From Summer Camp to Stage to Screen
By Cindy Papish Gerber, N2Arts Correspondent
The Famous Stagedoor Manor
 

hat do Natalie Portman, Mandy Moore, Robert Downey Jr., Zach Braff, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Mary Stuart Masterson have in common?  These stars of stage, screen, and television share something special. At one time or another, they spent their formative summers at a place called Stagedoor Manor.

Stagedoor Manor is a camp located in the beautiful Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. Proclaiming to be “the only Camp of its kind in the world,” Stagedoor is a magical place that manages to combine an unsurpassed theatrical experience with unadulterated summer fun. This unique performing arts training program attracts kids (age 8 to 18), from all over the United States and abroad. The boys and girls who spend some or all of their summer here arrive with a wide range of talents, background, and expertise.  Kids with Broadway, TV, and film credits rub shoulders and make friends with those who are just beginning to flex their acting muscles.

Situated on the grounds of a former resort hotel, Stagedoor offers a campus-like environment with 22 classrooms, rehearsal spaces, theaters, dance studios, and television facilities. Alumni of the program have gone on to careers as performers, set designers, composers, conductors, choreographers, producers, and directors.

This past year, one of Stagedoor’s devoted alums has helped the camp achieve international fame. The recently released and widely acclaimed feature film “Camp” was written and directed by actor-screenwriter-producer Todd Graff. “Camp” was inspired by Graff’s memorable experiences at Stagedoor as a camper and a counselor. Graff and crew spent 23 days shooting the movie on location at Stagedoor in the summer of 2002.  Renamed “Camp Ovation” in the movie, Stagedoor’s popularity has soared as the result of the film’s success.  “We have gotten over 3000 requests alone within the month of August,” said Konnie Kittrell, a production director at the camp for 21 years. “Because of all this publicity, everyone expects us to change. But this place is all about quality and giving kids more one on one attention.”

Every camper at Stagedoor is in a show at all times. Whether they are cast in a musical, drama or comedy, each child is given a chance to perform. The list of shows that have been done at the camp seems to cover the entire history of the stage, from Shakespeare to Sondheim and everything in between.  Kept busy by rehearsals, campers here also take a range of classes taught by seasoned directors, teachers and choreographers. “I have learned mostly everything I know about theater from Stagedoor,” says Shaina Taub, a 15 year old camper from Vermont who plans to return for her 7th year. “My voice has grown, my dancing has improved from the dance classes and my acting has and grown through the unbelievable master acting class I was privileged to take.”

While the program focuses on performing skills, campers can also unwind with more conventional pursuits like swimming or tennis.  But with twelve full scale shows that are produced every three weeks in seven indoor and outdoor theaters, most campers who choose Stagedoor have done so because of their unshakable passion for performing arts.  “Stagedoor has only furthered my dreams of being a performer in ways that I have never experienced anywhere else,” Shaina emphasizes.  “It’s a place full of other people who love to do the same things I do.” For Shaina and hundreds of other kids who come here every summer, Stagedoor Manor’s entire world is truly a stage. And they wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Cindy, who originally hails from Brooklyn, NY, is the producer of a radio program called "The Neighbors Are Talking" that is broadcast on a popular AM station in Southern CT. She has an extensive background in Television production, PR and media relations, theatre and freelance writing. Cindy can be reached by email at cgerber@optonline.net.