College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) students will travel to both the East and West Coasts during Spring Break (March 9-16) for immersion trips that showcase the wide variety of career opportunities in their disciplines. The trips allow small groups of students to visit studios, theaters, museums, and other cultural institutions as well as meet with industry professionals, many of whom are Syracuse University alumni. This year’s immersions include “Design in LA,” a new offering in Los Angeles for School of Design students.
Students in the Rose, Jules R. and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music will travel to New York City for Setnor’s annual Gilbert Week. Founded by Dennis Gilbert ’73 and Nancy Shapiro Gilbert ’74, this trip is held in a different city each year; past locations include Los Angeles and Austin, Texas. The 2025 Gilbert Week itinerary includes visits to and/or meetings with alumni at Disney Theatrical, Penthouse Recording Studios, Sony, Live Nation, The Orchard, Sondheim Theater, SiriusXM, Carnegie Hall, City Winery, the Juilliard School and Luna Luna.
In Los Angeles, the new “Design in LA” immersion for School of Design students will include tours of or visits to Cartwright, Warner Bros. Studio, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Getty, Skirball Cultural Center, Cosm, ACLA Studio and Petersen Automotive Museum. The students will also meet with alumni working in various design fields.
Department of Drama students will once again participate in the annual Sorkin in LA Learning Practicum, also known as “Sorkin Week.” The Los Angeles immersion features meetings with alumni, including program founder and award-winning screenwriter and director Aaron Sorkin ’83 H’12. This year’s itinerary also includes visits to the Pasadena Playhouse to see “Topdog/Underdog,” The Groundlings Theatre to see “The Crazy Uncle Joe Show,” and Pantages Theatre to see “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” In addition, the students will tour Warner Bros. Studio and visit the daytime television drama “The Young and Restless” as well as meet with alumni in acting, casting, production design, screenwriting and producing.
Syracuse University’s North Hollywood location will serve as the students’ home base in Los Angeles. Recently opened for the Syracuse University Dick Clark in Los Angeles Program, the building includes space suitable for students to meet and network with alumni.
Editor’s note: this story was updated after its original publishing date with images from the 2025 immersion trips.