<p>BTW D was not sure who it was from the Sopranos as I dont let her watch the show (though I do!) but she said they were very good!</p>
<p>Defying…I asked D. if she had tried out for the Camper Showcase and she said no because she did not have a karaoke tape to sing with. I am not sure what talents are displayed in the showcase likely dancing and singing…but you may want to find out and take the things you need in case you want to do it. D. didnt know about it in advance.</p>
<p>Angst, did you get a chance to ask your D if she knows my D from “Aida”? I am SURE they have met…but my D can’t seem to find to call dear old Mom these days! (I guess no news is good news!)</p>
<p>Ontherun-I haven’t heard from my S either in several days-saturday they had Dancers/singers show (the classes they are in put on a camp show) and Sunday was the gala. Now this week is “play mode”-they have rehearsals for their shows non stop. So, no news is good news so to speak. LOL
Angst-I think JamieLynne Discala (tony soprano’s daughter is an alum) so maybe it was her at the reunion?</p>
<p>AudiB4, thanks for the “mother to mother” support! I know D is having a wonderful time. I just faxed her a note with a small list of questions and asked her to please call me with the answers, even if she just talks to the answering machine! LOL</p>
<p>Audi from her description I dont think so …but thats interesting to know!</p>
<p>Ontherun…D. says she and your D are good friends. I told her to tell her to call you. </p>
<p>Susan she saw your D. in the dorms - recognized her from the video we have of the camp and her roommate said yep that was your D.</p>
<p>Sounds like lots going on at SDM. D. said that one boy who is a very talented contortionist swallowed 1/2 a popsicle stick and had to go to the emergency room. Someone else fell and she said there was a fire alarm and a rumor that there was a fire under Camelot…(though there was not, thank goodness)
She was saying some of the kids take lessons in their hometown with the director of her play. Now wouldn’t that be a neat opportunity!</p>
<p>I heard about the boy who swallowed the popsicle stick. I understand the EMS responded very quickly and he was taken to the hospital and is fine-thank goodness. My S said it was quite an “event”. Hadn’t heard about the fire alarm but the boys building did not have hot water due to a pipe bursting. Since I haven’t heard from my S in several days, I don’t know if it has been fixed yet. As of last Thurs, they didn’t have hot water.</p>
<p>No hot water YIPES! D. said her toilet was clogged alot but must have hot water or she would have said. She did say thank goodness we took the Vornado fan or they would be in real trouble as there is no other fan in the room and its so hot.</p>
<p>A fan is a necessity. When we got to the room there were 3 other huge fans in the room-I actually felt a little too cool the first day, but we set up a 4th and my S has never said they didn’t need it or use it. It is so humid here on LI, it must be likewise at camp. I remember 2 years ago when we came for visitation weekend, my S had 2 hours free and only wanted to come back to our hotel (Days Inn, no less) to feel air conditioning and take a really hot shower!! It is so funny that, that is what he wanted to do in his 2 free hours. We take alot for granted, but when we don’t have it, then we greatly appreciate it. LOL</p>
<p>You guys asked for some “reports” of this event so I will try. First, a couple personal notes…</p>
<p>Angst, if someone said that was my D, it must have been but after reading your post I asked her if she was ever in the “dorms” and she said “no”. She was wearing a raspberry colored strapless sundress. </p>
<p>Scogor, I had no idea who your D was to look for, but have read your email and asked my D (who only got to stop home but is out the door for rehearsal all night now), and she said, yes, she forgot to mention to me that your D came up to her in the bathroom (not sure how your D knew who she was) and they met. Wish I had met her, but did not. </p>
<p>Audi…did not know what your son looked like but was trying to figure out how/if I could meet him. He is such a nice kid that back at camp after Kutschers (while at the OTC sing along …more on that later) he saw my D whom he knows/recognizes and asked her to point out her mom and she found me and matched us up and I got to talk to M. for a bit. Such a nice kid. He is having a great time and is so glad he went back. Told him I was talking to you online and that I’d report back, lol. </p>
<p>Dramama…when I was at camp after Kutshers, later on when the campers returned, I was on the lookout of the girls coming into the lobby and tried to find your D and sure enough, I did! She looks great…reminded her who I was and then she realized. She is having fun. She was dressed real pretty and is growing up! </p>
<p>I drove to the Catskills with my D and another friend of hers from here in VT whom she has done shows with over the years and who found out about SDM from us and went for one session for three summers, even roomed with my D, but has not been for a few years. It so happens that she will be rooming with my D at NYU next fall and is also going to CAP21. My D was meeting up with about 15 friends, mostly recent graduates and then of course, knew many other young people she went to SDM with prior summers who are older still, who were there. This event has coinincided with my daughter’s last summer of eight at SDM, and so it is a fitting conclusion to this very significant chapter in her life and also likely the last gathering as an entire group with her very close friends, though they will continue to see one another I’m sure. </p>
<p>After all these years of my D performing with the cabaret at Kutshers, I had never been there myself. It is definitely an old place but from a certain era in its heydey. Many alum from all 30 years showed up, including some better known ones. The current campers were all there, sitting in one section. Some of you who are reading this are very new to SDM, as are your children, and a lot of it would likely not hold quite as much meaning understandably. </p>
<p>Michael Larsen was there, on piano. For those who don’t know who he is, he was at SD for 25 years, heading up MT, directing the Cabaret (which he helped create), and directing numerous shows. He was BIG at camp and BIG in my D 's life. He left a couple years ago. Getting into a Larsen show used to be a big deal. The presentations varied between some alum or people significant at SDM, some well known alum in the industry, and some young adults who went to SDM not too long ago (during my D 's years) but who are now out and in college. Some spoke, some performed. Some of the “known” alum included: Todd Graff, Jonathan Marc Sherman, Josh Charles, Jon Cryer, Todd Buonopane, Danny Goldstein, Yancey Arias, Zach Braff and Mandy Moore. I’m sure that many of the current campers did not know who most of these folks were but Zach Braff and Moore. Zach spoke and was funny. Mandy said very little and did not perform. Someone asked in another post about someone from Sopranos…you are referring to the intro. for a girl, Caitlin, who was at camp with my D and who is now about 21, and from the intro., I gather she has gotten cast in either a guest or ongoing role on that show but I was unaware of that (perhaps it is recent). </p>
<p>Interspersed with the speaking/singing and reminiscing (sp?), they showed a media retrospective of the past 30 years, in three segments by decades, including voiceover. Most of the footage was like a photo montage, kinda like on a Power Point presentation. To me, the interesting part was the early years of the creation of SDM by Carl Samuelson, along with Jack Romano, and photos of the Karmel Hotel turning into SDM (kids and parents were laughing at how good the hotel looked before it was turned into a camp!), quite different. Of course of interest to my child, her friends, and parents in attendance was the footage of the past ten years. There were many photos but lots I had seen before around camp or on the website over the years. There was only a little bit of video footage. Once they showed about four different boys over the years singing Corner of the Sky in Pippin. Toward the end, they showed video of Our Time Cabaret (with no sound) from around 1999, when my D looked so tiny next to the cast who were all teens (she wasn’t). During that footage, the current OTC came onto the stage and when the film ended the current cabaret kids performed their opening and closing numbers. For “Our Time”, some young adults from my child’s era, opened the number. This all took 3 hours, plus we got there about two hours before hand for the mingling. It certainly was fun to watch and again, meant more to those who have gone a while and know the people or what is being talked about. For instance, current campers, except the long timers, would not know Carl, Elsie, Michael, etc. </p>
<p>I think the media presentation was good but to be picky, might have been even better if it had included more video, as opposed to only photo/slides because it is a performing arts place with so much of that nature that could be shown…like footage of shows in the beginning years and then now, cabaret, etc. My D also thought that the performance could have been made even better, which I agree with, if they had some kind of theme or story behind it. For instance, gathering people who had all played Charity, or all who had played Seymour, or all who had played Romeo, or all who had sung a particular solo in OTC, on stage at one time to do a number (not all these at once but in these categories). Those are just ideas of other ways to put it together but it certainly was enjoyable and an undertaking. I understand centering lots on “known” alumni, but there also is some great stuff by ordinary alums that might have made a neat performance/presentation. Kudos to Konnie for all the work she put into this. </p>
<p>Then everyone went back to camp. The current campers did not. I am not sure where they went but I think it was out to eat and the movies but in any case, they did not return to camp until 8 PM. For alum and guests, there was dinner served in the dining room (cold cuts and salad), my first time in 8 years being allowed to eat there! It was a chance for all friends/staff to visit. I know my D was having a blast. I liked seeing all her friends as well. There were other parents there too.</p>
<p>Then everyone went to The Playhouse for a sing along of Our Time Cabaret (mostly the group numbers) and the room was packed (no chairs) with all these alum crowded around Michael at the piano. The energy was enormous…the energy of one OTC cast always is but this was like many casts at once. They were singing and whooping up every song. Freelance (who was also there and my roomie for the weekend) said it looked like an Our Time Cabaret Mosh Pit…and that was a good description. Those from every year of SDM who had done OTC were singing it with gusto, as nobody forgets a lyric from any of these songs. People were even doing the movements/choreo in place where they stood, some were even on stage doing it with whomeever was near them, various generations. It looked like lots of fun for anyone who had been a part of this. I know it was for my D as I watched from the risers. I left after that but I know my kid stayed on for a while and went out in town later with all her friends and some staff. She stayed at a B and B with all her friends and I stayed elsewhere. Today was the goodbyes to lifetime friends made at SDM and to SDM itself, a place that surely influenced not only my child in a very significant way, but many others over the years. </p>
<p>Years from now,
We’ll remember
And we’ll come back,
To this theater
and hang a plaque:
This is where we began
Being what we can. </p>
<p>It’s our heads on the block.
Give us room and start the clock.
Our dream coming true.
Me and you pal,
Me and you.
Me and you.
Me and you
Me and you
Me and you
Me and you
Me and you
Me and you. </p>
<p>—Stephen Sondheim</p>
<p>Hmm maybe she said she saw her back in camp not in the dorms. I dont remember I will ask her. I am pretty sure she figured out who she was. </p>
<p>It must be very tough for you to say goodbye. Obviously you love the place…maybe your D. will go back and work there some summers while in college. </p>
<p>Thanks for all the detail. Did you know what show Mandy was in while she was there or what part she played?</p>
<p>Angst, it is my DAUGHTER who loves the place. I don’t love or not love it, I am just happy to see how much she has enjoyed it and what the influence of the place, the staff, and the friends have been in her life. Immeasurable, can’t quite describe it. It’s a part of her. My D said she was ready to say goodbye to SDM because she was ready to move on and was glad she ended it with one last session at the beginning of the summer but was glad that was all she did. Her friends have moved on and she is ready to as well. She won’t be moving on from the friendships with the other kids, nor staff, however. I doubt she will work there because the professional staff are adult professionals, not college aged people. There are counselors there but even they seem older than college. I can’t imagine my child being on staff in college as she would not be much older than the campers. She is still 16 now. I am sure she will go back to visit some time. Then of course, maybe there will be a 40th Anniversary bash and she will be old enough to be a performer this time, lol. </p>
<p>I do not know which show/role Mandy did at Stagedoor and perhaps my D knows but my D is out most of the night at her rehearsal. It took all day to get back and then she had to leave almost right away. If I think to ask her, I will. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Soozie-thanks so much for the “play by play”. It was very informative and glad everyone seemed to have a good time. It is unfortunate that Carl wasn’t there to see the whole thing but somehow, I think he is looking down and smiling that his little camp has had such an impact on so many lives.
So glad that M was able to link up with you and chat for awhile. I knew he knew your D and I told him to seek her out and have her point you out so that he could go over and say hi. He sounds great (although I haven’t spoken to him in several days) and I can’t wait to go up on Friday and see him and some of the shows. Thanks again for saying hi and reporting back.</p>
<p>Audi, you’re welcome. I was impressed that he took the initiative to try to find out who I was in the Playhouse (it was on my mind as well but I did not know where to begin in the crowd). He was very personable and a cute boy to boot. I’m gratified that I somehow must have given him a little “push” to go with his instincts and desires to go back one last time because I can tell he has flourished and enjoyed himself. As he said, he gets to go out with a “bang”! </p>
<p>So, report back about the shows this weekend, ok? This will be the first “second session” performance weekend I won’t have been at in the past eight years and still know several of the “players”, not as many as before but still enough to want to hear all about it. </p>
<p>I’m sorry, too, that Carl did not get to see the outpouring of love and devotion from the alum of the past 30 years, but luckily he felt it during his years when he was there. I even felt when my D was in Jekyll and told Carl’s daughter, Cindy, who runs the camp now, that I was sad that Carl was not there to see it because he always took such an interest like a proud Grandpa in her when she was little (not singling her out, he did this for everyone) and would talk to me about her future and I wish he saw the outcome or finale of her years on his stage. Carl was a very special person who created something that changed the lives of many theatrical children. Many have gone on to do great things in their lives outside of performing arts though were influenced by the arts and their summer immersion, and others have actually gone on in a big way in all the top colleges and facets of this industry. I doubt any of them will forget where “it all began, being what we can.”</p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Soozie, thanks for the SDM update and the sweet comment on my D. She has grown up quite a bit this past year and I’m glad you two got to say hello.</p>
<p>She called very briefly today and is very excited about being part of Follies. She said she was surprised that Mandy Moore just looked like a regular person and didn’t have a lot to say, but I’m sure she found it neat that she was there. (We love the film “Chasing Liberty.”)</p>
<p>My D sang the last number in the showcase and said there was a distracting bit of panic (perhaps during her song?) involving a boy and ice cream that resulted in an ambulance arriving. She said the staff was working to keep everyone calm and she had to wait backstage for a while when things got a little crazy. I never got the whole story, however – my cell calls are never more than about one minute long!</p>
<p>Glad to hear your D had a meaningful reunion on such a special weekend. All the best to your D with her show!</p>
<p>Aww thanx for the report Susan. 1 week!</p>
<p>Dramama, I need to write you but just to respond here…I am glad to hear that your D got to perform her song in the camper showcase (I presume that is what you meant?). Sounds like quite the incident going on at the time and am glad everyone was ok. </p>
<p>Mandy Moore had very little to say, very true. Did not appear that “comfortable” speaking spontaneously on stage, as the others, including Zach (who was with her on stage) were. She was the one alum most of the current campers had heard of and the one who did not sing, lol. </p>
<p>Will be sending you J and H and I’d love to see Follies. Am so happy for your D to have a part in that show. I am sure it will be great. Tell her I said she looks older now!
Susan</p>
<p>Ah Susan, I think you love the place too…Look at the way you talk about it, the kids, and the shows. How involved you are in whats going on there. I think it holds a special place in your heart AND your daughters of course.
Sounds like she is really ready to move on though…and I wish her the best of luck with her college career and I am sure you will be right there for her 100%!</p>
<p>Its getting closer to start date for third session and im getting worried. My friend jsut got back from another camp and has been going there for years and said she had a horrible time. All the girls in her cabin were very cliquish(this kind of cliquy is diffrent form school cliquy I think and she said the girls were very mean to her and excluded her. They bonded and jsut left her out fo everything with no reason. Im going to try to explain this as best I can to mainifest my worry. Jenny gets to Camp ABC.It is her first year and she walks into a bunk.Situation 1-Everyone is new. They are ncie to Jenny when her parenbts are there but later they form friendhsip voer god knows what and Jenny feels excluded.Jenny is a very shy person and does not jsut go into group and make friends with people who have friends. Jennys motto seems to be if you don’t make friends in the first 24 hours of sleepaway camp your screwed. Sometimes its proven true sometimes it hasent. But Jenny has noticed that friendships form very fast at sleepaway camp faster than normal,and even though the girls are nice and polite enough she never feels a close bond with them as they dont seem to want to include her in their stuff. I know im rambling but it is very hard to write this all out. You get the sense people like you “omg Lauren you were the nicest girl in the bunk” but they neevr take the chance to know you, mabye because you dont let them but either way your more of a serious friend , noone laughs with yiou ro has joeks with you. After camp there away messages are fileld with jokes form camp but just a miss you lauren. camp was ncie see you next year. This prolly will not make sense but any advice for me,if I was to be in this situation would be good. The second situation that could arise is everyone in the cabin knows one another form past years. Ive had one cmap tell me they put all new campers with new campers but that rarely manifests itself into the real deal. But thats another issue for another time.</p>
<p>Defying Gravity:</p>
<p>Anyone (well any girl!) who has ever been to sleepaway camp probably has experienced some of the feelings of being excluded. Even the girls who you feel are doing the excluding might at times themselves feelexcluded. There is no magic formula to guarantee that won’t happen to you.</p>
<p>The thing is it is normal to feel nervous before a new experience. But resolve that no matter what you will have a great time. </p>
<p>One advantage of a camp like SDM is I assume the kids in the bunk do different activities with different kids at different times. Therefore there is a large universe of new friends for you to click with. </p>
<p>My daughter’s first year at Interlochen, more of her friends were not from her bunk, but from her activities. Last year, in contrast, she loved her bunk. </p>
<p>Have a wondeful time.</p>
<p>Defying Gravity:</p>
<p>At SDM, in addition to the girls in your room, you will have a different group of kids in each class and an entirely new mix of people in the cast of your show. Some might even be a few years younger or older than you. You will will be with both boys and girls of every type. So, the chance of your having a bad experience is very slim. Remember–all you need is to make one good friend out of all these groups. And you will! Just be yourself. You already share a very important trait with EVERY kid at Stagedoor–a love of theater and an eagerness to learn. Bring your enthusiasm and the friendships will follow.</p>
<p>I attended the 30th Anniversary bash with my D. Coincidentally, every celebrity that performed at Kutshers confessed that SDM was the first place that made them feel at home; the first place that made them feel they really could belong and find others like themselves. They all told little stories about how their initial nervousness about making friends, fitting in, getting cast in various roles, singing on stage, etc. seemed to magically fade. Before long, confidence replaced self-doubt. So don’t worry–you are in good company!</p>