Anyone have any experience with the one week HS summer MT program in NYC with Open Jar Institute? Certainly looks fun and potentially great exposure but expensive for only a week.
My son was accepted and attended the program in the summer of 2016 (just finished sophomore year). It was a great experience with working Broadway professionals. Everyone involved with this program from the director to the interns to the chaperones were so incredibly positive and kind at every step. They work on audition pieces, get feedback on their resume/headshot, learn several dance combos from broadway shows, do a mock audition (which you can witness) for a broadway director, and end it all with a showcase.
It was expensive both in tuition and in travel costs as I chose to go with him rather than having him stay in their housing which had 4 kids to a room and a chaperone for every 8-12 kids. That said, the tuition includes tickets for four shows and 3 meals per day. If you choose to travel with and stay with your child, they have a “lost boys” chaperone who takes all the kids not staying in the group housing and helps to get them to shows, dinner, home from the studio, etc. which allows you to go to a different show or restaurant if you choose.
All in all, it was a fantastic experience, and I am sad we are not doing it again this summer. (Son was accepted, but he is doing a show that conflicts with the timeframe.) That said, we have not done other summer intensives so I don’t have much to compare to. Let me know if you have specific questions.
@speezagmom thanks! Other than cost I guess I am concerned about its selectivity. Not because I need affirmation of my son’s talent (though that is always fun!) but because a lack thereof would suggest this is primarily a business enterprise. Your positive comments help allay my fears though. Did your son feel challenged by the training and was he impressed by his peers? Feel free to PM me.