Stage Kidz are groomed for greatness
There’s an open call for all actors, dancers and set designers, under the age of 16, at the Haddonfield Plays and Players.
In its tenth year, the players’ Stage Kidz Camp offers children the opportunity to learn about all aspects of theater, from the front of the house, to the back, and every class is taught by either a certified teacher or someone in the business. Camp coordinator Kim Micale said the program has grown in popularity over the years.
“We wanted to offer programs for younger kids, a summer program where they’d learn a lot of theatrical things — acting and singing, and dancing and set design,” Micale said. “Eventually [the players] will roll those kids into the acting base for their shows.”
The venue is the very small, very quaint theater in Crows Woods. It seats about 150 people, but it’s large enough to have four separate classes going on, Micale said. Players hosts three different camps, the most popular being a six-week camp that runs from July 6 to Aug. 14, for children 6 and up. As the students learn what comprises a good theatrical show, they audition for the end of camp production. Also, the students’ set design ideas are incorporated in the show. This year, they’re putting on “Into the Woods Junior.”
Some of the children who attend the camp are children of actors in the theater company, though the majority of the students have no production experience. Micale said the camp veterans, some of whom have been with the program for five years, help the more shy students adjust.
“It’s really good for kids who are shy, because we give them a lot of confidence on stage, talking in front of people,” Micale said. “What we try to do is match what we consider the old pros with the new kids, so instantly they have someone to talk to, and ask questions to if they don’t want to talk to the teachers.”
Micale is in charge of hiring those teachers, and writing the curriculum. She said finding them was easy this year, adding that every one of them has a degree in either education or theater.
And for the younger aspiring actors, Players has what it calls the Stage Teenies program, which are one-week programs for children ages 4 to 6. On the other end of the experience spectrum, Micale said the theater company will be introducing some Shakespeare monologues for some of its returning students.
“We want to set the bar a little higher for them,” she said. “These monologues will continue to interest them as they grow in theater.”
Micale said she has gotten a lot of positive feedback from parents regarding the program. In fact, she’s one of the satisfied customers, as her daughter participates.
“It’s a great program for a number of reasons, not just because I love theater,” she said. “We’ve had parents tell us over and over again how strong it has made their children. Their confidence levels have increased, they do well in school, and as a teacher that makes me really happy. As a theater person, it makes me twice as happy, because you can really see the benefit of participating.”
The theater company also offers a three-week program. For pricing and registration information, call 609-560-7483, or visit www.haddonfieldplayers.com.
In its tenth year, the players’ Stage Kidz Camp offers children the opportunity to learn about all aspects of theater, from the front of the house, to the back, and every class is taught by either a certified teacher or someone in the business. Camp coordinator Kim Micale said the program has grown in popularity over the years.
“We wanted to offer programs for younger kids, a summer program where they’d learn a lot of theatrical things — acting and singing, and dancing and set design,” Micale said. “Eventually [the players] will roll those kids into the acting base for their shows.”
The venue is the very small, very quaint theater in Crows Woods. It seats about 150 people, but it’s large enough to have four separate classes going on, Micale said. Players hosts three different camps, the most popular being a six-week camp that runs from July 6 to Aug. 14, for children 6 and up. As the students learn what comprises a good theatrical show, they audition for the end of camp production. Also, the students’ set design ideas are incorporated in the show. This year, they’re putting on “Into the Woods Junior.”
Some of the children who attend the camp are children of actors in the theater company, though the majority of the students have no production experience. Micale said the camp veterans, some of whom have been with the program for five years, help the more shy students adjust.
“It’s really good for kids who are shy, because we give them a lot of confidence on stage, talking in front of people,” Micale said. “What we try to do is match what we consider the old pros with the new kids, so instantly they have someone to talk to, and ask questions to if they don’t want to talk to the teachers.”
Micale is in charge of hiring those teachers, and writing the curriculum. She said finding them was easy this year, adding that every one of them has a degree in either education or theater.
And for the younger aspiring actors, Players has what it calls the Stage Teenies program, which are one-week programs for children ages 4 to 6. On the other end of the experience spectrum, Micale said the theater company will be introducing some Shakespeare monologues for some of its returning students.
“We want to set the bar a little higher for them,” she said. “These monologues will continue to interest them as they grow in theater.”
Micale said she has gotten a lot of positive feedback from parents regarding the program. In fact, she’s one of the satisfied customers, as her daughter participates.
“It’s a great program for a number of reasons, not just because I love theater,” she said. “We’ve had parents tell us over and over again how strong it has made their children. Their confidence levels have increased, they do well in school, and as a teacher that makes me really happy. As a theater person, it makes me twice as happy, because you can really see the benefit of participating.”
The theater company also offers a three-week program. For pricing and registration information, call 609-560-7483, or visit www.haddonfieldplayers.com.
