<p>Yes, this is crazy, and I’m also under the bed. Recently crawled out and visited Shenandoah Conservatory and had the best time meeting other parents in the same boat. Nobody understand this like ya’ll, and it’s wonderful knowing we are not alone. No one is alone…(everybody sing).<br>
I feel like I may be a bit behind as we have a few more hoops to jump through as home-schoolers and both D and I are trying too hard to be so perfect (me with transcripts, her with essays) I think, we are slowing down the process. Trying not to panic. Do have a couple of really great schools lined up. But trying to figure out how to upload a 1 MGB resume into a spot for 500 KB on the Common Ap supplements is making me nuts and taking too much time (note: Word 07 should do that for me with a save as pdf).
Then I thought I was clever to schedule auditions on Fridays as much as possible so as not to interfere with ballet rehearsals- only to discover there may indeed be rehearsals on Fridays, due to male dance partner scheduling issues. Sigh. Where’s the chocolate?</p>
<p>Just wanted to stop by and send “break a leg” wishes to the seniors and “hang in there” wishes to all you parents!! I remember this time last year with D being crazy busy with her regular life of auditions/shows/classes and the added stress of college applications/auditions! We both survived - and in many ways thrived - and so will you!</p>
<p>I wish I had some magical words of wisdom for you to help you be less stressed but I don’t. I will say that it was a roller coaster ride for us - the highs were really high and the lows were REALLY low. In the end, she ended up in an amazing program surrounded by incredible faculty and talented, supportive classmates. BUT - that program was not even on her list at this point in time last year. Just saying that to show you that this can be a very fluid process and to stay open to all kinds of possibilities. </p>
<p>As we say in the Parents of 2014 forum, stay 
!!</p>
<p>I also wanted to wish all of the parents with kids auditioning the best. Like austinmtmom I was right where you are last year with my D. It was busy, but D and I also had some wonderful times as she was working to get ready for her auditions and we had a great time on all the audition trips we did together. We met lots of terrific people and all of you should know that in the end your kids will end up in the right place.</p>
<p>Some of my suggestions are to make sure your kids get flu shots and that they not over commit themselves with school or outside productions during audition season. My D basically became a hermit except for school beginning after Christmas break until her auditions ended in March.</p>
<p>So, I love to dip in and read the most recent posts. I know how hard this is for the parents of prospective students. But I truly want to encourge your young actors to get out there and perform in their senior year. If they truly want to be professional performing artists, their fall and spring season of high school is huge! The point being, performance is everything. It’s their life’s blood; it’s what theatre kids are all about. The more they perform, the better they will be. Yes, training is so very important. Still, for now, what they have to offer is their marvelous performance ability. This will carry over into their audtion experience.</p>
<p>My D auditioned last year. And she continued to perform throughout her whole senior year. In fact, she had to wedge Unifieds in between performances of her HS musical. Perform in Sunday matinee, catch a plane to Chicago, audition M-W, catch a plane back to TX to do Thursday night performance. Luckily she didn’t get sick and was able to do it all. Was she busy? Yep - but it prepared her for college life. She has been in two productions since she arrived at college, with rehearsals almost every night until 11pm. Combine that with classes, dance class, voice lesson, etc. This is the life they are preparing for. They need to learn how to overextend themselves now without burning out!</p>
<p>megpmom, Exactly! You daughter understands not only the “want” to perform but the need to perform. Brava! College Admissions will always be a challenge. We all know that. But the kids should continue to do what they do so well. Hopefully the kids won’t get sick. Still, sometimes, they likely will. My own kid came home from his first year in college at NYU with a cold this weekend. He took a vocal rest day. Then, almost out of the ether, I heard him singing softly from his room. He was testing his voice to see if it was ready for classes this upcoming week. Loved it! We all love our performing artists, so we should tell them so. IMHO, they should perform throughout their college application mania. It may be the best thing for them! THoughts?</p>
<p>BvilleLady, </p>
<p>Although kiddo is just poised on the precipice of auditions, I couldn’t imagine not letting her perform her senior year (and she’d shrivel up and blow away!). Being in the fall play with a new director has been a great thing. She’s learning yet another person’s style of working, and her confidence is soaring. (She also learned she can memorize about 300 lines in less than a week…made my head spin.) So has her getting permission to use the (empty) auditorium during her study hall to sing, work on monologues and practice piano. </p>
<p>This past weekend, she was approached at church to choreograph Godspell for them in the spring. She’ll be finishing up the audition tour, prepping for AP tests, doing choreography for her senior ballet company and (hopefully) rehearsing the school’s spring musical. Left it up to her to decide if it fit…and from her room I later heard the Godspell soundtrack and tap shoes… </p>
<p>For several years, she was being trained as a classical ballerina, 6 nights a week of class, 1 performance in the spring. They were expected to skip prom for Friday night class, and to avoid all other commitments, such as performing in the high school or community shows…although she is a fine dancer, she’s moved on to different training, and is thriving in the variety.</p>
<p>I pray that she (and all the performing kids) will stay healthy, that they will not explode, and that they will have an amazing senior year, with all the excitement that is performing. It IS indeed their lives… As I’ve told her for auditions – I’ll manage logistics (hotels, travel, etc) – she just needs to show up for these exclusive little performances before a small, discriminating audience, and be fabulous (i.e. prepared, confident, and the “type” the school is looking for to fill a very competitive class). In the meantime, I give her lots of Vitamin C and those delightful mini scented hand sanitizers!</p>
<p>Every kid, every family has to find the path that works for them this crazy senior year. As this house, we post the calendar on the fridge, and hang on!</p>
<p>I agree with this philosophy too. If you think the kids are busy now, just wait till they get into a demanding college program! It’s difficult to anticipate just how intense these programs are until you have experienced it. The kids might as well learn now to organize their time.</p>
<p>Wow! I’ve been reading the posts on these boards for years and find it a bit scary that now my D is one of the kids who is auditioning. I am so grateful to everyone who has shared on here - I’ve learned a wealth of information. So now that 7/9 apps are done (2 supplements left), 8/8 auditions are scheduled, and audition materials are prepared, it seems surreal that she is about to embark on the journey we have been planning for so long. First two auditions are coming up beginning of Nov! She returns the day after to audition for school musical (I don’t think she would have ever even considered giving that up). So good luck to all. I do believe (as said above) there will be ups and downs, but am confident it will all be worth it in the end.</p>