<p>NotMamaRose, the movie, CAMP is fictional. It is filmed AT Stagedoor, however. It was written and directed by Todd Graff, who at one time was a camper there and eventual staff member long ago. It is sort of his “take” or story on such an experience. So, what happens in the movie is not necessarily what the camp is like. For instance, boys can’t go into girls’ rooms like in that movie. That movie also has a lot of backstabbing, whereas the prevalent mood of the kids is very supportive, cheering one another on. In the movie, there is a lake whereas there is no lake at camp, though Loch Sheldrake is nearby. The movie also has major themes such as being gay. While some campers are gay (as are many in the theater world), it is not the prevalent theme like in the movie. Todd told the story that he wanted to tell based on his experiences. The actors in CAMP are not real campers at SDM. There are a couple Stagedoorians who had small parts in it but the main players are all professional actors.</p>
<p>The documentary, Stagedoor, is actually with real campers. A film crew just followed them around during second session of 2003. They particularly followed six kids, my D was one of them but then the final version only follows five, and she is not one of those, though is in the film as are many others. From what I have heard of the documentary, the filmmaker also chose certain things to focus on. Still, it is more of what SDM is like than the movie, CAMP. When my D, a veteran of SDM, saw CAMP, she felt it was very UNLIKE going to SDM. And no, Sondheim doesn’t show up at camp. However, many well known people in the theater world do come to camp as speakers or master class teachers or to lead workshops. Some are well known. Some are both well known and alumni. Also agents and such often visit. Haven’t seen Sondheim there though! You’d recognize some others who have shown up though. And they do put on many Sondheim shows…Into the Woods, Assassins, Merrily We Roll Along, Sweeney Todd, etc.</p>
<p>I am new to this posting thing but have lots of pages of info from all the threads here. S is about to go through all the college stuff and it seems you are the one to ask about all this. S was “chris” in ms saigon at sdm last year and am proud to report he was cast as “tommy” in tommy this year. and for anyone questioning the impact SDM has on a kid i can tell you you that last year was my S first year and he said it was a “life changing experience” , it went above and beyond anything he imagined. He has been involved in theatre for many years but says he had never learned so much about theatre than he did in the 3 weeks he was in Loch Sheldrake. Soozievt, I do hope you won’t mind us asking you all sorts of questions as we start this wonderful journey into the MT College auditions and admissions. Thank you in advance.</p>
<p>BrownSugar,
Congrats to your daughter on her casting. It sounds great. Drop me a line as I’d love to hear which show she is in. It will be so weird not being at performance weekend. Being your D’s second year, I agree that over time, they know her better and her work last summer paid off. </p>
<p>Kimi311, yippee for your son! While I haven’t seen Blood Brothers myself, my oldest daughter saw it done at French Woods and loved this musical very much. She has described the story to me. I wish I could see it. Who is directing it? My D is doing the musical your son was in first session last summer. </p>
<p>MtBoyMom, sorry our paths have not crossed. My D went to Stagedoor for 8 summers (16 sessions). Last summer she only went back for one session (first session) as she had graduated HS and so needed to be home for part of summer and to work. Therefore, I missed the great production of Miss Saigon. I know Richard Maltby came to work with the cast. That must have been a great experience. My D has met with him a few times this past year and really likes him. Congrats to your son in being cast as Tommy! What a role! Who is directing that production? </p>
<p>I agree about the impact of Stagedoor. I can’t begin to describe the significance of my D’s summers there on her life. Definitely impacted her in a major way. I’m sorry it’s over but she has moved onto the next “stage”. She actually is still 17 but her time at camp is over as she has gone to college for a year already. Fill me in on production weekend…the shows and Our Time Cabaret. My guess is that your son is in OTC too, yes? That experience also has been a highlight for my D…she’s done 15 casts of that show. The director of it changed the last few years and there are no longer the hotel shows but it is still an intensive experience. I’ll have to whip out the CDs we have made of it and play it in the car to get my fix, lol. </p>
<p>Feel free to ask questions on the forum and I will try to help. If you want more individualized assistance with your son’s process, I am a college counselor and you can contact me if you want to find out the various counseling services available.</p>
<p>Kimi311 ~
My son was in Blood Brothers when he was at Stagedoor. He played the part of the older “mean” brother. I had never seen it before and was totally moved by the show. It is pretty intense. The music is beautiful as well. I would love to travel to London someday and see it there - it has been running for 15 years. You will love it. Congrats on your son’s part - it’s a wonderful role.</p>
<p>I believe S said Doug Quinn is directing “Tommy”, and no S is not in OTC this year because they are doing a special MTI workshop of “RENT” and he was cast as “Roger”. They were not able to do OTC both. As I take it the workshop is taking up a couple of the regular class times and the OTC time is one of them. This is also very exciting for him. Thank you for your offer to help with the college stuff I will definately be in touch. Congrats to all others cast in the various shows. It seems like a great start to the summer!</p>
<p>mtboymom, congrats to your S for being involved in the Rent workshop. This is part of the long process of developing a student version of Rent and I’m anxious to hear how it goes. The first student production was performed recently by a high school in Wisconsin. I’m guessing that they are reworking some things which were learned in that production, and the process continues. Best of luck to him. Keep us informed as to how it goes! :)</p>
<p>MtBoyMom, wow, my D would have died and gone to heaven to work on a workshop production of RENT. She has seen it lots of times and has studied Jonathan Larson and written several papers and projects on him and RENT. Ah, she missed it by a year. How exciting for your son…and to play Roger, wow! You likely don’t know this but a boy who is now 21/22 who went to SDM with my D for several years (was also in OTC) is currently playing Mark on the National Tour. </p>
<p>My daughter (and me too!) loves Doug Quinn! He is a great director and person. She has worked with him too as a director and in Acting Master Class. Your son is going to have some summer at Stagedoor. Stay in touch.</p>
<p>Any other cc parents going to SDM for performance weekend this weekend? Our D is in a “B” show, Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Hopefully the weather will cooperate!</p>
<p>My DD went to Stagedoor last summer for her first time and LOVED it! Because I participated in this thread last year, I was alerted to the new postings… I just told my D about the “Rent” workshop and she was SO excited and impressed. Alas, she can’t go this summer but will be back in 2007 (at least, that’s the plan).</p>
<p>As former campers and their parents predicted, my D made some very close SDM friends in a short amount of time. In fact, in mid-May she and I flew to LA for the Bat Mitzvah of one of her SDM roommates. Two of their other roomies (from IL and MT) also flew in for the event. When the girls got together, it was as though no time had passed since they departed Loch Sheldrake! Since we live just a few hours north of the Catskills, we will be driving down to see these girls—all three of whom are returning this summer–during performance weekend (Session 3).</p>
<p>It is encouraging to hear that the SDM powers-that-be remember former campers, and possibly “reward” them with a bigger part if they did a nice job in their first production. I know that directors vary from year to year; does the camp keep any directors’ notes/comments on file? Just wondering.</p>
<p>Anyway, it’s fun to hear the news. We are looking forward to watching the documentary.</p>
<p>P.S. MattyB, if you are reading this, I hope that your school production was sensational! :)</p>
<p>Wow! Thanks so much for thinking of me. It was BEYOND sensational, by far, the best thing I did in High School. I advise anyone interested in both theater and leadership should consider directing their own student-production. “Once on this Island” was incredible and I thank everyone on this thread and beyond for their material and spiritual support. It was AMAZING!!!</p>
<p>And I wish everyone safe travels up (or down) to Loch Sheldrake this weekend. I miss it so much!!!</p>
<p>We are going to be there this weekend. My s is in the “A” show in the Elsie. “Tommy”. So that means we will get to see your daughter’s show. Which theatre is she in? I look forwared to meeting someone from cc. Anyone else I would love to say HI! too. FYI - s said “Rent” was amazing. He got to perform it in front of the Larson Family! Wow! I just wisht I could have seen it. WE don’t know if a taping will be available since it is “Rent”. I hope so. Look forward to seeing you all in NY!</p>
<p>mtboymom, we are definitely planning on seeing Tommy on Saturday night! Our D is in “Fiddler”, the “B” show in the Forum (under the tent). I hope to meet you this weekend.</p>
<p>The Rent opportunity sounds amazing - congratulations to your S! I saw him last year in Saigon (my D’s good friend was also cast in that show), and enjoyed his performance a great deal.</p>
<p>This “RENT” production sounds very cool. I have been enamored with that show for a long time. However I don’t know that I would have been able to give up OTC to do it.</p>
<p>Konnie just posted the second session shows:</p>
<p>SESSION TWO: ELSIE: Throughly Modern Millie (David Moellenkamp)
Utter Glory of Morrissey Hall (Peirre Brault).
PLAYHOUSE: Me and My Girl (Brian Marshall)
Leader of the Pack (Caroline Altman).
FORUM: Hair (Jeff Murphy)
Pippin (Lary Nye).
CABARET: Company (Ray Zilberberg)
Into the Woods (Matt Ferrell).
CAROUSEL: Les Belles Soeurs (Ryan Lee)
The Children’s Hour (Joe Osheroff).
MERMAN: The Uninvited (Chris Tyer)
Good Wives (Ed Weathers).
GARDEN: A Comedy of Errors (Chris Armbrister)</p>
<p>BS…I had heard about all these shows yesterday and hadn’t written you yet. They are repeating several shows just done in the past few years. My D was the lead in Leader of the Pack in the Playhouse in 2003 and The Leading Player in Pippin in The Forum with Larry in 2003 too. Hair was also done that year in third session with Jeff, I think. Me and My Girl was also in the Playhouse around 2003/04. Company hasn’t been done during my D’s 8 year tenure, though. Into the Woods was done in 2002 but I have heard that this time they are doing Into the Woods, Junior as the “kiddie show” though I have never seen them do a junior version of a show before but I think this is a good choice, given it is the younger show and this particular musical. I think I had told you that Larry would do Millie but when I mentioned that to my D, she said, no no no, it would have to be done by David Mellenkamp and well, she is RIGHT. I didn’t mention David to you but we LOVE him and he puts on excellent shows. My D had him as director a few times and I can’t say enough about him. (love Larry and Jeff too)</p>
<p>PS…Chris Armbrister is a male. He is also in charge of all the classes. My D has had him for Master Acting Class. He usually directs plays, not musicals but last year did a musical one session.</p>
Stay in touch.</p>