<p>Yes I have certainly learned alot here at CC. My pocketbook is a little poorer today (writes check to SDM) but my daughter will be alot richer for the experience!
Let me know if you want the tape.</p>
<p>Oh my i am soo excited about all the Stagedoor stuff on the web..... Its soo crazy that there are topics on this site......hehe I am glad i was researching college stuff or i would have never found it....this is great...anyways i am a camper from SDM so if ya'll have any questions feel free to ask ....alrighty </p>
<p><3 Nikki</p>
<p>oh do you have a copy? of the Documentary? oh my .... :) is it possible i can see it too ?? If not maybe you can hint where you got it ....hehe I would love to see it...alrighty well let me know</p>
<p><3 Nikki</p>
<p>Nikki, hi. don't think I know you but it's cool you found your way here ;-). I think Angstridden was talking of the camp promo video often sent out to prospective campers, NOT the documentary film entitled Stagedoor that was shown at film festivals. There is no way she'd have that one ;-). My D is IN the documentary film and we have not even seen it. (I've seen the promo camp video, however, that Angst is referring to because I believe it is even on the website; we just do not own it cause when we first looked into SDM, it was back in 1997 and the promo video was different back then and honestly it was very bad and thankfully we did not judge the place on the marketing strength of that video....though the new one is a big improvement). </p>
<p>Are you going back to camp this summer? The producer/director of the DOCUMENTARY film, "Stagedoor", told me that they will find a way to show campers this movie this summer and I hope that happens. I know folks who have seen it (who traveled to the film festival) and told my D about the specifics but it is not like it is released to the general public. </p>
<p>Just not to confuse other readers, this is NOT the same as the movie called CAMP. And well, ALSO NOT the same as the promo video for the camp that Angst is talking about.</p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Nikklam--how old were you when you first went to Stagedoor? Have you been going for a few years?</p>
<p>Nikki....if you come back to this forum....just wondering which sessions you go to SD or how old you are because I am wondering if you and my daughter know one another. I don't wish to post her name here but if you mention your session, I can mention her show or something like that. Let me know if you are going back. She is going back just for first session but usually goes first/second, though many years ago went second/third.
Susan</p>
<p>oh I thought I struck gold with the documentary....oh well i guess i will have to wait like everyone else .... :) .... Yeah my Dad told me that he thinks i am in it too ....so oh course i want to see it ...you know to prepare myself for any embarassing things i did (gosh i wish someone warned me about being childish...hehe) ...Its exciting ...and scary hehe.....anyway moving on I went to SDM for 3 years ....first 2 years were sessions 1 and 2 and last year i went to SDM sessions 2 and 3. And this summer i am going back for session 2 ...YAYYYY i am soo excited....I wanna go home ....hehe...oh I started going to stagedoor at the age of thirteen ....umm what else..... oh yes..Susan I definately know your daughter ...I sent you a pm ....ummmm what else ...hmmmm well i think thats all ...okay...talk to ya soon</p>
<p><3 Nikki M</p>
<p>Nikki, I had posted above before seeing your private message ;-). I read your lovely letter and am moved by your thoughtfulness, truly. I still could not figure out who you were until I went up to my D's room (and she was on the phone with a certain boy you know from SDM!) and showed the letter to her and she then told me who it was and I was like, oh, yes, NOW I know! She also thought your note was extremely kind. </p>
<p>Ya know, your Dad has shared his photo collections from shows with me the past couple of summers online. Of course I have seen you in OTC and other shows like Grand Hotel. I am sorry your path will not cross with my daughter's this summer as she is only going first session....cause while she is just 16, she is graduating and going to college, yikes, and well, she also needs to make money this summer (and has created and will direct a KIDS Cabaret and program.....that influence from OTC ya know). </p>
<p>Maybe we will see ya cause my D wants to come down to the Catskills for the 30th Anniversary bash/event. I don't know if kids who are in attendance during second session get to go but she'll be an alum at that point, lol and we'll try to get there for this. I thought she said good bye on that sad day last summer but alas, she cannot pull away and is going back for one last time this summer.....like ya say she is going "home".
Susan</p>
<p>Umm they told me kids in second session would be going to the event.
Do you know what the event will include?</p>
<p>Susan is right Nikki, I dont have the documentary I have the promo tape they send out which has Susan's daughter in it..(And Susan you are welcome to this tape just PM me)
We also purchased CAMP to get a feel for what the area is like..but really couldnt tell from the movie.</p>
<p>I was also told they would be showing the documentary to campers, if they were able to get it.</p>
<p>Angst,
I don't know exactly what will go on at the 30th Anniversary event but am sure that many alumni would be returning and there would be performance oriented things going on. This likely will also involve a tribute to Carl Samuelson, the founder and owner of Stagedoor, who unfortunately passed away within the past two years. There had been a big tribute to his wife, Elsie, previously in the Catskills where alum returned but this is a bigger event, I believe. </p>
<p>I think they likely will try to get a copy of the documentary to show at camp this summer. The producer/director had told me so. Afterall, it was filmed during second session 2003 and many kids were in it. This film is more the story of the program. The movie, CAMP, is not a realistic picture of it. It is, however, filmed on the premises and thus all the backdrops are what it is like (except NO lake like in the film and no boys in girls' rooms like in the film). I can say from having a kid in the program, that she'd say that the movie, CAMP, is nothing like what it is like. There are several themes in that film that are not indicative of the true experience. </p>
<p>Thanks for the offer of the promo tape. I may even have it, can't recall. It is on the program's webpage, so I have seen it. My kid was only like 13 in those clips. I even saw a quickie view of her doing the cold reading audition and she was even younger in that. There was a brief scan of the curtain rising on dancers in 42nd Street....she was one...and also in the Cabaret performance. There is a little clip of her saying something about going to Stagedoor....and she looks so young in it to me! ;-) Time has flown by! </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>My D. is going during second session. I hope they have a good general all around program and not focus mostly on the anniversary otherwise she wont get the full benefit or do you think it wont matter?</p>
<p>I would assume there will be a lot more kids returning since it is the anniversary. It will be quite an experience.</p>
<p>BTW did your D. decide where she is going to school next year? I have not been able to keep up with all the posts.</p>
<p>Angst, I can assure you that the Anniversary event on July 24 will have NO bearing on the actual camp program. This event is not even AT the camp. It is just one day. It is aimed more at alumni. No, more kids won't be returning to attend camp this summer cause it is an anniversary. The kids signed up for camp this year are like any other year....some new, some old. Most of my D's friends from prior years are not returning at all (many just graduated high school and did not opt to return). The anniversary event is totally unrelated to the camp program. It is completely separate. I don't think anyone would sign up for camp with this anniversary event on the 24th in mind. I think some of my D's friends will return to the Catskills to attend the 30th anniv. event at Kutschers, but are NOT GOING to camp itself this summer. Think of it more as a reunion that is taking place during the summer and of folks of all ages returning to attend that celebration on THAT one particular day. If they bring current campers to see it, that is neat too. But otherwise, I can't see it affecting the camp program at all. If anything, it could in a positive way because there are many alum who are working professionally in the theater world and I bet if they make a trip to the Catskills for the anniversary bash, they might opt to come by the camp and do a workshop or speak. I mean even any other summer, alums or speakers come to give workshops or talk to campers. For example, Julia Murney (known on Broadway) or Michele Federer (in Wicked) who have gone to camp, came last summer to work or speak to kids. Imagine if many folks like this make the trek to Loch Sheldrake, they would return to visit where it all began....</p>
<p>This reminds me of the lines in a Sondheim song that traditionally are sung as the final piece in the Our Time Cabaret.....(forgive me if I get a word or two of it out of whack as my daughter is not home, apologies to Sondheim): </p>
<p>"Years from now,
We'll remember and we'll come back,
To this theater, and hang a plaque:
This is where we began,
Being what we can." </p>
<p>I know you are concerned about the number of returning campers but at every camp, SDM included, there are always some kids who have gone before and always some who are brand new. SDM has a mix in that regard. They always have new campers room with new campers. Everyone is new at some point, ya know? The only difference I can even fathom is that during second session, there are campers new to the camp but who stayed over from first session as there are many who go for six weeks too. I told you my 16 year old niece is going for the first time this summer. My D's local boyfriend went for the first time last summer after tenth grade. If anything, my own D's group of friends for the most part won't be back at camp. Only her friends who are going into 12th grade will be back. There is always a "turn over" at camp when one set of old timers leaves and in this case, I can think of numerous old timers who will not be back this year. </p>
<p>My daughter has decided to attend NYU/Tisch/CAP21 for a BFA in Musical Theater. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Fabulous Susan..you must be so proud! And I bet she is over the moon.
I am not sure what my D. will do..she does not want to attend Berklee for 4 years though she may do the summer program there next year.
And she does not want a classical voice major.she would rather major in Musical Theater than classical voice. She still has time to think about it. So thats good.
Not many schools for budding pop people!</p>
<p>Dear Angstridden ,
Hey your inbox for Pm's is full so let me know when to send my reply...alright talk ta ya later</p>
<p><3 Nikki</p>
<p>Do you all think the $150 they recommend is enough for 3 weeks? </p>
<p>Thanks all!</p>
<p>"Do you all think the $150 they recommend is enough for 3 weeks?" </p>
<p>It is definitely enough. Actually I had to check the forms after reading your post because it was $100 the past few summers and so I guess they upped the recommendation so I only know that the $100 was already enough the prior summers so you are fine. Your child does not need money hardly ever. What the canteen account is for ....snacks/drinks during recreation block, trips to the movies, cast photos, soda machine....not much more than that. They refund any money your child does not use. I guess you could send in $150 and I am sure she will be fine. I have gotten a refund back most summers. But I'll tell ya, when you come on performance weekend, be aware of other optional expenses like videos of shows and logo items. Just giving you a heads up. No need, however, to send more than $150 for three weeks, I'm positive. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Thanks Susan!</p>