Stagedoor Manor theater camp

[Braniff Forever]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 9:11am

Hey everyone! Just wondering if any of you are familiar with STAGEDOOR MANOR the theatrical camp for kids located in the Catskills? I'm reading this book right now called THEATER GEEK: THE REAL LIFE DRAMA OF A SUMMER AT STAGEDOOR MANOR, THE FAMOUS PERFORMING ARTS CAMP by Mickey Rapkin the guy who wrote the book, Pitch Perfect. I was thinking of sending my 12 year old son there next summer. Is it still a good camp? Any other theater camps you recommend for kids? 

[AntV]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 9:42am

I read that as a theater camp for stage door manners. Something many people definitely need.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 10:00am

Smells like Astroturf in here!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 10:43am

Yes, it still has an excellent reputation, however, and understand it's very difficult to get in. 

[broadwaygeek3]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 10:44am

My daughter went there, she loved it!  PM me if you want.

[Soozie]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 10:51am

I am a parent of a Stagedoor alum. My daughter attended Stagedoor Manor for 8 summers, for six weeks every summer. I cannot recommend this theater program enough! It was a very significant part of my daughter's youth and played a part in where she is today.....she is currently 26 and a working professional in theater and music in NYC. The bonds she forged with her peers at Stagedoor continue in a meaningful way in her life as a young adult in the industry. While not the reason to send a kid to Stagedoor, I have to say that a great many of my daughter's peers, including herself, are finding success in their professional careers now and also in going to college programs for acting and musical theater. My daughter started at Stagedoor at age 9 and went through to her entrance to college. Stagedoor Manor is a very special place for kids who are passionate about theater. Hopefully, you got a sense of it from Mickey Rapkin's book (I've read it too). Kids range from those who simply like theater and do it is a hobby and may never pursue it in college or professionally, to highly talented kids, some with professional credits, and to those who go onto successful careers in theater and related areas. My daughter grew up in a rural area. She was immersed in theater starting in preschool. While she stood out in our small regional area, when she got to Stagedoor, she met kids who stood out locally from all areas of the country, including internationally. What a group of talented kids and passionate kids like herself. The program is a balance of training/classes and production experience. Every three week session is an entire session devoted to taking classes (can choose which ones.....great variety) and putting on about 14 full scale productions, including plays and musicals. The number of cast members in a production doesn't go over 25. The productions are of a very high quality and put on in a very short period of time. There is a sense of professionalism. I was blown away the first summer I saw shows there. I have likely seen approximately 50+ productions at Stagedoor. Looking back to the very first show my kid did there, so many members of that cast are having successful careers including Broadway, Off Broadway, tours, TV, movies, etc. I knew them when! Incredible talent. Every child has a chance to shine and more importantly, to learn. As well, there is a a select musical theater troupe, called Our Time Cabaret. Kids selected for this troupe, rehearse this show, in addition to their musical and their classes. It is sorta like a varsity team. The cast is exceptionally talented and it is a very fast moving musical revue full of solos and production numbers. My kid was in this all 8 summers and it was a highlight of her time there and her friendships from this troupe endure today, some of whom she performs with professionally. It used to be that the Our Time Cabaret cast performed at resort hotel nightclubs in the Catskills (my kid got to do this), but now they just perform for the whole camp and the parents. As well, there is also a select troupe for straight acting. Further, there is an event called Dramafest, whereby campers submit original short plays prior to the start of their session and some are chosen to be performed and the kids take full reign of every aspect of those short plays, which eventually get published as well. There are guest artists who visit. Jeanine Tesori. Seth Rudetsky. Kim Grigsby. Soooo many others. Sometimes agents or a casting directors come while Stagedoor is in session as well. Stagedoor Manor is a magical place. It has been a big part of my now adult daughter's life and influenced her in many ways. For a kid passionate about theater, this is the place! It is so popular that you need to sign for the following summer by early fall. I am not affiliated with Stagedoor Manor in any capacity other than being a parent of a former camper who is now a professional in the field.

Updated On: 7/3/15 at 10:51 AM

[Soozie]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 10:53am

PS....I see someone posted and said that Stagedoor is difficult to get into. There is no audition and no criteria for admission! Anyone can attend. What is difficult is that it fills up VERY fast and so get your application in by September for your best chance of securing a spot.

[tourboi]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 11:15am

I am an alum of Stagedoor, and I wouldn't trade the memories or experiences of those summers for the world. Highly recommend. 

PM me if you have any questions!:)

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 12:11pm

Sorry, I meant to elaborate on the difficulty of getting in.  Got distracted. 

 

Returning campers (and then family members of campers) get first crack at spots.  My understanding has always been that there end up being very few spots available for "newbies". 

 

I believe it is also pretty expensive.

[Soozie]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 12:18pm

While it is true that returning campers/families get to register first for the coming summer season each year, there are still plenty of newbies every summer! The main point is to register as early as possible so as to not miss out. They also maintain a waiting list.

[Soozie]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 12:25pm

Regarding the cost.....yes, it is expensive. But it is on par with other summer programs of its type....specialty arts summer camps/programs. I also had a child attend French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts at the time my other kid was at Stagedoor and it was comparable in cost.

Keep in mind that the staff at Stagedoor Manor are professionals and not camp counselors. The directors, choreographers, music directors, costumers, teachers, etc. are all professionals. The only college aged staff members are the ones who oversee things like the dorms and they are typically college theater students from overseas.

[brdway411]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 1:30pm

Watch the movie CAMP, it was filmed at SDM. Also I forget the name of the documentary, but there is one out there about SDM, pretty interesting flick. 

 

[Soozie]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 1:40pm

The documentary is called "Stagedoor." It was filmed when my kid attended and she is in it.

[theateraddiction]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 6:59pm

I'm leaving for 6 weeks at SDM on Monday, and I can't say enough good things about the place. Going there changed my life, and I count down the days until I go back starting from the day I get home! You make such special bonds there - you meet all these people you never could have imagined in your wildest dreams existed. They are just as theater geeky as you, and it's a magical thing. Everybody there is so very talented (both campers and staff), and the production quality is unbelievably high. The costumes and sets are absolutely fantastic. These shows are Bway quality, and I don't just say that because I go there: I say that because it's true! If your son is very serious about theater, he will LOVE LOVE LOVE SDM!!! You are eating, sleeping snd breathing theater!! Yes, it's extremely expensive, however if you can afford it, it's worth every penny. It's true that it's very hard to get in, but since this is a boy you're talking about, you don't have as much to worry about. There are very few boys there, so they rarely get turned away. However, just to be safe, I recommend you sign up asap. They won't accept applications for new campers just yet, as they give priority to returnees, but in October, they will begin accepting new applications, so once they open it up to newbies, you should definitely sign him up immediately. If you have any questions, I will be happy to answer anything and everything! :)

[Braniff Forever]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 7:30pm

Thanks everyone for the great info. I'll have to get my former partner, his other dad, to read this thread and see what he thinks. I'm all for it, especially after reading the book and actually interacting here with people who went and well as fellow parents. I'm bringing him in August for a one week theater camp in NYC (we live in Texas). We'll be staying in Brooklyn and going into Manhattan each day for the day camp. So if he likes it (a lot) I'll somehow find a way to sign him up for STAGEDOOR for next summer. Maybe the grandparents could help, lol! It really sounds like a great investment in your child's future happiness and success.