REPLY PART ONE:
I’ll pop in to share my thoughts. I cannot claim to have a child who has attended BOTH Stagedoor Manor AND a pre-college MT program on a college campus. I am still quite familiar with the pre-college programs, having advised many students who have attended these and also guided them with the selection and application process to such summer pre-college programs. However, on a personal level, my own daughter went to Stagedoor Manor for 8 summers for a total of 16 3-week sessions. My daughter is now a professional in the musical theater field.
First, since you don’t know anyone personally who attended Stagedoor, I cannot extol its virtues enough. This program had a significant impact on my daughter’s life!! To say she loved Stagedoor is putting it mildly. I have known umpteen kids who have attended during her 8 year tenure there and many who came after (and have worked with many of them too). As you may know, Stagedoor now has participants ranging from age 10 to 18. In that one regard, it is unlike a pre-college program that often has rising juniors and seniors in HS only. They offer a wide array of classes in all aspects of musical theater and drama. They also have many levels of each style of dance classes. There are some “master” level classes by audition, and dance classes are by placement,but for the most part, a student can sign up for whatever classes they wish to take.
In addition to classes, the program mounts at least 13 full scale productions in every 3 week session. They produce both plays and musicals and a student can decide which type they prefer to be cast in (but not which show they are in). Everyone gets cast in a show. They only have 2.5 weeks to mount the show and so the pace is fast and the level of professionalism is high. They also put on shows that include some that are not typically produced in some schools. Sometimes they premiere shows where they are the first youth productions of that musical or play and work with companies like MTI in developing these. The directors, musical directors and choreographers are all professionals and not “counselors.” The casts tend not to go over 25 actors and so each kid is truly featured in some capacity. The shows tend to be for various age groups that are not clearly delineated, but suffice it to say that most productions don’t have actors in it from age 10 to 18. There are sorta younger, middle and older casts, but this is not rigid and can depend on the nature of the production. The student is taking classes, while simultaneously rehearsing their play or musical (there are auditions on the first day or two of the session).
Also, while everyone is cast in a show, there is an additional cabaret troupe and acting troupe that are by audition and are of a very high caliber, and lean toward the older range of those who attend. My kid was in this cabaret troupe all 8 summers and she would say it was a highlight of her summers there. It is very fast paced and the talent is typically very high.
This is not like a typical camp at all. Everyone eats and breathes theater. It is really for the kid super passionate about this field. There is a varying degree of talent among participants. I will say that since I have seen approximately 70 musical productions and 16 cabaret casts, that usually the leads (and others) are extremely talented.
Not everyone who attends Stagedoor goes on to pursue a college theater or MT program, but many do, including both BFA and BA degree programs. Stagedoor alumni have been admitted to a wide array of BFA programs, including all the so-called “top” ones. My D had Stagedoor pals at ALL of the well known programs when she was in college. Further, a large number of my D’s Stagedoor peers from her 8 years attending, are now successful in musical theater, plays, movies, TV, directing, music, as well as other facets of the field, including at the very highest levels. I feel like I can say “i knew them when!” I am truly in awe of her friendship group from Stagedoor and what they are doing now.
That leads to another thing…a HUGE part of attending Stagedoor Manor has been the friendship bonds made there. Now, I know that can happen at many summer programs of all types!!! But if a kid returns for several summers, they really build deep bonds. My D’s friendship circle today (she is now 27) is FULL of former Stagedoor Manor campers (so many extremely successful ones). Her maid of honor in her upcoming wedding went there too. There is a lot of networking of former Stagedoorians, such as in NYC or elsewhere. I will add that the participants at Stagedoor come from every state and from many countries. The first summer my kid attended, I was astounded by the talent. It gave me perspective and also some affirmation of my own kid’s talents among a group of “standouts” from all over the country and not just in our own community or state.
Lastly, my kid not only loved Stagedoor immensely (as do I), but she truly learned a great deal. She had access to classes that we didn’t have at home. She got to participate in so many musicals and so many roles and on such a professional style level. Her work in the Our Time Cabaret really even showed her how a show of that sort can be put together and she created her own types of shows like this for her high school back home. Since my D attended, they now also have a chance for kids to submit original plays that get selected and performed (called DRAMAFEST), which is quite something. I forgot to mention that they have various guest artists that add excitement. In fact, my D, for example, (but not due to Stagedoor in any way), has now as an adult, gotten to work with some people who were formerly guest artists at Stagedoor, such as Jeanine Tesori and others.
CONTINUED IN NEXT POST>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
