I graduated The George Washington University in 1998 with a BA in Dramatic Literature, plus three minors in English, Theatre, and Creative Writing. (You can read my review of The George Washington University - Overall.) The English Department was wonderful, but the Theater Department left a really sour taste in my mouth. If you are looking for a school with a terrific theatre program, this is not the place for you.

Sex Offenders Anonymous
That's right, loyal readers. The Theatre Department at GW is notorious for professors getting away with harassing students, etc., and not facing any sort of repercussions. For example, while I was in school, one of the professors impersonated a cop and pulled over 2 young girls. The asked to see his badge, and he gave them some sort of shady story, so they called the police to verify his "position" with the department. When the police said they didn't know who he was, the girls gave his license plate number and the cops arrested him. He still works at GW. Two of the professors there have married their students, not to mention are known for sexual relations with several of them. Most recently, another theatre professor was forced to take a sabbatical from GW for some sort of sex offense. Rumor has it that the married professor kissed one of his students or told one of his students that she could have a part in a show (Arcadia) if she slept with him. I don't know which story is true, but don't you think it's sad that this man only got a forced sabbatical? He is known for this sort of behavior.

As Supportive As An 18-hour Bra on It's 23rd Hour
As I said earlier, I majored in Dramatic Literature. I was also quite active in the Theatre Department, but didn't major because of personal reasons. At the end of my junior year, I got engaged. At the beginning of the second semester of my senior year, the engagement fell apart. The chair of the Theatre Department called me in for a mid-year meeting, and asked me what I was going to do once I graduated. I told her that I was going to move back to New York and take a stab at acting. She leaned across her desk, took my hands, looked me in the eye, and said, "That's very noble of you, Candice, but you don't have what it takes to be an actress." Thanks a lot. Believe it or not, this is the exact thing that she told Alec Baldwin, so I guess I shouldn't take it to heart. Besides, when I got back to NY, I landed a bunch of roles in regional theatre, not to mention a couple of films.

Their Students Pass Them? NEVER!!!
This sort of goes with the above segment of support. It's funny with the professors in the theatre department. They will help you get work in the theatre department, as well as the clubs they run. But, if you ever do something on your own, they completely freak out and stop talking to you. Once you get famous, they claim that they helped you with everything you know. (For example: Scott Wolf and the professor that "taught him everything.") They have a set of unspoken rules, and if you cross them at all, you will be made a pariah of the department. Trust me. I know this from experience.

What's Theirs is Theirs and What's Yours is Theirs.
If you go to GW for a Theatre degree, don't expect to get credit for anything you do. If you do something positive, the professors take credit for it. If you do something that they have no control over, say write a full-length play, they accuse you of plagiarism. You can't do anything on your own in their world. Whatever you do is all because of them.

Luckily, Not All Professors in TRDA Are Like This
If you do not heed my warnings and go to GW anyway for a Theatre degree, make sure that you take classes with Alan Wade, Elizabeth Kitsos and Naomi Jacobson. They are the best professors in the entire department. Stacy Wolf is more of an English teacher, but she also teaches some cross-over classes in Theatre. (I highly recommend her Gender & Literature class.) Sure, a degree from GW looks good in any subject. Only you know the true quality of what you're receiving. In my opinion, as well as the opinions of other students in the department (past and present), GW is not the place to study for your BA in Theatre, Dramatic Liture, or anything else that has to do with the Theatre and Dance Department.

You're probably wondering why I went there in the first place. Initially, I went in as a Political Communications Major. My major changed several times, until landing on Dramatic Literature. I didn't want to transfer and risk losing credits.



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