<p>Has anyone received notification of acceptance into OCU Summer Musical Theater. I know the final deadline was April 10 and we're just waiting to see if my daughter gets in. She was on on the waiting list after the second deadline.</p>
<p>My daughter received her acceptance e-mail just last week - for Summer Session 1. We were just wondering if there were any other Georgia kids attending?</p>
<p>I'm going to be counseling this summer at the camps and I super excited to meet all of your students!!! I don't really know much about how its going to be run myself, but I'll try to answer any questions you all have.</p>
<p>DD leaves for OCU tomorrow morning (has to be at the airport at 5:40am!). Anyone else on their way? Since this is her second year going, I have a feeling I may not get as many phone calls as I did last year :)...but I will try to post updates when I get them.</p>
<p>As a mom of a daughter who will be a first-timer at this camp (session 2), I will be looking forward to your updates!! :-)</p>
<p>DD arrived safely and was thrilled to be "back home" as she called it. She arrived earlier than most kids (11am), so she got to unpack leisurely and set up her room. She had a mishap with some liquid spilling in one of her suitcases, so she got to go ahead and use the laundry facilities the first day! (the student puts money on a card and then the card is used to pay for the washer/dryer..I think she said its 75 cents per load and the washers are not that big).</p>
<p>Cokesbury is a very nice apartment style dorm facility. She says she is in a four bedroom apartment with 2 baths (nice, since last year it was 4 girls per one bath! and they each have their own bedroom) and a small living area and kitchen in each unit. </p>
<p>The "activities" did not start until 4:45pm, so two of the counselors took them (I think it was only 3 or 4 kids that were there early)to McDonalds since lunch was not really part of the planned day. </p>
<p>That afternoon they went over the "rules," ate dinner and then Dr Herendeen gave a "lecture" on auditioning. </p>
<p>Today brunch was at 11am, then they had their theory placement test and dance leveling. Auditions for Sweeney Todd began at 2pm. D said that they were going to have a two hour dinner tonight and then call backs are from 7pm to 11pm. </p>
<p>Sounds busy already!</p>
<p>Another thing...the list given to the students says to bring trash bags, shower curtain and toilet paper. You will definitly need these things plus probably paper towels and a small wastebasket (for those driving or for those parents traveling with their child those things could be bought at a store nearby). D was flying by herself, so she could not bring ALL of those things on the plane, of course. Luckily her roommate had the shower curtain (we had forgotten that one).</p>
<p>Well, I heard from my D at lunch yesterday (and not since then :)). Yesterday they had theory, acting and dance classes in the morning. The afternoon consisted of a MasterClass and then Sweeney Todd rehearsals began. She said they could start signing up for the Cabaret performances (either Fri or Sat nights the kids dress up and perform MT selections for each other and the faculty). I'm not sure if she said sign-ups were available for the Saturday electives yet. She said that she was having a great time and was very happy. :)</p>
<p>PS: Am I the only one with a child in Session 1? My D said there were about 40 kids present.</p>
<p>TXKatsmon, My D is in Session I. This is her first time attending OCU's summer MT program, but it sounds like she is having a blast. She says she really likes the faculty and the classes have been great. I'm enjoying reading your posts as my D hasn't called home very much, and when I do talk to her it's like pulling teeth to get any information out of her . . . so thanks for the updates!</p>
<p>TXKatsmom, thanks for posting the updates....they are very helpful. When the kids sign up for the cabaret night, are the pieces they choose "first come first serve" as they sign up, or does staff work with the kids with what they've brought from their repertoire and advise them of the best piece to perform?</p>
<p>KidLuvsMT, I'm glad your D is having such a great time. I think part of the reason they aren't calling as much (besides not having much time) is that they have a "stricter" cell phone policy this year, according to my D. It would be a complete distraction if the kids were texting all the time and calling home for more than a few minutes, right? Last year I was in complete withdrawal mode by not talking to my D. This year its a little easier. (It has to be...college is only one year away! :))</p>
<p>new<em>at</em>this, I think that the pieces are "first come first serve" for the "informal" cabarets and I don't think that the staff works with them (I'll ask my D to be sure, though).<br>
The final cabaret (the one for the parents) is different, though, in that the staff does work with them and "assigns" each kid a part (whether its a duet, trio, or solo within a group song). The exception would be that the "leads" in Sweeney Todd do not perform in the parents' Cabaret. I think that the lead roles are rehearsing their songs during the time that the rest of the kids are practicing for the final Cabaret. Does that make sense?</p>
<p>Yes, thanks, that makes total sense. I don't think that we realized that there were 2 separate cabarets!</p>
<p>Was reading through and thought I may as well join in. I have a son there now for first session. He's mostly enjoying it. Says the director is amazing.</p>
<p>Hi JaysMom...Welcome! :)</p>
<p>I have a daughter in Session 1 & have gotten a little correspondence from her. She is having a great time meeting everyone & says the show is going to be fantastic! The schedule is hectic & said when they return to the dorms at 11:00, they have a short period of time to get ready for bed, & then they're so tired, not much else that happens.
I have a question...at the end of the session, do parents get any kind of feedback regarding child's strengths, weaknesses, which discipline could benefit from more concentrated training to prepare for MT College auditions, does the child demonstrate potential, etc.?</p>
<p>Talked to D today. Today was actually the first MasterClass as they have been needing the prior afternoons for extra Sweeney Todd rehearsal time. (D says that Sondheim's lyrics/songs are more difficult than others). </p>
<p>She said that today's Masterclass was w/Dr Herendeen and she was able to perform her uptempo choice for auditions next year and got great feedback of her strengths/weakness and on acting the song. She said that one of the upcoming masterclasses will be with Florence Birdwell and she's hoping that she'll get to sing her ballad choice for her (not all kids get to sing in every masterclass...but by the end of the three weeks each kid should have at least a chance..or more to sing in at least one, I'm assuming). Dr Herendeen definitely told the kids whether or not he thought the song choices were good or not or if they suited the voice/kid (in his opinion, of course). D said all the kids were taking tons of notes. </p>
<p>D confirmed that the informal "student cabarets" are not coached or assigned and they are this Sunday night and next Sunday night. The parent Cabaret is the last night of the session and the pieces WILL be assigned and worked on by/with the faculty. </p>
<p>4MTDTR, last year there was no formal feedback for the parents such as you described above. I think the atmosphere is very open though, in that your D could very well ask Dr Herendeen/other faculty those exact questions on her own and most likely get very honest answers.<br>
Also, if you are attending the Dinner/Cabaret/Final Performance, Dr Herendeen was there last year mingling with everyone and seemed very willing to speak with any of the parents. My husband and I spoke with him last year and he's a lovely person.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information. We will encourage her to try & get feedback. If they don't like your song, will they help you find another, or are you on your own? My daughter brought 12-15 songs that vary in style but she hasn't really participated in MT instruction at this level, so I hope she gets some help in picking another song if she doesn't have anything appropriate. We will attempt to speak with someone at the 7/4 cabaret. I asked, because I feel like it would be very helpful to know how to plan for the next year & a half before auditions start. (She will be a junoir next school year) I was hoping after spending 3 weeks working with our daughter, we would have someone, that actually conducts college auditions, give us a "status" report & help us by making recommendations.</p>
<p>They don't give "report cards" to the kids and the mingling time at the final cabaret definitely isn't the time to ask for individual critiques, in my opinion. Truthfully, your daughter will have a much better idea where she stacks up against the other kids in all three disciplines by the end of this session. The great thing to me about these types of programs is that they really give the kids--and parents--a reality check! My D attended OCU last summer after her freshman year and is going to BTP this summer. She loved OCU and it is a nurturing environment. At BTP this summer, however, she'll see not only fellow high school students but college age kids who've been accepted into programs such as Boston Conservatory, NYU, Syracuse, SHSU, OCU, Otterbein, Elon, UArts, and Miami. It should be an eye-opening experience!</p>