What a great series of threads and wonderful info on these boards. I've been reading for a while and just decided to join in. Let me introduce myself. I'm a dad of two teenage boys, 17 and 13. My eldest just got accepted to U of Buffalo and will doing a prelaw degree. Mr GQ that has shown no interest in the stage or modeling which brings me to my youngest. All throughout middle school he has been interested in the stage and has participated in school plays, usually landing good parts. Well, we decided to amplify this a bit last year by having him try out for local community theater. Something must have jived, because he has been cast in leading roles from the start. He is taking lessons and has been most comfortable in the intermeadiate adult classes that welcome him with open arms. He finished shooting his first short film with a leading role and is going on second callbacks for two others.... Currently he is in rehearsal for three plays. School, off broadway and a East Coast competitive piece. It is all very overwhelming to say the least and he admits to it. Still, he has been able to keep is GPA over a 92 to go for the JNHS award. He will be in HS next year. We are really proud of this kid as you can imagion.
Now for the summer. Before he burns out entirely, he needs some down time for the summer. He is used to a week in the Adirondacks with scouts, up in the Catskills for YMCA camp and a week locally in Putnam for his down time. This year he is old enought to do the NYFA camp in the city for 4 weeks if he wants. NO, he wants to be a CIT for a local Stage Camp in Yorktown, taking and giving lessons himself.
So, since he was well recommended, he will go early and stay late to make a few bucks extra watching over his campers.
I wonder what your plans are for your kids this summer? Camps, more acting, what?
A little about me. I have been in broadcasting all my life. On air, management and engineering. I still do some VO work and love photography but have been with a network for the past 25 years.
Thanks for listening to my ramblings.

Hi DadinWestchester,

You must be proud indeed! I would say your son has gotten off to an incredible start for sure! If he wants to do an acting camp where many professionals have gone in the past (i.e. Natalie Portman, Mandy Moore, Zach Braff, Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Downey Jr., and a bunch of others), there is a great place that a lot of professional actors go and industry people send their kids. It's called Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Center - www.stagedoormanor.com. I'm sure it is full for this year as it books quickly with returning campers as soon as the sessions end in August. They do have a waiting list, and the age range is 10-18. Agents and Managers come up to scout each summer. That is also where Jason Robert Brown and Todd Graff went as kids (JRB is the musical director for the upcoming Broadway musical "13"). He auditioned kids from the camp for the show, and a few of them did the reading and some were actually cast in the show.

If you do a search for Stagedoor Manor you will find more info from parents who have sent their kids there. Beware though, it is very pricey. There is also another place called French Woods which is more of an all around camp - they do have theater and dance, but also other sports. Both camps are well-respected and are in upstate NY.

For out of state, there is Interlochen which is a superb camp. You have to audition for that one, and it is in Michigan. My oldest daughter went there and loved it. It is also a year round performing arts high school. The kids wear uniforms during their stay at camp.

All the camps have kids from all over the country as well as international students. I think those are your top 3 choices IF your son wants to go to a performing arts camp and mingle with other professionals (and non-professionals as well who love musical theater).

Good luck!

HI DadinWestchester -

So glad you introduced yourself! So many times we chat with people on this list but really have no idea what their background is.

I'm a broadcaster too -- 20 years in public radio. Currently a news director for a local station and freelancer for NPR.

I have 3 daughters doing local community theatre. The oldest - 13, like your son - has been doing theatre since 3rd grade and cycles from one show to next. You know the life!

This summer the 13 year old and her 9 year old sis are doing Red Mountain Theatre Camp (www.redmountaintheatre.org) in Birmingham. It's a day camp, so probably not an option for many on this list... but if anyone has family in Birmingham and wants to send a kid down for a GREAT summer camp, this one is wonderful. Jason Robert Brown has come down to Bham to work with the RMTC kids in the past and the summer faculty include many from Broadway.

All three girls will do Suessical in July.

Our biggest challenge right now is convincing the 13 year old that it'd be good to include some summer camp that doesn't involve music/theatre. We are exploring a youthservice camp for next summer --- sleeping on the YWCA floor, doing community service and social justice work. We'll see if she'll go for it!

We know alum from Interlochen and Stagedoor Manor. Both are GREAT! We're saving $$ for one in the next few years... kind of pricey, ya know!


TAke care,
TAnya

My DD goes to a day camp for the summer as well. It's run by one of our local community theatres. Each year they update their classes. Some of the instructors are alumi from Interlochen, Stagedoor and Stratford. It's pretty good for a local theatre considering we are so far from NYC. Like you Fluff we are saving $$ to go to Interlochen(hoping to go next year). Several of my DD's friends have been there and have loved it. A few years down the line I would like to send her to Stagedoor. We're also planning a short vacation to NYC, my DD can't wait! It will be our first visit

broadway95 - your daughter is going to LOVE it!

I lived in NYC for a summer many years ago. I took DD there last June for the Annie auditions. It was her first time and she totally ate it up! She told me that "I may live in Alabama, but NY is my home. These are *my people*" It was very cute!

She went back in February with her school choir to sing at a couple venues and she's already lobbying for another trip back - perhaps for Annie auditions this fall.

What do you have planned during your visit?

~Tanya

Thank you both so much for interesting suggestions. Stagedoor sounded familiar and we have friends that have sent their kids there. My wife is looking into that. My son was preparing a demo for Interlochen's music camp. He was wondering if he could do both music and theater. His is a percussionist. BTW, I attended Interlochen in HS one summer as a trombonist so that was under consideration.
Thanks again.
GT

Fluff - I am looking forward to her reaction once we get there.

We are going to do a little of the "touristy" stuff like Ellis Island and tour the city. We're taking in a couple shows...haven't decided which ones yet. Shopping of course and lots of walking around. A couple months ago she asked me if she could audtion for Broadway shows when she is there. At first I kinda laughed but if there were an open call I'd let her try.

DadinWestchester - Welcome!

Working with Barry or Kevin this summer will be a great experience for your son, BUT it will not (especially) help him move forward career wise. Talented boys your son's age are like gold - everyone wants them! (PM me, I have an audition for you!)
It sounds like he may be a bit burnt out. Once school is out and the pressure is off, he may feel differently.
If he wants to pursue a career in theater - make sure that the camp will allow/support him in taking off for auditions.
'Grinch' auditions are in June and 'Thirteen' doesn't seem to be completely set, etc.

If he does not have an agent (or manager), the summer would be a good time to get him representation. He may need more dance or vocal training, maybe a commercial acting class...

At 13, there is only a small window of time before the 18 to-play-younger kids will be taking over the parts that are available. Taking care of other children may not be the best way to spend this valuable time.

OF COURSE - he needs to do what makes HIM happy. Just some thoughts.

My showbiz kid goes to a sleepaway "civilian" camp for the summer. It's a low-key camp, none of her school friends go there, so it is a chance for her to really recharge her batteries and be whoever she wants to be.

Broadway95, if you haven't already seen them, the ones your daughter would probably like are Hairspray (our all time fave), Legally Blonde (before Laura Bell Bundy leaves)...if she's in anywhere from 11 up....they're both great shows. We've seen Hairspray 5 times...and Legally blonde twice.

Somuchtodo, why do you think 13 isn't completely set? JRB posted it was set on his website....they are opening May 9th in CT - $46.50 for adult tickets and $13 for kids/teens - teens get the front row (without parents). I know they have a few boys on hold, and the word is that this will be the type of show that they will rotate the cast fairly regularly from what I heard.

I was under the impression 13 was set also. We know a kid in the show.
Broadway 95, my daughter also loves Hairspray and we both love Mary Poppins so much that we've seen it several times. If your daughter wants to audition for a show, then I'd take her to see something she might be able to audition for in the future like Poppins, Lion King, 13 which comes to B'way in I think June, Billy Elliot (coming soon), Gypsy or one of the other shows that has a young girl in it.
You may also want to coincide your trip with either the Annie open calls or The Grinch and I posted somewhere back the dates that Disney will be holding an open call for the kid roles of all their shows (this summer).
Good Luck!

Medavinci & Actorsmommy....thanks for all the great suggestions. I know she'd love to see Hairspray....she has sang songs from the show for some local things by us.

I never thought of it like that to go see shows where there are young girls in them that she might like to audition for in the future. What a great idea! Lion King was the first show she ever saw and she was hooked. The expression on her face(when the giraffe's came out) was priceless.

Actorsmommy, I agree with those shows as well...I keep forgetting about them since my kids are older now and we saw Lion King eons ago but would love to see it again now that the kids are grown (they were 4 , 6 and 11 at the time). Mary Poppins was great too - my middle daughter saw it when it first came at...

13- I heard will go for a month in CT and then make whatever changes they need to make before going to broadway (which was supposed to be sept last i heard) but who knows ....