<p>I just heard from Brown Sugar! She and my D. are roommates!
Her daughter and the other gal who was there last year are good friends. And they are just lovely young ladies. Really really nice to my D. and made her feel right at home.</p>
<p>I am excited to hear what the shows are!</p>
<p>Angst, that is pretty funny that your D did end up rooming with Brown Sugar's D....ya see our little world on CC ! I met Brown Sugar and her lovely D over the past weekend and saw her show, as well. </p>
<p>I have this feeling now that the cast lists did not go up today but will go up tomorrow morning, like last session after all. A Stagedoor premiere means the first time the show was ever done at camp. For instance, FAME and Jekyll and Hyde were premieres this past session. I believe many shows this coming section are premieres, more so than usual. Even if I did know any shows, it would be inappropriate to post any until the casting and even show selections are finalized and announced. If I know tomorrow, I will try to post. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>It is a very small world lol. My parents might make me take the bus up since the first day is a Monday and they work. Im so scared . Last time I took a bus to camp I had to sit next to the *****est girl becuase everyone was "saving seats" for people and I ended up in the wrong cabin. I cried all the way up. Sorry just a little freak out. Angst how did your daughters audition go?</p>
<p>Just got back from a business meeting we went to immediately after show weekend for session 1, so sorry I haven't had a chance to post. My D had a wonderful time in first session, and I trust she is still having a great time in the beginning of 2nd session. </p>
<p>Angst, it does seem like our D's are roomies, either directly or across the bathroom. I tried to reply to your pm, but your pm box was full. I will try to send you an email later this evening.</p>
<p>Soozie, it was so nice meeting you and your beautiful D this weekend. I did not make it into J&H on Saturday night after all, as the line to get in that show was so crazy, and we ended up watching Fame, as our D's friend from home had one of the principal parts.</p>
<p>On the drama side, we were extremely impressed with The Crucible.</p>
<p>BrownSugar...yes, J and H was packed. I did not see you and figured you had gone to support the friend in Fame, understandably. If you write me, my hubby is making DVDs of it that he had taped and I'd love for you to see it as it was of a level that you ought to see compared to some productions we talked about this weekend. I also thought Crucible was outstanding. My niece who was in it and at camp for the first time, LOVED it and wants to go back. </p>
<p>Let me know how casting went for your D this session. I'm so delighted that your D has enjoyed her experience there overall. It is funny that Angst's D ended up in the same room or suite. </p>
<p>Defying Gravity, kids at SDM are a very friendly bunch, don't worry. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>How do they do the selling of the productions? Is it like at the camp store? Also can you buy shows from other sessions or just yours?</p>
<p>For every session, they send a note to parents about which show your child is in and the schedule for performance weekend. In that mailing, there is a video order form. Also, ON performance weekend, you can place orders in person and for about a week following the shows. They cost $35 each. We make our own videos of our D's shows for a couple reasons. One is that the money adds up cause she usually goes two sessions, is in two musicals, two cabarets, two dance shows, and used to be in the hotel shows. So, we film our own video of the shows she is in on performance weekend and buy some for ones that we can't see like the dance show. Also, when you make your own, you can focus on your own kid at times if you want to :D. My husband usually makes a CD of the Our Time Cabaret to listen to in the car or on the IPod (the music). When my D was waiting to go into surgery, she requested watching a video of the cabaret in the hospital room so these tapes/DVDs are great memories.</p>
<p>I don't know the answer about if you can buy shows from other sessions that you did not attend. The orders are usually placed during THAT session and for about one week following. That is the time period for orders. That's all I know. You can always call camp to get these specific questions answered officially.
Susan</p>
<p>They are in the same room! </p>
<p>Defying..I will let you know. She is usually very comfy at auditions. </p>
<p>BTW for hotel..The Days Inn is booked. We are right now at Inn at Rock Hill which is ok but would prefer to be closer.
I really dont like B&B's. And I dont want to stay at the Best Western as I was not happy when I called there.</p>
<p>Are there any other options? We wouldnt mind going up for a few days and hubby could play golf. Is THE CONCORD hotel nice? I couldnt find much on it on the internet.</p>
<p>I checked out some of the hotels like Kutchers (sp) and it didnt sound too good.</p>
<p>DONT STAY AT THE BEST WESTERN!! We stayed there 2 consecutive years when I went up to one of my previous camps Frost Valley. They put us in a smoking room when we asked for none and they gave us a key to an already occupied room with people in the ebd in the middle of the afternoon. My dog ran in and I had to run after her.We stayed there 2 times because the days inn was full. We finally got a room at the Days Inn the last year I attended frost valley in 2002 and ti was much better.</p>
<p>LOL ! I already had my fun with the Best Western people. I called and just did not like their attitude. They were like if you are going to be late you be sure to call us etc. Anyway I booked a room and then found a better rate using a special club I am a member of. So I called back and told them that I had booked it with the club and please cancel my other reservations..and they said with the club they could not be sure I would get a non smoking room unless I paid $50 more! So they were charging me extra to be sure of a non smoking room..
Then they decided they werent sure they would honor the rate anyway..
Finally after much hassle with them..I cancelled and they asked me why I was cancelling..not in a nice..gee why are you cancelling way..it was a very nosey rude way.
I just decided to scrap them for good off my list. I sent them several faxes so they better not try to charge me ..
Anyway at that point with Days full we opted for the lodge and its clean and decent..but not that nice that its worth the extra drive.
What about the Swan?
I am sure alot of folks will be out of luck with the days inn as they were having some sort of dog show and were booked months ago.</p>
<p>Guys, we are now back in Florida after spending last weekend hitting some shows in the city and driving our D and one of her MT friends to SDM. Kids (at least the older ones) are at the movies tonight and shows and casts will be announced tomorrow (Wednesday). We stayed just long enough to get our D unpacked and then left as she was more than happy to spend quality time with the two bunkmates she already knew (even though she is a newbie at SDM) and meet the three that she doesn't. We'll save the "tour" of the camp for the performance weekend. Nothing for any of us first timers to worry about as your child will be surrounded by young men and women that share his or her obsession with MT. I'll try to respond to any specific questions if needed based on our hour or so there on Monday...BTW, "Piazza" is a gorgeous show...with more substance and humanity than I have witnessed from a musical in a while. We had the special treat of running into a very pregnant but clearly happy Spencer Kayden (this is for all you "Urinetown" fans out there). She's married to the cast member of "Piazza" who plays the father of the male lead. As always, the cast members were gracious and more than willing to spend time signing autographs and chatting with all of us that waited at the stage door after the shows.</p>
<p>Scogor is your D. in a room with 5 others then - 6 total? I just read your PM again..sorry I was thinking maybe you had already stayed at the Lodge.
Cant wait to hear what the shows are!</p>
<p>The Showlist is at the SDM website..
Here it is..sounds like some GREAT shows!</p>
<p>SESSION 2, 2005: ELSIE THEATER:FOLLIES/JEFF MURPHY. AIDA/CHRIS ARMBRISTER. PLAYHOUSE: MISS SAIGON/MICHAEL RAIMONDI. LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL/DAVID MOELLENKAMP. THE FORUM: BIG RIVER/JACOB BRENT and BRAD SIMMONS. THE BAKER'S WIFE/CAROLINE ALTMAN. CABARET THEATER: HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING/LARRY NYE. LUCKY STIFF/JILL HARRISON. CAROUSEL: THE HEART RISING/PAUL STANCATO. JUST SO STORIES/MARGARET HALL. THE MERMAN: THE ANASTASIA TRIALS IN THE COURT OF WOMEN/DARYL HEYSHAM. 9 GIRLS/CHRIS TYER. THE GARDEN: RING ROUND THE MOON/ROB SCHARLOW. Hope to see you at the Gala on July 24! KONNIE</p>
<p>kool. Thanx. My mom said How to Succed... is very funny. Thats also very cool that they got the rights to Ms. Saigon and Aida. Angst what song did your D. sing at auditions btw?</p>
<p>She sang MAN WANTED from Copa.. a pretty racy tune..It wont surprise me if she is cast in the musical Ms. Saigon which is pretty racy. I saw that at the Kennedy center and it was awesome.
She is very blonde though so I dont know.
She almost sang ON MY OWN from Aida but decided it might be overdone and wanted to sing something more upbeat.
I think all of the musicals would be very appealing to her for different reasons.
We were just hoping it was something she hadnt been in. All of these sound great.</p>
<p>Honestly I cant imagine how they cast. With so many kids to hear how do they even remember what they look like. I would have to think song selection may play a part also.</p>
<p>I believe On My Own is from Les Mis. I think she made a better choice with the song from Copa as On My Own IS overdone. They did Copa at camp last summer, by the way. </p>
<p>The show list is cool and many premieres for this program. As you can see, it is not the same list as on the audition form.</p>
<p>Ooops I wasnt thinking..Yes "On My Own" is from Les Mis..
"My Strongest Suit" is from Aida and she sang both of these recently for a vocal performance and I was mixing them up! </p>
<p>The shows sound great! I know she will be excited.</p>
<p>Did you find out what show your daughter is in yet?</p>
<p>So excited!! Just heard that my son is Finch in How to Succeed in Business....
That is a great part for him and he is working with Larry Nye who he took dance with 2 summers ago. I think it is a good fit. The only problem is they are doing it on the stage in the Main Lobby which isn't the biggest or best area for a play, but he likes his cast and thinks it will be fun. He also got a call back for OTC and Players Ensemble and I believe they will find out this evening if they make it. Roomies are nice, food is good.......so far, so good!!!</p>
<p>Audi....yippee for your son! I bet he is glad he chose to go back this summer! That is a fantastic role. I love Larry. My daughter's first show at SDM was with him and she has done a total of four with him. I realize the space is the Cabaret Lobby stage, not the best, but it is the production that matters. </p>
<p>Getting a callback for both OTC and Players Ensemble is excellent. I know some boys left in OTC and so he surely has a chance. He can only do one of these, not both. My D had a callback for Players Ensemble but would not ever give up OTC to do it as she has been in that all 8 years and loved it. But I saw the first Players Ensemble this past weekend and all the kids were very good actors. It was a first crack at it and I think they will make some changes this time. But Michael Raimondi is a fantastic director. So, your son can't go wrong if he gets this and not OTC. Let us know. I heard from Dramama about her D's casting and she did very well, so it is all exciting! Tell M. congrats from me!
Susan</p>