4 years ago
As an institution of higher learning, this college...
As an institution of higher learning, this college isn't a bad choice. My review isn't about the entire school, or the school as a whole; this review is merely my perspective based solely on my experience working there from 2015-2019. As the Director of the Theatre Program, I was repeatedly disappointed by the lack of interest in the theatrical arts here. The people in charge of activities would constantly toss the drama club aside. I would literally show up for rehearsal, and be told that another activity was happening in the auditorium and my rehearsal would have to be canceled. One time, an activity was scheduled on a Thursday night just before Opening Night of my show! Talk about feeling marginalized and unimportant. The idea of this being a big deal was foreign to the Activities Coordinator, but if I felt marginalized, how do you think my student/actors felt? My first year there was phenomenal and the play that I wrote and directed was a SMASH HIT! As my time at Thomas moved along, I began to realize that most of the students are just too busy with trying to pass their classes, and can not handle extra curricular activities of the artistic nature. In 2019, no one showed up to join the club, no one showed any interest in acting at all. I even tried to adapt the program and make it a Comedy Club, to no avail. My take away is that Thomas is not a bad place, but if you're interested in the arts (at least the dramatic arts) this is probably not the place for you. It's a great business school and has an awesome criminal justice program; however, theatre is definitely not a priority.