Nonprofit theater camp lets kids shine

McAuley senior hosts free 2-week event for underserved children

Jane McGuire says she was the shyest person in her class every year of elementary school until she joined theater camp in fourth grade.

Being on stage and working with a group on a theatrical production, she said, gave her a confidence boost that has enabled her to perform in shows such as “Les Miserables” at Mother McAuley High School and “Fargo” at Brother Rice.

I caught up with the McAuley senior and Troop 20377 Girl Scout on Friday, the last day of a two-week summer theater camp she organized and helped pay for with cookie sales.

“Research shows that children benefit from opportunities to play and be creative,” said McGuire, 17.

So when it came time for her to choose a Gold Award project, she opted for one that would give other kids the kind of opportunity that has changed her life.

“I found a neighborhood near me that doesn’t offer many opportunities for kids. I decided to have a two-week nonprofit theater camp to show kids the joy and excitement that theater can bring and also to give them a chance to be creative and gain confidence,” she said.

The camp took place at the village of Posen’s civic center.

The project, which aims to fulfill the requirements for McGuire’s ultimate Scout project, proved to be remarkable on many levels.

Not only did the Mount Greenwood teen secure support and assistance from staff and

peers involved in theater at McAuley, she was able to pull off a full-blown production of “Aladdin the Musical,” a show that can accommodate 40-50 performers, with just 14 kids ages 6 to 12.

“The kids learned the entire show in two weeks,” she said. “That is really impressive. It normally takes months for people my age to learn an entire show.”

Julie McKee, theater director and teacher at McAuley, said, “I am so proud of Jane and all the students who helped her.”

McKee said McGuire never wavered from her vision to give an underserved community of kids the chance to perform in a top-notch musical.

McGuire, she said, jumped through hoops to secure licensing, which can cost $2,000, at a reduced rate and then raised the funds to cover that by selling Girl Scout cookies.

The McAuley theater community pitched in to help bring McGuire’s idea to fruition, McKee said.

In June, McAuley’s Curtain Call theater camp sold light-up roses during its production of “Beauty and the Beast” with the proceeds of a few thousand dollars benefiting McGuire’s camp, McKee said.

That enabled all of the Posen Performers to attend camp for free, something that might ordinarily cost $200 per youngster, McKee said.

In addition, at least 15 of the McAuley camp counselors, including dance instructors, donated their time.

“It would have been easy for Jane to write a play or not choose a musical, to choose something (less expensive) with a $25 license fee. But she was committed to her vision,” McKee said. “She wanted to do a popular Disney musical. She wanted these kids to have the best, to have what the kids at our camp have.”

The McAuley camp program also donated some costumes that it used during its recent presentation of “Aladdin.”

McGuire, who worked the last two years at the McAuley summer camp, said running her own show was challenging at times, but “it’s really been a joy. I come every single day knowing it’s going to be a good day.”

The kids, she said, “have never failed to bring me happiness.”

And so has the support of the McAuley thespian community, not to mention parents and friends, she said.

“All my friends got to come down and help — counselors, voice teachers, dance teachers, assistant directors and others,” she said.

McGuire, who has performed in at least three shows every year since fourth grade, said she plans to study theater in college and pursue a career in the field.

But even if she changes her mind, the leadership skills she’s gained from organizing the camp and serving as assistant director for its show are “invaluable,” she said.

“They’re great skills to put into action,” she said. “You can take them with you wherever you go.”