» Local fitness program has 'Dancing With the Stars' ties
For a smiling Jerry Matthew “J.M.” Ward, preparations for the musical “Seussical Jr.” fed his love for acting and theater.
“I want to be an actor when I become older. I’ve always looked up to comedians, so I just love the theater, this program,” said Ward, who was in his fourth StageCrafters camp and will be in sixth grade in the fall.
The 12th StageCrafters camp was held the weeks of June 12 and 19 with students in grades three through high school participating. The fruits of their efforts were shared with the community during free performances of “Seussical Jr.” on June 23-24.
The StageCrafters program was developed by high school teacher Jim Sagona. He said program goals included giving “high school students an experience to gain leadership, directing and design experience while providing a fun and educational program for elementary kids in the area who otherwise did not directly have theater education as part of their curriculum.”
More than 400 different students have attended the camp since its creation.
Sagona gave the students a pep talk just before lunch during the first day of full dress rehearsals. “I was really liking what I was seeing,” he told smiling students seated in the auditorium.
The productions are created from ground up over the two weeks by campers and their counselors. They build the sets and are introduced to theater and performance concepts. Some campers focus on the technical side including sounds and lighting. Each camper participates in at least three scenes.
“It is always a lot of fun and everyone is really supportive,” said London Eberly, who was in her seventh year with the program.
“When you act it’s like you are going into a different personality. You get to channel your inner self and make it into that character,” said Zada Gillenwater, who in her fourth camp said she loved the production, singing, dancing, acting and organization that goes into the theater program.
Sagona said because he worked with high school students during the school year, he enjoyed working on productions with younger students, as well.
“The campers walk in the door each day enthusiastic and beaming with excitement to be there. I feed off their exhilaration and, even after a long school year, I am still excited every morning to come into camp and have a blast!” he said.
Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com.
Learn more
Online: For more information on StageCrafters, go online to www.tippcityschools.com/stagecrafters.
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