<p>I have a very dear and talented friend who is extremely eager to do a musical theater intensive this summer. However, she does not come from much means and would not be able to afford it. Are there any programs on or near the east coast that could provide her with a great quality training but that would also be very affordable. She is a sophomore in high school, so will be a rising junior next summer.</p>
<p>I see that you are in VA. Is your friend as well? Has she looked at the summer governor’s school programs?</p>
<p>Governor’s Schools are a great option! I auditioned for mine the summer of my sophomore year (was an alternate, but not needed) and my junior year (was accepted for 2 areas - had to choose one). The program was three weeks long and held at a University. Some of the best teachers in the state provide the instruction. The program was entirely free (room/board, food, classes, guest artists, field trips)! It was an amazing experience and I loved everything - especially the exposure to all the other art forms and guest artists. The program directors and the teachers created a real supportive artists community and I met some great friends who live all around my state. Some states charge a nominal fee, but mine doesn’t. I plan to volunteer at alumni fundraisers to help future students have the same opportunity I did.</p>
<p>Definitely look at Oklahoma City University’s musical theater summer program. It runs two 3 week terms, is on the lighter side of expenses, offers discounts for enrolling early, and offers scholarships. It is also a remarkable program!!!</p>
<p>^^^ (Hi Christie2!) OCU is also offering some different options this summer. From their website:</p>
<p>PROGRAM INFORMATION 2012</p>
<p>Program length: 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 5 weeks</p>
<p>Session dates:
Two week session: June 23 - July 8 <strong>NEW</strong>
Three week session: July 7 - July 29
Five week session: June 23 - July 29 <strong>NEW</strong></p>
<p>Cost:
Two Weeks - $2,300
Three Weeks - $3,400
Five Weeks - $4,800</p>
<p>The NEW two week program will feature all the same training that our High School Music Theater program is known for - classes in the morning and afternoons and rehearsals in the evening. The program will culminate in a musical theater revue of solos and ensembles rather than a fully staged musical.</p>
<p>The format of the three week program will remain unchanged and will culminate in a fully staged musical. Casting for the musical will not be held until students check-in for the three week program.</p>
<p>Students who enroll in our NEW five week program will participate in both the revue AND the fully staged musical. Participants in the five week program will not audition for the musical until the third week.</p>
<p>UArts has a great 4 week summer program. The cost is $4220 including tuition, housing and meals. The program does offer scholarships, however, based on demonstrated need along with merit factors.</p>
<p>The Teenage Drama Workshop at California State University, Northridge has a wonderful six-week program with a musical theatre track. www dot csun dot edu slash tadw</p>
<p>Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey has a 5-week program that a friend of my son’s speaks highly of. It’s inexpensive because it doesn’t provide housing! So, if you know someone you could stay with who lives within commuting distance of Union, NJ (it’s held on the campus of Kean University), it’s worth checking out.</p>
<p>The Stratford Festival has wonderful summer programs for students, with one session of MT.</p>
<p>[Stratford</a> Festival - Students](<a href=“Stratford Festival”>Stratford Festival)</p>
<p>Are there Governor’s schools in and around NY state?</p>
<p>New York State’s equivalent to Governor’s Schools is NYSSSA, the New York State Summer School of the Arts. It offers 4-week residential sessions in 7 or 8 different disciplines including Theatre, but not Musical Theatre. For the theatre session, 30 students are selected through auditions held in NYC, Albany, Syracuse and Rochester, held usually in February and March. The program is sponsored and financially supported by the State Education Department, so tuition is quite modest and financial assistance is also available. It is an OUTSTANDING, very intense program taught by professional artists and instructors from highly regarded NYC companies. Google it for more information, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.</p>
<p>For those out west, the Columbia Gorge School of Theater offers a residential program in Portland, OR. You can choose 1, 2, 4 or 5 week sessions. The 4 and 5 weekers put on a full musical. There are classes in acting, dance, voice and “the biz”. The price is reasonable- the 4 week session is under $3500 and the 5 week session is under $4000.</p>