Best Rigorous/Inexpensive Summer Programs for Actors/Musical Theatre Students?

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

*HELP REALLY NEEDED!!! If someone could take the time to help me it would save my summer or even maybe my whole career! Thank you!!

Hello, I’ve been looking all over this website all year for information on different summer programs to apply to! It’s been insanely helpful! Now that lots of summer programs deadlines are really soon I really really need any info anyone has. The hard part is it’s extremely difficult to judge for me which programs are best.

I live basically in the middle of nowhere with not even an acting class (even a bad one!) within two hours of me. I’ve known I wanted to perform for the rest of my life since I was about 11, and I’ve especially gotten interested in acting, even though musical theatre is definitely my passion as well.
I am dying to be a professional actor right now, but unless we move (which I highly doubt would happen), it is absolutely impossible. It’s really pretty soul crushing to want this so much I feel like I’m just exploding all the time, while I know lots of kids with half my passion have been getting weekly lessons and are being in sitcoms and things.

Regardless, I’ve had lots of health problems the last few years so I couldn’t participate in any summer intensives until FINALLY this year I can! I’m a current sophomore, rising junior, and 16 - which seems to be pretty versatile because a lot of programs maximums and minimum ages are 16!

It can’t be more than 3/4 weeks though, and my parents said it couldn’t be more than $2000. Which I know is pretty ridiculous as far as summer programs go, but I don’t have time to have a job so I’m not really sure what I could do about that. We don’t qualify for any scholarships I’ve looked at. I think as long as its not more then $3000ish that could work as long as its a really great program.

Since no one in my town even remotely cares about performing let alone rigorous technique, I have no one to ask about summer programs! I feel like I really need more information. I’ve been searching up every program that exists, but I really would like maybe some direction.

I am primarily involved in musical theatre, but have recently gotten much more interested in acting (specifically on camera, which I have never done and have absolutely NO experience in and I would love), and I really want to learn everything I can about Meisner, as well as comedy.

The main point is I really need technique and training, so less performance-based overall and DEFINITELY not at all juvenile. I’m fine with a 16+ program, but often they don’t supply boarding because most of the people there are full adults. That’s been a problem because I definitely need boarding as there’s no summer programs I’ve found that I could drive to every day.

Plus I would love to engage with actors my own age I’ve never really done that before! But it cannot be juvenile and watered down I want it to be intense and I want so much to learn every single thing I can! A program that an average aspiring teen actor might think is too full/intense! And of course they have to still be accepting applications. I’ve found a ton of programs I love but whose application fee is nearly $500! That is of course impossible unless I knew that was the only program I would want to go to, and I don’t think I can do that for any program since I can’t tell which would be best for me!

I REALLY REALLY NEED UNBIASED REVIEWS OF THESE PROGRAMS based on how desperately I need training if you could! Here are the programs I’m considering but really would need to speak to someone who actually attended it/has information about it given how much I really need this training (especially focused on acting OR possibly improving not so good singing technique-wise)

  • Wagner SMTI (applied, but it is not focused on acting)
  • Interlochen (applied for waitlist, but it is not focused on acting)
  • AMDA (I hear such mixed reviews about their summer program. Really - how is it? Is it rigorous or more laid back? Are you taught real technique? I'm getting the sense the students aren't but then again my drama teacher highly recommended it! Not the school but the SUMMER program. And is the ACTING summer program good? Or should I apply for voice but concentrated in musical theatre?
  • AADA (American Academy of Dramatic Arts) - (I REALLY like this based on the info I've heard, but I haven't heard hardly anything! The youth program goes UP to 16, like it's the maximum age. So I can't help but think the youth program would be very juvenile. But it really does look amazing. The adult summer programs go up FROM 16, no age limit. That sounds more rigorous to me I'm assuming, but I don't know if it would be weird for me to be in a class with mostly people that might be my parents age, I mean since the classes last all day for weeks. Plus I don't think they bring you things like food, and I wouldn't have access to a car. PLUS on the website it says there is boarding but I contacted them and they said there is no boarding - which sounds strange since they say most students come from all over - and that I need a parent with me - which I think would be impossible since the program is four weeks.)
  • Broadway Artist Alliance (about to apply) - (This looks really great for musical theatre training, and they CAN provide board which is good, and it's about the only one in my price range, but again I really really do need just acting training especially in Meisner!)
  • UCLA - (This sounds good but I have absolutely NO information on the actual training so I'm not sure what to do, I can't even find that much about the school itself!)
  • Triple Threat Boston Conservatory (I have NO information on it but it sounds good, but I'd rather be in a larger city plus it's not completely focused on acting)
  • TPAP (The Performing Arts Project) - (I've heard lots of great things about this.)
  • Young Actors Camp - (Their description sounds amazing but I've also heard once that it was a scam? I just really need training it sounds great but it has to be professional and not very juvenil.)

I’ve looked up but have no reliable info anywhere on: the Relativity School, Broadway Dreams Foundation (quality training?), the Actors Space West, Maggie Flanigan Studio, and more.

Here are the programs I absolutely loved but have an insanely high application fee so I could only apply if they were my only option which is unlikely:

  • SOCAPA (I really really love how this sounds, but I just don't have any info on how rigorous it is. Plus there's a non refundable $500 fee so I'm not sure what to do)
  • UNCSA (This program looks like exactly what I want, it just looks insanely amazing, but again there is a several hundred dollar application so this would have to be my one shot, and I'd rather be on one of the coasts, plus two teacher recommendations which I don't know where I could get from because I currently have no teachers or old ones that I could contact. It's possible, just a bit messy.)
  • Northwestern Acting on Film (I LOVE the sound of these programs, but it has a pretty expensive application fee and getting a teacher recommendation would be very complicated for me - plus I haven't heard that much about THIS specific program, it's not just the general acting program, so even though I love it I just don't know what to do)

But I’m really open to any suggestions anyone has given my ramifications! Please please read this I really need help and the clock is ticking down please and thank you so much for taking the time to read this ANY information is welcome thank you!!!

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Of the things you listed: TPAP is very well respected. Generally speaking, programs at colleges are solid - so even though I don’t know much about the ones you listed, it would seem Wagner, UCLA (question, you can’t find info about the school- it’s a REALLY well known university) Boston Conservatory, UNSCA and Northwestern should be good. I have to say, the Northwestern one confuses me- is that part of the Northwestern Cherubs program? Because Cherubs is for rising seniors - so you wouldn’t be eligible yet, and would hate to have you waste $$ applying.

If it is acting training you are looking for- you might want to took into programs/schools that are known for acting rather than MT. I know Boston University and Rutgers both have summer programs, and that Rutgers in particular is a Meisner based program. I do not know length or cost. But that brings me to another idea. Given that deadlines are looming and you are not certain what to do - would it be valuable to work/save this year and do an intensive next year? Another advantage to this is that many programs have financial aide and/or scholarships available- but you might need more time to pull that together.

Hope this helps

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You’re not in NY state are you?

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@toowonderful Thank you so much for taking the time to respond! I don’t think the Northwestern one is part of the Cherubs program, I found it on their film making summer intensive site.
http://nhsi.northwestern.edu/film-and-video/acting-on-camera-concentration/
And yes I’ve actually really been looking into rutgers I just don’t know how we’d pay for it but it REALLY looks perfect! Also yes we’re definitely going to save up more money for next year especially since that’s when college auditions are - but since I’m already a rising junior I’d only have the chance to go to one high school summer intensive and I would just hate that because there’s dozens of ones I’ve seen that look incredible!

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@lovetoact Ugh sadly no not even close! I’m in the midwest with a bunch of cornfields around me haha!

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@futureactress19 Oh, too bad :frowning:
NYS has a subsidized 4-week residential intensive in the summer, so it’s not quite as expensive as private programs are. Maybe your state has something like that even if it’s not in your own town?

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Hi. Sounds like you’ve done a lot of good research. Here’s another program to consider: the University of the Arts in Philadelphia has a pre-college program that runs 3 to 4 weeks. My D participated in the MT program last summer after her junior year and had a fantastic experience. It is somewhat less expensive than some of the others we looked at and does provide housing. My D was offered admission to their BFA program for the fall based on her summer work, without having to audition, which was a real plus. She is currently deciding between UArts and Pace. Let me know if you have any more questions for me.

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Take a look at the Stage Elements Program at University of Minnesota’s Guthrie. It is shorter than most programs and therefor much cheaper. https://theatre.umn.edu/theatre/elements

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My daughter found out today she was accepted into the Wagner Summer MT program. It was the only one we could really find that didn’t conflict with a vacation we have planned for July 4th week so it’s the only one she applied to. NYU also worked for dates but at $11,000 for the month we didn’t end up sending in the application. If she didn’t get into that she would have done AMDA.

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You might want to check out the excellent, affordable Shakespeare and Young Company in Massachusetts. My son did it and it was life-changing.

http://www.shakespeare.org/education/shakespeare-young-company-summer-conservatory

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Is there a state or community college near you that offers acting classes over the summer?

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The Stratford Festival in Canada offers a 2.5 week summer theatre intensive for $3400 Canadian, which is $2652. This includes rigorous training, room, board & the excellent shows at Stratford. There are two sessions. https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/Learn/K12Students/ShakespeareSchool For those not familiar, Stratford is an extremely well regarded festival, featuring Shakespeare & other excellent shows, also including MT. https://www.stratfordfestival.ca

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^^^My D did the Stratford summer program and talk about life-changing. Wow. Absolutely amazing program: they get to see every show in repertory during their time, intense Shakespeare training, stage combat. Just a stellar program.

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I will second, and third, the program at Stratford. It is a fabulous program in a beautiful town that is steeped in theatre. Terrific training, wonderful connections, and being able to see all of the shows is an added bonus. You must be at least a junior at the time of application, though, and the deadline is long past. Perhaps keep it in mind for next year. The Stratford Festival is North America’s largest repertory theatre festival and the busiest, and most successful, Shakespeare festival outside of Stratford-on-Avon.

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And I’ll add that the Stratford program is not one that shows up on resumes a lot and my D was asked about it in almost every interview.

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@marg928 Thanks for the info! I applied to Wagner too but haven’t heard anything back yet. I’m a little wary though because I do want to focus on acting especially, plus voice too. I was looking at AMDA because you can still apply now, but I haven’t heard anything super extraordinary about it. I was looking at the acting program for the summer because I wouldn’t want to just do voice, but I couldn’t find any great info about it specifically!

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@astute12 sadly no! there is a college and one community college but neither of them have any youth summer classes I’ve contacted both of them. I know its pretty strange but neither of them have very good acting programs especially not as a focus so I guess it makes sense!

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@futureactress19 It seems I was mistaken and my D was not accepted Wagner’s SMTI. I received three emails from them in a row last week and one was a registration confirmation so I assumed that meant she was accepted. I got an email from the director the next day that she is first on the waiting list. We’re in the same boat right now…AMDA is still a possibility but I don’t know if it’s worth $4000. There’s also Broadway Artists Alliance that has summer programs but they don’t arrange room and board for you.

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@marg928 ya I also applied to BAA but I havent heard back from them either! they dont have board but they actually arrange it for you somewhat so that’s nice. I just don’t know if I want to do it because I’m somewhat trying to focus on acting more! Would it be too unprofessional to email them or Wagner and ask when we will hear back because I have been emailing both of them somewhat informally and I am a little worried that maybe they didn’t get parts of my audition materials! But also yes I’m not sure about AMDA either but I think since it isn’t too intense but it is that expensive we probably won’t be able to do that.

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at this point I wouldn’t count on Wagner @futureactress19. I received an email on 4/15 telling us that my daughter is first on the waiting list. Another parent on this board got a personal phone call on 3/25 telling her that her daughter was accepted (she didn’t get in last year). I’m surprised they didn’t at least email you and tell you either way. They seem a bit disorganized to me.