Summer Programs - Discussion

<p>Some programs like UMich's MPulse and NYU Tisch's CAP21 do allow rising juniors to apply, but from our personal experience it seems "tougher" to get into these highly competitive programs. D was waitlisted as a rising junior at NYU Tisch and was accepted as a rising senior (this year there were no rising juniors in the program at all, and we learned that the year prior there was only 1!). As a rising junior she also auditioned for and was accepted to Broadway Theatre Project, which turned into a great experience for her. I am sure others can share their insight on the programs at OCU and CMU, but my D did not apply for pre-college there.</p>

<p>My daughter attended the University of the Arts Pre-College Summer MT program when she was a rising junior the summer of 2005. There was a good mix of rising juniors and seniors. She also attended Syracuse's pre-college summer MT program as a rising senior (2006) but, again, there were a number of rising juniors. (Syracuse's entire Summer College program, not just MT, was canceled for the summer of 2007 but is supposed to resume summer of 2008.) My daughter learned a great deal from both programs but in retrospect felt her greatest growth came from the UArts program. I've posted descriptions of both programs in the threads for each school.</p>

<p>HSN-Best Age;
My D. was a rising Jr. when she attended CMU's Pre-college, and also accepted in to Syracuse and BU (BU Acting only). As a rising Sr., she attended Cap-21's 6 wk.'s Pre-College (by audition), and was also accepted to Northwestern's Theatre Pre- college as well as their add'l. 2 wk. M/T extensive Program (by audition). My advice to you would be to apply to (at least) 2 or 3 programs.</p>

<p>OCU already is starting auditions for the 2008 summer program!!!!! Texas auditions are this week. Then they will be in Ohio, Michigan, Fl, NY, and CA. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.okcu.edu/music/academy/audition.aspx%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.okcu.edu/music/academy/audition.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>They don't have the summer dates finalized, yet, but the tuition information (tuition went up!!!) and audition requirements are posted on the website. It looks like they are going to require a theatrical monologue this year along with two contrasting songs (monologue was not previously required). </p>

<p>Just thought I'd let those who were interested know! </p>

<p><a href="http://www.okcu.edu/music/academy/hsmtp.aspx%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.okcu.edu/music/academy/hsmtp.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>My daughter went to OKCU summer program in the summer of 2006. If I remember correctly, I paid $1800 total for the vocal program and the MT program. The increase really is unbelievable! </p>

<p>But I remember thinking in 2006 it was a real bargain compared to all the others.</p>

<p>Where should they audition if they are currently in college. What kind of summer programs?</p>

<p>Does anyone know anything about this program for high schoolers? Thanks.</p>

<p>Has anyone seen this video tour of the OCU Summer program? Quite impressive
<a href="http://www.okcu.edu/music/academy/summerprg.aspx%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.okcu.edu/music/academy/summerprg.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>About the BU Summer Theater Institute - It's a five week program for plays/theater. Doesn't seem to do any MT, but looks good! I haven;t heard anything about the program.</p>

<p>BU</a> | CFA | School of Theatre | Summer Theatre Institute | Curriculum</p>

<p>My son did BU's program last summer and loved it. It stands as a real turning point in his life, and it really advanced him as an actor. He took MT as an ELECTIVE, but there was little individual vocal work. BU lets you audition for their program the last week. His roommate just found out in applying ED that he did not have to audition again, as he passed muster at the camp. They typically (though they do not tell you) accept five kids based upon the camp audition. Any student can audition again. BU also gives four credits upon completion, with a grade, as the program is organized as an introduction to acting, movement, etc.</p>

<p>Bumping this thread up for Mom At Home.</p>

<p>Thank you Soozievt</p>

<p>This thread is very helpful</p>

<p>Can anyone on this thread recommend any programs like this for a rising Junior. Prefer to stay on the east coast. Thanks</p>

<p>I posted this note in the drama section, but will post it here as well. For those looking for a summer acting program, there is a new program called 'Flying Swan'. It looks top-notch. It is jointly taught by faculty from LAMDA (British), Dartmouth, UCLA, and Washington Univ. It is held at beautiful Wesleyan U., and the faculty live with the students 24/7. Marsha Mason heads the program, and show biz people also assist. Last year we applied, but they cancelled because they organized late and did not get enough applicants. They require an audition (various locations) and they are unique in letting ages 16-20 participate. I got the new brochure today. Google flying swan. I think that also have a youtube presentation. Again, it is perhaps better suited to those looking for a straight acting program.
When I looked at some of the programs last summer, I noticed that some of them used few-to-no faculty in the classes. Rutgers and BU did not even indicate who the teachers were going to be, which bothered me a bit. NCARTS did, but they seemed a bit too circus oriented for my S's needs. Other programs like Brown's seemed too focused on end of program productions - we were looking for a 'back to basics' program. Flying Swan seemeg to have it all, though it is not cheap - comparable to CMU.</p>

<p>mom at home--while not musical theatre per se, Boston Conservatory has a two week vocal/choral institute that includes a musical theatre focus and features their "regular" voice faculty as well as some professionals from musical theatre and opera. Our son went three summers ago and found it very good (he was a rising junior). The two-week length was important that year as he was also trying to fit in driver's ed and training! BoCo's website for this: Boston</a> Conservatory | Programs of Study</p>

<p>I looked at the "Flying Swan" website and I must say it looked amazing, and in many ways is what my D is looking for. I had two issues, though. One is that the kids are 16-20 and she will have just turned 16 and might feel a bit too much like the baby of the group. (Although I really have to wonder if they will attract college age students while mixing them in with high schoolers). The other thought is that this is their first summer and there is no way to get references from others who have taken it, and I would imagine there will be lots of bugs they'll have to get out of their system this first go around. But briansteffy, thanks for letting us know about this.</p>

<p>HSN, my gut feeling is that Flying Swan will attract more pre college students who are looking for a summer intensive. While it is true it is a new program, I'd have complete faith in a program offered by the institutions involved in Flying Swan, along with the distinguised faculty. Those institutions and faculty all have a leg to stand on. It looks quite good to me.</p>

<p>At the risk of exposing my ever-massive ignorance, from whence does the name "Flying Swan" come? Does it refer to something I should know about as a former English major?</p>

<p>NMR:</p>

<p>I'm only guessing, but I think it's a play on Ben Jonson's reference to Shakespeare as the "Sweet Swan of Avon" in his Preface to Shakespeare's First Folio. Here are the lines:</p>

<p>Sweet swan of Avon! what a sight it were
To see thee in our waters yet appear,
And make those flights upon the banks of Thames,
That did so take Eliza and our James!
But stay, I see thee in the hemisphere
Advanced, and made a constellation there:
Shine forth, thou Star of Poets, and with rage,
Or influence, chide or cheer the drooping stage,
Which, since thy flight from hence, hath mourned like night,
And despairs day, but for thy volume’s light.</p>

<p>(For our younger readers, Avon is the river that flows through Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace.)</p>

<p>There was also a theatre on the south bank of the Thames River in the late 1590's named The Swan, and one of the theatres that the Royal Shakespeare Company runs now in Stratford carries the same name. Tony Branch, the founder and executive director of the Flying Swan, is English, and might well have come up with the notion of a swan in flight as a metaphor for an acting program. I think it's pretty good myself.</p>

<p>That's pretty impressive, doctorjohn.</p>