<p>I will defer to soozie, who really knows so much about what is going on. I only mentioned those shows because my son is friends with some of the kids from first session and did something during the winter with one of the directors there and he "confided" to a first session girl the 3 plays I mentioned. How to Succeed is not a drama-it is a musical made famous by Robert Morse and then again on Broadway by Matt Broderick. It is a good play with a large ensemble. Will Rogers Follies is something I am not too familiar with but the little info I have says it is a musical set in the 40s. Batboy was an off Broadway musical comedy about a boy/bat discovered in a cave in Pa and brought into "civilization" by living with a family. It is supposed to be a little "odd" in a good way. I am not sure if these are the shows but was told they were but perhaps Soozie is right-nothing is set in stone until Wed so we should be patient</p>
<p>Audi, I believe one of those shows IS correct :D. Can't say on the others. The thing is...rumors abound every year. Some come true, some do not.</p>
<p>Jalexis, my S did Cap 21 last year and SDM 2 years ago and again this summer. I am glad he did both because they are so different and they each gave him a different perspective. They both were great, both had extremely talented kids and professional teachers. They only way I can explain the difference is that SMD is more like camp. The kids live away and do things together like in a sleep away setting. Also, they put on a show at the end of each session. The shows are unbelievable and it is hard to imagine how professional they are when you think about the fact that the kids have under 3 weeks to learn it all. Cap 21 is more academic-my S had preparation and homework for some of his classes. There is no show at the end. They do offer a "parent's day" where you can come in and observe the classes and meet the teachers who taught them but it does not culminate in a show. My S had to commute into NYC every day because under the age of 17 they will not let you live in the dorms at NYU that are provided to some of th kids. Some parents found apartments for their children, but since we live 45 minutes out of NYC, my S took a train and subway every day and that wasn't his favorite. But once he was there, he loved it and often stayed in the city after classes with a bunch of the kids and caught a show (Often very cheap tix) or had dinner. As I said, they were both great and different so it is hard to say one is better over the other-it just feels right for some and maybe a different program is what is right for another. My S had a vocal teacher at Cap 21 who he continued with after the program ended. You can make some great contacts and get to experience NYC if this is where u may want to head.</p>
<p>Im sure they are not as bad as the camp I went to last year. It was a horseback riding camp and we were housed in tents. Metal poles and lightning dont make good friends lol. Everyday the health inspectors would come and be like do you feel safe? do you like it? PLus the fact they lied about a bunch of stuff including that they had the same horses every summer (they switched up) it was mucho $$$ and the owners did not know much about horses.. Add that to the fact there was a total of 32 girls in the camp and I was 1 of about 6 girls my age( not very nice may I add). Everyone was much younger and I jsut felt out of place. Soozie Im glad your daughter is having a great time. Is your pm full I would like to ask you a question. Angst Im glad your daughter is having a good time. She sounds like a great girl. Im excited for 3rd session. The summer has gone by so fast!</p>
<p>I read about horsebackriding at SDM? What's it like?</p>
<p>No idea lol. The thing in the other post was another camp I attended called the ranch. I would lvoe to do HBR at stagedoor but b/c the camp is alot of money and it costs extra to do it prolly not.</p>
<p>i don't know much about the horseback riding because my S never expressed an interest in it but I hear it is popular. Today when we dropped him off at camp I saw something posted about a schedule and there were alot of names on it so I assume it is a well attended program but maybe someone else whose child has taken it can give you more info.</p>
<p>Yeah...and I'm pretty sure it's going to be some...Western-riding trail sort of thing. Not really the "intense" jumping exercise I'm looking for. I'll go email someone at SDM about it.</p>
<p>I have to admit my first internal reaction to SDM was, to quote Better Davis, "What a dump." If you are hoping to see pretty cabins in a picture perfect setting, expect to be underwhelmed. But I promise firsttimers who see a Stagedoor production will be absolutely dazzled. This camp's priorities are on the productions-- with beautifully fitted, incredibly creative costumes, clever sets, top notch training and direction, and amazing talent. And there's such a powerful comraderie that the kids instantly feel--no one cares about the living conditions once they start getting involved in camp life. Even my super-fussy, uber-clean-nik mom, who tut-tutted about so many girls (6 to a room) sharing a bath at such a price, will admit that the quality of the shows and the experience make it worthwhile for most campers. She saw several shows last summer and came away exclaming, "I still can't believe those were kids!" and "What wonderful costumes!" I was amazed when she heartily reccommended the camp to family friends.</p>
<p>There is something special about SDM that transcends the lackluster accommodations. You just have to see the kids, and a show or two!</p>
<p>Hey Dramama, glad you posted to give another perspective. I had posted something similar but when I went to post it, the internet in our area went out and so it is lost. </p>
<p>I was going to say something as well about the accomodations or physical plant also picking up on something Defying Gravity said about her camp...and that is, it is all relative. I mean I went to a regular camp for 8 weeks for ten summers when growing up and it had cabins. One of my kids went to French Woods which also had cabins. Now, these were fine and good, mind you, and what many camps have....lots of kids sharing a group bathroom, etc. So, in comparison, a dorm type room with a real bathroom and beds/dressers is almost luxurious in comparison. Now, it is not as nice as most college dorm rooms and more kids share a small space. But usually you have five girls sharing one bathroom and that is about the same ratio in a cabin in a traditional camp. And I love your reference to your mom who is a neat nik who "tut-tutted" about the living conditions because my parents (the grandparents) said the same thing the first year and repeat it every year...."this is a dump!" and they do acknowledge that the money/tuition is truly going to the professional program....the professional staff for the many shows, the training/instructors, the productions, etc. That is what this place is about. And of course, the kids! They and we are awed by some of the productions we have seen. They vary but in every session, there are some truly excellent ones. The place is special but it surely is not so much the physical environment. Everyone wants different criteria in determining what is considered a good summer program but for me, I do not care much about the living conditions as I do about my kid saying "I love this place and I don't want to leave it" and who counts the days until she can return. If I hear that sort of thing, that's all I need to know. </p>
<p>Dramama, we gotta catch up as soon as we can about first session show weekend and also about this upcoming session with your daughter in it.</p>
<p>My daughter has gone to SDM for 3 summers now, and it has a certain--how do I put this?--shabby charm. Frankly, however, I've never seen a summer camp that's sparkling unless it's run on the principle that the kids should spend a lot of time cleaning their cabins and bathrooms. My older daughter, who worked at a conventional camp with wood cabins last summer and saw SDM for the first time this past weekend, thought the converted hotel rooms were a palace.</p>
<p>I'd say the surroundings are more than adequate, but the real strengths of SDM are its warmth--it's a very positive, welcoming place--and whole-hearted commitment to theatre.</p>
<p>Susan...You mean most rooms have 5 girls in it and are same size as D's room? Oh my! </p>
<p>Sorry if I offend anyone but the bathroom situation does not strike me as very hygenic..I mean there is no where to put wet towels. toilet was clogging etc.
Also I thought it would be nice to take the fan as a secondary source of air..but there was no air conditoner in that room at all and the overhead fan did not work.Thank goodness I bought a fan. Regardless, I shall say no more about the facility and wait and see what she thinks. </p>
<p>That is a shame about the canp you stayed at Defying! But you have a wonderful sense of humor about it. </p>
<p>As far as horseback riding goes..that is an additional cost. At first I thought D. would do that as she took riding lessons for several years and has not been able to go for awhile..but after we discussed it she thought it would take too much time away from the camp and her goals which is to improve her skills and meet others with a common interest etc.</p>
<p>As far as the shows go..I do not know what they are..I was just sharing the GUESSES of the girls there.</p>
<p>But it dissapeared! I'm not losing my mind, LOL.</p>
<p>I did pick up six plastic over-the-door hooks from WalMart and asked my D to offer each girl one for the wet towels -- there was a major "towel management" problem when I visited! Whether or not the girls will actually use them remains to be seen. :) I also sent a canister of Clorox wipes, we'll see how that goes. I'm hoping it will be like sending a kid to college and that she will mature a little and take cleaning her environment into her own hands. "Shabby charm" is right; I think my D sort of enjoys pretending they are all living in a cramped NY apartment or backstage dressing room.</p>
<p>Thanks for the tip on the over the door hooks..I also want to find a light that she can attach to wall. I am going to get these and pop in mail express..
Also I called and left message to Barb that the air in the room needed fix.
I am sure she will have a fabulous time..I cant wait to hear what show she is in!</p>
<p>Does anyone know what those lights are called that stick to the wall and you tap them and they come on? And also where to find them? I saw her one roommate had one.</p>
<p>They're actually called tap lights. A Google search should turn up suppliers pretty easily.</p>
<p>I found them online..but did not see any retailers I recognized as I would want to pick it up fast. I looked at the websites for target and home depot but didnt see it..do the stores carry them do you know?
or CVS?
Thanks!</p>
<p>Angst, I am not saying that five girls stay in the same size room that your D has four in which then adjoins a room of three. I have never seen that suite and only know that ONE exists on Main 3. I have no clue if the room for three or four in that suite is equal in size to the rooms that usually house five (and I guess sometimes six). The way you would know is to look at any other room on Main 3 to see. The rooms that house five have two sets of bunkbeds and one single and five dressers, that all fit. They can also house three sets of bunkbeds and six dressers, as my D has also had in the past. My daughter, this year, was in one of the only rooms of three and it was definitely smaller than the size room she normally has been in (which can house five or six). </p>
<p>I am not sure what air you wanted fixed but they do not have air conditioners in the rooms at SDM. They usually provide one window fan but kids also bring fans....we send a floor fan. As for towels, it struck me the first year that they were not set up to hang five girls' towels and we brought hooks and hung them in the room for kids to use. </p>
<p>I believe the shows were cast and posted today. It takes longer for first session because they have to audition everybody but they have less kids to audition second session....mostly those who have just arrived but not those who stay over for six weeks (unless they opt to reaudition). So, it should have gone up around lunch time today. I believe the majority of shows second session are Stagedoor premieres.</p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Hi Susan..
I am going to find hooks and send them to her I think.
Her room did not have any window fan..Also the ceiling fan was not working.
The girls said it was hot and someone had taken their fan away and the ceiling fan never worked since they had been in there. </p>
<p>Good think I bought a fan up but another one would be good to keep it cool.
Anyway I did call Barbs office and asked them to see what they could do and they said they would take care of it...so hopefully they will.
Its hard to sleep when its too hot.</p>
<p>Look forward to seeing the shows they have.
Does stagedoor premiere mean first time they have done it?</p>
<p>Ya Angst usually it does. Susan do you know what the shows were or if they would have them on the board at the site yet?</p>