OCU vs. SDM summer

jg6970 · 11-23-2006, 06:04 PM

I've narrowed my summer programs down to Stagedoor Manor and OCU (if I get in). Can anyone tell me which I should go to from personal experience? I'm having a really hard time choosing. I like the college aspect of OCU but I mean...it's in Oklahoma and kinda far away. Any opinions?

kenmarksnj · 11-23-2006, 09:29 PM

i went to french woods so people might say that since it is a stagedoor "competitor" i'm going to be biased but my UNBIASED answer is OCU...

OCU is a University program and it will show the musical theatre departments that you audition for at the college level exactly how serious you are about your career as a student of the musical theatre.

stagedoor is more of just using what you know to put on musicals (as i know it) as opposed to a serious training program... not to belittle the talent of the people at the program, they are EXTREMELY talented people... some of the best.

but with something like OCU on your resume it seems academically and artistically serious, something that will be looked on positively in the college process.

IJElkiss · 11-23-2006, 11:06 PM

Unfortunately, people who attended French Woods are unfairly biased against SDM. I went to SDM for 3 years and I can say that I got more and better training there over 6 to 9 weeks than I did in theatre and voice classes for the whole rest of the year. You take amazing classes and apply what you learned to the show that you are working on. See my post on the Stagedoor thread for more on the classes. And the shows are easily of a college conservatory calibre. Also, people make the best freinds that they have there. I have met many lifelong friends who I will always care for and who will always be a part of my life. So Stagedoor is the real deal. It is an intense theatre environment in which I realized that theatre is what I want to do more than anything in my life. Take a serious look at stagedoor, you won't be disappointed.

kenmarksnj · 11-24-2006, 08:49 AM

Wow that's only slightly immature... I stated that I WAS taking an unbiased look at it... because OCU is a college and will look more serious on a resume...

which is the truth.

alwaysamom · 11-24-2006, 10:22 AM

jg, I don't think that there's any *right* answer here.

If you've looked at each aspect of both programs and think you'd enjoy both equally, then maybe you'll have to let something else make the decision for you, such as transportation there. Or perhaps you should flip a coin!

Seriously, though, I'm sure you'd probably enjoy either one and, quite honestly, despite the debate here on this thread, attending either one will neither make nor break your college admissions process. Students should choose to do a summer program (or NOT to do, as the case may be) because it's what they *want* to do during the summer, not because someone feels it may look good on a resume. Best of luck with your decision!

MTd · 11-24-2006, 01:56 PM

As a lurker for some time, I thought I'd finally contribute something I know about!

I think alwaysmom is correct. Each program has its benefits and each program is different. I certainly think each program can give a young MT performer something they want.

I have a bit of knowledge of both so I'll share!

My D and family had visited a friend at SD a couple of summers ago. We enjoyed the show and meeting the students. The instructors were working professionals (well..most were but there were several who weren't although their brochure says all instructors are) and friendly. The facilities were adequate. The bunks standard camp housing. My D really enjoyed what she saw and if she wasn't looking for a serious music theater program, would have been happy to go there. There are some very talented students there.

My D attended OCU's summer program last year. It was without a doubt a life changing experience for her. OCU is a demanding MT program that covers all aspects of MT training. She was in classes mornings and in the afternoons and then she was in rehearsals in the night for Bye Bye Birdie. It was an exhausting full day for her most and most of the other campers. But in three weeks, she grew and really saw what the MT business was all about. They really don't pull punches at OCU. They kicked out a girl in the first week for breaking a rule. As a parent, I like that they take the program so seriously. The students we met seems to be very interested in studying music in college.

So....both programs are reputable and will give you what you want. SD is much more of a camp situation where the focus seems to be on the show. OCU is much more a training ground for students who want to do MT in college. I would not send a child to OCU is they do not have a desire for MT because they are serious about what they do.

There were a few others we have looked at that you may want to investigate: Ballibay, French Woods and Boston Conservatory.

I hope this helps! Good luck on your search!

IJElkiss · 11-24-2006, 05:27 PM

kenmarksnj, I did not mean that to be an insult. Only that there is a rivalry between the two programs and that an attendee of either will be biased, whether conciously or not, against the other.

Seriouosly though, SDM is not any less serious for future college actors then OCU is. It is a more relaxed environment, but one in which you will learn a ton and get firstrate training. And the creative staff are all working in the business, the counselors maybe not so much, but they are not teaching.

keepingcalm · 11-24-2006, 05:56 PM

Since you are trying to decide between these two programs my guess is that cost is not a particular issue for you. However there is a more than $2000. difference in the cost of the two programs for the three weeks. SDM would be cost prohibitive for our family and if the training is excellent at both, as said by others, that for the bill payer speaking here would be the determinant. One other aspect to conisder may be your interest in OCU for college. This would give you an opportunity to see the school, city and find out about the program and how it feels for you. SDM cannot provide this other than through the knowledgeable people who work there.

NotMamaRose · 11-24-2006, 07:27 PM

I guess I don't need to mention (though I am doing so!) that there are many other fine summer musical theater programs besides Stage Door Manor and OCU. Is there a particular reason that the original poster is not looking at any of those?

trill · 11-24-2006, 07:34 PM

Thank you MTd and keppingclam for your observations. While I'm sure that both camps have their merits, I can only see benefits for a child to attend OCU's summer program.

This is actually quite timely as we have been discussing summer at our house (it just seems like summer ended!). Last year we looked a numerous theatre camps, looking first at their quality and then their cost. Since we were theater newbies, we didn't know what to expect in the mail. Out of all the camps we heard back from (French Woods, USDAN, NYU, Stagedoor and some others I have forgotten), OCU's was the only program that felt serious. I called and spent 30 minutes on the phone with one of their staff and he explained everything I needed to know. (Incidentally, I did call Stagedoor and left a message which was never returned).

The biggest difference between OCU and Stagedoor is that OCU's is a university program for high school students. As their website states, it's a place for students who are serious about music. It's not a camp where you go swimming. That's something that our family liked. If we're going to spend major $, we want it to be used for education not swimming.

Also, the cost between the two (as keepingclam pointed out) is drastic. OCU is thousands of dollars less than Stagedoor. After seeing the living conditions and theaters in the Stagedoor brochures, you have to wonder why they haven't put money into their facilities. In addition, OCU has a new music building ($30 million I think) where the camps are held.

And mamrose, I would guess that jg6970 is interested in these two programs since they are both leading MT summer camps. But you are right..there are others out there.

So, for us, the decision is easy. Our child is serious about music and attending college to study music so OCU is the only place we would consider.

NotMamaRose · 11-24-2006, 08:00 PM

trill, it sounds as if you have done your homework. Just remember, however, that OCU's summer program is (for hs age kids) by audition only. I am sure your child is super talented (aren't all of our kids?

) but it always makes sense to have a backup plan.

jg6970 · 11-24-2006, 08:28 PM

I've already looked at a lot of other programs and narrowed it down to these two. It looks like OCU is the best fit for me. Still, I'm a little afraid of homesickness because I've never been away from home for longer than 4 days before so I'm worried that will ruin the experience, but I'm sure I'll get over it. Anyone know which session they're doing Les Mis? That's the one I want to go to, but they haven't specified which session it will be in yet.

trill · 11-24-2006, 10:25 PM

Hi NotMamaRose..yes..we did out homework! I think if you want your child to get something out of an experience you should look at everything. Your right about auditioning for the OCU summer program. That was another point we liked about OCU over Stagedoor. At Stagedoor, you don't have to audition to be accepted, they accept everyone. Now, I realize that one's love for theater is important, but if you are going to be in a serious theater program where you want to get something out of it, it seems that it would be better to be in one where the students have demonstrated talent and have been chosen. After all, everyone doesn't get cast in every show. But there is a place for every type of program.

And another thing we like about the OCU program is that they offer financial aid and scholarships. Stagedoor appears not to do that. OCU offers All State and NFAA scholarships which is great.

IJElkiss · 11-24-2006, 10:56 PM

Once again, I am more than a little offended by those people who are condeming Stagedoor without having been there. Most people who go there are very serious about theatre and the program is designed to support such serious students. But theatre should be fun, and it is also designed for people who want to have fun. So yea, it is a camp, but it is a theatre camp first and foremost. There is a pool, but you do not have to swim. You can take theatre games or master acting, or ballet or Movie making, or tv acting, or Master voice or modeling..... As far as the living conditions go, for a camp they are first rate. They are not college dormatories. They are in an old resort in the catskill mountains. And the theatres at Stagedoor are all quite nice and varied for different needs. Two precenium stages, an outdoor theatre, a cabaret stage, two black boxes. And the studios are all in good shape and perfect for rehearsal spaces. Of the people that were my age when I was at Stagedoor: 1 is staring on broadway, 2 are at U Mich, 5 are at BoCo, 2 are at CCM, 1 is at CMU, 10 are at Tisch (8 in Cap 21), 2 are at Syracuse, and 2 are at U Miami. So I assure you that Stagedoor is a very serious training program. The only drawback to stagedoor is the price. While it is worth the price you pay to go there, it is still very expensive. They do give scholorships sometimes though so it can't hurt to ask. And about them not calling you back, I am sure that it was just a mistake. And you should have tried calling again. So please think in the future before you bash programs that you know nothing about!

Stagedoor may not require an audition to get in, but you audition the first day that you get there and the talented kids will get the experience and training that you would expect from a college prep program. I have met more extremely talented people there than anywhere else. The concentrated level of talent is unbelievable. And while stagedoor doesn't use the official scholorships, they do give them on an individual case by case analysis.

mizmom · 11-25-2006, 01:08 AM

IJE...no one is bashing Stagedoor. In fact, people here have gone out of their way to state CLEARLY that there is place for several music camps.

The points here that have been intelligently brought up about Stagedoor and OCU are true...there is no denying that:

1) SDM costs much much more than OCU
2) You audition to get into OCU and you do not have to audition to get into SDM
3) The SDM housing facilities are "very camp like"
4) OCU is a serious university based program that does not offer the "camp" setting that SDM does

As had been explained above several times, there is a place for a serious music program like OCU and a camp music program like SDM. No one is debating that. Just because you do not like these points being brought up is no reason to accuse members of bashing. As you so clearly stated above, "an attendee of either (program)will be biased." You are posting your thoughts about SDM and others are posting their thoughts about OCU. The members who have posted here are kind enough to share their opinions just like you are. That is what these message boards are for..sharing of opinions. Sometimes we agree with what they say...sometimes we don't. Everyone on this thread has presented their statements in an open and equal setting.

As put in numerous threads before, if you don't like what you read, don't read it.