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Muhlenberg College has mastered ‘breaking a leg’
Author: Bo Koltnow, Reporter
Published On: Sep 01 2016 06:16:41 PM EDT

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The dancing and moving inside a Muhlenberg College acting class may look like classroom chaos.

But it’s a serious acting technique to make it to the stage, At Muhlenberg College’s Theater Program.

For the second time in four year, the Allentown college’s theatre program has been ranked the country’s best by The Princeton Review.

“I think it’s because of the program and the way the faculty challenge their students to think critically,” senior Alan Mendez said.

Chair of the theater and dance department Beth Schachter says that critical thinking is fostered away from the stage and in the classroom.

“Range of rigorous scholarly exploration. Dramatic literature, feminist theory. We’re trying to keep everyone’s horizons as wide as possible,” Shachter said.

That includes attracting top acting instructors. NYC acting coach, Larry Singer comes to Muhlenberg twice a week to teach, and has been doing it for a decade.

“The fact that I’m able to have a lot of freedom and pass that onto my students,” Singer said.

Students Jake Parisse and Emma Stieger are both from LA. Each say the school’s top ranking played a part in them enrolling in the college.

“I think it will definitely give me an edge in the audition room,” Parisse said.

And for an actor you can’t ask for much more than that.