Summer schools/audition workshops

[amanda]

Next summer is DD's last summer before she begins auditioning for Drama schools.
In the past she has done NYMT and The Company and has loved them both.
So, given a limited budget, what would be the best option this year?
She would love to audition for NYMT and The Company again but other options include NYT, YMT uk, and lots of audition workshop weeks at various Drama schools. Does anyone have any views on what would prepare her best for auditions?

[songbird]

How old is your did ths summer our dd choose GSA summer school fortnight instead of NYMT and did that the summer before her audition forms went off need to be 17 youngest it was money well spent and nice show at the end of parents to attend and see work covered ... ein the past she also did the laine junior squad which was 6 sundays in a row and also one week at London studio centre - all were useful as an insight into the schools and what they offer in terms of musical theatre vs dance /acting - - interestingly some of the practioners work across various schools and she got some really good tips on other courses to consider /apply for .. good luck with your dd journey...

[amanda]

Thanks Songbird,
We were looking at GSA. Did your dd do the youth summer school or the audition workshop?
My DD will be 17 by the summer.

[songbird]

she did the two week musical theatre summer school not sure if their courses have changed as this one was lead by Gerry tebbut who I elieve has retired from the school since

[katmandu]

I would email the main people at NYMT and The Company who your dd has experience with and ask for their advice - they are the experts and they know her and her abilities.

[amanda]

That's an interesting idea Katmandu - but I suspect they will recommend their own programmes! Can't blame them as they are both really excellent!

[Vermont]

In addition to NYMT and The Company for the past 3 years, my DD also got actively involved in local amateur musical and acting productions (so worked on 2 musicals and 1 play per year plus her "A" level drama pieces) in the couple of years leading up to Drama school auditions. She also attended an Audition Techniques course at Mountview which I know she found useful and had a few monologue lessons with a local working actor once we knew specific audition dates. I think that all the National companies give our young people such wonderful development opportunities and I know friends who would say the same of YMT and NYT (but I have no experience of these personally) so it's very difficult to recommend one over the other (I guess much would depend on the production each group is doing and what your DD would get the most out of). However the local operatic dramatic societies, which involve working with a mix of ages (from 14-65+) and abilities also give them a very good performance grounding and different types of experiences to draw on. My DD was extremely lucky and, in her first year of application, received offers of places from every Drama school she applied to . She has recently started at GSA (with a DaDa thank goodness) and is thoroughly enjoying it - so I suspect their summer school would prove to be a very good bet too.

[amanda]

Thanks Vermont,
I couldn't agree more. DD also takes part in loads of Amateur/youth productions locally and the experience is fantastic. The big challenge this year is a local production of Les Mis. This experience is even more vital when they have opted to do A levels over vocational courses at 16.
I wonder if our daughters' met at Mack and Mabel this year?

[Vermont]

Amanda - are they doing the schools edition of Les Miserables? If so, what a great show to work on. DD played Cosette with her local youth company several years ago and the whole cast absolutely loved it. To put the icing on the cake they were then one of the Youth groups picked to take part in the 25th Anniversary concert (and parents were given complimentary tickets which was a lovely gesture). I am sure our DD's must know each other - mine was lucky enough to play Mabel this year.

My DD didn't get her initial applications for Drama Schools in until December (kept re-writing personal statement and had to ignore schools advice to focus on academic studies more) which meant her audition for Mountview (initial audition and recall done in one day) and final recalls for GSA and Central ran into late April and early May and all the preparation that goes with it. This meant I was stressing about the potential impact on her A level revision, while she seemed to take it all in her stride. Hey ho!

[Caroline A-C]

My ds played Jean Valjean in a local production of Les Mis last year which blew us away. A lot of hard work involved so I thought it was probably better than summer schools etc. The production has just won an award so it all paid off. Ds has never actually done any summer schools but preferred to take part in local am dram. He did do an audition workshop which although he enjoyed, wasn't sure it taught him anything he didn't already know.

My ds also didn't apply to Drama Schools until really late. In fact his audition for Arts Ed was the very last audition they were holding!!!!!! I thought he was mad applying so late but if you are what they are looking for then I don't think it makes any difference when you apply. He is now in his first term at Arts Ed studying Musical Theatre and loving it.

Not sure what will happen this year with the funding situation, but I think if you need funding then it would be wise to apply sooner rather than later. I know that we were told all the DADA's had been given out by the time ds got his offer letter.

[amanda]

Vermont - You DD was fab - really talented and very beautiful too. You must be very proud.
My dd was in the ensemble but loved every minute and learned loads.

Yes they are doing the schools edition of Les Mis. She has just been cast as Fantine so she is v excited - Such a great dramatic role!

[Vermont]

Caroline - I've always fully supported the local am dram route and Les Mis Schools Edition is such a great show for them all to have worked on. Great experience. I think you're also right regarding timings for Drama school; they know what they're looking for, so it doesn't necessarily matter when they apply (except for the potential impact on their studies and funding opportunties!).

Amanda - thank you for your kind words. I thought the whole cast were amazing; brilliant production all round and hats off to "The Company" once again. Fantine is a wonderful role, I'm sure she'll relish every moment.