What are the best music theatre summer programs for high school students?

I have been interested in attending a music theatre summer program for quite some time. I was wondering what the best programs are for high school students. So far I have looked into Stagedoor Manor, NYU Steinhardt, NYU Tisch, and Interlochen. Which one of these (or other programs) are the most worth applying/auditioning for? If you have ever been to any of them, could you tell me of your experiences there? Also, what is the difference between the Tisch New Studio Summer Music Theatre program and the Steinhardt NYU Summer Study in Music Theatre? Thank you!

Long Lake Camp for the Arts is a wonderful camp! You will have the best summer of your life!

My son is in acting at the New Studio. He is in the inaugural class and even though he is in acting, there are also students in MT in his class. New Studio is a studio just like Atlantic, Playwrights, etc. New Studio takes the place of Cap21 and Strassburg.

New Studio on Broadway IS a BFA program at Tisch and a studio like Atlantic. There are 64 students in the studio- 32 are musical theatre and 32 are straight acting. In their studio classes, the students are mixed for the classes that aren't musical. My son does not study voice- as in singing- or dance. He does have classes in speech, movement... he has a yoga class. In those classes, there are musical theatre students mixed in with them. The New Studio is "owned" by NYU and the studio is at Tisch. You said that Tisch students don't actually do their studio through NYU. I was just pointing out that I don't believe that is true. I hope that helps! BTW- NYU is a wonderful school! My son loves it there!

Check out the Cherubs program at Northwestern. The first five weeks are just acting based, but there's a musical theater extension and the stuff you do during the first five weeks is so important to the stuff you do in the extension. I was just an actor, not an MT kid, but my friends who did do MT loved it and we all loved the program as a whole.

I would like to start this by saying I have only ever been to Stagedoor Manor so none of the statements I make are reflective of other camps.

Now that that is settled I think I should give you my experience at Stagedoor.
I have attended Stagedoor ever summer since the age of 10 years old, by the end of this summer it will be my eighth and final year. I have played everything from ensemble roles to leading and I can honestly say I enjoyed every single one.

In response to @supportivemom I have to say although there is no audition to get into Stagedoor I have seen more talent at Stagedoor then anywhere else in the world.

I've never attended any other camps but I have been to many national competitions and time after time I see Stagedoor Alum placing very high.

I can say honestly that Stagedoor is my 2nd home and I love every single person there and happens to be the most supportive place for young people I have ever seen.

During my time there I have been in, Oliver, Lucky Stiff, Me and My Girl, Avenue Q, Annie Get Your Gun, The Music Man, The Pirates of Penzance, Little Shop of Horrors, Les Mis and Fiddler On The Roof.

I've also performed in the cabaret show, wrote and directed a play for their playwriting competition, have been involved in the camper talent show, performed in The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and filmed a pilot for a new TV show.

Stagedoor sells out every year so if you or someone you know truly wants to go...I would get on it right after the previous summer. So many returning campers come back that space fills up FAST!

I promise that you will love it if you try it.

Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions; i would love to answer anything :)!

Best of Luck on Your Search

One of the best and most affordable is the Savannah Summer Theatre Institute. I've been for the past two years. You get to do a full musical in only three weeks. It's like professional theatre camp. You take union breaks and everything. This year they are doing HAIRSPRAY and now have a fourth week that is all guest artists from NYC. The housing is pretty sweet with your own bedrooms in a brand new dorms. there is a website at www.savannahsummertheatre.com

Updated On: 3/14/11 at 08:19 PM

There are 2 great summer programs for high school students--Interlocken and Open Jar. Both have amazingly talented staff and are by audition only.
Totally different settings, Open Jar is the true Broadway experience. Students train with the best on Broadway during the day and in the evening go to see their teachers perform in Broadway shows. lots of connectionist be made. Interlocken is more of a rustic camp setting. Wonderful staff and intense classes. You would not go wrong with either program--they are the best!

Updated On: 3/31/11 at 12:00 AM

I'm going to Open Jar this year myself - they typically accept 10-15 people from each audition location, so it isn't like anybody can get in. That said, I won't argue that it's expensive; as far as cost goes, I'm doing Broadway Artists' Alliance this year as well (as mentioned above) and it's even more expensive. If a program is genuinely worth it (Broadway veteran teachers, great reputation) it will almost always be expensive.

Updated On: 4/19/11 at 07:58 PM

Oh, I'm not saying that cost=quality, I'm saying that the cheaper programs tend to suck. I know; I've done them.

@supportivemom just wanted to mention something--
at EVERY program (yes every single one) there will be people who are untalented that come out of it. Not everyone that goes to these summer programs are fantastic so for you mention that you've seen untalented people coming out of certain places seems a little ridiculous.
Sure I have attended Stagedoor Manor for 8 years and I have seen some of the most incredible talent and some not so good. So every place has its stars and people there to just have fun.
Just throwing it out there...

I actually totally forgot about this thread (not much of a blogger) but I totally understand what your saying. One thing to recognize that may be a bit overlooked.
Yes I totally agree that all these camps, including Stagedoor cost a lot of money.
But as well as being in a show you are paying for classes (4 a day,) food, housing, laundry, and all that extra stuff that we do. When you really look at the numbers for all the things you get it truly is a fare price. I'm not saying its not a lot of money but it is a fare price for what your getting.

My son has gone to Stagedoor for the last three summers, loves it, and will go for one last time this summer. Having seen multiple shows at each performance weekend I can tell you that the majority of the kids are wildly talented. Each session has a clunker show or two and I've wondered if they put the less talented kids together in their own shows,(usually we're warned about what shows to avoid when we get there) but overall we have been blown away by the talent showcased here--and the fact they pull off these amazing shows in three weeks. My daughter and I actually liked the Stagedoor version of The Mikado more than the NYC Gilbert and Sullivan production we went to see shortly afterwards. It is very expensive--I could have remodeled my kitchen and resided my house for what we've paid, but my son loves it and has made fantastic friends for life.

The campus itself is a little rundown--we keep wishing a celeb alumni would pay for AC in the dorms and new carpeting, but these sessions are the highlight of my son's year and he and his friends count the days until they can go back.