<p>Audi, I know SOME casting but am not sure it is my place to reveal their names on the SDM forum, ya know? You are correct on who plays Aida. My D only has a handful of friends her age still at camp and then naturally knows the kids one step behind her and what some of them got. If you need a couple I could tell you but I know far less this session than most sessions when my child was actually there. Boy who played Jekyll is lead in Miss Saigon. Female lead in Miss Saigon is brand new. African American male (sorry forget character name in that show) lead in Big River is new and also got into OTC and is singing the solo that my D used to sing, Brother Can ya Spare a Dime (good for him!). One female lead in Follies was Elizabeth Proctor in Crucible last session. Young Buddy in Follies was Frederic in Pirates last session. These are not names but anyone who knows them will know what I mean. Girl who played the teacher in Fame has significant role in Aida. Truly, my d's crop of friends are all gone now. Many had played leads in the past and now there are a whole lot of new ones and we are excited for them. My mind just blanked but my D told me the female lead in your son's show and it is someone I know but my mind is mosh at the moment.</p>
<p>thanks for the info and i understand about not posting it on the SDM site. Like I said, Konnie is just so busy that she cant and everyone keeps asking for a list. Some people asked David, the site moderator, to post a list and he hasn't yet. I got my first "legal" call tonite from my S and he said "just ask Soozie, she"ll know". I don't know alot of kids since my S only went one session prior to this one, but I was curious and I know alot of kids are who keep checking the website. But thanks for the info you provided.</p>
<p>Audi, the thing about posting a list on the SDM message board, they NEVER did in the past. Last session, kids begged for it and they put some names up but they are not this time. Honestly I barely know the kids they are most likely asking about because most are younger than my daughter. As mentioned, my D was ALWAYS closest to kids older than herself at SDM.....even all her roomies were always older than herself. Barely any returned this year. She, along with a handful went last session one more time and in my D 's case, she was only sixteen, but then they moved on and just a couple friends (male) her age remain there this session. So, I'm not sure how much help I could be to the kids asking on that forum anyway. In years past, there were so many friends that I wanted to know about and did learn about and followed but that is not as much the case starting this session for me (or my child). </p>
<p>Since your son was in Les Mis and I did watch that amazing production (my D was in Pippin as The Leading Player that session), and since so many of the roles were filled by friends of hers, I can tell you something about THEM though. Most have moved on. However, the girl who played Eponine is now Aida. The girl who played Fantine is heading to BOCO. The girl who played Cosette is heading to CCM. The boy who played ValJean is heading to CAP21. The girl who played Madame Thernardier is heading to the BFA in Acting at BU. The boy who played Thernardier is at Syracuse I think. The boy who played Marius just finished his first year at Syracuse. The boy who played the character who has that big hat on (I'm so bad with this, sorry) did not get into the BFA programs he applied to last year (due to academics I believe), did a year elsewhere and is heading to AMDA in LA next fall. He played Sweeney last year. Gavroche is still at camp though! </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Just to add another one that I know-Andrew B has a large male part in Follies (was my son's roommate) so I know.</p>
<p>I can't place Andrew. I see his name as being in Our Time Cabaret with my D two years ago so she must know him. </p>
<p>But I also meant to tell you to tell your son that all those kids I mentioned from his cast of Les Mis, plus several other kids a year older than him from other casts, will all be there next Sunday for the Anniversary so hopefully he will see them once again. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>It is called if im not mistaken Lazy River B&B</p>
<p>Also news for you people. I have picked my audition song. Life of the party. I feel I can act it well as well as sing it , so I'll give it a shot.</p>
<p>Audi, I made a mistake on the casting...the boy who played Jekyll is the lead (Radames) in Aida, not Miss Saigon, oops. </p>
<p>Gavroche from Les Mis is playing Huck Finn in Big River! And Young Cossette is a lead in Big River. </p>
<p>DefyingG....the daughter of your doctor did get the lead in Big River and my D says she is very happy for her! </p>
<p>good luck on your audition!</p>
<p>I LOVE the song "Life of the Party!" I think it's Idina's best song. It is so fun, and what a great belt song! Good luck with that!</p>
<p>Defying Gravity, it is funny cause you posted about a B and B and we never stay at them when going to show weekends in the Catskills so I had not heard of the one you mentioned. Over dinner tonight, I asked my D what the name was of the country inn that she is staying in on Sunday night (after the 30 Anniversary) with lots of her SDM friends (I'm staying with another mom at a different hotel) and what did she respond? Lazy Pond Inn or B and B. Kinda funny it is the same one but I had never heard of it when you had posted earlier. I assume Lazy Pond is the same as Lazy River (and we know it is NOT Lazy Ocean, right?). </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Thanks for the info from M's cast of Les Mis. In fact, Matt stays in touch with many of them so I think he was aware of most of the kids. In fact, we were just touring colleges and met up with Ian at Syracuse and he has seen Skylar in NY because my S did Applause for a year. He is also very friendly with Lena (who is going to Emerson) and he is very best friends from home with someone who was with your D in Pippin
(Katie-I forgot her part but she was a courtisan of the king and danced).Oh, Andrew is in OTC, was in Meet me in St Louis 2 years ago and I forgot what he did last year. It is a small world and so nice to hear of these kids accomplishments. They should all be so proud of themselves!!!!</p>
<p>Audi, my D is going to CAP21 with Skylar next year and in the same dorm (they are friends). Tell M. he is coming next weekend along with a slew of their friends from the past. My D was talking about Ian today. When we went for the Syracuse auditions, we did meet up with Ian (who loves it there) and observed one of his classes and we had lunch with him and a bunch of other freshmen in the program. She told me today that Ian was in summer stock somewhere and in a dance duet got injured lifting a woman and is not in good shape and in physical therapy back home and she could commisserate due to her severe injuries this year and what it means to kid who does musical theater. I'm not sure when he will be up and running again. Lena was back at camp this past session one last time and played Frauline Schneider in Cabaret. She was in OTC as well. I'm sure my D knows Andrew from OTC, it is just that I cannot visualize him but I did see Meet Me in St. Louis (good cast but I did not like that musical itself). I'm sure my D knows Katie but I do not but if they were in Pippin together, they have to know each other. Lots of girls in it were very good dancers. My D loved that show. </p>
<p>I will be down there for the 30th Anniv. and to camp on Sunday but I don't recall what your son looks like even though I saw Les Mis. My D knows him and was happy for him getting into OTC this session (she got the scoop from friends there). </p>
<p>I saw How to Succeed when our high school did it some time ago. Your son's part is so great...he is going to have a blast. Too bad I can't see it. Give him my best and tell him I told him it would be worthwhile to go back to camp one last time.....and look what happened...he got a lead and into OTC.....I'm sure he doesn't regret going! :D</p>
<p>He is very happy that he returned and that he got a lead and into OTC.
He says it is alot of work - Larry told them the play has to be finished by this weekend with just some polishing for next week and it is a long play with over 90 pages of dialogue. But, he is doing it and while he is "complaining" to me, I know he is enjoying it. I am so glad he went back because next summer may not be a possibility which college looming just over the horizon. I told him to try to say hi to you this weekend-he knows your D and he said he will try to have her point you out to him so he can personally come over and say hi.
Lena is one of Matt's very good friends. They see each other all the time in the city and she has spent the weekend here in the 'burbs. We are so happy for her-she is so happy to be going to Emerson. They met at SDM and never let their friendship die. Lena helped my S all last year when he did Applause. I was not comfortable about him taking trains and subways by himself but Lena would meet him at Penn Station every weekend and escort him to the class. They would often stay in the city to see a show and have dinner and she always personally brought him back to Penn Station, since she is such a city girl. I always told her she was M's "guardian angel". Your D would know Katie-they were in Pippin together and she is M's dance partner, a schoolmate and our families do alot together. She is currently on vacation in Italy that is why she didn't go back to SDM.
So sorry to hear about Ian. We just saw him at April and he was well and very happy.</p>
<p>I had the weirdest SDM dream. There was a beach at SDM and we had to do some supid smiwwing test, like touch the bottom with your hands 10 times and I didin;t pass. There was a line of parents leaving and I ran up to ym parents and was like I wanna go home. They took me to ym cabin and it turned out ym best friend was at camp. All the other girls had become friends while I was taking my test and so I was sad. Than Konnie came in and told me and another girl and a boy to take our shoes becuase we already were cast. I started to say we did not audition yet, to which she replied Its okay, I talked to your parents and from your past experince we have cast you. I looked at the list and I was in ensemble for Chours Line and started crying. I was also a special director, which I guess was a student director. When I got back everyone in my cabin(it was cabins in the dream) was crying becuase they all got terrible parts. Than everyone went to the beach. Verry strange dream haha. But mine always are. Yes Susan it is the Lazy Pond.</p>
<p>DG....yah, weird dream. </p>
<p>Just remember going into this....that SDM is WAY more than doing a show. There are the classes/training, a second major component. Then there is the experience of immersion into theater 24/7 in an intensive way and also with other kids who share the same passion which is not like a regular group of friends at home. Doing a show is an experience....getting it together in 16 days and just being a part of a quality youth production. Also remember that many people stand out at home but then are all in one place so not to have the same expectations as casting at school or something. Sometimes, as well, you work your way up with roles once people get to know you and your work. I feel confident you will fully enjoy the SDM experience and "family" if you go without too much emphasis on casting. I know it was just a dream but the idea of crying over roles is a concern that implies the importance of casting and I know it matters to kids naturally but go there with so much more to experience beyond which part or which show. Whatever role or show you get, embrace the experience. Learn. Enjoy being part of what is usually a very high end youth production. Bond with the cast. Try to accept your casting as it is not the end all and be all of the entire theater camp experience. My feeling is if it was just about casting and shows, you could do shows at home. SDM is so much more than the shows themselves. Do not go with expectations with regard to casting. You can grow from any theater experience, no matter the part. Try to accept what you get and my advice is to not complain about casting (not saying you would) as it is not a good idea, particularly for the future should you opt to return. I'm not reading anything INTO your dream but I know casting must be on your mind (and I understand, truly). </p>
<p>Good news, no swim test that I am aware of~! Think very UN-camp-like at Stagedoor. It will be a great experience. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>I would go in with the assumption that its highly unlikely you will get a lead. The leads will most likely go to the kids that are returning. UNLESS something about you just hits them in the face. And thats ok because you will get alot out of whatever role you are in. There are lots of good, talented kids there..and a 16 bar audition is going to let them know you can sing but its not going to let them know alot of other stuff about you..which they do know for returnees. So operate on the assumption that you will do your best at auditions and be placed in a supporting role. And if something else happens, thats fine too!</p>
<p>As far as switching shows, no matter how small the role or even if you are not fond of the play you can learn alot, so I think it would be very rare that you would switch.</p>
<p>However, as I shared earlier my D. did switch. In her case she was fine with the play and the assigned role but did not feel right with the learning process and how the meetings were going. I am not sure what happened there but she was switched and she told me it was absolutely the right thing for her to do. And she is quite happy now. I guess she could have sucked it up and just been unhappy the entire time but she has a good grasp on things and did not want to leave it to late. Unlike alot of kids who get to go to the camp for many summers and sessions..she is not sure if she will get to go again and she wants to make the absolute most out of her experience and learn as much as she can, which she did not feel she would based on the 3 meetings she went too.<br>
BTW I think several other kids switched out of there also, so I am not sure what the problem was there, but apparently other kids were experiencing it also.</p>
<p>She is also enjoying the classes..she said one or two were not the greatest but the others were most enjoyable.
She is also very much enjoying the other kids! And the whole atmosphere.</p>
<p>Angst, you are correct in that casting people know more about kids they have worked with in the past and seen perform on stage, than someone they have only seen in an audition. Makes sense. I just want to say that while that is very true and it is easier in casting your second session than your first, BRAND NEW kids can and do get leads. Last session and this session, that happened as well as in other years. Same with major supporting roles. So, there is a mix of this. Frequently, as well, when a kid plays a lead one session but is there for two, they often do not play a lead the other session (not ALWAYS true but is the common pattern). For instance, most kids who were leads last session are supporting roles this session and vice versa. There are exceptions to all these things of course. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>A few question Angst how did your D. find the dynamics of the kids? Did she make alot of new friends? Also is she possibly not returning next year b/c she doesn't want to or is it jsut something else. Another thing that is general for anyone. What classes would you recommend? Angst what classes is your D. in that she enjoys and you mentioned a few classes she doenst like, What are they so I can try and stay away from those classes? Also <em>digs out booklet</em> does anyone have experionce with Master Voice?What is it like? Also what about (Im grouping them by subheading here
Acting- Audition and Cold reading,sppech and dictation,theater games and tools of acting
Musical Dept-singing technique,vocal coaching,musical theater,audition for musicals
Dance- Im thinking of taking begining ballet, and would you recommend tap or jazz?
Also tv acting and also College Prep .
Im not going to be taking all these classes haha but these are the ones that look interesting.</p>
<p>Defying..I dont know if D. will return or not. She is having a blast. So it would not surprise me if she does. She makes friends easily and really enjoys her roommates and other kids.
Everyone there seems very warm and friendly. One of her roommates Brownsugars daughter (and this was before we knew that) greeted her with such a warm hug when she met her! The kids just are very supportive..I am sure their is an undercurrent of competitiveness but thats natural.
Also you win some you lose some at the tryouts for stuff like Master Voice and such so dont be afraid to try out cus lots of other kids are doing the same. IN other words dont restrict yourself because you are afraid of trying out. </p>
<p>My D. wanted to work on stage technique so she signed up for Alexander Technique which is movement on stage and she did not feel she needed to work on her voice as much as other things, so did not try out for master voice but she did feel Vocal Performance would be good so she signed up for that. She is also in Shakespeare. She is taking an Improv class but she is not as fond of that one. She is also taking hiphop and jazz.</p>
<p>I think her experience has been excellent! I am glad Susan recommended it.
For next year (if she did a camp- this is her first time at camp aside from Girl Scout camp) we were thinking of Berkley for 5 weeks (which she couldnt do this year because of conflicts) but it would not surprise me if she came home and said she wants to go back to SDM! </p>
<p>I know she loves the immersion in singing, acting, dancing etc. with other kids who are like minded.</p>
<p>BTW I heard that Master Voice was more group singing? Not sure, but that was something D. has had enough of in the past. Susan may know about that.</p>
<p>And dont forget you will need to take dance shoes. So if you sign up for tap..you will need to buy tap shoes if you dont have them.
We did buy black character shoes (she only had tan) but I am sure she will use them for other stuff.
She already had jazz and ballet shoes.</p>