Summer Intensive/Camp options

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

Hello - I had replied to an old thread earlier, which was deleted because I had mistakenly not looked at the forum rules closely enough. Sorry for the confusion. I’m new here.

But, my daughter is in her freshman year of high school in the northeast and attends our local public school in the morning, and then a magnet school for performing arts in the afternoon where she is studying musical theater.

Last year, she did the SMTI program at the Hartt School in Hartford, CT and really learned a lot and also benefited from the college faculty teaching there. However, it’s only 2 weeks, so we had planned to do that again this coming summer as well as some local theater production at night. The local theater has their show the week after the SMTI program showcase. However, that would still leave my daughter most of the summer to fill up.

  1. We’re looking at both StageDoor Manor and French Woods, since both are in NY and are not a long ways to drive. I think SDM still has a few slots in session 3. My concern is the price tag of around $6,000. Granted, it’s an overnight camp that also provides food, but it’s still a good amount to shell out for 3 weeks. As I mentioned in the deleted thread - is FW going to be too overwhelming since they offer a ton of options beyond MT? Is SDM better because it’s focused just on theater and MT? And, with the price tag, are we going to have to deal with some spoiled kids?
  2. I really liked the Savannah Summer Theater program, but the final session conflicts with the SMTI program and the possible local theater production. I would not want to blow off the people at Hartt because the SMTI staff and their community division in general have been really super to deal with overall.
  3. At her age of being a freshman, is a 3-4 week long camp like SDM, FW or SST a better option than a 2 week intensive at a college? How about some of the longer college intensive programs that last for 3-5 weeks? How good do these programs look on a college application? (My wife will have a stroke once she sees the prices of these programs)

Thanks,

Jeff

2

Hi @NewJeffCT !

I responded to your post on the old thread you said said was deleted, so I’m guessing you might not have seen it.

My D is the same age as yours and attends a PA HS. She also went to a university-based 3 week summer intensive last year, and this year she plans to attend at least one university-based summer intensive again (waiting to see audition results) as well as Stagedoor session 3. She is one who really likes to stay busy and gets bored easily during the summer (and going away to an intensive creates conflicts that puts her out of the running for doing a summer show where we live), so we have had to plan (and budget) accordingly. We are definitely middle class, so my D will be at least one student at Stagedoor who doesn’t come from a wealthy background. And I know I’m biased, but I definitely don’t think my D is spoiled…lucky that we have the $$ to send her, yes. But she is fully aware of the sacrifices that are made for her to be able to attend summer programs and is extremely appreciative and hardworking. We also get a financial break in a sense because she is our only child, and thus we only have her expenses to have to plan for…it would admittedly be very difficult if not impossible if we were to have to pay for summer programs (or any other expensive activities) for multiple children.

We chose to add Stagedoor this year based on the recommendations of many CCers as well as friends/acquaintances /teachers. From what we understand, the instruction is extremely high-quality and the kids are very talented, with many going on to study at the programs pinned at the top of this forum and perform professionally. My D has actually dreamed of going to Stagedoor since she was 10, but this is the first time we’ve applied early enough for her to be accepted. :slight_smile:

At our kids’ age, there aren’t as many summer intensives available as there will be when they are rising juniors or seniors. I created spreadsheets of programs I have researched/verified the quality of for grades 7-12, and a shorter, more manageable list for grades 8-9. I’m not sure if you have enough posts yet to be able to PM me, but if you’d like to have my spreadsheet and list, I’d be happy to share them. :slight_smile:

Good luck with your decision! Hopefully you’ll settle on the right program(s) for your D. :slight_smile:

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Thank you so much - I sent you a PM.

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@NewJeffCT - JMHO I think that as a freshman, she might get more out of a “camp” experience than a college experience THIS year. I would strongly advocate a college program summer between jr/sr year, but at her age the other seems more fun. Though I know that people have posted that one of the dangers of camps (be it stagedoor or French Woods) is that kids fall in love with THAT experience, and want to keep going back. That was certainly true for families in my area that had kids in those programs. @artskids might have more to say on that - her S did stagedoor for several years, and did not do college program. Then her D did CMU’s summer program, but never did a camp, and she has a 3rd kid who was at stagedoor last summer… and I have no idea what their plans are for this year!

Though I have to say- I was surprised to see you say stagedoor had any openings at all- I thought they were full well before the holidays most years!

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Thanks @toowonderful - I tried to check where I saw that they had slots for the last session at SDM today and I could not find it. So, maybe I confused it with another camp?

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Well imho @NewJeffCT I would go the route of a camp experience rather then a college intensive. If she’s just completing freshman yr. my D went to one in NYC the summer after freshman year and really had a great time. It was only a week but still pricey. But was great to get in the city too which she loves. She actually got to meet Sutton Foster that week & that was worth the money lol
Anyway I feel like she always has her summer before senior year to do a college intensive which my D also did. That was a nice way to experience a dorm setting etc. plus get a feel for college fresh in her mind.
Now I had no idea that stagedoor was 6 grand wowsa but I have heard it is wonderful. I personally however would probably try to find a less expensive option as 6 grand could be college funds!
Also I don’t think putting it on a resume or
College app makes a huge difference . I’ve been told the college people see so many kids with these camps listed that they don’t pay them a whole lot of notice. Now I will say whatever you do will show that your D has pursued her interest continuously through high school which would be desirable to a college admissions person/auditor.

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Hi @NewJeffCT: Welcome to this forum! There are numerous worthwhile summer programs for kids passionate about MT. Many of the college based programs are only available to rising juniors and seniors and so you may wish to consider that for future summers, though a few may take kids at your D’s age (ie., I believe University of the Arts is one available for your D’s grade level). And, it is not even necessary to do a college based pre-college program! My D graduated from NYU/Tisch for MT, and never did a pre-college program. They certainly are excellent opportunities, but just one option.

More important is that your D be engaged in worthwhile endeavors related to her interests, which in this case is MT. The local program and show sound great and supplementing the summer with a short program away from home sounds like a positive idea too. Anything that includes training, plus opportunities for performance, and immersion with others who share her passion would be great. I would not worry about what “looks good” on an application to college. She should do what she WANTS to do and the rest will follow. Anything she does that also shows she has pursued her area of interest does, in fact, “look good,” but colleges want the student to do what they genuinely wish to get involved in.

That said, my own kid went to Stagedoor Manor for 8 summers (six weeks per summer) and I have to say it was the time of her life and played a significant part in her youth and in her development in her field. I can’t say enough wonderful things about Stagedoor and have elsewhere on this forum over the years. I would be surprised if they have openings at this late date, but do call and inquire as soon as you can. They also maintain a wait list.

As well, I have another daughter who attended French Woods Festival of Performing Arts for 4 summers (six weeks per summer), though she did not pursue MT in college or for a career. I have written over the years the similarities and differences between Stagedoor Manor and FWF and won’t write them all out now. But you could pretty much insert Stagedoor Manor into FWF’s program as FW offers a similar program to Stagedoor’s in theater, but FW ALSO offers a ton of other things TOO, and is a bigger program. So, it is sorta all of Stagedoor plus lots of other programs in one place. If your D were to attend FWF, she could opt to just choose classes and shows in theater/MT/dance and not partake in other things. My D who went to FWF loved MT and dance, but also other things, so she was able to take dance classes and be in dance shows and be in musicals and also chose to focus on waterskiing and tennis. At Stagedoor, you can only do theater (and related classes like dance, etc.). But a FWF kid could opt to just do that too if they wanted to. If your kid were to go to Stagedoor, they have to want to ONLY immerse themselves in all things related to theater.

As far as “spoiled kids,” I didn’t see that as an issue at either of these two programs. My kid was more middle class. Her friends at home in rural VT were different than her friends at Stagedoor, but she loved both sets very much. She is very bonded even today as a professional with her many Stagedoor Manor friends (many were at her recent wedding in fact!). What happens at camp is that they all bond over their common interest. Kids come from all over the country and from around the world. They all love the same thing…theater. And ya know, the pre-college programs aren’t cheap either. Nor is college itself. So, your kid eventually is going to mix with kids from various backgrounds.

Happy to answer questions about either Stagedoor Manor or French Woods Festival given my family’s direct experience with both for many years.

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@NewJeffCT

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/20134229/#Comment_20134229

I wrote about the Stagedoor/pre-college program experience we have had with our kids on another thread (link above). I would be surprised if SDM has openings this late - although 3rd session may be a possibility given the late end date (August 20 this year) - but it never hurts to get on the wait list. It has always been a week too late for us given when the kids go back to school. Two of my kids have LOVED SDM and would return every summer forever given the chance.

My junior D is currently signed up for Session 2 but we are likely pulling her in favor of a pre-college program. I noticed last year some add-ins to the SDM curriculum surrounding the college audition process but SDM is a performance-intensive theater camp. My S got unofficial help with his list and some choreo assistance but none of that was part of the SDM curriculum. And you WILL deal with all types of kids at SDM - from the kids of well-known entertainers to theater-loving kid from rural Kansas. It’s all part of the experience. Feel free to PM me with specific SDM questions.

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My daughter did the Summer Musical Theatre Institute at Wagner College last summer and loved it. Check it out. She loved the many trips into the city for Broadway shows. It is two weeks.

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Our daughter did the OCU 3 week camp after her freshman year in high school. It is a college based program, but at that time, they also did a full show at the end of the 3 weeks. (Urinetown her year). She made incredible friends who are now in or have graduated from just about every MT program you could imagine. The relationships she made that summer are still paying dividends as she is readying to graduate. But it is a far piece from the Northeast.

Another summer our D was in mPulse at University of Michigan. It was nice to compare two very different sized schools and programs as well as become familiar with the faculty at each.

The last summer between our D’s jr and senior year we spent “camp” money working with Mary Anna Dennard to prepare for college auditions. It was a good decision for us.

I completely agree that your D needs to do what she will enjoy doing this summer. I would not worry about the name, but rather the activities and classes she will be able to partake in. If you are able to afford it, both Stagedoor and French Woods sound fabulous.

We also have friends who have gone to Interlochen in the summer. I will warn you that every single one of them, (3 in theater, 1 a trumpeter) all ended up going to boarding school there after having attended camp. Their parents arrived to pick them up from camp and their whole offer (similar to college with financial aid, etc…) was ready and waiting for the parents to consider. (and to pack them up and bring them back up for school in just a few weeks). Now not everyone takes them up on these offers, but in the case of the people we know – every single one decided to send their child to boarding school there. So something to be prepared for at pick up time!

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My son worked at Interlochen last summer after graduating from the University of North Texas. He was one of the recording engineers and said it is amazing.

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Thanks everybody. Interlochen sounded good as well, but it seemed kind of remote out in Michigan. While French Woods is also a bit remote, at least it is drive-able for me. Living in Connecticut, we already have plenty of people pushing boarding/prep schools on us, even though the town we live in has excellent public schools. :wink: (In nearby Loomis Chaffee, I know a young man there went to Tisch and there is a girl there now considering Michigan and CMU, among others for MT. Of course, Loomis is 50k per year for tuition & boarding. Or, almost as expensive as Michigan and more costly than CMU, I believe.

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CMU is closing in on $70k tuition, room and board.

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thanks @artskids - my mistake. I was looking just at tuition, not room & board and everything else.

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@NewJeffCT - I hope you find the right summer experience for your daughter. I have previously posted in the summer program forum about The Savannah Summer Theatre Institute (now renamed Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute). Timing doesn’t seem like it will work for you this year, but what I love about this program is that it encompasses masterclasses, camp experience and a musical experience. They don’t skimp on anything. From the elaborate sets and costumes, to directors that have Broadway experience and leadership that will not allow diva-like attitudes among the students. Go to YouTube and search them to see clips of some of their shows. My S has gone there 3 years in a row and it has been a life changer. It’s also so nice for us to rent a villa in Hilton Head the week he is performing! Good luck!

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Thank you @Barrie08 - I would love for her to go to SST. If they started a week later, it would have worked out perfectly. But, she liked the SMTI program at Hartt School last year and Hartt is a great resource for local high schoolers aspiring to the performing arts (They had a video a few months back of local kids that had gone to SMTI filming pre-screening or audition videos for college - I thought it was great that they did it for kids that may not go to Hartt). So, that is a must do for us.

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You might want to explore Long Lake Camp for the performing arts in the adarondaks. They only go to age 16! My daughter went one year and had a blast. The shows were excellent.

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Thanks @Ducky312 - my daughter was 13 last summer and did a local show that was up to 16 years old, but most of the kids ended up being 8-11 years old. But, by being among the oldest, she did end up being Cinderella. (And, the one boy in the show obviously got the role of Prince Charming) How are the ages at Long Lake?

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@NewJeffCT seems like our daughters are similar ages… my DD who is in 8th grade did the Jr. High 2 week at Oklahoma City U last year. It was an amazing experience. She did the one week at Rider the year before and it wasn’t a bad experience just not a great experience.

This year she is auditioning for The Performing Arts Project and if that doesn’t work out will very happily go back to OKCU. ( TPAP is closer to home, I don’t fancy another 16 hour drive across country).

Happy to answer any questions about the programs she has attended.

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@NewJeffCT my daughter did it the summer before here freshman year in high school. She did the 3rd session. She will be placed with kids her age. There are dance shows, musical theater and strainght plays. Lots of kids have gone for years. She only went one summer.