<p>What do you consider more beneficial....a summer MT program or working with a professional (summer stock) theatre company?</p>
<p>Well now that depends, are we talking about a HS grad? Or a junior still preparing for college auditions. I will be the first to advocate for the CMU Pre-College the summer approaching senior year (or before, but esp senior year b/c you have the chance of being admitted to the college!!!). This summer was one of the best things that ever happened to me! ;)</p>
<p>High school student.......thanks!</p>
<p>Once again it is hard to decide where to post things now with all of the various interesting and more specific threads. But here goes. Warning to those who do not want to read HAPPY news - STOP HERE!!!!.........</p>
<p>When we arrived in Ann Arbor last weekend to see the MT Freshman Showcase, we were greeted with some very happy and quite unexpected news. My D had just heard from The MUNY in St Louis, a very large and well respected summer music theater. She had auditioned there two weeks ago and had made it through several rounds of callbacks but they don't make decisions on the spot. Anyway, they called her on Saturday morning and offered her an equity contract for almost 8 weeks work this summer in 3 different shows. She was and is beyond excited. This is such a wonderful opportunity for her and she is on Cloud 9. One other freshman (a boy) from UM will also be working there as will 2 or 3 upperclassman so she will have some familiar faces which I know will be a great help.</p>
<p>Part of the reason I am posting about this (other than my unadulterated pride and excitement....duh.....) is that I want parents of kids who do not have endless resumes to know that their kids will be given the opportunity to succeed based on what they bring to the table now. My daughter has been in a sum total of 3 full length musicals in her entire life and it looks like she will be getting her equity card at the age of 18! (The choice to accept the equity contract and get her card has been a difficult decision which she has been "researching" and has come to a decision about with some difficulty. I will be happy to share that decision process privately if anyone is interested. And the truth is, she may yet change her mind again! - she doesn't really have to make that decision right away.) I guess what I'm trying to say is don't you or your children let yourselves be intimidated by others with more experience. While it is valuable and fun to have been in lots of performances, my D's experience suggests that it is not always the determining factor in the acceptance or hiring process.</p>
<p>Now, who knows of any good restaurants not to be missed in St Louis?</p>
<p>you know what, there's just no need for sarcasm. the poor mom that showed a little concern about some "over the top" postings has left the building. she received so much hate mail and rudeness that she doesn't come here anymore, so there's no need to continue to denigrate her. even our moderator who started out by asking people to be courteous, ending up taking a dig at her. can this not just be a safe place for people like us whose friends and family just don't understand this world, to come here and share our feelings. and, yes, even if you don't like those feelings.</p>
<p>WOW WOW WOW TheaterMom! I am so happy for your daughter! And I agree with everything you wrote. A nice resume can help a bit but it all boils down to the audition and the talent at the moment. She is obviously WAY talented (but I knew that already between her past achievements you have shared as well as being at UM) and what a great opportunity and experience! She must be really flying high. So, what are the shows gonna be ? This is just great. This summer professional work combined with her college training during the school year is a wonderful balance and will bode well for her future as well. She is on her way! I wish we could see the shows.</p>
<p>Send her our congrats!
Susan
PS, I heard how great the showcase was from Gkoukla.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your enthusiatic response! Yes it is a happy time in our family as I know it is in yours - your abilty to focus on the positive future even in the face of the scariest of events in the present is such a great model for your girls. Believing that good awaits us is, I believe, a major component of realizing your dreams. Truly believing that will help our kids with the inevitable rejections that will arise along the way, Just as a case in point, at the other two summer theaters (both non-equity) for whom my D auditioned, she did not receive a callback. So much of this has to do with being the right fit for what they have planned. My D understands this and while disappointed, was not really discouraged by the other two auditions.</p>
<p>She will be performing as a dancer and singer in Beauty and the Beast, Jesus Christ Superstar and Mame.</p>
<p>Thanks again Susan!</p>
<p>How very exciting!</p>
<p>Theatermom, wow, those are all great shows, have seen them all. I think she is going to have such a great experience. </p>
<p>I think your daughter's outcome with not getting a callback at the two nonequity theaters and then getting into the equity one is a fine example of what this field is like. Even with the college admissions process, I could scratch my head with wonder how certain very talented kids we know got into the top programs in the country and then got rejected at less competitive programs, etc. And so it also goes with casting. It goes with this territory. LOTS of rejections are part of this field even for the most talented folks. If you got what it takes, just keep going on. Your daughter saw that first hand. And I also want to say how impressive it is that she got cast, having had very few musical productions under her belt but clearly the talent. </p>
<p>That is why when I have read posts to the effect of "if my child had ony had X opportunity or program, then she would have been able to get into Y", I don't think it works quite in that fashion. Many folks had X opportunity and still did not get into Y. Others never had X opportunities and got into Y......this is not a linear thing. You have to keep the faith, keep going for your dreams, continue training, continue auditioning, get an education (though that part is not as imperative in the field, it still is a good thing to do) and so forth. You can't compare one kid to another. You have to keep to your own track and goals and keep at it and not get deterred! Your daughter is a great example here!
Susan</p>
<p>Theatermom-Mazel tov, congrats that is just wonderful and I don't think you should let anything inhibit your joy! (Congratulations to your D, too, since she's the one who did it!)</p>
<p>Theatermom--I woke up this morning wondering what was going on with your D's auditions (based on what you had told me)! I must have had a feeling something was going on. I'm so excited for her, and I don't even know her but from what you've written! What fantastic news!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>theatermom: Congratulations on your D's summer employment opportunity. It's quite an accomplishment getting her equity card right out of the gate. My D auditioned for four summer placement programs this spring. One was Pittsburgh CLO, which is equity, and did not get a call back. Meanwhile, she submitted to two Italy based opera programs, one of which is associated with Juilliard, and was accepted to both. She also auditioned for The College Light Opera on Cape Cod, and was also chosen to work there. She has chosen the Juilliard program and will be spending three weeks in the Tuscany region of Italy. Her voice teacher is thrilled and they are working hard to perfect her music. </p>
<p>Rejections can come in one venue in this precarious business, and you hope and pray that another door opens for an opportunity. I hope your D has a GREAT summer honing her craft.</p>
<p>Theatermom and gkoukla - congrats on wonderful summer opportunities for your daughters! Wow! Three wonderful musicals with an equity card and an opportunity to sing in Tuscany through Juilliard!!!</p>
<p>Theatermom...
congrats to your d on her wonderful summer employment. My d also got a summer stock (i.e. paying!!!) opportunity that she is excited about (nonequity, but that's okay). My d was also cast as a dancer/ensemble member in Beauty and the Beast. My d has previously performed as a "soul girl"/ensemble in JCS. I know your d will have a lot of fun this summer and what a great experience!!! Tell her "way to go!"
Lexasmom</p>
<p>Theatermom - WOW! WOW! WOW! MEOW to you too! You must be such a proud mama! I'm proud of her too! Please I would love to know about your decision on whether to go Equity or not at this age. I know there were discussions in the past as to what was best at a young age, and I would love to know what your thoughts are on this subject.<br>
I'm curious as I'm sure others might be, but what do you do for housing for that period of time in St. Louis?</p>
<p>P.S. I hear the ribs are to die for in St. Louis.</p>
<p>Gkoukla - Congrats to you too. I can't think of anywhere I would rather have an excuse to visit my daughter than Tuscany! Please remind us again where your D is in school.</p>
<p>catsmom: Our D is at UM in MT and VP.</p>
<p>Thank you so much everyone for your support and heartfelt responses. Flying home on Sunday evening I told my Mom that my CC friends were the only ones with whom I could share this. Your support when one of our kids gets good news or hard news is unwavering and a source of joy and strength always. </p>
<p>I wish I knew now whether whatever choices my D makes will turn out to be the right ones, but none of us are granted that crystal ball. At this point, I feel like I can help with the information gathering, share it with her and then the final decision has to be hers. Who knows whether going equity at this point will help or hurt her........But I have to say that at the least she deserves some "chutzpah" points (right Doctorjohn?). And no matter what, she knows she has our support.</p>
<p>Gkoukla
That is great news about your D's summer. My D had an opportunity to learn, work and sing in the first Italian translation of Midsummer's Night Dream into an opera, also in Italy, last summer. When she turned down the offer so that she could "veg" and charge her batteries before going off to UM, both her voice teacher and I almost had a stroke - in our minds we were already on the plane on our way to hear her sing. Oh well, as I said, I have to respect her decisions and in this case I have to admit that in retrospect it was the right choice for her at the time. I hope you'll share the experience when it's over. Lucky you and brava to your D.</p>
<p>theatremom, congrats to you and your D and her wonderful opportunity. One thing you might want to check into is whether it's possible for her to perform in the shows with an Equity exception. Often Equity shows are able to employ non-Eq actors, usually limited to a few per show. I know you've researched this so maybe this has already been explored but I thought I'd mention it anyway because getting your Equity card, while very exciting, can really put obstacles in your way at that young age.</p>
<p>Bravo!</p>
<p>Wil she be in Spoleto? I was there this summer during the festival there--all Julliard students participating.</p>
<p>Bellissimo!</p>
<p>Bravo to Gkoukla's daughter! These kids are doing some amazing things at a young age. And yeah, what a great "excuse" to have to go to Tuscany to see your kid perform. I can think of worse places, lol. </p>
<p>Give her the congrats from all the CC parents here!
Susan</p>