Registration Is Now Open For Hersey Area Playhouse Theatre's '09 Summer Camp

Hershey Area Playhouse Theatre Academy is now taking registrations for its 2009 summer drama camp program. Cory Wilkerson, who established the camp in conjunction with The Playhouse several years ago, is returning for another summer as Lead Teacher of the camp. The camp program is for designed for students currently in first through twelfth grades.

"Our summer drama camp has consistently been popular with both young people and their parents," according to Randall Cline, Director of Education for The Playhouse. "Young people like the camp because it offers a unique, zany sort of fun. They want and expect that sort of action during summer vacation."

"Parents appreciate the more developmental aspects," Cline continues. "They can see how the program builds upon the creativity and grows the confidence of students. And parents appreciate the fact that the program is a good value for the money, especially in the current economic climate."
The camp includes a curriculum specifically designed to be age-appropriate based on some of our greatest literature. Younger children study folk and fairy tales, while older students examine stock characters and classic pieces. The results are young actors with a true understanding of theatre heritage. "Especially popular has been our older teens work with Shakespeare and the Classics" says Wilkerson, lead teacher for the camp. "Last year they performed a series of scenes and monologues starting with the Greeks - it was incredible entertainment to watch the final performance. I still haven't figured out how they managed all the costume changes!"
Acting students will work in three different groupings, based on their age and/or developmental readiness. A fourth program will be offered for theatre "techies" - students who wish to explore the backstage side of theatre - lighting, sound and design. The techie program is geared to students in 6th - 12th grade.

A detailed breakdown of the camp programs are as follows:
Kids Camp Jr. - Tell Me a Story

Students entering grades 1 - 3

Monday, 6.22.09 - Thursday, 7.2.09; 9:00 am - 10:30 am

Final performance 7.2.09 at 7:00 pm

Campers will learn acting skills using classic tales from many different times and cultures. A fast-paced class for early elementary children with an emphasis on developing imaginations and learning to create a character.

$125.00 early bird through 6.1.09; $140.00 after 6.1.09; Limit 16

Kids Camp - Mystery & Mayhem

Students entering grades 4 - 6

Monday, 6.22.09 - Thursday, 7.2.09; 10:30 am - Noon

Final performance 7.2.09 at 7:00 pm

Good fun in the guise of the classic murder mystery. Children explore the "whodunit" style of theatre that grew out of the drawing room comedies of the early nineteen hundreds, creating larger than life personalities.

$125.00 early bird through 6.1.09; $140.00 after 6.1.09; Limit 18

Upper Grade Studio - The Play's the Thing

Students entering grades 7 - 12

Monday, 6.22.09 - Thursday, 7.2.09; 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Final performance 7.2.09 at 7:00 pm

Older students explore scenes and monologues to create their own play. Class work places an emphasis on text analysis, acting technique and audition skills. Great for High School students looking for tips for college auditions. The resulting scenes and monologues will be staged as a free form play at the end of the session.

$160.00 early bird through 6.1.09; $175.00 after 6.1.09; Limit 20

Theatre for Techies

Students entering grades 7 - 12

Friday, 6.26.09 and Monday, 6.29.09 - Wednesday, 7.1.09

4:30 - 6:30 on 6.26.09, 6.29.09, 6.30.09, 7.1.09

and 9:00 am - 4:00 pm on 7.2.09

Final performance 7.2.09 at 7:00 pm

Tech camp students explore the other half of the world of theatre - learning what goes on behind the scenes. Students will receive training in lighting, sound, and design with guest artists teaching the roles of a production team. Tech Camp students will put their skills into action supporting the final performance.

$100.00 early bird through 6.1.09; $115.00 after 6.1.09; Limit 6

Classes will be held at Hershey Area Playhouse at Country Meadows, located on Sand Hill Road at Cherry Drive in Hershey, PA. Visit HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com for more information and to download a registration form. Contact Randall Cline, Director of Education at 717.497.2315 or TheatreAcademy@HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com if you have questions about the 2009 summer drama camps.