<p>BIG THANK YOU to everyone who has replied to my query about summer theater camps, and specially to doctorjohn who so graciously continues to share his priceless insider perspective.</p>
<p>Dancersmom, like you, I feel that doctorjohns observations validate my original instincts with respect to the summer programs. Intensive summer programs are undoubtedly extremely valuable for students who receive no training during the school year. But after reading the comments posted thus far, I feel that in my daughters case she will probably do fine without attending an intensive (and expensive) summer program.</p>
<p>I asked for input because after reading so many postings about the various programs attended by some kids year after year, I was beginning to feel that perhaps we had been remiss in not sending our daughter to theater camp and maybe should start researching options for this summer. I was anxious to get an idea about the background of the kids attending so that at least I could try to determine whether the programs should be considered essential for someone like my daughter who is being trained at school on a daily basis and also takes supplementary private lessons in areas not taught at school.</p>
<p>Dancersmom and alwaysamom you both indicated that your daughters did not attend intensive summer programs. However, both girls did receive training during the school year. Since both of your daughters are currently attending top rated MT college programs, and obviously doing well in them, I have concluded from this small (and admittedly unscientific) sampling that a student who has been trained, can forego the intensive summer programs. Accordingly, I should not obsess and second guess myself. (Kidding about obsessing. I am among the most laid back and calmest persons you will ever meet and definitely would not obsess over summer camps!! )</p>
<p>Dancersmom, you asked me what does it mean to be well rounded? Well, for starters your description of your daughter tells me that she is well-rounded. You have said that she writes poetry, enjoys art galleries, loves opera and ballet, is academically gifted. And I cant help but wonder if you are describing my daughter. Are you sure that you are talking about yours? You only left out Flamenco and politics. LOL! I bet my daughter and yours would get along famously if they were closer in age and in school together! So In response to your question, to me a well-rounded theater kid means a student whose interests extend beyond just wanting to perform and who also has high regard for non-theatrical pursuits whether they be academic, artistic, political, sport-related or whatever else. </p>
<p>Just had to add a quick note...on top of everything else, my D had a car accident yesterday and totaled her car. Thankfully, she walked away scratch-free. My D's first audition is on Nov. 5 at Elon and we will be at OCU on Nov. 19, flying in on the 18th. Maybe we will see some of you there!</p>
<p>LexasMom...I am so grateful that your D is ok and I am sorry you had to go through what must have been a stressful phone call that no parent wants to get!! Thank God she is ok. A girl in our state who my D is friends with and is currently in a show with, who is also applying to all these BFA programs, fell asleep behind the wheel on her way home from rehearsal last week and hit a pole and the car rolled onto its side in a ditch and she is also going to be OK though they feel if she had had a passenger in the car on that side, they'd be dead and thankfully my D did not ride with her that day. These situations are heart and eye openers! My D is putting in her 40 hours of drive time with her permit and that very day when she was driving, I was lecturing her on the seriousness of this responsibility as I did not like how she was driving that day and then we learned of her friend's accident and did that bring the point home or what??? </p>
<p>I owe a post here for two reasons...one is that we did visits to Emerson and Boston Conservatory a week ago and I should write those up for you guys who are so good about that. Secondly, there were some questions posed on posts while I have been away that I could have answered and have read through them all but am backlogged on so much stuff right now. I hope I get back on here soon to do those things. I have enjoyed what I have read here from when I was away (also was at parent weekend at Brown for other D and saw lots of performing arts events, as well heard Dustin Hoffman). </p>
<p>Thank you for your reply and concern. I do think the accident was a wake-up call for my d, who has been driving over a year, but had gotten a little complacent about it. Please do post about your visits to Emerson and BoCo. My D has appplied to both, sight unseen, based on the reputations of the schools and programs. Tell us what you thought. My D thinks she would love Boston. Anyway, thanks again!</p>
<p>Question for those who have been thru the audition process. On letters of recommendations from teachers (both consevatory & academic) do they have to be originials? This may be a dumb question but if you ask the same ones for letters I would think it would be difficult writing for all the colleges applied for. Are copies allowed? Thanks from just learning about the ins and outs of auditions.</p>
<p>Dramatica,
I think that all caring parents do a certain amount of second guessing and even obsessing - I know I've been guilty at times. It means that we care about our kids. We just have to be careful that we don't go overboard worrying about whether or not we did the right thing. All we can do is try to be "good enough" parents. I'm sure that all the parents who post here are "good enough" parents, or they wouldn't be here! </p>
<p>There are many ways to get the training necessary to do well in MT college auditions. My D has acquaintances from our area who are attending Michigan, NYU, the Boston Conservatory, Syracuse, Baldwin-Wallace, and Point-Park. One student had 10 years of intense ballet training, no actor training, and a couple of years of voice lessons. Another began taking dance class once a week as a H.S. sophomore, had 3 years of voice lessons, and did a two year MT program at CCM prep. All of the kids had some training before their college auditions, but it's a pretty mixed bag of skills that they worked on in H.S. My D is the only one of the bunch who did intense dance, voice, AND drama training throughout H.S. As someone else said in an earlier post, most kids entering college MT programs are not "triple threats". Most are outstanding in one or two areas and have some skill in the third area, though I know a couple of kids who are okay singers and actors who barely dance at all who got into good programs. </p>
<p>Good luck to your D as she progresses through H.S. It won't be too long before she'll be preparing for her college auditions. I know my D's H.S. years seemed to fly by. I hope things are going well with the house repairs. It's no fun to be living in a moldy house!</p>
<p>Lexasmomkbj,</p>
<p>I'm sorry to hear about your D's car accident. Thank goodness she wasn't hurt. Tell her to break a leg at Elon and OCU.</p>
<p>Did anyone else hear about the student at Boston Conservatory who died of hepatitis this week. They have all staff and students on antibiotics now. Scary.</p>
<p>I am sorry about the car accident, too, Lexasmomkbj. All the best to her for her upcoming auditions.</p>
<p>I strongly suggest that you send original recommendation letters. The heading of the letter should be personalized with the appropriate name of whomever the letter is to be directed to. Never take the chance of appearing to take a shortcut with addmissions or with a director. If you make copies of the letters it will come across as generic.</p>
<p>When my sons approached their directors or teachers for letters of recommendation they gave them lists of the schools along with addresses and person to direct the letter to. Most recommendation authors have their letters saved to disc and if you should add another school to your list they certainly would/should be pleased to alter the letter to accommodate your Ds or Ss request.</p>
<p>Thank you to all who have expressed concern over my D's car accident. We are doing fine (except for the lack of a vehicle and my D's extremely busy schedule) and gearing up for her first audition next Friday. Thanks also for the "break a legs"...I will pass them along to my D who will be so appreciative of your thoughts. We will keep you all posted about the audition experience.</p>
<p>The sad story from BoCO reminds me that a long time ago there were postings about the quality of dorm rooms at some of these schools. I am wondering if the dorms there were mentioned--it seems to ring a bell with me, but maybe I'm remembering wrong. Since the boy was vaccinated for meningitis, it seems to me that overcrowded dorm rooms and the sharing of bathrooms by too many students could lead more readily to disease. One more thing to consider in our search for schools. Susan, did you see the dorms at BoCo?</p>
<p>With this sad story, I thought it might be worthwhile to re-post this information for those who perhaps were not around when we last discussed it.</p>
<p>I posted regarding dorm rooms at BoCo last February. My D was not thrilled with what she saw. We were shown a small room in a beautiful old brownstone that was shared by 4 girls. The 4 beds in the room were bunked, but even so it looked very crowded. The bathroom, which had one sink, one toilet, and one shower, was shared by 9 girls. We were told that this was typical for housing at BoCo. </p>
<p>I do not want to leave anyone with the impression that housing at BoCo led to the violin student's death. All students who live in communal housing are at risk for meningitis. If you think about it, theatre students who are sharing dressing rooms and are in close contact with each other in acting classes are likely to easily share viruses and bacteria of all sorts, regardless of their living arrangements. The best thing, IMHO, is to have your child vaccinated.</p>
<p>Thanks, Dancersmom. I totally agree about the vaccination and the dangers in the theatre. A good living environment would be good, though. Hygiene makes great medicine.</p>
<p>All you Californians: Does anyone know anything about the Fullerton theatre festival that's held every fall?</p>
<p>Lexismom--Both my S and D went to Camp Bravo, 5 years apart. They both loved the experience and would have gone back if not for other commitments (actually D hopes she can go next summer depending on college). There are many opportunities to learn and express oneself and both felt that the program helped them develop their craft. Being outdoors is an added bonus. Many campers are returnees, but you never feel like an outsider because everyone is an actor. </p>
<p>mtmommy--I don't know anything about a Fullerton theatre festival in the fall, but I do know there is one every spring. This year it is Mar. 11 and 12 and ITS festival is Mar. 17-19. Both my S and D attended these. D will be attending both this year if we can fit it in with auditions and everything else. I haven't found a website for Fullerton, but if you want I can check with our drama teacher.</p>
<p>Fosselover--I did find the Fullerton festival website, thanks. Yes, it's spring and my D's new drama teacher wants to take the kids there. They've always done DTASC, but he thinks the freedom in entries, focus on fidelity to the script, and more qualified judges will be better. Can you give us an idea of what it's like and what we need to know (i.e., do the kids need food, blankets, chairs to make a "camp site"?)?</p>
<p>mtmommy--If memory serves, the kids are too busy to need or use a "camp site". They've never taken chairs, blankets or food. But that doesn't mean that some parents haven't taken care of things. I will check with D and get her feedback.</p>
<p>I would also like more info on the Fullerton Festival. We plan to take our kids also this year. We plan to go to ITS festival too. It sure would be nice to meet at these events if possible.</p>
<p>Wct--It would be great to meet at the Fullerton festival! What is the ITS festival? I'm still reeling from the thought of trying to fit in the Fullerton festival with Shakespeare DTASC, senior-directed plays, the spring musical, and the fact that Dance Production is supposed to be on at the same time as the Fullerton festival (we also have that quick time out for Hawaii choir festival and New York trip at Spring break--;)). How do other kids do all this stuff?</p>
<p>Another question I had about Fullerton (for Fosselover) is wondering if moms and dads can sit in on the various rounds? At DTASC on Saturday there were 5 parents with our group (all with kids in the musical entry :)) and we were the only parents I saw sitting in all day. We are even allowed to videotape. Since the turnout of parents is so small, it's probably never been a problem, so they allow it. But since Fullerton is such a humongous festival, do they allow this--or do moms (and dads, she wrote hopefully) just (wo)man the "camp"?</p>