Summer camp prepares ‘Aladdin, Jr.’

Mentor United Methodist Church’s Truth & Light Players is ready for this weekends’ production of “Aladdin, Jr.”

Tammy Palermo serves as producer and coordinator for this theater arts camp. Performances are 7:30 p.m. June 15 and 1 p.m. June 16. Tickets are $5 general admission and can be reserved at mentorumc.org/ current. Mentor UMC is at 8600 Mentor Ave.

This year’s camp is the largest since it started in 2007 with 57 actors and seven crew members. The staff is comprised of 18 youth and adults.

Throughout the week, kids are also exposed to scripture and devotions that relate to themes in the Aladdin story and the development of characters.

Palermo loves that so many of the staff enjoy musical theater and want to share their enthusiasm with these kids.

“As director of Children & Family Ministries, this camp brings together my passion for Jesus and His message of love with my enjoyment (borderline obsession) of musical theatre,” Palermo tells me. “It has also been rewarding to have former Riverside Theatre students be involved on the production team. Kyle and Gabby have been invaluable to this camp.”

Palermo assists with the theatrical productions at Riverside High School, which is how she nabbed Kyle Martin Andree and Liz Kallay again this year as the director and music director, respectively. Syndie Toth returns as costume director, and Gabrielle Galvan is also returning as technical director while home from Webster University where she is studying stage management.

“The kids continue to amaze me with the amount they’re able to accomplish in just 30 hours of rehearsal time,” Andree said. “I have seen incredible growth within some of these kids in my two years here. I am sad to see some of them graduate from our program, but am thrilled to send them into a whole new world of theater.”

Gabriella Galvan has been part of Theatre Arts Camp twice as long as Andree.

“In the four summers I have been working shows with this program I have worked with limited budgets and limited materials but unlimited creativity and charisma from the kids I work with on the crew,” Gabriella says. “They are always looking for ways to help and learn. They love to make the props or paint a drop to hang on the stage. They want to learn how to use power tools I bring in and they learn the safety that comes with using them. In my time working I have learned a lot about designing. I know these kids will go on to do great things in theatre or wherever the choose to go.”

Check out their “Whole New World” this weekend.

Rabbit Run Theater

You still have a chance to catch Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy “Harvey” at Rabbit Run Theater through June 16.

All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. and “Harvey” is rated for general audiences. Tickets for all performances are available by calling the box office at 440-4287092, Wednesdays through Sundays, 3 to 7 p.m.; or on line at www.rabbitrunonline.org.

Tickets are $24 for adults, $22 for seniors and students and $11 for youth ages 12 and under. For group packages and rates call 440-428-5913.

Guests are welcome to bring a picnic meal to enjoy on the grounds of the theater prior to a show in the picnic pavilion or courtyards. Rabbit Run Theater, 5648 W. Chapel Road in Madison, is one of the few remaining barn theaters still in operation in Ohio and produces shows every summer from the beginning of June through the end of August.

I’ve read positive reviews and had some good testimonials personally on this one, including its great set. Check it out!

Silhouette Productions

Ever wanted to be part of one of these productions yourself? Why not try your hand at it with Silhouette Productions in Euclid.

They are ready to hold their open auditions for “Shrek The Musical.”

Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, “Shrek The Musical” is a Tony Award-winning fairy tale adventure featuring all new songs from Jeanine Tesori (“Thoroughly Modern Millie”) and a book by David Lindsay-Abaire. “Shrek” brings all the characters you know from the film to life on stage and proves there’s more to the story than meets the ears.

Auditions are June 20 and 27, from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

No appointment necessary, just arrive at 7 p.m. at Shore Cultural Center Room 242 and be prepared to move. Please prepare two 32-bar cuts of contrasting musical theater songs in the style of the show. Please also prepare a short joke. Production dates are Oct. 12-21

“Shrek” will begin rehearsals Aug. 26 and runs Oct. 12-21. Rehearsals will generally be Sunday afternoons, and Monday through Thursday evenings. All roles are available. Email the director Douglas Bailey at douglasfbaileyii@gmail.com with questions.

Clague Playhouse

And if your young thespian is more of a writer, check out a two-week, hands on workshop where students collaborate with each other and professionals in the fields of Creative Writing and Dramatic Arts to create, produce, and ultimately perform original one-act plays for a live audience on the Clague Playhouse stage.

The workshop is June 29 and 30. Students will have opportunities to fulfill writing, acting, and production roles.

Classes will be Mondays through Fridays, June 18-29, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and conclude with two evening performances on June 29 and June 30 at Clague Playhouse, 1371 Clague Road in Westlake.

Fees are $100 per student in grades 7-10. A registration form is available at the Clague Playhouse Box Office or on the Clague Playhouse Education page through www.ClaguePlayhouse.org. Find them on Facebook!

Young Thespians is a regular column that focuses on youth in theater. Do you have a production you wish to see featured? Email stevecouch@windstream.net, follow me @StevenRCouch on Twitter or join our “Young Thespians” Facebook group and post your show information.