There is so much to look forward to this summer, especially Stage Door and Tech Camp! Cue the drum roll. The Stage Door musicals are:
Session 1: Singin’ in the Rain Jr.
It’s 1927 and Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are Hollywood’s biggest movie stars. When “talkies” take over town, though, the studio is forced to turn their latest silent film into a hit movie musical. There’s just one problem—the leading lady can’t sing, dance, or act! Comedy, romance, and stormy weather collide in this beloved show featuring classic songs like “Make ’em Laugh,” “Good Morning,” and of course, “Singin’ in the Rain.”
Session 2: The Little Mermaid Jr.
Though Ariel lives a comfortable life as undersea royalty, she longs for excitement and exploration. When the sea witch Ursula offers her a chance to try out life as a human, this mermaid trades her fins for legs. But the bargain she strikes is exceptionally risky; will Ariel easily adapt to life on land, or will her experiment cause the collapse of her family’s kingdom? This classic tale includes a marvelous cast of colorful characters who help–and hinder–Ariel’s quest to fit in, stand out, and find her place in the world. With beloved songs like “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World,” this memorable musical is sure to be a swimming success.
Now cue the applause! Camp Director Caroline Schreiber gives us the scoop on what to expect for our Summer 2017!
What’s your process for choosing shows for Stage Door?
Caroline: As soon as Labor Day is over, we start thinking about summer programming for the next year. This year, I read so many scripts for Stage Door! We usually choose a Junior script, which is a lightly edited version of a well-known musical. Not all Junior scripts are created equal, though, so when I read, I’m careful to look for a variety of things. First, I look for a fun show with enough roles for at least 30 performers, and moments for everyone to shine. If the ensemble is boring or non-existent, it immediately gets knocked off my list. Then, I look for enough musical and choreographic difficulty to keep the actors engaged; if there’s no harmony and no dancing, it’s not the right show for Stage Door. I also look for interesting technical elements, including costumes, scenery, and any special effects we might need to be able to pull off. And I pay attention to the plot and themes, thinking about whether what’s happening onstage is a good match for the interests and sensibilities of our students and audience members. Once I’ve found those things, I usually re-read any scripts I like to really get into the details—how will each performer, technician, or designer be involved? Will there be enough to keep everyone busy throughout each camp day? What can everyone learn from this script, and how will it make use of everyone’s talents while also helping them to grow? I also pay attention to what images pop into my head while I’m reading. If I can picture a scene or a song on stage and get excited about what I’m visualizing, I know I’m on the right track!
As Camp Director, what do you look forward to the most every year from Stage Door?
Caroline: Getting into the material! I love directing, and I love working with this age group. The students who sign up for Stage Door and Tech Camp always have tons of energy and ideas. It’s really fun for me to get to channel that into a great production each summer, and to discover moments or concepts I might not have thought of without their insights.
What life skills do you see shine through from campers in this summer camp?
Caroline: Confidence. Theatre involves putting yourself out there, which can be a scary thing to do, especially in middle or high school. Whether it’s acting in a scene, mastering a dance step, singing by yourself in front of the whole room, or suggesting a design idea, the confidence to give it a go is vital. I hope that Stage Door and Tech Camp create a supportive environment for students to build this skill every summer.
Along with confidence, I see students develop the willingness to try something new. Sometimes this is driven by their own desires, and sometimes it involves our staff encouraging growth. In either case, I try to advance the idea that if an experiment fails, it’s not a big deal. Theatre is all about experimenting—learning what works well for both the show and the audience. As theatre-makers, we’re challenged to constantly come up with ideas, try them out, and then be unafraid to change it up when something doesn’t work.
Teamwork. Theatre really is the embodiment of that Three Musketeers motto, “All for one, and one for all.” In improv, you’re taught that your goal is to make your scene partner look good. That’s absolutely true in any production; everyone has to pull together with a common goal of creating the best possible show. When that sense of teamwork is truly embodied, everyone gets a chance to shine.
For campers returning to Stage Door and Tech Camp, what do you think they will enjoy the most this year? For those who are new to the camp and musical theatre, what can they get excited for?
Caroline: For returning students, there are always new challenges to be tackled. (This year, they involve the technical complication of making it rain onstage!) Our staff also actively looks for ways to stretch returning students, whether by casting them as a type they haven’t played before, or putting them in charge of a new crew assignment, like running the light board or calling the show.
For new students, I honestly hope that everything is exciting. When you love theatre, there’s nothing better than being given a chance to actually do some theatre, whether that’s acting, singing, sketching costumes, constructing scenery, dancing, etc. There’s also the chance to meet new friends and grow as a performer or designer.
How are the two musicals different and similar? What new challenges do you see in these two shows?
Singin’ in the Rain Jr. and The Little Mermaid Jr. are similar in that they’re both great musicals—really fun characters, wonderful songs, amazing dance moments. I’m psyched to direct both of them.
In both, there are obvious technical challenges—how do we make it appear as though water is falling from the sky indoors? How does a mermaid propel herself around the stage, when the stage is obviously not a giant aquarium tank? (There’s another similarity—they both involve water!)
I’m also looking forward to creating the “world” of both shows. Singin’ in the Rain takes place in a very particular historical moment—Hollywood in 1927, just as “The Jazz Singer” was premiering—and it’s actually a spoof of what was going on in the film industry at that time. The Little Mermaid, on the other hand, involves a fairytale-like setting, which gives the actors and designers a lot of creative license.
Beyond the particular elements specific to these shows, though, the most important challenge every year is to make sure every student has fun and gains something from the camp experience.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Caroline: From the length of this post, you can probably tell I’m excited. Click the photo below for more info about how to sign up to play with us this summer!
