5 Gifts of Theatre from Encore’s Summer Camps
Oh it’s definitely cold outside, but we are thinking warm thoughts with our #SummerPlanningSunday!
We are so excited to announce our 2019 Summer Camps! In theatre, there is more than what is presented on stage. There are students perfecting their craft, leaders gaining life skills, and friendships being made. In this holiday season, we are unwrapping 5 gifts of theatre when you enroll your child in our summer camps.
Gift #1 – Storytelling
There many ways to tell a story—through movement (try Broadway Bootcamp for Ages 8-12, Stage Door for Ages 11-15), writing (check out Summer Stories for Ages 8-12!), acting (take a look at It’s Elementary for Ages 5-9, Tragedy vs. Comedy for Ages 8-12, Sense & Sensibility for Ages 11-15 and Center Stage for Ages 13-18) and more. Our camps provide these different styles of storytelling that speak to our campers’ interest while challenging our students to build and sharpen their communication skills.
Gift #2 – Creativity and Imagination
Each camp session is designed to activate our campers’ creativity and imagination! Be sure to take a look at our different themes in our Camps for Ages 3-5, It’s Elementary for Ages 5-9, Improv-a-thon and Summer Nights Live for Ages 8-12.
Gift #3 – Self-Confidence
Our two and three-week camps including It’s Elementary, Scenes for Tweens, Stage Door and Center Stage all build towards a final showcase or performance, encouraging our students to gain confidence to perform onstage in front of friends and family.
Gift #4 – Teamwork
It takes an entire village to present a performance and during our time in the summer, our campers learn the value of being an excellent team player. Teamwork skills soar onstage (check out Scenes for Tweens, Stage Door and Center Stage), backstage (like Tech Camp!), and beyond!
Gift #5 – Friendship and Lasting Memories
While our campers are memorizing choreography or their lines, they’re also making new friends and lasting memories long the way.
Be sure to register for our Summer Camp Open House on January 5, 2019. Registration is free.
Looking for summer job opportunities?
Photos by Cindy Kane Photography, Larry McClemons, Rosemarie O’Connor and Aileen Pangan Christian. Blog contributor: Aileen Pangan Christian
Camp Aide Application Now Posted!
This #FrontRowFriday we’re celebrating the announcement of Encore’s 2019 summer camp themes anddd (drum roll, please)…the 2019 Camp Aide application! Many of our Encore friends have participated in an #EncoreSummer camp, but now is your chance to take your summer to the next level. Why become a Camp Aide? I’m so glad you asked; read on for just a few highlights of the Camp Aide experience.
1) Leadership
As a Camp Aide, you’ll be acting as an intrepid tour guide for our campers as they venture on this wild adventure of discovering and creating theatre! Communication, trust, and leadership are all skills you’ll be able to take with you beyond the summer, to your sports teams, friend groups, or even other Encore productions.
2) Teaching Experience
Camp Aides work side-by-side and hand-in-hand with our awesome team of professional teaching artists. This is a great opportunity to gain teaching experience and general advice about creating a life in the arts from the team of professionals that are doing just that.
3) Resume Builder
As an Encore employee, you’ll earn your stripes by demonstrating your responsibility, adaptability, and professionalism. It will be fantastic to speak to this experience as you apply for colleges and even future jobs.
4) Awesome Campers
Last, but certainly not least, we have our wonderful campers! From the earliest learners to our more experienced summer students, there is something to learn from each and every camp participant. You elevate their camp experience and they will jump-start your creativity and passion for theatre!
So what do you say? Ready to get in on these summer #SquadGoals? Download the Camp Aide application and turn it in by Friday, March 1st, 2019 for best consideration. We can’t wait to work with you!
Photos by Aileen Pangan Christian, Larry McClemons, and Connie Polnow. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy.
Happy Summer Faces with Kelsey Meiklejohn
Welcome back for another #TechTuesday! We hope you’re hungry for more of an inside look at what’s in store for our #EncoreSummer. Today we’re sitting down with Secondary Education Programs Manager Kelsey Meiklejohn to hear what’s giving her a “Happy Face.”
Encore: Which Encore camp(s) are you involved in this upcoming summer?
Kelsey Meiklejohn: Bye, Bye, Birdie YPE. I wish I could be involved in all of them, but I have one more summer of my Graduate Program!
Encore: What’s your favorite part of summer camp?
KM: My favorite part is hearing all of the ideas and creativity the students bring to the productions we put on at our Stage Door & Tech Camps. We always end up with some unique character moment or set piece that I would never have thought about. It is the students’ investment in the show that brings it to life, I am just glad I get to help guide us all working together!
Encore: What is the best memory you have from past camps you’ve worked on as staff?
KM: My favorite memory is the spirit days, especially seeing both students and teachers dress as their favorite musical characters. I remember one year the staff came as the Jets from West Side Story and I came in as The Little Redheaded Girl from You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. There are so many unique characters and both the campers and staff get to learn about more musicals!
Encore: Did you attend a theatre/arts camp as a child? If so, what’s been the most lasting impression that experience has had on you?
KM: I got to attend an Arts & Science camp as a child, and loved seeing how the arts and sciences truly work together! I would do theatre or dance in the morning and then organic chemistry or physics in the afternoon. The diversity of thought in the program was great and when we needed a stage effect with a bubbling cauldron we could use what we learned in the science classroom the day before to make it. It really instilled in me the importance of learning everything you can, because then you can engage with so many different aspects of theatre or other disciplines.
Encore: What are you most looking forward to about this #EncoreSummer?
KM: I am looking forward to introducing students to one of my FAVORITE musicals! Bye, Bye, Birdie is full of youthful energy and silliness and fun and getting to share that with students already has me singing “Put on a Happy Face” in the car!
Your faces will match Kelsey’s happy one if you join us for Stage Door/Tech Camp this summer. Wave bye bye to Birdie, rescue a princess with Shrek, or fly off to Neverland – no matter which adventure you choose, you’ll be treated to three weeks of collaboration, creativity, and fun! Click here to sign up for a summer camp today.
Photos by Aileen Pangan, Aimee Pangan, Shannon McCarthy, and Rosemarie O’Connor. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy.
So Much More! #SummerPlanningSunday with Madaline Langston
Happy #SummerPlanningSunday, Encore friends! This weekend we’re excited to share an interview with Education Programs Manager, Madaline Langston. You might remember our previous interview with Madaline, but today we’re looking ahead to 2018’s #EncoreSummer. We hope this sneak peek gets you ready to jump in!
Encore: Which Encore camp(s) are you involved in this upcoming summer?
Madaline Langston: This summer my focus will be on coordinating The Healthy Play Initiative. HPI is an ongoing partnership with the Arlington Food Assistance Center, serving ages 2-5 in the Arlington Community at Arlington Mill Community Center, as well as the Gates of Boston Community Center in the Buckingham area, while physically maintaining the daily operations of Encore’s partnership with Lola’s Lab and It’s Elementary summer camps. Lola’s Lab runs June 25th- July 6th. HPI and It’s Elementary will run thru the end of August.
What’s your favorite part of summer camp?
ML: My favorite part of camp is seeing the vision come to life and seeing the smiles and hearing the sounds of laughter of each camper.
What is the best memory you have from past camps you’ve worked on as staff?
ML: When I first began teaching at It’s Elementary many moons ago, the staff prepared talent to showcase for the campers. It was hilarious. This is now a tradition at the It’s Elementary camps. Every year each teacher brings a new talent to the stage.
Did you attend a theatre/arts camp as a child? If so, what’s been the most lasting impression that experience has had on you?
ML: I did not attend a Theater Arts Camp. When I was a child, I had many opportunities to perform in the school system. During the summer, as a Camp Fire girl, we would take trips to New York to see Broadway shows, go camping and other events in which we were encouraged to sing, participate in Arts and Crafts, swimming etc…
What are you most looking forward to about this #EncoreSummer?
ML: I am looking forward to observing the individual accomplishments achieved at our camps. Success looks different to each camper. Perhaps you attend our camps to make friends, develop confidence, overcome shyness, visual arts, performance, to learn about theatre and so much more.
Thank you for sharing your plans for your #EncoreSummer, Ms. Madaline! Still searching for your perfect summer theatre adventure? Fear not! We’ve got something for everyone – from pirates to Lost Boys and Shakespearean lords and ladies. With camps geared from ages 4-18, let this be the summer you dive into the theatrical deep end. Don’t be left on shore – click here to register today!
Photos by Larry McClemons, Shannon McCarthy, and Aileen Pangan. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy.
Discover 5 Life Skills at Encore’s Summer Camps!
Encore provides a stage where students can use their creativity to discover their potential. Here are 5 life skills your child can discover at Encore’s Summer Camps!
#1 – Leadership
As the saying goes, “the show must go on!” Our campers learn how to problem-solve when challenges arise and how to be a role model onstage and off!
#2 – Empathy
When children become a character in a play, exploring their story and emotions, they learn how to better empathize with others!
#3 – Teamwork
Putting together a performance takes teamwork! At camp, your child will participate in ensemble-building activities to prepare for the stage and beyond!
#4 – Creativity and Imagination
At camp, we celebrate creativity and imagination! From writing plays to crafting sets, we can’t wait see your child’s creativity soar!
#5 – Confidence
Drama is a great way to come out of your shell! Each day at camp, you child’s self confidence will grow as they build towards a final performance.
“My daughter was nervous about performing but they couldn’t get her to leave the stage at the final performance! She will be doing this camp again this summer.” – Parent
Register for your Encore Summer Adventure today!
Photos by Larry McClemons, Hayley Olivenbaum, Rosemarie O’Connor, Madeline Pages and Aileen Pangan
3 Reasons You’ll Love Encore’s 2018 Summer Camps!
If you like theatre, then you’re gonna LOVE our summer line up this 2018! We’ve got three big reasons to enroll in our summer drama camps!
#1 – We have more options to fit your summer plans!
We’re offering one, two and three week camps! We have camps beginning at 10 am, and extended hours available.
#2 – New Camps to Explore!
We’re proud to partner with Lola’s Lab to present Captain Kaleidoscope and Zoopossible Kingdom. Also new this year includes Amazing Adventures, Modern Day Myths, Improv-a-thon, Summer Nights Live, and Shakespeare Intensive!
June 25 – June 29, 2018: Zoopossible Kingdom
The wise King of Zoopossible has a big idea to sustain his “green” kingdom. But the prince-zoologist goes missing when he finds out that it involves a royal marriage to his neighbor! Our story comes to life when campers become citizens and animals of Zoopossible, using their creative skills combining art, movement, drama, creative writing and more, to help the prince and save Zoopossible.
July 2 – July 6, 2018: Captain Kaleidoscope
Off the Isle of Black and White, a young sea captain sails under the stormy skies and catches something that changes everything his land has ever known to be true. A rainbow. Imaginations will be dipped in amazing shades of fantasy as campers activate in expressive art, movement, creative writing and more to help the captain in bringing back the colors to the Island. No camp July 4.
Improv-a-thon:
Get the ultimate improvisation experience to stretch your creativity while learning to trust your instincts! In this one week camp, students will explore various improv techniques including games, short-form improvisation, and character work. Want to take it to the next level? Make it a two-week experience by building on skills learned in Improv-a-thon in our Summer Nights Live camp!
Summer Nights Live: Coming to you live from Arlington, VA it’s Summer Nights Live where you take center stage! Explore everything sketch-comedy from developing an idea to finalizing a script in this one-week side splitting spectacular. Want to make it a two-week experience? This camp pairs perfectly with our Improv-a-thon camp, where students will build improvisation skills that feed into their sketch-comedy work!
Shakespeare Intensive:
Encore’s Shakespeare Intensive will challenge students to take the reigns as they present a fully staged production of Hamlet. Guided by professional teaching artists, actors will approach the Bard’s most famous work from the perspective of actor-directors. Through text analysis, movement and voice classes, and character development exercises the ensemble will focus on staging Hamlet in a contemporary setting. The intensive is suitable for both students who have experience working with Shakespeare’s text and those who are new to his plays and want to round-out their theatrical skills.
#3 – A Longer Summer to Love!
We’re starting our summer on June 18 when private schools are closed. Camps beginning June 18 include Amazing Adventures for ages 4-9 and Modern Myths for ages 8-12.
Amazing Adventures: Adventure is out there, and Encore will help you find it! This session is jam-packed with heroic escapades, discovering lands unknown and more! Will there be detours along the way? You won’t want to miss your chance to participate in these amazing adventures!
Modern Day Myths: Have you heard about the daring adventures of Odysseus or the epic feats of Hippolyta and the Amazons? What if those heroes and heroines lived in today’s world? In this one-week camp students will devise and perform their very own modern day myth determining important morals, creating characters, and constructing stories all while building their theatrical skills. Student to staff ratio 1:8.
Fun and Games with Education Intern Brigid Wallace
Summer is in full swing here at Encore, which means we’ve been having tons of fun at our various summer camps! Today we’re pumped to share this interview with our second Education Intern, Brigid!
Encore: Please introduce yourself. Where do you go to school and what do you study?
BW: My name is Brigid Wallace, and I am a rising sophomore at The Catholic University of America majoring in Musical Theatre.
Encore: How are you involved with Encore?
BW: I am the It’s Elementary Education Intern.
Encore: Have you ever worked with Encore as a participant? What other theatre experiences do you have, if any?
BW: I have never worked with Encore as a participant, but I have been involved in similar camps as a student and later as a teacher. For the most part, my theatre experience has focused on performing; however, as I mentioned, I have experience as a teacher/director and practice in costuming and stage management. In addition to training in performance, I hope to gain more technical theatre skills because it is amazing what a difference it can make in fully bringing a story to life.
Encore: What are some of the things you’re working on for Encore this summer?
BW: So far, I have been responsible for assisting teachers, teaching and playing games with the kids, and helping with organization for current and future sessions.
Encore: Is there something you’re most excited for about this internship?
BW: I am probably most excited about getting to work with the kids and teach them some of the things about theatre that I learned when I was their age that inspired so much love for the performing arts. I love playing theatre games with the kids and working with them on their performances because I see how they are exercising skills and learning techniques while having fun and being at camp.
Encore: Could you describe what theatre means to you and/or why you think theatre is important?
BW: Theatre to me is like a language I grew up hearing, and one that I want to speak fluently. It is an amazing craft and very important because it combines several different art forms that work together to express their message. It speaks to many kinds of people because it provides entertainment as well as being a source of commentary on humanity. As with any form of art, one must be careful with how the audience will interpret it, so it requires different kinds of creativity in collaboration to execute a production well. It brings perspectives together in an open-minded, peaceful way that I do not think happens often enough. Basically, I think theatre is a very influential part of society that I hold dear, and I hope, through any work I have done and will do in it, that I inspire people to open their minds to their fellow human beings and learn more about our common goals and fears so we can come together as a larger community.
Thank you so much for sharing with us Brigid! Want to get in on the fun and join some of Brigid’s awesome theatre games? Join us for the remaining sessions of Encore’s summer camps! To learn more and check camp availability, check out our Summer Camps page or call us at (703) 548-1154.
Photos by: Shannon McCarthy, and Larry McClemons, Headshot provided by Brigid Wallace
Blog contributor: Shannon McCarthy, 2016-17 Arts Apprentice
More Than the Librarian: Meet Education Intern Gabriel Brown!
Welcome back to the Front Row everyone! Today, we’ll be bringing together the worlds of production and education, as we interview one of this summer’s Education Interns, Gabriel Brown.
Encore: Please introduce yourself. Where do you go to school and what do you study?
GB: Hi, my name is Gabriel Brown! I’m a rising junior at the Catholic University of America where I study musical theatre.
Encore: How are you involved with Encore?
GB: This summer I am performing in Encore’s production of The Music Man, where I play Marian Paroo, and I’m also an Education Intern for many of Encore’s summer camps.
Encore: Have you ever worked with Encore as a participant? What other theatre experiences do you have, if any?
GB: I’ve never been in an Encore camp, but I have been in three Encore productions (The Little Mermaid Jr, Once Upon a Mattress, and The Music Man). At university, I’ve been in Urinetown and a college fringe festival while fulfilling my duties as Videographer for a student theatre group. I also assistant directed Little Women and was a costume crew chief for City of Angels, and want to pursue a performance and directorial career.
Encore: What are some of the things you’re working on for Encore this summer?
GB: I’m really excited to be teaching choreography for the camp Season Sampler, which is a new camp this year, that gives a little taste of the upcoming Encore season.
Encore: Is there something you’re most excited for about this internship?
GB: I am really excited to work with the teachers and meet so many bright young actors!
Encore: Could you describe why you think theatre is important?
GB: Theatre is so important, especially for children, because it’s the most natural and human method of learning. It is allows actors to imitate, create and express themselves in different ways and forms. It is often seen as something easy to do, a waste of time and pointless to society, but it is not. It can be applied to every aspect of life; Science, politics, anthropology, language, etc…
Thanks so much to Gabriel for taking time out of her busy summer schedule to share with us! Keep an eye out for her at our many summer camps throughout July and August.
Photos by: Shannon McCarthy, Madeline Pages, Larry McClemons
Blog contribution by: Shannon McCarthy, 2016-17 Arts Apprentice