their journey, and that they know they can pursue their passions without sacrificing their education.

[1:13:42] Charlie Murphy: And what advice do you have for students who might be over-analyzing their audition process?

[1:13:47] Amanda Flynn: I always tell students to focus on doing great work and let the process play out. It's easy to get caught up in the details and worry about every little thing that happens in the room, but at the end of the day, what matters most is the work you put in and how you connect with the material.

[1:14:11] Charlie Murphy: That's such a valuable perspective.

[1:14:16] Amanda Flynn: Thank you! I think it's important for students to remember that auditions are just one part of the journey.

[1:14:41] Charlie Murphy: Can you explain what an Early Decision Audition means for students?

[1:14:46] Amanda Flynn: Sure! An Early Decision Audition is an opportunity for students to apply to Pace and audition early in the process. If they are accepted, they are committing to attend Pace if they are offered a spot. This can be a great option for students who are certain that Pace is their top choice.

[1:15:11] Charlie Murphy: That's really helpful to know.

[1:15:16] Amanda Flynn: Absolutely! It can take a lot of pressure off the regular audition process, knowing that you have a spot secured at your dream school.

[1:15:41] Charlie Murphy: Thank you so much for sharing all of this information, Amanda. It's been a pleasure having you on the podcast.

[1:15:46] Amanda Flynn: Thank you for having me, Charlie! I'm excited to share more about Pace and our program.

[1:25:28] Amanda Flynn: Some gender work on the voice of how do we create a more masculine sound or a more feminine sound? And so, you know, working on things for the show, and then as the show starts to feel good, shifting into more like cross training, where we're in a space to work on other types of things. So that, you know, just like in PT, like, let's say you're a dancer, and you do all of your choreography to the right, your body gets very imbalanced, right? So you go to PT, and they're like, wow, we need to give you these exercises to do on the left, so that you stay balanced, right? And so it's sort of in that vein of like, hey, you're doing tons of high belting, why don't we work on something legit, so that we're getting your larynx into a different position, we're making different shapes with the vocal tract, we're having different vocal fold closure, we're doing things differently, so that the voice stays more balanced.

And that's sort of the third piece, is just a vocal health resource throughout the run of the show. So I am sort of, you know, the point person for the actors when they run into a vocal issue of some sort, something is starting to feel fatiguing. You know, I do a lot of like helping them navigate, you know, like just sort of general, minor, you know, season change, the sniffles, the colds, the allergies, you know, getting them in with a laryngologist when they need when it is beyond the sort of, you know, typical, you know, season change sniffles that we get, helping them, you know, just facilitate getting seen with the doctor, being a little bit of a point person between the actor and the, you know, the producers or the creative team as far as, you know, communicating if there is something going on that is more serious with an actor, and they're going to be out for a chunk of time.

But, you know, generally speaking, I'm there to support the actors, and I'm there to support them vocally through the run, whether that's technical issues, cross training, or just vocal health and sustainability support. So that's all those different roles. And you know, so much like so much in the school to the professional world, it's like, you start off and like a voice lesson is x, and the class is y, and then it sort of does often merge into like, how does it all sound and all these different things that you might be in charge of that aren't exactly like what a voice lesson is. So I mean, and it can change, and it certainly can look different, you know, in a different environment. But generally speaking, that's kind of the gist of the work. And yeah, yeah, I love it.

[1:28:04] Charlie Murphy: You've been so generous with your time. The way we normally wrap this is just with advice to the parents. And now you, of course, a parent yourself. So though a much younger one, more like me with a, you have a three year old. But let's talk about, you know, for the parents of these students. You know, we have many parent listeners who are trying to guide their children through this process. What advice would you have to those parents in terms of how they can best support their kid through this daunting process?

[1:28:28] Amanda Flynn: Oh, man, that's tough. You know, I will say that every time we have, you know, our in-person auditions or anything, you know, I always give a huge thank you to the parents. And, you know, the entire support system, whatever that might look like, you know, the support system for these kids, because it is a long, difficult process that takes, you know, time, energy, heart, soul, money, everything, right? So I'm always like, so grateful to these support systems, be it parents, be it teachers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, whoever it is, that is supporting any young person through this, because they can't do it without you. So, you know, I'm grateful. So if you are one of those people, thank you.

I think I would say one thing that's more like, you know, mama bear, which is that like, it's all gonna be okay. It will all work out. In the end, it really will. Students will end up where they need to be, or they're going to learn what they need to learn through the process and try again the next year. And it will be okay, even if for moments it feels like it won't be. And then I would say my practical, like tangible advice is like, just stay on top of deadlines and requirements. Make your kid do it, but you better have access to that spreadsheet too. You know, I mean, you know, we just got this heartbreaking email, like a week ago from a kid, from a kid's mom, who's like, this has been my kid's dream for forever.

And somehow their application got routed to the wrong place. You know, they clicked BFA arts instead of musical theater. And then like didn't submit, so it just like didn't submit, right? You know what I mean? So like, but it's like, we can't do, there's nothing we can do about that. Right. And so it's like this process, but that is where you go. Yeah. And so it's like, I want you to make your kids have to do it. Like, don't do it all for them, make them have to research, make them have to have some drive. And also double check everything yourself. Just because that happens sometimes a kid like, you know, either just like doesn't, you know, realize there was a deadline or they had got it mixed up and it's truly like, oh no. Right. And so like, prescreen deadline, those kinds of things.

[1:31:04] Charlie Murphy: Exactly. And it's just like, we have no control over the university. We cannot let them, they will not, you know, you know, we have a little control over the prescreen. Like if someone has it like, you know, every, every year there's like a handful that Wayne, our enrollment director will let through because they were like in the process of submitting when it shut down or something. Right. And so it's like, he can see that in there, he'll push them through past the deadline. But like, if you haven't started, like, we just, we just, we can't do it. So I would say, you know, make them take some responsibility there. They need to do that because they are going to have to take care of themselves when they get to school, but you know, don't hold their hand there.

But like when they go to sleep, open up the spreadsheet, double check everything, go to all those websites, you know, just because it's heartbreaking when, when real honest to God mistakes happen and we can't do anything about it.

[1:31:58] Amanda Flynn: That's great advice. You already mentioned earlier with the financial aid stuff to head to the website to double check more information. If people want more information, generally, do you like the website? Do you like social media? Is there a place that you go? Hey, I really like when people check out this platform.

[1:32:09] Amanda Flynn: Well, I think a couple of things, I think we have tons of information on our website. The SANS website, our entire curriculum is laid out there. The curriculum map is laid out there as far as like what you take every semester and it's even plugged in with like an ideal academic. If you came in with nothing, you know, that can change, but like it is all laid out there on the website. You can get a lot of information on the SANS website, just about SANS in general and about the shows. And so I think those are really great resources. You know, if you come to New York City, come and do a tour, even if you're a freshman, sophomore, junior, if you're going to come to New York for vacation or something, come and take a tour.

Why not? You know, it'll give you a sense of the school. But we also have a student run Instagram page. The Pace Musical Theater on Instagram is run by students. And so that's a great way to, you know, that's a great way to sort of see what alumni are up to, to see what shows we're doing, programming. We have student takeovers, all sorts of stuff there. So that's a really great way to sort of get the student connected side, right, from the student's perspective. That can be, you know, really, really helpful there. And then, you know, if you see one of our students on Instagram, you know, send them a message that you're, you know, interested in Pace and you have a question, you know, don't send them 10 questions, but like, send them be like, I'm just curious, like, what's your favorite thing about whatever, either the curriculum or favorite thing about being in New York, whatever one question you might, our students are really generous.

They really are generous. And I guarantee you, they will get back to you and, you know, connect with you there. They're so eager to talk about the program and they're the best way to learn about it. They can talk about it in ways that I never will be able to. With the exception of one student who we're gonna have to bleep out their name because they're about to get a thousand questions of how to go to school for free. They're about to get a thousand Instagram DMs. You'll notice I didn't give a last name.

[1:34:01] Charlie Murphy: Exactly, very smart, very smart. Amanda, this was so fun to get to reconnect. And thank you so much for the time today. I really appreciate it.

[1:34:05] Amanda Flynn: Yes, yes, yes.

[1:34:19] Charlie Murphy: Oh boy. She is smart and articulate. Am I right? And I honestly mean, this is like the greatest compliment. It's just an odd thing to tell someone that this is the greatest compliment about themselves. But she reminds me a lot of me in many ways, especially like verbally, you know, she's got that ability to hold a lot of complicated information and like disseminate it quickly without necessarily actually rambling. And as someone who I think, I think I do that pretty well. I really appreciate that in others. It does. I will say it takes a bit of work as a listener. I know. And certainly because I make other people do this when I talk that you have to like be able to take it all in when it's delivered quickly and especially in long form, especially if there's a bit of a weave in it and it can be pretty condensed.

I think a lot of people who talk as quickly and as much as we do, I'm saying me and Amanda might repeat themselves a lot, but often we don't. I've noticed she doesn't and I don't do that. And so it can make it a little trickier for you. If you're someone who was listening to this episode, you know, while you were doing a difficult chore or while you're on the treadmill, you know, maybe this is one that you should listen to while driving or washing dishes or something that's pretty mindless. So you can really focus on all that quick content. Let me know if you were on a treadmill doing during this episode and you didn't catch it all. You can put that in the rating review or leave it in a comment or whatever.

I do, by the way, I do enjoy thinking and hearing about all the different places that you all listen to these podcasts. It's really fun when you share with me. I always listen in the morning on dog walks or I listen right before I fall asleep at night or whatever it is. A lot of you will say in the car or traveling in some way. There's something so intimate about the first thing in the morning or right at the end of the night. But all of it, I'm here for it. I love it. I'm glad to be part of this intimate parasocial relationship with all of you. OK, let's dive into some takeaways. I know this has been a long episode already, and I've got a lot of takeaways because a lot of episode. What are we going to do?

The first one was just I'm really glad we got to have that conversation about working in school. We did a bit of it in the Jesse episode too, but I thought this was a really nuanced and good version of that conversation. And, you know, I think you can hear that Pace, and many of you would know this already, is really unique and has just a different tenor than other schools do in the way they approach it, not that they're wholly different, but that it is a distinct and different approach often. Right. But then also, Amanda gave you some of the limits of what we mean when we say working in school. That doesn't mean that it's just like completely willy nilly and at least understanding their philosophy and their educational approach behind it as well, because when you hear it in rumor form or people, the way people talk about Pace, sometimes they go a little too far.

They don't quite encapsulate it, I think, as well as Amanda did. You know, it is definitely different than other schools and I say than most schools that are really going to actively discourage work while you're in school. Again, not that other schools wouldn't allow you to take a semester off or take a year off if you did book something, but they're not going to encourage and actively help you the way that Amanda is talking about. And then it's also on the other end, this is also different than a school like you heard in Norwalk's episode where they would actively encourage you like, yeah, the whole point is get you working. I don't care about your degree, get your work and let's get you out there, right?

Whereas Amanda does talk about, hey, I'm trying to help you graduate. I'm trying to help you work and also help you graduate. So just a slightly different order of priorities and I thought that was encapsulated pretty well in the conversation, not really a lot I need to add in the takeaway, but kind of this is a unique version of it in the landscape. So anytime we have that, I want to make sure we zero in on what is actually unique, since so many of these schools really, a lot of their programs have a lot of similarities. I also just want to quickly touch, we talked in the episode a bit on that conversation about city campuses and I feel like maybe it's the way I phrase it, but Amanda was really trying to emphasize the idea that like, hey, we do have a campus, which of course I understand it is true, you know, like there are some schools that have literally zero campus, like maybe everybody lives within one building or it's even a floor of a building if it's a really small school and that's not the case with Pace.

I mean, they do have buildings and the feeling of a campus, but I do think for people who aren't from New York, the idea of what a city campus is when it's New York can really have a different feeling than what you might be picturing, right? This isn't something that's so unique to Pace necessarily, as it's really a New York schools thing in general, you know, when you're talking about NYU or Marymount or any of the other New York City schools as well, I would say some of the uptown schools can feel a bit more campus-y when you talk about a school like Columbia, right? But still a bit more is what we're talking about, only slightly more campus-y and certainly different than some of these other cities, right?

But when you talk about those downtown schools, right, which Pace and NYU, those are both schools that are really downtown, the difference between a city campus when you talk about New York versus Pittsburgh or Boston or, you know, whatever kind of beautiful city campus you might be picturing from, you know, images of the social network or whatever it is that you have in your mind of like what a college city campus is, it's a significant difference when you talk about New York, right? With all of these, you're still in a city and the city is your campus, right? You know, we're talking about a city school as opposed to a rural or suburban school or even like a big state school, that kind of thing.

But with some of these cities, you know, there really is a pocket that is basically all Carnegie Mellon students and this pocket of Pittsburgh, which Oakland, which is like kind of a part of Pittsburgh, but it really, it's like Pitt and CMU take over all of Oakland and there really are campuses, there's a quad, there's a lot of buildings all together, it's sort of encapsulated and you feel like you're at Carnegie Mellon, right? Which is certainly the image I have of like Harvard, though I haven't, you know, toured Harvard, but that same thing we talk about like some of these.

[1:40:13] Charlie Murphy: Welcome back to Mapping The College Audition. I'm your host, Charlie Murphy, and today we continue our deep dive into Pace University with Amanda Flynn, the Program Head of Musical Theater. Amanda, it's great to have you back.

[1:40:43] Amanda Flynn: Thank you, Charlie! I'm excited to be here and share more about what we do at Pace.

[1:41:13] Charlie Murphy: Let's dive right in. One of the things that sets Pace apart is its unique position as a city campus. Can you explain what that means for students?

[1:41:43] Amanda Flynn: Absolutely! Being a city campus means that our students are immersed in the vibrant culture of New York City. They have access to professional opportunities, internships, and performances right at their doorstep. This urban environment enhances their education and prepares them for the industry.

[1:42:13] Charlie Murphy: That sounds incredible. How does Pace support students in balancing their professional work with their academic responsibilities?

[1:42:43] Amanda Flynn: We encourage our students to pursue professional work while still valuing their education. Our faculty is very supportive, and we work with students to create schedules that allow them to take advantage of opportunities without compromising their studies.

[1:43:14] Charlie Murphy: That's so important. Now, I've heard you mention the idea of not over-analyzing what happens in the audition room. Can you elaborate on that?

[1:43:16] Amanda Flynn: Sure! It's crucial for students to focus on doing great work and letting the process play out. Over-analyzing can lead to unnecessary stress and self-doubt. We encourage students to trust their training and instincts.

[1:43:18] Charlie Murphy: Great advice! What about the concept of Early Decision Auditions? What should students know about that?

[1:43:20] Amanda Flynn: Early Decision Auditions are a commitment. Students who choose this route should be confident that Pace is their top choice. It can be a great opportunity, but it also means they need to be prepared to make that decision early in the process.

[1:43:22] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for clarifying that. If anyone has questions about the college audition process, how can they reach out?

[1:43:24] Amanda Flynn: They can email you at mailbag@mappingthecollegeaudition.com. We're here to help!

[1:43:26] Charlie Murphy: Perfect! Amanda, thank you so much for joining us today and sharing your insights about Pace University.

[1:43:28] Amanda Flynn: Thank you for having me, Charlie! It's always a pleasure to discuss our program.

[1:43:30] Charlie Murphy: And to our listeners, thank you for tuning in. We hope you found this episode helpful as you navigate your college audition journey. Until next time!

[1:53:57] Charlie Murphy: Welcome back to Mapping The College Audition. In this episode, we continue our deep dive into Pace University with Amanda Flynn.

[1:54:27] Amanda Flynn: Thanks for having me back, Charlie! I'm excited to continue our conversation about what makes Pace unique.

[1:54:57] Charlie Murphy: Absolutely! So, let's dive right in. One of the things that sets Pace apart is its support for professional work while still valuing graduation. Can you elaborate on that?

[1:55:27] Amanda Flynn: Sure! At Pace, we really encourage our students to pursue professional opportunities while they’re in school. We understand that the industry is competitive, and gaining real-world experience is invaluable. However, we also emphasize the importance of completing their degree. Our faculty works closely with students to ensure they can balance both their professional commitments and their academic responsibilities.

[1:55:57] Charlie Murphy: That’s a great approach. And what does a “city campus” mean for students at Pace?

[1:56:27] Amanda Flynn: A city campus means that our students are immersed in the vibrant culture of New York City. They have access to countless theaters, workshops, and networking opportunities right at their doorstep. This urban environment enhances their education, allowing them to learn not just in the classroom but also through real-life experiences in the city.

[1:56:57] Charlie Murphy: It sounds like an incredible experience. Now, I know many students tend to over-analyze their auditions. What advice do you have for them to help them focus on doing great work instead?

[1:57:27] Amanda Flynn: I always tell my students to focus on the work they’re doing in the room rather than getting caught up in the outcome. Auditions can be nerve-wracking, but if they concentrate on delivering their best performance and enjoying the process, they’ll find that the results often take care of themselves.

[1:57:57] Charlie Murphy: That’s such a valuable perspective. Now, let’s talk about Early Decision Auditions. What does that entail for students?

[1:58:27] Amanda Flynn: Early Decision Auditions are for students who are certain that Pace is their top choice. By applying early, they can receive their admission decision sooner, which can alleviate some of the stress during the audition process. However, it’s important for students to be fully committed to their choice, as Early Decision is binding.

[1:58:57] Charlie Murphy: That’s an important consideration. Thank you for clarifying that!

[1:59:27] Amanda Flynn: Of course! I think it’s crucial for students to understand all their options and make informed decisions.

[1:59:57] Charlie Murphy: Absolutely. So, as we wrap up this segment, what final thoughts do you have for students preparing for their college auditions?

[2:00:27] Amanda Flynn: I would encourage students to be themselves and trust their instincts. The audition process is about finding the right fit for both the student and the school. So, be authentic, do your best work, and remember to enjoy the journey!

[2:00:57] Charlie Murphy: Wise words, Amanda. Thank you so much for joining us today and sharing your insights about Pace University.

[2:01:27] Amanda Flynn: Thank you for having me, Charlie! It’s always a pleasure to talk about our program.

[2:01:57] Charlie Murphy: And thank you to our listeners for tuning in. If you have any questions about the college audition process, feel free to reach out at mailbag@mappingthecollegeaudition.com. We’ll see you next time!