<p>Sorry for all the posts, but I just wanted to say that I am so pleased this theard I started as a first time camper in 2005 is still going, 52 pages later.</p>
<p>DefyingGravity gave a bunch of the information. I’ll share what I know as my D has been in 15 casts of OTC over an 8 year period and so I have seen OTC perform many times and know a bit about it. As she said, when campers do their regular audition to be cast in the regular productions, that also serves as their intitial audition for OTC and then the casting directors post a callback list. In the past, if you were cast in OTC, you were permanently cast for subsequent sessions or years. Now, even past cast members goes through the audition/callback process, but suffice it to say, that unless a cast member had not done what was expected in the past, they should be able to retain their spot. It is sorta like a varsity sport team. You try out, you get in and you usually stay on the team unless your work has not been up to speed. OTC is a little like SDM’s “master musical theater class.” While every camper is put in a drama or musical and takes classes and there is no audition to attend the camp, there ARE auditions to be selected for OTC and for the newer Player’s Ensemble (the equivalent of OTC but for drama), and to be placed in Master Classes. So, they retain that one area where you are selected by audition. New campers can and have gotten cast in OTC. As with anything, if they have seen your work in other sessions, they have more to go on when casting OTC. OTC often has about 40 in the cast (varies session or year to year) and so let’s say they want 40 and 30 are returning cast members from a previous session that summer or a previous year, then only ten slots are truly “open” for new cast members. The cast has to learn the entire show in a short period of time in addition to their other shows they are cast in and it helps to have returning members who “know” the show and not start everyone from scratch. </p>
<p>Until 2004 or so, Our Time Cabaret was a show that SDM took out to the public to perform in other venues, namely resort hotel nightclubs such as Kutschers and The Raleigh, and so the standard was set high for the cast. They had to have the show ready in 11 days to do the hotel shows and then they also perform for the entire camp and parents as the final performance of every session close to midnight on Saturday night. Those cast in the show rehearse every day and it substitutes for four of their eight classes. It is very demanding. Typically, the cast ranges in age from 13-18. Sometimes there are a couple of 12 year olds in it. It is basically for teens. My daughter got it in her first summer when she was 9 1/2 and it is one reason why her closest pals at camp have always been older than her as she did this show for years with older kids. </p>
<p>The show is like a musical revue, entirely blocked and choreographed. There are about 40 songs in it. There are many whole group numbers, some small group numbers, some featured dancer numbers and many solos. The show has an “arc” and a theme to it. A big chunk of the show stays the same year to year from its original inception. But there are variations each session and year in many of the solos, and there are always some new things in it. Some years there is this one medley for instance of “Broadway theme” songs and for several years in that slot in the show there was an Americana medley from Tintypes in it. But there is a core of the show that is there every time. It always ends with the song, Our Time, from Merrily We Roll Along. </p>
<p>DefyingGravity made one error when she said that they wrote some of the songs, such as “Some of Us Belong to the Stars”. I do not think this is true. The song she quoted, as well as all songs, are existing songs from the Musical Theater canon. I can think of ONE song that was written and sung ONE year my D was in it. I believe a staff member that year had written “Centerstage”, but it was just in the show that one year. </p>
<p>As DG mentioned, SDM did away with taking OTC to the resort hotels in about 2004, a very disappointing decision if you ask any cast member. It just is not the same since they did that. It is now only performed for the entire camp, as well as parents, even though it is still a great experience. But it used to be performed earlier in the week off campus. If you ever watch the Stagedoor Documentary (available to rent), which was filmed in 2003, you will see excerpts of OTC going to Kutschers. </p>
<p>For my own kid, while she loved everything about SDM, the cabaret troupe was a highlight for her of her entire SDM experience. It influenced her in many ways and she got to work with many talented people, many of whom are already making it in the field. For 25 years, it was directed by Michael Larson, who was the head of MT at SDM during his tenure, but he left a few years ago, so that was another major change. Jeff Murphy had choreographed it back then but now he directs it. It was created by the late Jack Romano (who the Playhouse is named after). </p>
<p>When I went back with my D in 2005 for the 30th SDM Reunion, and many old timers (some very well known ones included) attended going back 30 years. They all gathered in the Playhouse and sang through every OTC song, with Michael at the piano. It was quite the sight and sound. </p>
<p>For years when my D was in OTC as a younger cast member, she looked up to older kids who she hoped to follow in their footsteps. It is that sort of thing. She would have one of the “younger solos” for a few years and then move up into the solos that someone older had who had sinced moved onto college, etc. My D even wrote one of her many college app essays relating to always looking up and going 'round…like her solo, Carousels, which she had her last few summers at SDM. I can’t really explain what it is like and the bonding and the growth through that experience. I’ll give one example that I’ll take from an IM my D sent me from NYC last night. She is musically directing a professional show in NYC, written and composed by a Tony nominated writer/composer, which goes up this fall. My D mentioned how weird it feels that she hired some singers who are now college graduates, to be in this show (she had a say in selecting the cast) and that these particular young women she mentioned were girls SHE had looked up to for YEARS at SDM. Another example is that any minute my D goes on stage for opening night of a musical in NYC and several former OTC members are involved in that show. It just is a bonding type of experience. Another thing my kid gained from it was that she really learned how to put together a cabaret revue. After being in OTC for so many years, she came to create, write, direct, musically direct two cabarets at her high school which had never been done before, as well as other cabarets and revues at other venues. I am sure her experience in OTC of how this all comes together was a big influence. Lastly, the expectations of the director and musical director (and I guess choregrapher too) for OTC are very high, particularly when it was performed at the resort hotels and so the kids had to learn professionalism and work really hard to pull it off in 11 days on top of their classes and other shows, and even if they were learning lead roles in other shows. It is intense. I think of OTC as something a camper who is serious about MT can work toward and it may take a few years to get in it but it is worth the wait. By the same token, there are all the other wonderful musicals at SDM to do and OTC is just a different sort of experience and is done at a high level usually, given that it is by selection.</p>
<p>I hope that gives you a personal account but I’m just a parent.</p>
<p>DefyingGravity, for my own curiousity, since I know that the songs in OTC are from real musicals and not written by the camp, I looked up the song you mentioned which is in EVERY production of OTC: “Some of Us Belong to the Stars” to see what it is from. It is from an English musical called “Billy!” There is even a midi of it online, LOL…that’s the song. For every cast of OTC, my husband has made a DVD and then he makes a CD from the DVD and so I have listened to many songs from OTC in my car, lol. I was on a long drive recently and my other D’s CD case was in the car as it was her car but she is overseas right now and I pulled out OTC from 2002 and listened to it on my ride. I was blown away because that was only five years ago and quite a number of kids on the CD he made of the show are on Broadway, off-Broadway, National Tours or in BFA programs. I felt like “I knew them when!”</p>
<p>That is very cool Soozie. Every year my friends and I go home and look up the songs, because someone always wants to put the songs on their Ipods and I cannot find any of them. They are such great songs and I would love to put them on my Ipod but I cannot find any of them, neither do I have the song list because I was never in OTC, we just assumed they were made up since they seemed so obscure to us, lol, my bad.</p>
<p>Hi, all:</p>
<p>DD’s first letters arrived yesterday. She got her wish: she is in one of the “adult” dance shows. To quote her letter,</p>
<p>“Guess what show I’m in! Mack & Mabel! And… WE ARE A STAGEDOOR ORIGINAL CAST! Isn’t that so cool? …apparently it is a major dance show! We even get a big tap number! And there is a number where we are the ‘bathing beauties’ and also we sing a whole song with pie on our faces! … Our director’s name is Jacob and he is really amazing, and I have fallen in love with our choreographer named Katie. … All of my classes today were really amazing too. Our ballet 3 only has five people in it, but the routine is truly beautiful. …”</p>
<p>I have never seen so many exclamation points in one letter… well, not since the first time she went to Stagedoor. She ended one letter with “I LOVE IT HERE!” (caps hers) and that pretty much sums it up. Her good friend from home is a principal in Grease.</p>
<p>I suspect that the rest of you have heard similar (happy and excited) news from your campers!</p>
<p>Mom4Life, just heard from my daughter earlier this afternoon too. She ended up in Mack & Mabel as well. She mentioned the bathing beauty number, and said she’s one of the Keystone Cops in the beginning. She really loves Jacob.</p>
<p>It was funny, she said "Dad, remember how I was worried about being homesick? … ain’t happenin’ "… </p>
<p>She said she auditioned for master acting(players ensemble) and although she didn’t make the final cut she said she was the only first year person who got a callback, so I guess that’s a positive…</p>
<p>Anyway she said she really loves everything and is having a blast… she mentioned her voice teacher was in Phantom in the west end, but I forget his name… anyone know?</p>
<p>KatiesDad,</p>
<p>I read your earlier post about meeting Jacob Brent backstage – what a great story! So, your D DID end up working with him: how perfect. My DD’s friend who was homesick last time they were there (although she enjoyed every moment of camp) never mentioned being homesick to her mom THIS time. </p>
<p>Congrats to your D for the master class callback; that’s terrific. </p>
<p>I don’t know the voice teachers’ names, but perhaps Soozie can help with that.</p>
<p>I missed my D’s call earlier because I was on the highway coming home from a trip to PA, but she talked with her dad. She might call again later (I hope) but I think they’re all going to the movies and dinner today (?). </p>
<p>If your D knows a girl with long blonde hair from upstate NY, that’s my DD. I’m so glad to hear that your D is also a very happy camper!</p>
<p>JuliesMom</p>
<p>KatiesDad -</p>
<p>My D (first year - she is 15) is roommates with a Katie - but she is from MA. I thinkyou guys are from PA? She is in RENT - and did make the Master Acting class - but said her audition was “terrible” as her vocal coach and I thought that her 38 second audition song (“Popular”) which she had worked on and on and on until it was imprinted on her brain - had to be cut! So - from 22 measures to the requsite 16 - and she flubbed it twice. Oh well! So no “OTC” or Master Voice for her.</p>
<p>But - she is taking the “Auditioning for Musical Theatre” class - with the same Music Director that played for her audition - and he thought her cut of the song was ‘perfect’. (She said he did not remember her from the audition day.)</p>
<p>That’s show biz! She was rather upbeat about the whole situation. Just another learning experience - although I feel guilty for not calling beforehand about the strictness of the cut.</p>
<p>She is really thrilled with her Shakespeare class as well. And loves all the roomies.</p>
<p>janenw</p>
<p>Well talked to my D again earlier this evening. Her voice teacher that I mentioned earlier is Paul Arden Griffith and was in the original london cast <a href=“http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com/poto/meet/meet_biog_PaulArdenGriffith.php[/url]”>http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com/poto/meet/meet_biog_PaulArdenGriffith.php</a> She said he is really good, and likes him a lot. Mom4Life, I think my D knows your D. Janenw, not sure if she knows your daughter yet, but she did tell me she’s friends with a Justin (I think that’s what she said his name was) who is playing Mark in Rent, so she’ll probably know her soon if she doesn’t already.</p>
<p>She also told me that Spring Awakening cast members are coming up there tomorrow… Lea Michele and Kimberly Grigsby the musical director, and probably one more cast member, either Jonathan Groff, or John Gallagher, jr. they think. She’s really excited.</p>
<p>It’s fun reading of your children’s excitement and of their casting news. KatiesDad, funny how your D ended up in Mack and Mabel after all. I was thinking it was an original SDM cast as I hadn’t seen it, at least, in the 8 years my D went there. Sounds like your kids all got into neat shows. Jane, sorry to hear about the cut in the audition song and I guess they strictly kept to the 16 bars but at least went over that in the “practice” session with the musical director prior to the real audition (they all get a practice one). Still, I realize it differed from what she prepared and so it caught her unaware. BUT, she is in the FIRST youth production of RENT! How cool is that? I don’t know what role your D plays but I know mine would have been thrilled to be in RENT. It sounds like she has some good classes too. </p>
<p>By the way, Master Acting Class and Players Ensemble are NOT the same thing. Master Acting Class is a class and you do have to be selected to get into a Master level of a class (they offer these also in Voice and Dance). Players Ensemble is a troupe, not a class, that rehearses a drama “revue” production which is performed for the camp and parents, and is the drama equivalent to Our Time Cabaret (a musical theater troupe). You do have to be selected and there is a callback process. I see a little mix up in some posts and thought I’d explain for those new to camp. Making a callback is a very positive thing and if your child returns next year, he/she may go further. </p>
<p>I felt like I was almost at SDM yesterday. I was in NYC all weekend seeing my daughter in a musical production. Many SDM alum were involved in the show. At yesterday’s performance, a lot of staff from SDM traveled from camp to the city to see the show (as did some former campers). Cindy and Debra Samuelson were there (owners). Directors Michael Raimondi, Jeff Murphy, Jacob Brent, and Brad Simmons also came, as did some office staff. I spoke to them all. KatiesDad, I was thinking of your story when talking to Jacob, but didn’t want to ask what show your D got into as I didn’t know the name and figured you would all be getting the news by Sunday anyway. I asked him about Mack and Mabel and he said it is going well. My D has worked with Jacob and I think your kids are in for a treat, especially if they are dancers. Jane, my D has also had Doug Quinn, your D’s director, before and enjoyed him.</p>
<p>Also, another former camper from my D’s years and casts, came to speak at camp this session. She is Caitlin Van Zandt, who is on Guiding Light.</p>
<p>Sounds like everyone is having a fabulous time. All my friends are in Mack and Mabel and one is in Grand Hotel. Jane, I am pretty sure I know the Justin you are referring to. He is very talented.</p>
<p>I’m glad everyone’s having a great time. I can’t wait for next year, I hope they do some great shows. I have a feeling Aida or Jekyll and Hyde will be done sometime next summer because it will have hit the 3 year mark. I guess they don’t always follow that rule though, because Little Shop was done in 05 and they did it 1st session next year. Ugghh well too bad I have to wait 11 months!!!</p>
<p>My daughter did both Jekyll and Hyde and Aida a few years ago and loved them both! I know she would love to do them again (if they allow that). One never knows what to expect and that’s part of the fun!</p>
<p>kb…Generally speaking, SDM doesn’t want to cast kids in productions they have been in before, wanting them to have exposure to other works/experiences. They ask you on the audition form what else you have been in and so the general rule of thumb would be if your D had already done Aida and Jekyll and Hyde, and they were putting those on that session, they’d likely cast her in something else. Perhaps exceptions are made, however.</p>
<p>DD called today and is still having the time of her life. Loves Jacob and all of her teachers. She told me that the “Spring Awakening” folks did not come today (?) but are coming tomorrow, perhaps–? </p>
<p>Only negative thing she mentioned was that there is a particularly nasty stomach virus spreading through camp (quick onset/diarrhea and vomiting). She asked me to send more hand sanitizer (has used her entire bottle, and she is not OCD, just wary of getting sick) and Lysol. Hope your Ds have been spared this virus.</p>
<p>Katiesdad, I think my D knows your D, too, but she said that there are several Kates/Katies in the Mack and Mabel cast.</p>
<p>Wow, I talked to my D earlier today, she didn’t mention anything about a virus. I better tell her to take extra care washing her hands, etc… speaking of negatives… she said the only negative thing about camp is that she can’t watch her favorite dancer Neil Haskell on Fox’s “So you think you can Dance”… It was funny, she’s been ga-ga over him ever since the first summer production “Beauty and the Beast” at the Pittsburgh CLO last summer, where he was an ensemble cast member last year… now he’s in the final 3 guy dancers on the Fox Show, and has millions of fans…lol</p>
<p>If your daughter wants to find my Katie, just ask who loves Neil Haskell… hehe…</p>
<p>Maybe the virus isn’t as widespread as D implied. She might be overly sensitive because she got some kind of illness (with a fever) her first time there. It hit the last week and she missed the dance show and one or two other things, but luckily, she was completely recovered by performance weekend. She was luckier than her poor roomie (one of her SDM bffs, who is her roomate again this time), who hurt her leg in her first dance class, and had to spend the rest of camp (and perform) on crutches! She did a great job anyway – the show must go on ;).</p>
<p>Katiesdad, my D loves “So You Think You Can Dance,” too. I don’t know if she has any particular favorites. A group of us from her dance studio went to see last year’s finalists when they were on tour. We saw them in Rochester; it was a terrific show and of course the fans were ecstatic.</p>
<p>Janenw, your daughter must be so thrilled to be in the premiere cast of RENT. I get the feeling that that is the most highly coveted show, even among the younger campers. My D’s roomie’s older sister is also in RENT, and according to D, everyone is so excited for her.</p>
<p>I came upon this thread accidentally, but so pleased to see it. My son, age 16, went to SDM for his very first time to Session 2 this summer. He just recently became interested in theater and went with only prior singing experience. He loved every minute of the 3 week sesson and wants to return next summer. He had an ensemble role in Copacabana with several “bit” acting parts. The ensemble had elaborate singing/dancing numbers, and I was amazed to see how much he learned in so short a time. He loved his classes in cold auditons, improvisations, stage fighting and comedy. The talent of the kids there, and the quality of the productions (choreography, sets, costumes, music) is amazing. On perforamnce weekend I got to see 4 shows, each finer than the next. My son’s only regret is that he couldn’t stay for another session As a newbie, he made lots of friends.</p>
<p>KatiesDad -</p>
<p>Wait - my D LOVES Neil too! And I can’t believe he was in the bottom 2 last week! (I had to report in to her at camp - and as I also like Neil - I am happy to vote for him)</p>
<p>I heard no reports of a virus either - hopefully it has burned itself out.</p>
<p>My D is thrilled to be in RENT - and also has Jacob Brent for “Audition for MT” class. She really likes him as well.</p>
<p>janenw</p>