<p>Angst, I'll try to answer the last few questions but please do consolidate them into one post if you can and also do ask on the SDM forum or at the office, and prepare a list before you call. I honestly am behind on some things but don't want to keep you in the lurch since you are asking and I do have a kid who attends. </p>
<p>With Cabaret....if someone is considered for an open slot, I believe they WILL be called to the Cabaret callback and not just put in without a callback. That is the process. Remember when you talk of newbies in Cabaret, they are newbies TO cabaret, not necessarily new to Stagedoor. I am not sure the answer to your question as to whether they sing a new song at callbacks for cabaret or the same one they auditioned with initially for casting, because honestly, my kid got into the Cabaret cast the summer of '98 and I would not recall now nor have any recent experience. This is a good question for the SDM forum. My educated guess is that the kid would sing their same original audition song, as many kids just prepared and brought one audition song but I do not know for sure. </p>
<p>It concerns me that we are talking so much about Our Time Cabaret because if a kid does not get in, it does NOT mean he/she is not talented enough or not as good as those IN cabaret. I have no doubt that there are some kids NOT in Cabaret that are as good or even more talented than some IN it. It is similar to selective college admissions where as you must be aware, there are too many talented kids than the number that can be admitted. So, the way I would approach this, for any camper, particularly for a new camper, is to downplay cabaret and if she gets in, it is like an extra prize or surprise but not expected. I know you mentioned you don't expect it but we are talking lots about the nitty gritty of the process. Cabaret is a small part of SDM. </p>
<p>I see SDM as one part an opportunity to do a high level production in an intense atmosphere (16 days to get the show ready) with professional staff, a chance to take a variety of classes hitting upon different skills in theater (some which may not be available at home but if they are, a chance to work with a different teacher to gain a different experience), and lastly a chance to be immersed in a culture of other youth who are as passionate about theater as you are (this last part is huge, if you want my opinion). Does my kid love cabaret? Sure. It has been part of her experience every year for 8 years. It is just another thing she is a part of, that is all. It has lost some of its luster now that they no longer perform at resort nightclubs like she did many many times in the past. As I said before, think of it as the varsity and working your way toward it. Few make varsity as a freshman but some do. Some play on JV for a bit and earn their spot on varsity. I see OTC a lot like that. Go to SDM for the three things I mentioned and if cabaret happens, it is just the icing. </p>
<p>Frankly, for those in cabaret and a musical, particularly if a big part in a musical, it can be a lot of pressure to learn two shows in a short amount of time. One reason that they keep old cast members to cabaret is that it would be particularly difficult to teach the entire show (about 40 numbers) to everyone from scratch (plus in the past they had only 11 days from the time the cast list went up until the first hotel show....though now they do not have rehearsals for cabaret during tech week so it is still a lot in a little time). The way they do it is to have veteran cabaret cast who know the show, can help others and others can fall into place. There are numerous solos as well and just too much to teach with all else going on. I have known of a few brand new kids who made it into cabaret their very first session, AS WELL as gotten a lead in a musical, and have declined the chance to be in Cabaret because it is learning sooooo much in too short a time. A lead must learn numerous lines and songs and it is not like this is all he/she is doing cause there are classes too. It is very condensed. I know my child said she had so much to learn in a short time to do the role of Lucy that she is using any free moments to work on it. But she already knows the Cabaret though there are variations each year for her to learn. It is understandable that often someone cast in Cabaret has at least been there for a session previously because then they know the kid's work ethic and can trust they can handle it cause it is a lot of work to learn two shows at once. It's more pressure. You have to want the intensity. </p>
<p>The cast of cabaret is primarily made up of 13-18 year olds. Sometimes, they have about two twelve year olds in it. It used to be that the 12 year old girl and the 12 year old boy had an adorable duet of Somewhere That's Green. It was kinda the "oh, that is SO cute" number. My child got in her first summer when she was just 9 1/2 (and I have not seen someone this young in it any other time) but it was her second session of the summer (she went second and third sessions back then). They must have felt she could handle it as she'd been in a musical there the previous session and they observed her work ethic, is my feeling. Through about age 12, she was the still the youngest girl in Cabaret and usually did this duet and then in what is called the "audition sequence" of the show, she was the "Annie" girl solo. One boy she did the duet with for a couple years back then, was two years older than her and is now at Juilliard. It was a running joke for us about when would she outgrow the youngest kid in cabaret role (this duet and also singing Tomorrow) cause she was in those slots for like seven casts there. Finally, at age 12, I think it was, she got to take over this large solo that a very talented girl now at UMichigan had as her solo slot and it felt like an honor to get this spot after that girl moved on. Kids kinda pass the torch there. It was quite a contrast from the "kiddie" duet or singing Tomorrow, LOL cause she then was singing this moving more adult song, Brother Can You Spare a Dime. That was her solo for many years but that solo has now been taken out of Cabaret (new director replaced 25 year Cabaret director) and been replaced by a song from Jacques Brel called Carousels which she has sung for many cabarets since. That likely is her main solo this time again, dunno. I heard but am not sure, that might be in the Stagedoor movie too but it is not like I have ever seen it, her neither! </p>
<p>The question on how to get the stuff to the room......you are in luck. The first day of each new session, it is kinda like drop off at college for freshmen cause there is plenty of staff waiting to unload your car for you. I drove up last week with TWO kids (my kid and my niece who lives in Alaska, a new camper) and LOTS of stuff and the staff unloaded my packed SUV entirely and I just stood there saying which item went to which number room. They carried it up all the flights of stairs to Main 3 (where your D will be living) and delivered it to the girls' rooms. This went quick as the car must then be moved...just like college drop off. We did not use garbage bags or crates but you can use whatever you want. Just think about your older D who went to college last year, and it is a lot like that. Use intuition. There is no right/wrong here. There I was with my muddy SUV from VT next to a limo with some other kid who drove up, seriously. I've seen it all. Some summers, someone famous has kids at camp. Ya never know. For instance, while my kid has gone, these have include Bruce Willis, Joan Lunden, Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Lucie Arnez. </p>
<p>So, I hope that covers it and I hope if you get a list of any more things that come up, that you might ask over on the SDM because the campers there likely know way more than me! I'm simply at home, NOT there!
Susan</p>