Theater Camp

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.  

Give them a round of applause!

That's all for now.  Check back soon for more exciting adventures in Young Adult world at the Southeast Steuben County Library.

Thanks for stopping by,

erica

Sandblasting at Corning Museum of Glass

Corning Museum of Glass has a phenomenal education department.  We have teamed up many times to enrich the learning experiences of young adults in my programs.  This time, we got to try sandblasting for the first time in the new Education Lab!

Immaculate Studio

My dear friend, Lu Kania, gave us the short introduction to sandblasting.  It involves these machines:

The Sandblasting Beasts

AND LOTS AND LOTS OF STICKERS!!!! Now chill out a moment....these stickers may look cool, but Lu will tell you, the image will not remain on your glass once "The Beasts" get a taste of them!  The stickers sole purpose is to resist the sand.  That means, the cutesy little sparkles and fishy faces will not be seen by your grandma or Aunt Alice when you gift your amazing sandblasted glass for the holidays.  It means, you create your own design using the stickers as a means to produce a pattern or random chaos.  Here is a sample of our cool creations.

 Once our designs were final, we took turns with "The Beasts" to blast the glass to a frosted appearance.  

The Beasts are sloppy eaters.

I'll show you the process my tiny glass experienced.

Galss is taped and stickered

Glass entered The Beast to be blasted.

Glass has been blasted and is now frosty where there is no sticker.

Some goofball having too much fun with "The Beast".

The glass after being blasted, but before tape is removed.

The process is quick and the result is something we got to take home at the end of the program.  So fun!

A final product, ready for a cold lemonade.

Visit the Corning Museum of Glass to have your own Sandblasting experience.  It's a wonderful experience.

Nerf Party

As summer winds down in the Southern Tier, some very enthusiastic young adults are battling to the finish in our first ever "Nerf Party" hosted by the Southeast Steuben County Library in conjunction with Corning Parks and Recreation Department.

Preparing for the mission

I am apparently too old to appreciate these brightly colored guns and supposedly painless ammunition.  The kids gathered their equipment and selected teams before I even understood how they were going to play.

Grab your gear!

choose wisely

A Parks and Recreation representative set up the Nasser Civic Center Ice Rink (it's ice-free in the summer) and offered the supplies to my group.  Play to "Capture the Flag" immediately commenced. 

The playing field is set.

Players are in position.

The "flag" in set in place.

I remember "Capture the Flag" from middle school, when we learned to play football with the coach.  This is NOT THE GAME I LEARNED.  "Stay in the green lines or else you're out!," I hear them screaming to each other.  There is a determination that slightly frightens my old bones and has me sitting on the sidelines composing this blog.

This means serious business.

Yikes!

How much ammunition DO you need??

My curiosity was tickled by the kids' giggles and slips all over this dusty ice-rink floor.  Unfortunately, curiosity killed the cat....or gets you shot in the neck by a hyper teen.

One of these gun wielders are my assailant!

After a short sting and shock>>>I mean, I'm the lady who set up this program and my teens have shot me>>>I decide it's safest for the 30+ year olds to stick to the side lines.

Luckily, I found some company to keep while I watch from a safe vantage point.

Wisdom to know when to step aside.

Happy August Everyone!  I hope you have a few more fun filled days planned before the yellow school bus' wheels go 'round and 'round!

Library Unmasked--The Results

So many of you had a blast at the Library Unmasked program last Friday.  Those of you who could not attend, please enjoy the festivities through jpeg.  

Lasers in the Library

Capture the Villain

Grr made an appearance and surprised the Minion

Art prints were raffled

Cupcakes were designed and Super Hero Soup was consumed

The costume contest was a serious undertaking

We had so much fun entertaining the crowd and playing like kids should.  There is more to share, but I am out of time until August.  Stop back soon for more "Library Unmasked" coverage.

Please join us next time!

Library Unmasked

If you are seeking plans for this Friday, July 17 from 6-8 pm, look no further.  The SSC Library is hosting a first ever cosplay event after hours and it is going to knock off your socks!

Do you love costumes and superheroes?  Does the idea of a Super Smash Bros. competition throw you in a tizzy?  Then get your Thor Hammer down to the library on July 17!

On deck for the evening are a few amazing illustrators.  Joe Schichtel will be sketching your favorite super heroes.  These drawings will be up for raffle!

There will be a special guest author signing books and ready to chat with you.  We have comic book crafts and snacks to keep your tummy full and your creative mind busy.

Laura Charles will help you design your own super hero.  Her Little Girl print (above) is framed and awaiting to go home with one of the first 50 people in the door.

That's right, kids!  We have so many prizes to give away.  The first 50 people in the door will be entered for one of 6 framed prints by our guest artists. 

AAAAaaaannnnnnd......there is this little ole comic con next month.  Perhaps you have heard of Twin Tiers Comic Con...

 

We have 2 weekend passes to raffle to the first 50 people in the door on Friday.  These winners must be in costume, so get your gear today!

Kisscass Cosplay will be ready to judge the best of the best in costume creativity.  Please do not disappoint this lady!

If you love competitions, we are ready for you.  There will be an obstacle course competition.  The first hero to capture a villain will win some super-powered sugar snacks.  KAPOW!  

Did I mention the Super Smash Bros. competition?!?  There will be edible prizes awarded.

We will have LOTS OF COMIC BOOKS available to take home, cut up, turn into button pins and even eat from the pages.  That's right, we have devised a Super Hero Soup recipe specifically for the Library Unmasked.  

A special note of gratitude goes to our good friends at Heroes Your Mom Threw Out.  Jared provided us with FOUR BOXES OF COMICS TO GIVE AWAY!!!

If you are not gripping the edge of your seat and jumping with excitement, you may need to call an emergency help line.  The ONLY PLACE TO BE THIS FRIDAY is at the Southeast Steuben County Library for Library Unmasked.  

Be here!  Tell us that Grr sent you!

Catch us on the Runway

The Recycled Runway at Corning Museum of Glass was a spectacular event.  Our design was well received.  Our young model accessorized perfectly and carried herself well.  I am very proud to see the design process finalize on the catwalk.
Designers from our program were in attendance.  They witnessed the talent in our region and were inspired to enter their own designs next year!  This proves success to me. Rather than chat away, the time has come to share our design in it's entirety.

Prep & Spruce

Strike a Pose

Final touches

The Runway Crew

Tatyana and her own design, "Unfold"--a crowd favorite!

Sarah Strutting

  Many thanks to our hard working kids.  This design is truly their's.  

I look forward to Recycle Runway 2016.

Recycled Runway and SSC Library

Recycled Runway is an annual fundraiser event for The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes.  The event showcases regional talent for designing fashion out of trash.

This year at SSC Library, a group of young adults entered the juried competition and their design was selected to be part of the Runway.

The fashion show is Saturday, May 30 from 9-11 pm.  These kids have shown their diligence to completing an ambitious task.  Here are a few sneak peeks at their design.  I will share a video of our model strutting down the runway, but that will be after the big event.

Thanks for visiting and please join us at The Recycled Runway to 

experience all the excitement!

Nimble fingers must work quickly!

Stitching....must keep stitching!!!

The "before spray paint"

There are magical powers surrounding glitter and cans of spray paint. Out of the 6+ hours these kids worked to create this fashion piece, they showed the most excitement in the last half hour topical embellishment--a.k.a., spray painting and glittering like their lives depended on it.

The "after spray paint"

Sneak peeks are all I can share.

Stay tuned for the video of our very own fashion project on stage at 

The Corning Museum of Glass.