Thanks for all the great information. My daughter H.S. Junior and was accepted and looking forward to the 3 week program. She will be flying in and I was unsure how to get all of the stuff she needs (does not travel light). Amazon will be a great idea. I was also unsure about the conclusion of the program and will need to figure logistics of plane tickets or driving out to get her for the pick up. We are about 10 hours away.
Thought you’d like to see some successful summer program alums! From the OCU Summer Program Facebook page:
We want to give a HUGE shoutout to not one - but TWO - Summer Music Program alums making Broadway debuts this month! Molly Rushing in “Anastasia” and Elliott Mattox in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. We couldn’t be more proud of these two amazing and beautiful humans!!
(They both graduated in MT at OCU also!)
Does anyone know how many kids they accept to the 3 week MT program and how many kids to the 2 week vocal arts institute?
@BrdwyBnd I just read about this on their FAQ page. Apparently, they don’t have a set number of kids, but rather a set talent/skill level that they look for. They adjust faculty/staff levels to keep the class sizes small. We just became aware of this program, so my D just got her application in yesterday for the 3-week MT program. It looks like the 3rd deadline was March 31st, with no 4th deadline listed, so I’m not sure of her chances. Have you auditioned for the 3-week MT program?
My D has been accepted to 3 wk MT and 2 wk vocal arts. I would just call and ask what your chances are. They are super nice. I have called several times!
Congratulations! It sounds like an awesome program! I really wish we found it earlier. My D auditioned for Pace back in early March, but we still haven’t heard anything yet. I think I’ll take your advice and call. It’s nice to know they’re approachable. I hope your D has a great experience! Thank you!
I emailed them and got a reply from a work study student, stating there may not be any more openings in the 3-week program. She suggested that we consider the 2-week program, but that conflicts with our schedule. Fortunately, my D was notified yesterday of her acceptance into the 3-week program. She’s VERY excited, based on all the great reviews. Thanks for your time and advice!
Hi there. I got distracted! We are from Pittsburgh.
About how many kids are admitted to the 3 week program? How many guys attended last year?
@bird1002 , my D attended the 3 week camp last year and will be attending again this year.
Last year there were 56 total students in the 3 week program, 11 of which were guys. They double cast the leads/supporting roles in the musical, and the students who are in the ensemble of the musical are featured in the cabaret show, which is performed as a dinner show right before the musical.
Hope that helps!
@muttsandMT , thank you for the information! I really appreciate you and the others who have taken the time to share your experiences.
My D will be attending the 3-week MT program this summer and is very excited, but somewhat anxious at the same time. Her dance is relatively weak, so she’s a little concerned about keeping up. I noticed they don’t need tap shoes, so do they focus on jazz and ballet? Since they don’t require a dance audition, are there a fair number of girls who are not exceptional dancers?
Also, do the kids double cast get to perform in the ensemble on their off night?
Lastly, I’ve read nothing but positive things about the program, and based on my D’s overall positive experiences with MT kids in general, I assume there is a lot of mutual support among the kids, but was this what your D experienced?
Thanks again for your time!
@StageDad311 , tell your D not to worry at all about dance. On the second day of camp they test the kids for placement in their dance and music theory levels. The dance program has 3 levels, and I believe the music theory classes have 2. The vast majority of the kids are in the beginning music theory class…my D said that the advanced kids were VERY advanced, and they were kids who were, for example, extremely talented and experienced at playing the piano.
As far as dance goes, it’s definitely my D’s weakest area as well. She only started taking dance 2 years ago, and she was placed in the intermediate level dance classes. She said there was a pretty even split of kids among the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels, and that she didn’t see that dancing ability affected casting at all, with the exception of one character and two featured roles that required excellent dancing ability. As an aside, I’m pretty sure that OCU’s MT program doesn’t require a dance audition when you audition for the university, so I’m guessing that they’re a school like CMU and a few others that feel that they can teach you to dance if need be.
Re: performing on their off night, I know that the boys who were double cast did…last year they did The Pajama Game, and the roles of Sid, Hines, and Pop were double cast, but Prez and Hasler weren’t. Babe, Mabel, and Gladys were all double cast, but I don’t think they performed in the ensemble…I know that my D served as a dresser/backstage helper on her off night.
As far as the kids, faculty, and staff, I don’t think you could find a more welcoming and supportive place. Our D said that all the kids there were extremely kind, hardworking, and supportive. She made several close friends while she was there that she has kept in contact with all year (one of whom actually flew out and stayed with us over a school break), and I made friends and kept in contact with several of the parents too. And what was nice as well was that even though some of the kids are returning campers (like my D will be this year), they are still extremely welcoming of the newcomers. 
And of course all of the kids love Dr. H, the director of the show and of the MT and Opera programs at OCU.
Hope that helps!
@muttsandMT , Oh, that helps a lot, thank you! My D read your reply and the first thing she said was, “FANTASTIC!” OCU definitely seems like a great fit for her. I know my wife and I certainly feel better about leaving her for 3 weeks. We’re from Illinois, and our D will be a rising junior, so hearing so much positive feedback is very reassuring.
It’s encouraging to know that dance isn’t weighted heavily for casting. I know some programs emphasize dance, and it’s so nice to know that it’s not the top priority at OCU.
What an amazing experience your daughter must have had last year performing in The Pajama Game with so many talented kids, all passionate about musical theatre. The bonding I’ve seen between theatre kids is truly special; they are awesome people. We’re excited for our D to have this amazing experience, as well.
Thanks again for your time, and would it be okay if I PM you if we have any specific questions as we prepare?
Have a great weekend!
@StageDad311 , of course! Feel free to PM me anytime.
Hello @TXMTMama I am a two year camp alumni… I’m not going this year but I’m pretty up to date with the summer program rules and everything. We are not allowed to leave the campus for any reason, the counslers are the only ones that leave. The sonic instance was a prize for a competition (that my hallway actually won lol). There is a card that you have to use if your child want to copy sheet music, it’s called a star card and I highly suggest putting money on it because it’s a great resource to have while there and it’s ten cents per page while copying. If you have any other questions just let me know! I loved it there and I hope your daughter does too!
We just arrived home last night after picking up our D from the 3-week camp. Words really can’t describe how incredible this camp was! Our D texted us after the first week that she was transformed, feeling like she was a completely different person. We are so grateful to @muttsandMT for starting this thread and providing so much information, as well as their friendship. It was such a pleasure to meet you and your sweet, amazingly talented, daughter during the final performances!
If your S or D is serious about MT, and eager for an intense college experience, then you can’t go wrong with OCU. Although the curriculum is intense and the schedule full, the faculty and staff are very kind and compassionate. They want your child to succeed and are there to help them every step of the way. Check out their Facebook page and YouTube channel:
https://www.facebook.com/OCU-Summer-Music-Programs-160877910613867/
I hope you all will share your experiences on one of the main pages of the musical theater forum as so many people don’t check the school specific threads. OCU has so much to offer but I feel like sometime I sound like a broken record when I sing its praises. Would love for some of you all to tell your experiences so others will know put OCU on their list of schools to consider!