Stagedoor Manor, Performing arts summer camp in Loch Sheldrake, Catskill Mountains, US
Stagedoor Manor is a performing arts summer school in the Catskill Mountains spread across multiple buildings with eight performance venues, including three proscenium theaters and an outdoor amphitheater. The campus provides different spaces where students attend daily classes in acting, singing, and dancing during three-week sessions.
The facility was founded in the early 1970s by Donnie and Lizette McBane using buildings from the former Karmel Hotel, which had once been a popular Borscht Belt resort. This transformation redirected the Catskills location toward young performers rather than vacation guests.
This space serves as an important training ground where teenagers discover their voices and stage presence through collaborative work. The experience here shapes how young performers see themselves and their creative potential going forward.
Visitors should note that the campus is best experienced during summer sessions when productions are underway and the camp is in full operation. Access to specific areas depends on current schedules and class times, so reaching out in advance is helpful.
The school partners with Broadway producers and enables students to stage current Broadway productions, often before other theaters perform them. This gives young artists an unexpected edge in the professional theater world.
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