Stagedoor Manor is it worth the Price?

College Majors Musical Theater Major
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<p>Hello, I know the last reply was 5 years ago but I’m hoping you guys will still be able to answer. I’m interested in the stagedoor manor also and I’ve seen youtube videos of all the talent, but I’m afraid I will not get into a big part or the Cabaret or anything. That would be perfectly fine, but, I do not know if I will not learn as much since I would not be a lead. So, is Stagedoor Manor worth all the money in terms of what you learn about acting, even if you are not cast a big part? </p>

<p>and also, I’m going into it when I will be 17 for the first time, is this strange?
Thanks!</p>

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<p>I can try to help. My kid went there for 8 summers and I would say it was a very significant aspect of her youth and of her training in the field of musical theater. </p>

<p>First, Stagedoor is much more than just the productions. You also take 8 classes that you choose from an array of offerings. In terms of the productions, the casts are small and most musicals are not over 25 cast members, and the plays are usually smaller than that. So, everyone has their moment to shine on stage. I don’t think the value of a production experience is lesser if you are not a lead. My daughter was in 16 musicals at Stagedoor and has been leads, supporting roles, and ensemble over the years. Each production experience was truly loved and she got a lot out of each one. Are you a boy, by any chance? If so, getting an actual “part” is more likely for a boy; just sayin’. Try to remember that there are no small parts, as the cliche goes, but it is true in terms of what you will learn and enjoy by being in a high level youth theater production as is put on by Stagedoor and who you work with and so on, will only develop your skills further. </p>

<p>As far as getting into Our Time Cabaret, that doesn’t make or break a summer at Stagedoor Manor. This should not be a factor in choosing to attend in my opinion. Cabaret is an “extra” so to speak. The classes and productions which everyone is in are the core of the SDM experience, along with the friendship bonds and immersion itself. Those who are not in Cabaret (the majority in fact) can audition for Camper Showcase and there are also other performance opportunities such as the Dance Show, Players Ensemble, and DramaFest. </p>

<p>Starting at age 17 is not uncommon at all. There are many campers that age and many are new and some are not. Within a day or two, it won’t matter as friendships form very fast there with those with this common interest. But there are definitely new people there your age! Often new campers room with other new campers as well. </p>

<p>I would not decide on whether to attend based on how big of a part you will get. Are you planning to go to college for theater? There are no guarantees of what part you will get in college either. But in such programs, you learn a LOT, not to mention have a GREAT time. </p>

<p>You may wish to ask the camp for references of prior campers and talk to them directly. </p>

<p>AT this point in the year, Stagedoor is most likely fully enrolled for next summer, although they maintain a wait list and some get in off the wait list every summer. </p>

<p>I hope that is a help.</p>

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<p>Oh, I thought it was all productions. That’s good! Yes, I am a boy.
Okay good! I saw a documentary and all the older kids they interviewed have been there for years.
I was just afraid I would not learn enough but I’m glad that is not the case.
I called yesterday and they said they were almost full for the boys spot so we’re sending in the application quick.
It did help! Thank you</p>

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<p>Ah…the documentary. My kid is in that! Some of the kids in it were long time campers but not all of them. Some of the featured kids were not. But I can tell you that there is a mix of old timers and new students every summer. And I’m glad to hear there is an opening but I doubt there is for girls. And as a boy, and an older one at that, my feeling is that you will have some sort of part this summer. I hope you love it as much as my kid did. I’m betting you will.</p>

<p>I just want to add that those who are new can be cast very well. I’m working with a boy whose first summer at Stagedoor was at age 16 and he was a lead in a musical that summer and then at age 17 was a significant supporting role and also got into Players Ensemble. So, being new is not a disadvantage.</p>

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<p>My niece went last summer and is going again this summer. She loved it! It seems they have had to apply almost a year ahead.</p>

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<p>Okay, I know this thread was started 7 years ago and the last response was in 2010, but I am currently a camper at Stagedoor and I just wanted to update some information.</p>

<p>1: the ages for campers is 10-18, not 8-18.
2: They do 10 musicals and 3 dramas every session, as opposed to 8 musicals and 5 dramas, although it really all depends on how many campers are interested in dramas.
3: each camper takes 6 classes, not 8.
4: OTC is for kids of any age, but usually they don’t cast anyone younger than 15 (not on principle, just how it turns out). OTC is made up of about 36 kids every year.
5: Most of the girls rooms have 6 kids, but most of the boys rooms only have 4.
6: Lots of first-year kids get lead roles. It’s not uncommon for your first year to be when you’re older, either.
7: I’ve been going for the past 3 years and I’ve been in the ensemble every time, and I still have the time of my life every year. I’m not saying it’s not disappointing, but I have so much fun anyway that it doesn’t really matter.
8: 2nd session fills up the fastest every year. That’s a fact.
9: Yes, you do have to apply almost a year in advance. Returning campers get priority until October 15th every year, which is when they start accepting new campers. For the new campers, it’s first come first serve, so getting the application in early is almost essential.
10: DANCE IS NOT A PART OF THE GENERAL AUDITION. There is a separate dance audition but it is not counted in casting. The dance audition is just for class placement. IT IS NOT MANDATORY.</p>

<p>If there are any other questions I would happily answer them, although I kind of doubt it since the thread was started so long ago…</p>

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<p>TnT…
Glad you posted those updates!</p>

<p>Several of the points you posted are indeed changes in the last several years at camp. The ages used to be 8-18 and have been changed to 10-18. My daughter started SDM at age 9 for instance. The number of musicals per session has indeed increased the last few years and I believe that is due to the fact that they have more campers per session than they used to admit and thus had to add more productions to accommodate them. The campers used to take 8 classes and so that is a change too. OTC used to also accept any age but typically the youngest cast members were 12 or 13, and you say now that typically the youngest is 15. My daughter was in OTC starting at age 9 but that was even unusual at the time as the next youngest was 12 or 13 and most of the cast was 14 and over. The girls’ rooms now have six campers but they used to have no more than five. First year campers have always been cast in lead roles. The reason second session fills the quickest is because many campers attend for two sessions (six weeks) and thus either attend 1st/2nd or 2nd/3rd combinations, making second session very popular. Dance auditions were always optional and always just for class placement, not casting. </p>

<p>I’m glad a recent camper is participating here! I hope you love SDM as much as my kid did (she went before you did).</p>

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<p>This thread began 6 1/2 years ago and reading it now is like a trip down memory lane. Early in the thread, a former camper named DizziDani88 posted. Dani went onto Yale and graduated. My daughter is in a professional production in NYC right now and Dani is in the same cast! Clueless posted about her son going to SDM and he is now working professionally in shows in NYC too! </p>

<p>My daughter is still very tied to the friends she made at SDM. She has lived with one for years. She is recording a video with several today in fact. So many of her peers from SDM have gone onto not only the best MT and Acting programs in the country for college, but have been or are on Broadway, Off Broadway, tours, movies, and many regional theaters.</p>

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<p>SDM- it’s not just a camp… it’s a family and a home! worth every penny!</p>

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<p>My 16 year old son will be attending SDM for the first time next summer. I have enjoyed reading these posts, even though some are dated. I am also reading the book Theater Geek about the camp. I think he’ll love it. He aspires to a professional career and I’m excited for him to get a real sense of the level of talent and drive that it will take. He’s been quite successful in a youth training corp and some low level quasi-professional things but he hasn’t been significantly challenged. This should really open his eyes and help him decide if this is something that he really wants to commit to.</p>

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<p>My 15 year old daughter just found out that she got in to SD off the wait list. It is her first year to attend and is very excited. She is only a bit nervous about the fact that there are so many that have gone for years and hopes it is not cliquey so newbies can fit into those tight knit friendships. Does anyone know if they put new kids together? What do kids do to bring all their stuff in - a trunk or are there storage options/dressers at camp? thx! Any other new 15-16 year old girls???</p>

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<p>Leela, there are lots and lots of new kids who are teenagers at SDM. Some will be returning campers but plenty will be new. And it won’t matter after a day or two as they all just fold in together. Typically, new campers are roommates with other new campers. But within a couple of days, your daughter will be in classes and in a cast and making lots of new pals. This is very very true.</p>

<p>Kids bring their stuff in various things, such as suitcases, duffles and some use trunks (I think most do not use trunks, however). There is no storage for trunks and such except under the bed and so soft duffles can be a better option. Each kid gets a dresser (a regular sized bedroom dresser). And there is a closet also in the room for the roommates to share. Many girls tend to also bring a plastic set of drawers if arriving by car, but it is not a necessity to have. </p>

<p>There WILL be new girls your D’s age.</p>

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<p>Hello! I am a 15 year old girl and I will be going to Stagedoor Manor during first session and this will be my first time attending! I’m a little nervous and I feel like the more information I get about Stagedoor Manor the less nervous I feel. So I’m going to ask a couple of questions! How many girls are typically in a room together? How large is the room? I was also wondering about what I should wear. Do people wear clothes like niki shorts and tank tops on a daily basis? Or do they wear things like jeans and skirts and nice shirts? Are they any instructors that are not nice that i should watch out for? What is the audition process like? Are there a lot of cliques? And is there a lot of drama? Are people constantly belting out show tunes everywhere you look? Is there anything you wish that you knew about stagedoor before you went there? And if there is anything else that you could tell me to make my time at stagedoor better feel free to do so! Thank you!</p>

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<p>Welcome, Syd018! My D attended Stagedoor for 7 summers. Don’t be nervous…you will feel like you are “home” the minute you drive up. Everyone is very friendly. There are typically 4 - 6 girls per room. The rooms are small…two bunk beds and a single, or even 3 bunks. I have to say, the rooms are kinda icky in the girls’ dorm, but you don’t spend much time there, and you are having so much fun, it doesn’t matter. Each room of girls shares a bathroom (although there are a few rooms that have two rooms of 4 with a bathroom in the middle, so there are 8 girls sharing a bathroom). Dress casually! If you look at the candid shots in the Gallery of Stagedoor’s website, you can see that everyone just wears shorts and tee shirts/tank tops. Bring a bathing suit; bring sweatshirts and a rain jacket. The camp provides a list of clothes to bring. All the directors/instructors are wonderful. You have no choice in which director you get, so don’t worry about it. The audition process is easy. You go into the audition room in pairs (if you don’t have a friend, you just go in with the girl in line next to you). You read a scene and you sing your song. That’s it. Auditions are Monday and Tuesday, and cast lists are posted on Wednesday. You don’t know what shows you are auditioning for, but rumors abound, and many of the rumors are true. But it doesn’t matter…just sing a song that shows off your voice the best. There are some cliques, but like I said, everyone is so friendly b/c you all have something in common. Some kids have been going there since they were little, and others are newbies like you. There is drama everywhere, but not an inordinate amount. Yes, people are gathered around pianos and singing show tunes everywhere. Always. Bring food…the food is not great, and you may want to have power bars or something in case you really don’t like what they serve for supper. Bring an iPod or iPhone so you can download the music for the show you’re in and work on it in the little spare time you have. Sign up for free swim as one of your classes…it will be the only time you have to relax and learn lines except late at night. Don’t worry…you will LOVE it! Just relax and do your best at the audition, b/c that determines what show you’re put in, your role, and whether you get put in OTC. Have fun!</p>

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<p>Thank you! I was also wondering if there will be any outlets in the room and if I would be allowed to plug in and put up decorative lights around my part of the room. Also, will I be allowed to send and receive letters and packages? Are there any dances, special events, or theme nights that I need to bring clothes for? Thanks again!</p>

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<p>I have to admit the electrical system is pretty bad. There is one outlet per room, but you have to bring a power strip, b/c you need fans, blow dryers, etc. And the fuses blow easily. I don’t think you will be allowed to have decorative lights. Honestly, you spend so little time in the room, there won’t be time to enjoy them. Yes, there is a mail call every day and you can get letters and packages. Your cell phone gets taken away for the first week, which is a good thing. Go with it. They do have dances, but the kids make up costumes for them. So, bring some clothes in solid colors (esp. black, white and red) so you can color coordinate, and if you have fun little things (tiara? cheerleading skirt?) feel free to bring them. But the kids are very creative and come up with themes with next to nothing. The rooms are SMALL and the closets are tiny, so try not to bring too much. Plus, there is no elevator, and as a 15 year old girl you may end up on the 3rd floor…carrying heavy duffle bags up is not easy. </p>

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<p>Syd018, my daughter also is a Stagedoor alum and it is her favorite place on earth. If you are truly a theater fanatic, you will LOVE it. The kids who don’t do so well are the kids whose parents make them go. The dorms are not air conditioned and can get very hot, so bring a fan, preferably the kind that clips to the bed rail. And lots of extension cords/power strips. And I agree with everything Monkey13 said except for 2 things: first, my D would not have dreamed of signing up for swimming. There are so many cool classes; take advantage of them! You can swim when you get home. Second, I don’t think the food is so bad, but I guess it depends on how picky you are. There is always a salad bar and a vegetarian option. The head chef is British (and get used to THAT, because so are a lot of the counselors and tech staff) so some of the food is…different, but he tries to keep it somewhat healthy. Also, keep in mind that it is hard to get a lead or into OTC your first year there. Not impossible, but rare. And in some ways that is better so you can get to know the place and figure it all out. But no matter what, wherever you land, even if you think it is in a show you don’t know or like, work hard. Be professional. Learn what you can. Also, expect to be treated like an adult. DON’T try to sneak anything in or break the rules. The rules are very reasonable. Respect them. And after you’re done come back here and tell us how you liked it!!!</p>

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<p>calliene…I think monkey was suggesting signing up for free swim period, not so much as a chance to go swimming, but I think kids sign up for it to get a “free period” (think study hall in school) to utilize it for learning their lines and songs, particularly if they have a significant role and feel they have so little time to learn the material outside of rehearsals and the classes they take. However, you have a point about taking advantage of all the classes available!!</p>

<p>~signed,
Parent of former Stagedoorian…16 sessions there</p>