ADA Students
Students were recruited nationally through auditions. The Charter Class were selected at auditions in New York, and Chicago as well as on the OU campus, but later on auditions were also held on the West Coast.
In the first few years, 70% of students came from out of state - a percentage that declined to less than a quarter by 1975-1976.
The vast majority were mature students: they already had some college experience, and ages ranged from 20 to 23.
These students came to OU because they wanted more than the theatre programs at other colleges, which had less emphasis on professional training, and they were not deterred by the challenging job prospects in the acting profession.
The presence of the Meadow Brook Theatre was a huge draw, and some graduates went on to work there.
