Nonetheless, discussion of the utility of professional training in as a North American artist can’t really happen outside of the context of his critique i suppose. Even if he did START A THEATRE SCHOOL!

The mercury thing was pretty Mamet vintage though so he’s still got it….

Education issues aside, I think you’re alluding to a much larger and more serious issue among actors and the greater artist community: poverty. More specifically, our acceptance of it.

Why is it artists believe that they must accept debt and impoverishment in order to be successful? Why do we put our life on hold while we attempt to acheive some sort of greatness? It only leads to misery.

There’s a quote about artists must suffer for their art. Which may be true. Most people don’t realize that the quote continues on to say that one must ensure that the suffering should be as brief as possible. (… er, I’m paraphrasing here…)

I am certain that my brother and sister and I had a better time at the Raptors game in the nosebleeds than many courtside attendees. The question is deliberately ridiculous and in general I think our education system in Canada is a model of affordable excellence. It is a blessing

Daisey’s Ponzi Scheme has more merit in its analysis of the economics of a corrupted system that is funded by young artists going into massive amounts of debt because they have learned that it is the only/true way to pursue their craft. That being said, you CAN learn a lot in these programs.

The Canadian system and the American system are like apples and oranges. You need to do an MFA in Acting in the US just to get the equivalent conservatory training from the National Theatre School or the University of Alberta’s BFA program.

I’m totally proud of our education system — even more so because it’s more affordable than US post-secondary, to anyone who has the talent and the dedication to pursue the craft. I think those should be the only determining factors in choosing who should get to attend the programs.

Don’t you?

In the mind of a 24 year-old recent BA holder looking to train for a career in the theatre, there are some disparate options regardless of their funding levels though. I am conflicted in my own response to this as an American MFA holder in the midst of a Canadian system seem to be a much better deal for artists…