<p>Hi, I'm new to this, but have been reading cc for a while. I'm the parent of a rising sophomore MT student at a PA highschool. My question is this: a lot of the kids at her school go to french woods in the summer and she has been asking me if she can go next year. Is this a good growing/learning opportuity for MT students, or just a fun camp exprerience? Both are valuble, but finances definitilty matter. We don't have a lot of opportuniuties available in our area in the summer, but her HS provides a lot of great experiences. Any insight into this would be apprecitated</p>
<p>I have a daughter who went to French Woods for four summers for six weeks per summer and was in 8 musicals there, as well as in the dance program. That daughter did not pursue MT in college or as a career. </p>
<p>I think FWF is much more than simply a “fun experience.” Their theater, music, and dance programs are very good. Their productions are typically of a high quality, though there is a mix of talent levels participating (but most leads tend to be quite talented and many kids do go onto top notch college MT programs and careers, but not everyone). I think their casts are sorta large. </p>
<p>I have another daughter who attended Stagedoor Manor for 8 summers (was in theater and dance classes and 16 musicals and 15 cabaret casts), for six weeks every summer. That theater camp is one hour from French Woods. This daughter went onto a college BFA in MT program and has a professional career in theater and music now. Like FWF, many of her peers went onto highly selective college programs and onto careers in the field, but not every kid who attends does so. You could put all of Stagedoor into FWF but not vice versa. FWF offers what Stagedoor offers but offers everything else under the sun besides theater. Not everyone attending FWF does theater, whereas at Stagedoor Manor, everyone must do theater as that is all they offer (plus related things like dance but theater is done by every person). The casts at Stagedoor are smaller, in my observations, than at FWF. </p>
<p>If I were you, I would explore both French Woods and Stagedoor Manor and not just one. But I would do so quickly because I know at Stagedoor, the enrollment for next summer fills up pretty much in Sept and October. FWF is a MUCH bigger camp in terms of enrollment. FWF looks like a camp and Stagedoor Manor does not. Both camps have kids from all over the US and from other countries which is different than the exposure a kid gets locally or at school. </p>
<p>French Woods Festival and Stagedoor Manor are different in many ways, even though both offer fine theater programs.</p>
<p>My D also has been going to Stagedoor for 6 years…she is there now. They learn a lot, and more importantly, make great connections. But, if you are going to consider Stagedoor for next summer, you must get your application in NOW. Soozievt, it has changed since your D left…next year’s app comes out in June, and the camp is pretty full by August, especially for girls. Note that if your D changes her mind by January (check this on the website!) you can get a full refund of your deposit, so no harm done. Bottom line: you cannot wait much longer to apply.</p>
<p>monkey, thanks for that update that it fills for girls in August for the following summer. It used to be that you could not even enroll until September and it filled quickly after that and so this is good to know for those contemplating it for next year. Thanks for the most up to date information!!</p>
<p>thank you all for the info, I’m trying to get my D interested in Stage Door because it sounds like a really good theater experience, but she’s only interested in French Woods because friends will be going there(this would be her first experience away from home). I may register her for both if I can get a refund in a timely manner, and see where she ultimately ends up</p>
<p>mtflmom…just keep apprised of the date by which the deposit can be refunded because at a certain point, it cannot. </p>
<p>I understand it is her first summer away from home and she’ll be about 16 years old, but I will just mention that both of my girls knew NOBODY at French Woods or Stagedoor Manor when they started (one started at age 9 and one at age 11 at these programs, though had gone to other sleep away programs before that). Your daughter will be one of many who know nobody and will have instant friends within a few days. It is a good experience for kids and what will happen most likely when they hit college too.</p>
<p>I checked into both camps for my daughter. You can even get brochures from their websites and at French Woods, they also sent me a DVD of the camp which looks fabulous. There was also a show on MTV that featured French Woods a couple of years ago and it is a legitimate camp. If I remember correctly, they did offer some form of financial assistance whereas Stagedoor did not. Anyway, both of my kids went to a PA arts high school and did get training at school that a lot of kids do not get throughout the year. My daughter actually ended up teaching theatre and dance at our local community theatre during the summer because the costs of the camps were out of the question. Plus, their fees did not include airfare. Everyone that goes to both of these camps love it there and anyone who wants to go and signs up in time can go there. Some kids are extremely talented and some are not. French Woods also has aerial training which is pretty cool. I also believe French Woods is a little less expensive- but not much. Just trying to be objective because although neither of my kids could afford these camps, they both got into BFA programs.</p>
<p>I’ll be the first to say you do not need to attend one of these programs to be competitive for BFA programs! That was never my kids’ reasons for attending. In fact, each daughter chose her respective summer program at young ages. They went for the experience and not for what it could ever lead to. But if you are looking for intensive programs in theater that are sleep away, both of these are truly excellent options. We don’t have performing arts high schools in our state, by the way!</p>
<p>Totally agree soozievt. However, I do think some people may want to attend the camps because they do believe it will give them an advantage to get into BFA programs. I know of 2 kids from my daughter’s school who attended a college summer program because they thought it would give them an advantage and both of those kids were rejected from every MT program that they auditioned for (and that included the college program they attended). My point was that it isn’t really necessary as both of my kids got into their BFA programs without it. I brought this up because the OP was worried about finances and I’ve been there. Believe me, if cost was not an issue, I SO would have had my daughter go to one of these camp and I’m sure she would have had great experiences. It sucked for us but both of my kids found alternatives to keep up their skills and I really think they enjoyed teaching the kids. :)</p>
<p>Believe me, I surely understand that cost is a huge factor. </p>
<p>For those considering overnight theater programs, these are worthy ones. I would have sent my kids to them irregardless of their intended field of study in college and in fact, my older D did not opt to go into performing arts in college at all. For my kid who did go into MT in college and for a career, her summers growing up and doing theatre at Stagedoor Manor were definitive experiences in her life. Perhaps this might be less so had we had a performing arts high school but we don’t.</p>
<p>Yeah, and because both of my kids attended a PA high school, I didn’t feel as guilty about them not being able to go. You’re right though, if your school isn’t a PA school then both of these camps are great! For some kids, summer camp is the only exposure they will get for PA.</p>
<p>My older D went to FWF for 5 summers, my younger D for 9 summers (the one planning to major in MT), and I worked in the office for 9 summers (I attended for 2 summers as a kid). It has been, and always will be, a home away from home for us and is for many of the kids who attend. Soozievt, I thought your comparison very accurate. I believe the quality of the theater program between the two is probably comparable, but FWF campers have many more non-MT options than Stagedoor. There is a lake that offers boating and waterskiing, a pool, magic, horseback riding, all sports, an incredible music program for kids who play or want to learn an instrument, a rock shop for budding pop or rock musicians (Adam Levine from Maroon5 is one of FWF’s famous alums), a great fine arts department including ceramics, woodworking, and video, and a large dance dept. Both D’s connected with Circus, the largest children’s circus in the world. There are 6 periods in the day. Usually 2 are connected with your show. The other periods can all be theater-oriented if you want them to be, but campers are encouraged to explore other areas. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions about FWF.</p>
<p>shaun, I had no idea your connection to FWF! My older daughter really enjoyed her four summers there. I agree with all you wrote above about the camp. People could not believe that we had one kid at FWF and one at Stagedoor and then on performance weekends, we shuttled between the two camps to see all the shows for four summers. But we let our girls pick the program they wanted and each daughter truly picked the best fit. </p>
<p>My older daughter loved MT, and dance, but loved them equally with her sports. At FWF, she was able to be in musicals and dance, but also was on the tennis team and did waterskiing and also did circus a bit. She did not participate in the wonderful music program but played two instruments and did band and jazz band at home. My younger daughter grew up doing sports and performing arts too but wanted to do just theater and dance all summer and that is what Stagedoor is only about and it doesn’t have the other stuff. The theater programs are pretty comparable, but it is all the other stuff, along with the size and setting that differs a lot. The musicals are very good at both camps (and FWF has live orchestras), but the casts seem to be smaller at Stagedoor which is a smaller program to begin with. Like picking a college, picking a summer theater program is about fit. Both are very good programs but differ, and for my kids, each program fit each kid perfectly for what they wanted.</p>
<p>I was a former french woods camper and a returning staff member in my summers. It was amazing experience and amazing fun. I can’t say enough good things about that place. It is truly home.</p>
<p>Most of the kids at Stgedoor are sooooo theater focused that every other activity that they’ve ever had there keeps dwindling for lack of interest. I think they had horseback riding at one time (not now) they had 2 pools (now 1; the other was turned into a theater), tennis has been an option but they are doing away with it next year. There is only one “sports” counselor and everyone jokes that he is the loneliest guy at camp. The pool is used some but my daughter has gone there 4 summers and has only been in it a few times, when it was really hot. The reason is these kids are so hard-core they just want to do just the theater stuff. If your kid eats, breathes, and sleeps theater, this is the camp where they will find soul mates. Do you need it to get into a good college? No. But it has been known to help with connections later on when all these hard-core kids grow up and start working. However if it will take a huge chunk out or your budget, there are other opportunities for training out there that are excellent and a lot cheaper. One of the best experiences my daughter ever had was doing a musical with a community theater, and it was free!</p>
<p>Hello,</p>
<p>My first post ever on CC! This is directed at any parent or student who has experience with the above programs: Stagedoor, Interlochen, French Woods and Oklahoma City University.</p>
<p>-Who (no name needed) was that one staff/faculty/counselor that made your/your child’s MT camp experience rock? Why?</p>
<p>-What was the coolest thing you/your child learned from the camp about your art or yourself as a performing artist?</p>
<p>-What were the 3 things you did NOT like about your camp experience? </p>
<p>Please ID the camp(s) you attended. Thanks for helping us make this big decision to send our 14 yo D from Washington State to a MT camp!</p>
<p>Grace</p>
<p>Camp: My D went to Stagedoor for 6 years </p>
<p>Who: There was no one person. The thing that made Stagedoor rock for her were the many directors, music directors, camp directors, owners, choreographers, vocal teachers, dance instructors, make up artists, counselors, office workers, and other campers. She was finally at a place where she could be herself…she didn’t have to pretend to be someone she wasn’t. She was accepted as herself, was surrounded by people (both adults and peers) who wanted her to be who she was, and everyone understood her. To top it all off, she got to put on shows and be on stage…it was like coming home. In fact, when the kids drive up to Stagedoor after being away for a year, the counselors say, “Welcome home!” And that is where they are. They are home. </p>
<p>What: She learned that it was okay to follow her dreams, to have a passion that is considered weird and old-fashioned and quirky by most other teens. She learned that if you love something as much as she loved MT, she would sacrifice almost anything to do it. She learned to appreciate other people’s incredible talents, to work as a team towards a common goal, to help others be the best that they could be, together. </p>
<p>What did she not like: 1) the food; 2) coming home when camp was over; and 3) the viruses that tend to get passed around among almost 300 physical, loving, close campers. </p>
<p>Bottom line: She grew up at Stagedoor. Driving home this summer after 6 weeks there, she said, “Mom, I would not be the person I am without Stagedoor. I am so glad I found it.” Stagedoor has made her confident and happy and dedicated and passionate and most of all, it has given her a place where she can be herself. The most poignant thing for me was seeing the 10 year old campers approach my 17 year old after the shows, saying, “I want to be just like you when I grow up.” And I remember her awe at the older campers when she was first there, and I realize that it is like the circle of life…a self-perpetuating circle, where the older kids grow and learn and pass the torch down to the younger kids. If your child loves MT, Stagedoor is pure magic. It becomes their home, and it always will be. </p>
<p>Sorry to sound so schmaltzy. But, that pretty much sums it up. :)</p>
1 Like
<p>To monkey:</p>
<p>Just to respond to you (not really answering the query posted)…</p>
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<p>Wow, this is exactly what my kid who went to Stagedoor for 8 summers has said. In fact, one of her many college application essays was on this very theme! She tied it into the song, “Carousels” (from Jacques Brel is Alive and Well…) which she sang in Our Time Cabaret. She thought back to the merry-go-round of growth of her summers at SDM and how when she was just 9 at camp and looked up to the older campers and wanting to be just like them. She wrote about her development over the years and working her way up to leads in the so called “big shows” at camp and getting some of the coveted solos in the cabaret, and how in one class her final summer before applying to college, in an exercise, the students had to put their hand on the shoulder of someone they most envy and she was shocked to have all these hands on her and thought about people admiring her, but then realized she was not yet fulfilled because there were so many more aspirations and mountains to conquer (she was 15 after all) and she talked about setting her sights on new goals to conquer, relating it back to the “carousel” of her life and summers at Stagedoor Manor (not sure I am summarizing this well but I don’t want to post the essay). Your words run parallel to what she wrote and really is a big part of the experience at Stagedoor and my child would also say that this place was a significant part of her development.</p>
<p>Loved your post, Monkey. All the same goes for my daughter. I’m thinking I must know your daughter!</p>
<p>ditto to what monkey and soozie said times 10!</p>
<p>just to add to her comments. my brother was a Stagedoor camper over 35 years ago… and my son, my nephew and now my niece have all been campers as well. The friendships that are made at Stagedoor are not just summer camp friends… they are life long friends.
I have made life long friends in other SDM parents.</p>
<p>one thing he didn’t like?? that is was only 6 weeks long - you are only allowed to go 2 sessions per summer. </p>
<p>I love that Stagedoor will always be home to my son, even now that he is no longer a camper there.</p>