Young Actors Camp
Instructor Chris Parker (left) and his daughter Olivia Parker pretend to be jack-o’-lanterns during an improvisation exercise at Rome Little Theatre’s Young Actors Camp on Monday at the Desoto Theatre.
Rome News-Tribune
TUESDAY,
July 16, 2013
When Cassidy Rayburn said the word “Jack O’Lantern,” she and eight young actors suddenly crouched to emphasize their pumpkin-like characteristics and glowing eyes on the stage of the DeSoto Theatre during the Rome Little Theatre’s Young Actors Camp on Monday.
In its inaugural year, the Young Actors Camp teaches a holistic variety of theater knowledge, and the best part is they’re still accepting interested kids into the program.
The camp, which began Monday and will run through July 26 for kids ages 10- 18 is held at the theater on Broad Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The original cost of the camp was $250 ($195 for Rome Little Theatre members), but for those who want to register, the price will be prorated for the number of days the student attends. Parker emphasized that the Rome Area Council for the Arts donated money that was used for scholarship funds for some kids.
The students, currently eight registered, are being immersed in all things show business, learning everything from the auditioning process right up through the curtain call on closing night. Taught by instructors Michael Hillman and Chris Parker, who are both veteran actors and local school teachers, the camp will culminate in a free performance for friends and family on July 26 at 7 p.m.
Throughout the two- week camp, the students will learn as much about theater as their instructors can squeeze into their time together.
“They’re going to be learning projecting, improvisation, theater terminology, the history of theater, costume design, makeup, lighting, sound, character development and methods, props, how to use props, blocking, the audition process,” Hillman said, adding that on Monday morning, the group focused on listening.
“You have to be paying attention and listen to what the people who you’re playing opposite are doing,” Hillman explained. “Because if somebody drops a line, you’re going to have to be ready to pick it up.”
Jenna Kemp, a 14- year- old who recently moved to Rome, said she was learning a lot about theater at the camp.
“We went through the parts of the theater, all the different rooms, the backstage areas,” Jenna said. “We talked a bit about the history of it and some of the traditions, and then we played some different improv games to start us thinking about it.”
While learning theater history, Jenna said the legends and myths associated with theater were really cool.
“You’re not supposed to say ‘Macbeth,’” she explained. “‘Macbeth’ was the most violent play for its time period, so there were a lot of accidents surrounding it, so now it’s bad luck to say ‘Macbeth’ on stage.”
Something she said she really wanted to work on was how to completely become a character.
“I want to learn how to stop putting up walls between me and my characters,” Jenna said, explaining that sometimes she has a difficult time giving herself completely over to a character she portrays. “I think a lot of the improv exercises (will help) because you have to be willing to do whatever and not care what anybody thinks.”
Parker said the camp is much less like a day camp and more like theater school.
“This is very intensive,” he explained. “They have a working lunch where they’re writing in a journal, so it’s very intensive studying of as many different aspects of theater as possible.”
As for the students performing on the last day of camp for their families, Parker said the experience would help the kids learn that theater is a safe, fun environ- ment.
“Most traditional (theater camp) programs, they do a play,” he said. “Here’s the problem with that: three or four kids, they get a great experience. Everybody else is an extra. I’m not trying to do that; I’m not trying to make stars here. We’re trying to make collaborative actors who can be part of an ensemble.”
To give each participant a fair chance to show the audience what they’ve learned during the camp, rather than performing a play, the kids will perform scenes from various plays, monologues and the like as well as possibly demonstrate some of the exercises they did during camp.
“We want to create an experience where kids feel safe,” Parker said. “We’re trying to teach them it’s OK to get out here and make a mistake, it’s OK to get out here and be yourself. We don’t want them to be scared to be on stage; we want them to enjoy being on stage.”
Hillman explained how participating in theater can help kids throughout their lives in countless ways.
“It can help them with building confidence. It can help them with — whether or not it’s in school — giving presentations, with job interviews, it can help,” he said. “Confidence is something they can carry absolutely everywhere throughout the course of their lives. There are a few shy kids here who are ready to learn how to break out of their shells. You learn a lot about yourself by playing someone else.”