<p>Susan...Thanks for the info on how CAP handles private voice for freshmen. Interesting to see the different perspectives of all of these programs. After reading your explanation, I'm sure this was discussed previously, I just didn't remember it clearly. THANKS!</p>
<p>Hey Sue,</p>
<p>Thanks for resurrecting the "continuing saga" thread for all of us Oldies AND Goodies (and of course for any and all newbies as well). I've missed it and I know it will be fun to keep it going. The topic specific threads are great for hard information and do facilitate searches, but there's nothing like a good old fashioned schmooze.....</p>
<p>I haven't felt like I had much to contribute lately but it is fun to follow everyone's adventures here. Since the discussion has turned to private voice instruction, I have one recent experience to share that made my D's last 2 weeks at school a little exciting. Turns out that her private voice teacher at UM has also taught several quite successful Broadway performers. So imagine the thrill when she walked into her lesson two weeks ago and found out that it was being co-taught by Gavin Creel! He worked with all of the MT students in this particular faculty member's studio that week and then gave them all individual voice lessons this past week in addition to their regular lesson with the faculty teacher. She said he could not have been nicer and gave her some wonderful and instructive feedback. He has remained very close to this teacher, still consults with her and gives her "props" whenever he can. </p>
<p>How lucky are our children? And how lucky are we to have each other to share our stories with. Who else would really, I mean REALLY understand! So good to know you are out there!</p>
<p>Susan - if your d is singing at 9, we'll probably check it out; I haven't asked my d which show she wants to see yet, but I know she really enjoyed your d perform at Stage Door!
She said the same thing about Neverland, that it was written in a much higher key. She's used to the Andrea McArdle version (who really belts it), so my d felt like she did badly since she had to sing it soprano. Her new song is Anyone Can Whistle, which she's heard of, but I have no idea how it goes. Ironically, she can NOT whistle. Lol.
Maybe we'll see each other at Parent's Weekend. I know you'll love Spelling Bee; I haven't seen it, but everyone I know who has loved it.</p>
<p>AAAAHHH! Gavin Creel!!!! I LOVE that man!! My d would have DIED had he shown up at a voice lesson. He was so awesome in Thoroughly Modern Millie. As Napoleon Dynamite would say, "LUCK-Y!!!!!!!" Ha ha.</p>
<p>Rossji</p>
<p>This is one of my all time favorite songs and all time favorite shows (although almost never staged anymore) and one of a select number of easily playable Sondheim numbers - SO MUCH to act and work on in this one! If it is not already in your MT OCR library, buy the concert version with Bernadette Peters and Madeline Kahn. A real treasure. You'll love it!</p>
<p>Theatermom, that is a great experience that when Gavin Creel came back to visit, that he also did some work with the students in voice class. I know he was at their weekly gathering (workshop) there. It is also inspiring for the current students!</p>
<p>My daughter's voice teacher from home, who also teaches half his week in NYC, has many students who are on Broadway and ones who have won Tonys, etc. It is just that they are in NY and she takes from him in VT so does not run into them (just gets to hear the stories her voice teacher shared each week!). </p>
<p>RossJi....This is bad but already I can't think of the name of the musical or song my D mentioned that the teacher gave her for this week. I had not heard of it. I know Neverland was in a soprano type key but she said she felt fine about it which is good to hear because I think for a while she used to not think she was so good at singing really high in head voice and I think she is just more confident now at her upper range than before. She said this new song is definitely not belty either but she does not expect to belt as that is what he said for this semester and so it is a chance to work on all these other areas with more concentrated focus, rather than the balance from before that included both legit and belt songs. </p>
<p>Don't feel you have to fit in N'Harmonics. She says they are very good. But as far as hearing her, I think she has one solo. There are many soloists. It is not showtunes at all. I think my D solos on a song written by David Bowie that Queen did. While it is all popular contemporary music, I think there are neat harmonies and arrangements and she says the other kids are great singers. I think one song you could say is from a musical....Aquarius! She said they will be performing at Georgetown next month. </p>
<p>I hope your D is enjoying school and making lots of friends. I know with the small groupings at CAP, that I am not sure how much they are mixed up or what. Has your D mentioned seeing mine? I just don't think they are in the same "section" and likely not in the same dance. She seems to have met and befriended a bunch so far, plus the ones she already knew. I just spoke with my other D who was there this weekend and she even met many too! She just turned 19 so is not that much older. I may see you if you are going to the Tisch and Drama presentations on Saturday.</p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Susan,</p>
<p>So glad your d got in to N'Harmonics...I know she must be thrilled. Sounds like she sure has a lot going on already! </p>
<p>It's so nice to hear how things are going for all of you!</p>
<p>I lost my entire post when the program froze but here goes again....</p>
<p>It's me again. More to share from my CAP freshman's experiences. I know that there are many on here applying to these programs right now and what it was like last year to be hungry for some accounts of the programs from those in them. I'm not a student so can only relate second hand accounts. </p>
<p>Here I am lamenting how long I have to wait for my D to call to talk to us, and then she calls today less than 24 hours after a newsy call last night, quite unusual. She was walking home from CAP and was just bubbling over with enthusiasm about how great the program is and just wanted to share that along with the day's happenings which just keep adding up to having the time of her life and how it is turning out so far to be in this program. As an aside, she is becoming a New Yorker talking on the cell while walking in the city, Ive noticed, just like we used to observe people when wed visit there! :D</p>
<p>This week during studio they don't have regular classes. I know they have one on one acting conferences and not sure all the rest. Today they had an Improv workshop. Then they had a panel of CAP graduates who spoke and discussed their careers since CAP (on Broadway, etc.) and while I don't recall their names, my D knew who they were and found them to be quite inspiring. </p>
<p>Another tidbit from her day relates to an experience she had a few weeks ago that I never shared. It has to do with a musical being done this fall at CAP (not a Tisch musical) which I believe is an Equity Showcase and it does have professional actors in it though CAP students may also audition for it. I've read of previous workshops of this musical with Broadway actors participating. This musical is The 60's Project (the music is actual music from the 60's, not new tunes) and it is being directed by the Broadway composer/lyrcist/director, Richard Maltby, Jr. (Miss Saigon, Ain't Misbehavin', Baby, Starting Here, Starting Now) and is written by his wife, Janet Brenner. The evening they were holding auditions at the studio for professionals and students a few weeks ago, my D and her male friend, also a CAP freshman, got called into see Mr. Maltby and his wife and were asked to sing for them. She did not know about this ahead of time and did not have sixties music with her but located a song to do in the library (Janis Joplin, in fact!) and performed it for him. Mr. Maltby and his wife had seen my D in Jekyll and Hyde (as Lucy) this past summer and in Nine (as Lilian La Fleur) the previous summer, as well as this friend in Nine, as his own daughter was attending the same summer program. He heard they were at CAP and requested the two kids be brought in to meet with them and sing for them before the auditioners who were lined up had their turn. My D enjoyed her session with them and felt honored. However, she KNEW that freshmen cannot do productions as that is the policy at Tisch. She knew nothing would come of this audition (meeting) because of the policy despite what the director may have wanted. This is fair and to be expected. It was a great experience nonetheless, in what she got to do for them and talk to them and know of his interest in her (and her close friend, too). Then today, when she was passing by the rehearsal of this musical at the studio, Mr. Maltby spotted her and stopped and called her in and told her he wanted to cast her and her friend and had gone to the head of CAP with his request but was not allowed to due to policy which is totally understandable and she never expected anything to come of it. Still, he was hugging her and she said it was just a great experience and she saw some of the professionals who are in the show. Just wasnt her year to be a part of this. </p>
<p>Then, she walked down the hall and right past Frank Wildhorn (who wrote the music for Jekyll and Hyde and other shows). He was there to work with the seniors (more on this in a minute) and they were going to have to sing Wildhorn songs for him. She said how cool that was and how she could only imagine doing that after having performed in one of his musicals very recently. Each week, lately, she has had contact of one sort or another with those in the industry, though I am not mentioning each of the experiences here.</p>
<p>The other thing to make people aware of about CAP ..is a new program in place this year for CAP seniors who want to be in it. I think it lasts a semester. They bring in known people in the industry to workshop with the students, often for a week at a time. Some include Binder Casting and Bernie Telsey Casting, and Frank Wildhorn was another. They work with these industry folks throughout the semester. They then put on a senior showcase for agents and casting people. As they are in these workshops throughout with many of these folks, as well, they get exposure which may lead to opportunities. But every senior will be in this CAP showcase. This is in ADDITION to there being a Tisch showcase but that one is by audition. You can conceivably be in both. The fourth year CAP program with industry workshops and showcase is new. My daughter pointed to it as one more thing that is very cool there as they have access to many theater people right in NYC, in not only this program but when they bring them into direct shows and things like that. </p>
<p>She also told me that her a capella group, The NHarmonics, will be going to perform next month at Georgetown in an a capella type concert. Some members of the group are currently cast in shows but she said that if you get cast in a show, you can take a leave and miss rehearsals and then you are just out of the next concert and your solos go to other members but then you get to return and have them back. She said this was great so that you dont have to give up being in this singing group but can still do shows while in college and do both basically. </p>
<p>She just seemed to be calling gushing about how great it all was there. She reflected back to how last year when we were visiting some other MT programs, there were students at those programs who spoke negatively about CAP to her and discouraged her from going (though they had never attended themselves). We did find it rather odd and at times troubling, that these kids were saying this to her. I cant imagine now (as a college MT student) in reverse her saying that about other programs because she really liked what she saw of the other programs and has no negative feelings about any of them. She remarked that she has no idea why she heard these negative musings from kids outside the program because now that she is IN it, she finds it to be terrific and like a dream come true. She said she is so glad she is there and did not listen to the kids who discouraged her from considering the school (again, these were kids from OTHER programs who said this to her). I did not care where my child chose to go to college and did not have a preference on my end but must say that I am grateful to hear she loves where she ended up and is having such a good and enriching time, full of excitement, as per her call today just to say how cool the day was!</p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Susan,</p>
<p>What great news from your D. It's such an honor that Richard Maltby requested that she and her classmate sing for him. If only she were a sophomore this year! Timing is so critical in life isn't it? Maltby and his partner Shire were at FSU for 6 weeks the year before my D enrolled. She would have loved to meet them, but her audition took place a couple of weeks before they arived in Tallahassee. Many of the upperclassmen still talk about how great they were to work with. I feel sure that many, many fabulous opportunities are coming your D's way. The important thing is, she is making contacts. Who knows when she may cross paths with Mr. Maltby again. I'm glad to hear that things are going so well for her at CAP. Sounds like she is in the right place.</p>
<p>Susan, congrats to your D on having such a wonderful experience so far. It's only the beginning! Funny coincidence, the daughter of a friend of mine is in that production of The 60's Project. Her name is Anika Larsen. There are several very talented actors in it including Chad Kimball, Rodney Hicks, Max Von Essen. I wish I could get to the city to see it but will be there next week and doubtful I'll be back in November. I hope your D isn't too discouraged at not being able to participate in this show. Her time will come. This type of invaluable contact is a very import perq of going to Tisch and eventually it will pay off for her. :)</p>
<p>Thank you for the feedback Kaysmom and Dancersmom. </p>
<p>Dancersmom, Maltby and Shire, during the summer of '04, worked with the kids at my D's theater camp who were putting on their show of Starting Here Starting Now (though my daughter was NOT in that production). This past summer, they put on Miss Saigon and he was there as well. I have not met him and my D had not but we gather he was watching her in Nine and Jekyll and Hyde and in her cabaret production as well. His D was in Jekyll too. His wife, who wrote the musical now being put on at CAP, was sitting next to my husband (at Jekyll & Hyde) who was videoing the show and was chatting about our D to him. Maltby and his wife must have known that my D and her male friend from camp (who was not at camp this past summerbut had been the lead in her show of Nine) were at CAP and had put in this request for them to meet with him and sing for him. She knew nothing would come of it as far as this show even if he was trying to cast them in it because SHE knew the situation at CAP and he was not as aware of it at the outset. Still she got to meet with him and that was fun. At that point, CAP faculty really didn't know her as she had only been there a few weeks, but they knew she was a freshman, as is her male friend.</p>
<p>While I have not shared here some other things that happened to her recently with some people in the industry in NYC, I will say that one thing to be learned from the things I did not share (plus even the Maltby anecdote) is that you never know who is watching you in a production. Three different people in this field who were watching Jekyll have led to a few other ongoing contacts with my daughter now in various capacities. And that was merely from a production at a summer camp. Lots of this field is how one thing leads to another and networking and so forth. You just never know who is in the audience. </p>
<p>Also, Dancersmom, I hope you will share some of what is happening with your D at FSU this year now that she is no longer a frosh. I'm not sure if I even know what she did last summer. Perhaps many of our kids will meet up at some point because the theater world is not THAT big. I can't believe the number of theater kids (and directors) my kid knows from all over that she has already met up with in NYC in the short time she has been there (some living there now and others just visiting). I think some of our kids' paths will cross some day. Let's hope in a big way :D. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>AlwaysAMom, sorry I did not see your post before. Yes, my D said about Max Von Essen and I think I may have heard about Chad Kimball. What an experience it might have been. However, she is NOT disappointed because while it was cool that she was requested to meet with them and now to learn he wanted to cast her and her friend in it, she never ever expected to be in it because she knew that CAP would not let that happen according to policy and it would never be fair to break it. She had the feeling that Maltby might push for it but never expected a thing to come of it. She learned more today but had dropped it from her mind since the day she had that cool experience. She could not say enough about how kind Maltby and his wife were to her on both occasions at CAP. It is just fun exposure at this point for her, and from our little world here to that one (remember we live in the middle of NO where and she is a theater fanatic). Also, this actual music is SO up my D's alley as she has had a long term interest in the Sixties and had done an in depth indep. study on this era, including the music and a major Power Point multi media presentation on it at the time. As I mentioned in another post, she loved Lennon, the musical, as it touches on this era as well. She also is into activism and has done a bunch on that related to the arts. So, she'd have been fascinated to be involved in the content of the show, not just the incredible people involved in it. But right now, she is just relishing in seeing all that goes on there and the many opportunities that can lie ahead for those in the program. I hope she gets to see the show anyway. I think it is thrilling for my D just to meet some of these folks, ya know? She is in awe of many of them. If you have loved theater all your life, it is something when you get to meet some of these people and lately she has met quite a few in a very short time. From our little dirt road in the mountains, for a theater kid, that's a lot right there, lol.</p>
<p>Susan, Thanks for the wonderful update. Sounds like things couldn't be better for her, and I'm so pleased to hear the feedback from that director who wanted to cast her!</p>
<p>I'm also thrilled for you that the birthday cake made it in the mail!</p>
<p>Susan--
Exciting news all around! I can see why your d was bursting to talk to you again! What a talented girl! And I admit I've been trying to imagine that cake in the mail. We got my d's senior pictures today, and it's starting to hit me that we will be in that spot next year. I'm weepy just from the senior pix.</p>
<p>MtMommy, awww on the senior pics! You know, the fact that you are bed and housebound and your D is helping out, try to remember that you are getting some extra time in with her this year (even if for yucky reasons). Last year when my D was in the hospital and then confined to a hospital bed at home and then relying on me to take her everywhere and was out of school for a month as well, we were around one another more than usual so in a way, that was beneficial as she is not here any more!</p>
<p>The whole cake thing....well, let me say that I was teary eyed making and mailing it. The idea of not being with one of my kids on their birthday was hard, a first (of many to be sure). It was so risky but not only did it make it but her reaction was more than I could have hoped for as it seemed to mean a lot. She called when she got it (what I do to get a call, eh?) because she said she had just been thinking that she'd have no cake this year and I really did make elaborate ones, usually on a theme or about something in their life every year and often on half birthdays too. And they had parties every year. She would have if she had been home. But anyway, I decided to make it simple...rectangular and to keep it IN the pan and ice and decorate it in the pan, if it was going to have ANY chance for survival. I found a box the same size and added the numeral candles (we have those from every year), for "17" and laid them in the box with birthday streamers for her apt. I figured the top was sure to be smashed in but I laid some bubble wrap across the top and she says it came completely fine! She seemed real happy to get it. While we weren't with her, I get the feeling her birthday was possibly better than had it been here. What could be bad? She got to do musical theater training all day at studio, went to see one of her favorite musicals, Sweeney Todd, on Broadway with her roomie, at mom and dad's expense, out to eat after, and then home late to her room where friends were waiting with the lit cake. The next night she went out to celebrate with a larger group, many camp friends at Tisch, many new CAP friends, even camp friends from other colleges who were in the city that night, even a director she had from camp (someone who was on Broadway whom she adores came) and that was at a piano bar....oy...NOTHING like she'd have ever done had she been here in VT for her 17th birthday....ha! </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>soozievt - I'm so excited just reading all of your posts the past view days regarding your D and school. How exciting it must all be and how PROUD you must be! Congratulations. And to think, now you finally have a "17 year old" in NYC!</p>
<p>Sooz, What an amazing and wonderful experience for your daughter. It must be so hard for you to contain your excitement. I agree that her time will come, there will be many more opportunities. She has lots of folks pulling for her. Just a thought... the fact that Tisch/Cap would NOT change policy/make an exception seems a good thing. It suggests a committment to the student's education, above all else.</p>
<p>oooo Susan,</p>
<p>You must be, have to be, pinching yourself. What an exciting update on your d!! Thank you so much for sharing...I am grateful we have this little window from which we can "watch". ;)</p>
<p>SUE</p>
<p>Lynn, you are an incredibly gracious person. I need to write you and to lots of others who may read this post that I owe email to, I have not forgotten. Between some trips and all and other things, I am behind with 30 emails I owe and want to return. Sometimes by posting, I know I am touching base with many at once in the meantime. </p>
<p>Lynn, Jasmom....I didn't post so much to emphasize that one experience about that show/director, and most of it was not new. It was more to say the types of things going on at the program and also that my child was just so enthusiastic about it all (not that one thing necessarily but everything and just that day alone and what she experienced all day) that she even called about it all. </p>
<p>Jasmom...I am in total agreement with you. We would never expect or WANT Tisch/CAP to make an exception about this policy. They should not. That is why even a few weeks ago, it was just a neat experience and we left it at that. The follow up yesterday was just another neat thing to it but no expectations ever were involved in it. There is no way they should break this kind of policy. </p>
<p>The thing about the "no shows freshmen year" policy....there are other exceptions that are less clear cut....like my D said she knows a freshman in the Hillel musical production of Company and that she could have tried out too but opted not to because of conflicts with N'Harmonics. She has a former boyfriend who is now a freshman in Tisch who was recently cast in two episodes of a well known TV show. Not sure exactly how all this works but THIS show I was talking about was at the CAP studio so it falls under the policy. I never even shared the whole experience from a few weeks ago. It really was never going to lead to being cast but was more a neat experience with someone like that. These kids' time will come. My D was more remarking on the phone that it was cool that a Broadway director was working on a show at her studio and then Wildhorn was working with the seniors (again, not her turn yet!) and how all that was just some neat things in just that one day, plus other stuff they did that day. Also it is neat meeting these people and if they like your work, you never know when you might meet them again! My daughter has had a few other experiences of this sort recently but I just did not share them here. But I do think this field often involves someone seeing you in one thing, telling another, then some opportunity arises from there. Often, nothing happens but networking or having people see your work, can often lead to something else. </p>
<p>And Lynn, don't remind me I have a seventeen year old in NYC....it only sounds a tad better than having a sixteen year old in NYC. It really is still hard to get used to....um, for ME, not for HER. She's in heaven about it, I'm positive. :D</p>
<p>Sooz,
Last year, at Parent's day, the Dean spoke about students who get opportunities to do other (non-University) shows/performances, etc. He indicated that he always asks "is it the opportunity of a lifetime?" If the student says "yes," he helps them arrange a leave of absence to pursue it. I appreciate your sharing regarding the opportunities in general, but also regarding the wonderful good fortune and consistent positive endorsement your daughter is receiving. For me, it reminds me that there are many who emerge from this very difficult field with the skills, confidence, and connections to pursue their dreams.</p>