Summer Programs - Discussion

<p>Theatermom, thanks for sharing it on the boards. It is great to hear about college students doing summer stock at a professional regional Equity theater and all that went along with such an experience. It seems like a great opportunity for a BFA student in summers and I am glad she had it and that you got the thrill of seeing all three productions. It seems like the perfect thing for summer for a BFA student to get to do. </p>

<p>One of my D's friends from her theater camp with whom she is going to CAP in the fall, just got cast to do an Equity production for the next few weeks at Sacramento Music Circus (I hope I got the name of that right, it is a known one) and will now be Equity as well. He is just 17. </p>

<p>Susan</p>

<p>It is really fun and gratifying to hear of so many exciting and successful summer theatre experiences for our kids! I will add some news as we just returned from a 10 day stay visiting my D who is performing with the Utah Shakespearean Festival. Last year she worked as an NFAA intern there and was rehired as a full company member for this summer. The company is comprised of strong classical actors who can sing. My D is involved in the ensemble of Camelot ( the one musical in the rep this season ) as well as dance captain and featured performer in the Greenshow ( a nightly 45 minute outdoor show that precedes each evening performance. ) A big shout-out to the four Otterbein kids who join her and three other cast members! The very talented Otterbeiners helped to raise the bar in both dance and vocals!!
Though not a musical theatre setting, she has learned so much from working alongside veteran actors and directors, and being able to participate in a wide range of experiences. Along with performing, she is teaching dance workshops and doing scene direction with the Camp Shakespeare kids ( 12 - 16 years olds who come for week long theatre intensives taught by company members ) and giving tours of the Festival's theatres, etc. She has also been able to flex those MT muscles performing at Cabaret nights, held weekly to raise funds to bring directors and casting agents to the Festival to audition company members. For her this is simply good experience, as she still has two more years of school. The four month long season allows for the company to really become a strong community, and several veteran actors talked about the quality of life present at this Festival. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting her friends and fellow company members, and the theatre productions were outstanding!! There is a reason they won the Tony in 2000! If interested, check out their fun website at <a href="http://www.bard.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.bard.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>gkoukla:</p>

<p>Great to hear from you again. Sounds like a great summer for your D (and your family). From my source, 1 person from last year's UM Summer MT Workshop was admitted to UM MT. One other was admitted to UM and is studying composition. Again just second hand, but that's what I have heard. Your post discusses meetings with incoming seniors. Does that mean younger students get no feedback regarding their progress, etc.? I know your D attended the workshop more than once, so you may have some information on this. Thanks.</p>

<p>vocaldad</p>

<p>Hi Vocaldad,</p>

<p>Your source may be the right one, who knows. I guess the main thing is that not many are actually accepted into Mr. Wagner's program from the summer workshop. Do you know anything about the incoming class this fall? I heard not many or none were accepted again? Makes you think, doesn't it? It's good your S is doing other programs this summer, as well as UM's. But, I can't imagine him having any trouble at all when it comes time for college auditions!</p>

<p>My D never got any feedback ever. Even the last summer there was no feedback about her progress, only generic college questions. Mr. Wagner was always very nice, though, and the kids really wanted to do well for him.</p>

<p>When you do these summer stock gigs and internships and the end of the summer season and the beginning of school overlap, how do the colleges deal with it. I looked at some summer companies and most of them go all the way through August and most colleges start up in the last two weeks of August.</p>

<p>Tripletreat,
This has been an issue my D has had to deal with for two years since her contract with USF is for four months - and ends one week after classes begin at her school. She had to get permission from the department head to start the semester late. The theatre dept. has no problem with this as having students work professionally is a positive thing. However, catching up with gen ed classes can be challenging. A lot goes on in a week of college classes! My D tries to choose classes where she'll have at least one other MT classmate who can give her missed notes, etc. She also has to contact each professor and let them know she will be starting late. One of the hardest parts for her has been not being able to be cast in the fall musical as rehearsals begin on the first day of the semester. Overall though, she feels that the trade off is worth it and she has gained immeasurably by having professional summer theatre work.
Also, there are lots of summer stock options that have much shorter time commitments.</p>

<p>OCU program and Footloose!</p>

<p>We are home with my son who has probably had the most incredible 3 weeks of his life at OCU's summer program. I won't be able to adequately express my appreciation to the school for what a good job they do and to let all of you know I can't imagine a summer program that is better than this. The faculty is talented and caring, the counselors friendly and enthusiastic, the classes challenging for the kids, the weekend planned activities fun, and the show, Footloose, was unbelievably wonderful and very impressive for being put together in 2 1/2 weeks with only evening and weekend rehearsals. </p>

<p>The talent of the kids in Footloose and also in the cabaret at the parent's dinner just blew me away. There were some VERY talented triple threat CC kids at the program. My son had the best time playing Willard the funny guy. We so much enjoyed watching him in that role. Too bad it is only one performance, and now we'll have to wait for the video to see it again.</p>

<p>In addition to the show, I very much enjoyed meeting several CC friends. It is so great to put a face with a name! That is the strangest part of this Internet friendship we have - not knowing you but yet knowing you so well. This was very fun and too brief for me.</p>

<p>Future people interested in OCU's summer program, feel free to send me an e-mail.</p>

<p>Just got back from the airport coming home from OCU. I can't believe I am now 1500-3000 miles away from people I was living with less than 24 hours ago. 3 weeks was not long enough, there were so many people I did not get to talk to enough because of my lack of verbal communication skills lol, but I love them anyway. Anyone who has questions should feel free to e-mail me. The longer I've been gone the more I'm thinking of going back next year. I only hope many people happen to ome out to new york for auditions or trips so I can see them.</p>

<p>PS - I got to meet Shauna!!! She was nice enough to come to OCU for Footloose. She is every bit as cute, sweet, and sincere as you would expect. We're looking forward to seeing her in an OCU show in the near future!</p>

<p>Congrats to all you OCU campers and there parents.I heard that the lead in Footloose (the boy lead)got kicked out the night before opening night and the understudy had to take over. Does anyone know why this happaned?</p>

<p>Yes, there are a lot of reasons why he got kicked out. It was very complicated and we were all devastated when he left but his understudy took it on and was amazing.</p>

<p>I don't know the full story of why the boy playing Ren was asked to leave the program, nor is it my place to comment about it on a public forum. I wasn't there. The program has policies and enforces them. </p>

<p>The understudy did an incredible job. All the kids were so proud of him for taking on the role at the very last minute! He was the cutest thing, knew all his lines, and seemed very natural. I was impressed!</p>

<p>The final bows have taken place. All the students have packed up. And we have brought this year's Oklahoma City University Performing Arts Academy MT program to an end.</p>

<p>First, a big thanks to all the CC parents (and Shauna!) that I had the chance to meet with over the past few weeks. We very much appreciated having your children be part of this great experience. It was truly a wonderful time and anyone who saw the powerhouse job the students did in "Footloose" knows first hand!</p>

<p>All of the teachers and counselors were knocked out by the great amount of talent. With students from all over the United States, we were very fortunate to have such an abundance of talent. OCU's legendary voice teacher Florence Birdwell (teacher of Kristen Chenoweth, Kelli O'Hara, Stacey Logan, Lara Teeter, Susan Powell) was moved to tears at her final master class because of their talent and dedication. All of our students received over 70 hours of classroom instruction. Everything from daily dance and acting classes to theory, piano, diction, improv, career preperation and vocal master classes. Add onto this the nightly three to four hours of rehearsals and you have a jammed packed experience! Our program is an educational training ground (with some fun throw in!) to help prepare students for their future. The skills they learned will help them persue careers in both music and non-music fields. I've also received emails from folks who want to know about next year's program. Plans are in the works and we invite you to get on the mailing list so you can get details. Just email director JoBeth Moad at <a href="mailto:jmoad@okcu.edu">jmoad@okcu.edu</a> or visit <a href="http://www.okcu.edu/music%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.okcu.edu/music&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p>

<p>So, to all the CC parents, we'd like to thank you for your kindness and allowing your children to join us this summer. It was truly an experience none of us will ever forget! Thanks!</p>

<p>Any of you want to share about UMich summer program?</p>

<p>Reporting back from OCU! The dinner and cabaret were wonderful. Dinner was better than I could have imagined and many of the students entertained us after dinner with a delightful cabaret. A skit two girls wrote and performed which spoofed the entire three weeks was a huge hit! Then we went to the theater and saw Footloose which was incredibly amazing. They put that show up in 6 equity days!! My daughter's high school puts on excellent musicals, but it takes them 2 1/2 months, and Footloose was much better! My daughter did NOT want to go home (I'm trying not to take this personally LOL). She made so many friends, some of the best friends of her life! It was a life-altering experience for her, but now she needs some sleep. She worked and played so hard for three weeks that she didn't really get enough sleep, then the kids stayed up for a party the entire last night. I wouldn't have missed visiting OCU and seeing Footloose for anything. As it happens, I had to travel in a wheelchair and then hobble to the theater, but IT WAS SO WORTH IT!!!</p>

<p>Yup Ericsmom it was a good time! It was so good to meet all of you (and ocumtinfo, too!). And Ericsmom's son and mtmommy's daughter were superb. Hope to see you all at OCU a year from now... ;-)</p>

<p>Hello all, long time no post, been gone for a while but now I am baaaaaack-LOL. Anyhow, D just finished another summer at Perry-Mansfield PA School in Steamboat Springs, Colorado; her first as a HS/College student[6 wk], and I wanted to weigh in on the discussion regarding connection between attending the various summer programs and college admissions.</p>

<p>Since she is my first kid approaching college I am new at this[prior to finding this forum I NO idea how to go about helping and guiding her through MT program admissions either] and my take is a little different. She is a social kid with a wide variety of interests besides MT, who just loves the summer program experience, period. When she attended P-M as a Jr/Intermediate [two 4-wk programs offered each summer], while it was intense [classes 8:30-5 M-F and rehearsals M-F nights with occassional Sunday rehearsals for either a dance or muscial production at the end], this year as a HS/College session student was a whole 'nother story. This summer was a turning point for her on many levels, and it was a turning point that would not have occurred[she believes] were it not for her P-M experience. Here are HER reasons why, obvioulsy you all can decide whether any of this makes sense for your Ss or Ds based upon what you know about your kid.</p>

<p>Here is why I think a good summer program can only help not hurt or have no effect on MT college admissions:
1-Auditions: There are three at P-M...one for admission, one for class placements, and one for productions [This summer there were 4 HS/College productions: An Evening of Dance, 2 straight Theatre Dramas, and a Musical]. I think it was Soozievt that said something about the more audition experience the better, I totally agree.
Additionally, there were two audition technique classes taught at P-M this year, taught by instructors and department heads from MT programs at several colleges who have & do work themselves in MT productions on Broadway & off-broadway as directors, choreographers & performers. D said if her MT Audition Technique class was the only one she had all summer it would have been worth the price of school alone.
2-The professionals who teach: D had instructors and directors from a variety of schools and companies including but not limited to: Stella Adler, Pace, Syracuse, Hartt, Julliard, Alvin Aily. Additionally, on the last day of school, a panel of the instructors who are getting ready to go back to their theatre & MT programs at this variety of schools gave the parents & HS students a three hour Q & A about going to & getting into drama programs for college.
3-Exposure to collge students who are already in school. Because at P-M HS & collge students are in classes together, my D met a great many students who are in a wide variety of programs across the country. This gave her realistic insights to different programs & paths.
4-BA vs. BFA, the big question-After attending a six-week summer intensive, many of the students know whether a conservatory program is for them or not.
5-College Credit-I don't know if this is a given at all of the summer programs we discuss here on CC, but at P-M, D was able to get 5 college credits this summer in Dance and Theatre, from the University of Colorado Denver & Boulder. While they may or may not transfer, having 5 college credits on her transcripts before entering her sophmore year of HS I would hope wouldn't hurt her collge application process.
6-In the element-since D attends a plain old public HS, to be around others for the summer who are like-interested and be immersed, again, gives a taste of what attending a MT program for four years of college might be kind of like.
7-Master Classes-Five or six times over the summer, prominent professionals come for 1-2 days and do an intense mini-class, usually at least one "famous" person teaches this [for example Stephen Schwartz came last year and participated in the school's New Noises Festival as well].</p>

<p>So while making the argument that a student must attend a summer program to get into a college program would probably be hard to make; and while there is no "ranking" of summer programs, in my my never-be-it-humble opinion, it is better to have them in a program than not. I believe too that if your kid looks for a program that has some of the seven elements I listed, the ones that make sense for what THEY need, then that program will help them with the admission process if in no other way than it might give them confidence that they are not coming late to the table when their junior year of high school approaches.</p>

<p>Now for my out right plug for Perry-Mansfield [or was I already doing that-LOL-:o]:
The school is in it's 93rd year, located in the northwest corner of Colorado on 75 acres. Most of the buildings are rustic log, with the various studios and practice halls constructed of post and beam with walls that slide or lift open to give the feeling one is rehearsing among the aspens and pines.<br>
Students stay in cabins of varying size.
The days are largely sunny and 75-90 degrees with zero humidity and the nights get down into the 50s for sweater wearing and comfortable sleeping. The instructors are all professional performers who either are working in professional companies and productions or teaching at colleges and universities across the country during the rest of the year.
Additionally, at the beginning of each summer, the school holds their New Noises Festival where accepted professional playwrites, composers & choreographers are invited to come for 12 days and mount completely new works that cumminate in a weekend of read-throughs and performances.
The website is <a href="http://www.perry-mansfield.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.perry-mansfield.org&lt;/a> or anyone can contact me via e-mail too.</p>

<p>Ditto to Believersmom's post.</p>

<p>My daughter also just finished six weeks at Perry-Mansfield and I cannot say enough good things about the superb, talented, caring faculty and staff at Perry Mansfield. I should also note that thanks to CC I met Believersmom when we dropped off our daughter. I am delighted to report that our families have now become friends. Our daughters liked each other just as much we moms liked one another and the dads also got along great. So new friendships have been forged thanks to CC and we are making plans to get together again. Thank you College Confidential!</p>

<p>Anyhow, going back to the theme of the value or not of Summer Programs and College Admissions, I feel that any child wishing to enter the world of the arts, either professionally or at the college level, will benefit tremendously from attending or participating in any number of programs. - - My daughter attends a nationally recognized magnet arts high school and her take, on spending the summer doing more of what she already does during the school year, is that she learned a great deal from the professionals at P-M and that it is highly valuable to be exposed to as many different styles and points of view as possible.</p>

<p>It is my humble opinion, that although one would not pick a summer program for an elementary aged child in terms of improving college admission chances, it would be helpful for those students aspiring to enter programs requiring auditions, to be exposed to what will be expected during the audition process. Children whose parents post or lurk on this website are already in an advantageous position. Thanks to generous mentors like Dr. John and students who have gone before ours, Shauna and Thesbo, just to name a few with no slight intended to anyone else, we have some idea of what to expect. Therefore, for what is worth, if my child did not attend a performing arts school and I thought that she would be inclined to enter a program requiring auditions, I would make sure that she be exposed to summer programs where she could learn about auditions and the professional world. I would also encourage my child to participate in Thespian competitions during the school year. </p>

<p>Attending an intensive summer program can also help a child decide what type of college or conservatory he or she might want to attend. Although my daughter has attended performing arts magnet programs since sixth grade, the many conversations she had this summer with professors teaching at conservatories and universities, as well as with college students attending various types of acting programs, have made my daughter start thinking that she might be better suited to pursue a BA in a rigorous undergraduate academic program with a major in theater, followed by an MFA in Theater. She reached this conclusion due to her love for writing, reading and music. In college she wants to “learn” as much as she can before she enters the professional acting world. She now understands that conservatory programs will limit her exposure to other areas. She is only starting 10th grade, so between now and her senior year who knows how many times she will change her mind? However, I am immensely grateful to the teachers at Perry-Mansfield for taking the time to talk about their experiences and how there are many different paths to theater. </p>

<p>So for what is worth, Vocaldad, it is my opinion that for students who have not been attending the same summer program for a number of years where friendships have been forged, one should carefully choose the programs a child might attend during high school summers in order to maximize preparation for what we know is a highly competitive arena: college admission. I am afraid that I cannot rank programs because this is the first time that my daughter has gone to any such program, but I do not hesitate to state that Perry-Mansfield is an outstanding program with highly motivated students and a wonderful dedicated talented faculty.</p>

<p>If anyone has questions, you may e-mail me.</p>

<p>Dramatica</p>

<p>Gkoukla - I can't wait to hear more about the program. This kind of summer dream is the carrot I'm waving in front of the d if she choses a college close to home. Sounds like a fabulous program and of course we'd have to sacrifice and meet her over there to tour. Ah, the things we parents do for our kids...</p>

<p>Ok, I posted on the StageDoorManor thread, but after hearing about lots of camps I checked them all out. So far I've looked into:
Long Lake Camp
Interlochen
Perry Mansfield
French Woods Festival
SDM </p>

<p>I really liked Walnut Hill and Perry Mansfield. I am obviously still not sure what I want to do next summer. My dilema is this: I would LOVE to go to one of these camps. The only problem is, the professional theatres in my area don't hold auditions until early March and early April. Most of the camps sound like they fill up very quickly, so I have to make my decision now. Should I take my chances in auditioning for a show here in Kansas City and have the possibility of not making it and doing nothing all summer, or should I go ahead and register to go to a camp asap and possibly pass up being in a show? </p>

<p>If anyone has any advice about any summer camps, or what YOU might do in my situation, that would be great?</p>