This year marks the third annual installment of Theatre Camp with Centre Stage Community Theatre. Our local, talented crew of actors led the week-long program, guiding students to the end of summer and a new school year. Participants learn skills appropriate for the theater, but also valuable lessons to carry forward in life.
I said a-BOOM!
Kimberly Canale is the ring-leader of this silly circus of kids acting goofy all week. There are games and rhymes they practice daily. Boom Chicka Boom is a repeat-after-me style verse that gets used as practice, activity transition, and a closer to each afternoon session. Kids have to follow actions and voice style of the leader. Each person takes the opportunity to lead the group and every time it gets giggles.
I love watching how the teens and tweens are uncomfortable at first, but within a few Boom Chicka Booms, all shyness is pushed aside. Kimberly and Eddie, our talented actors, show no restraint in their silliness, which is contagious. The confidence building over the week is one superb life skill these kids need.
Public speaking should be a cinch for these students as they progress in their educational and working careers. Other skills achieved are respect for each other. Giving attention and applause to each actor shows respect, but learning to accept applause--actually wait for it--is an incredible opportunity to experience.
Reader Theatre
Performing plays by reading the script helps students remain confident that they know their lines and improves the ability to read aloud and keep track of the play's progress.
Team Huddle
Working in teams to decide upon themes, actions, etc. helps build cooperative skills working with peers. The copious group activities these kids experienced all week give them a lead in the new school year. Team work makes the dream work!
Team Eddie
Having multiple team leaders helped maintain momentum and gives each student different perspectives. While Kimberly loves drama, Eddie loves comedy and this was a perfect mix for our group of students.
Awaiting Applause
Parents are the BEST Audience 💜💜
Boys acting like HEAVY Luggage
Parents and patrons were invited to a free performance on the last day of class. I got many great responses from parents whose kids LOVED this program and can't wait to have it offered again. I see a puppet show looming in the near future...stay tuned 😉
Script reading= skill building
This wraps another fantastic week of young adult programming at the Southeast Steuben County Library. Thanks for visiting!
Theater Camp was the last week in August>>> the final stages of Summer Vacation. Through arrangement with Kim Canale and Centre Stage Community Theatre, we planned a week of theater games and activities, which culminated in a library themed play at the end of the program series.
"Run, walk, skip or hop"- the group practicing a special song
The first day of camp was covered by Kimberly Canale, a publicity agent and director (among other roles) with Centre Stage Community Theater. I arrived the second day of the program and was treated to a special song, written just for the library theater camp. This song is TOP SECRET (ok, you may have heard some of it or will in a video here or there, but THAT'S IT!)
Games were aplenty all week. Having a room packed with teens and tweens requires lots of activities to keep the excitement going. "Pretend" was the basis of the games, just like the one shown below. "Pretend you are stiff as a board. You are a block of wood. You have no muscles, no heart beat, and you cannot move until I, the Magic Fairy, grant you life," was the role Kim gave these exuberant participants.
"You are a block of wood."
I collected unusual items throughout the library to use as props. The kids were instructed to use the items in unconventional ways and act with them so that others could guess what the item is supposed to be. This happened to be the all around favorite game--ALL WEEK.
"That's not a squash, it's a golf club."
Kim suggested a game where participants paired up to act off of each other, like a mirror. This was quite the experience to view in person.
Script reading was a big part of Theater Camp. We needed to assign parts for our play and understand who really liked to read out loud and who like to be or hold props. Luckily this was an easy task. Each participant voiced their choice of roles and everyone was happy.
Script reading is serious stuff!
We read from Zany Fractured Tales and Plays, which is hilarious at any age! Each person got to practice with these plays before they hit the big time by acting out the play written especially for this program.
Before I go any further, this tease is necessary. You will receive no more details about this wonderful program unless you attend the Southeast Steuben County Library's 15th Birthday Party on Saturday, December 5, 2015 from 5-8 pm.
At 6 pm that evening, the World Premier of our special library play will air for the first time ever. The actors in the play do not know how they look while acting. Parents of these actors have not seen the play. The entire week is somewhat of a mystery to family and friends of these actors and we want to keep it that way!
Much gratitude and appreciation is owed to Kimberly Canale and Centre Stage Community Theatre. Kim and her volunteers worked tirelessly each day of our camp to produce a fun and fulfilling program for teens and tweens. The play that Kim wrote is specific to our library history and holds an important message to viewers of all ages. Please spread the word and save the date to screen our Theater Workshop World Premier. Bring the family!
.........Ok, just one little sneak preview of our fabulous actors.
