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>> LOCAL DRAMA CAMPS--AT RIVERSIDE, CYT AND STAGE DOOR PRODUCTIONS--TEACH KIDS SKILLS FOR STAGE AND LIFE

Local drama camps--at Riverside, CYT and Stage Door Productions--teach kids skills on and off the stage

By Collette Caprara

Date published: 7/2/2009

By Collette Caprara

for the free lance-star

While Shakespeare declared, "All the world's a stage," folks at three local theater companies offering summer camps for children might add that the stage is an excellent doorway to the world--especially for young people.

Spokespersons for the Riverside Children's Theater, Stage Door Productions and the Fredericksburg Christian Youth Theater all highlight the link between theater experience and the development of life skills.

"I think one of the most amazing things is that kids grow so much in their self-confidence, and being able to speak before people in theater camp," said Pam King, CYT camp director. "And that's a quality they will carry with them throughout their lives, through college and their careers."

Personal development for youngsters is an enormous benefit from summer camps, say officials at Riverside.

"The children gain a great deal of self-confidence--and they learn to work together in a group," said Riverside's camp director Sue McCloskey. "They're learning drama and dance, but they're also learning to play off each other, and to help each other."

Riverside Theater's founder and general manager Ron Wehman recognizes the important role the camps can play in a child's confidence and communication skills.

"One little girl was so shy that her mother had to stay with her throughout the first day," he recalled. "But by the time the week was over she blossomed into one of our most talented little actresses.

"I think that's because of an atmosphere in which everyone's encouraged to develop their talent to the max."

Stage Door officials agree.

"Part of Stage Door's mission is to introduce young learners to the value of theater," said the company's director, Kimberly Kemp. "Through the experience of theater, you gain so many lifelong skills--learning to communicate with people and to deal with different types of personalities and expanding your imagination."

The Christian Youth Theater will be offering two week-long camps: one for children ages 12-18 that will climax with a production of "Beauty and the Beast," and another for ages 6 through 12, whose finale will be a performance of "The Aristocats."

"Our motto is 'Building Character: One Stage at a Time,'" said King. "That refers not only to building a character onstage, but building the character of who you are as a person--how to present yourself, good morals, good judgment, honesty, integrity and teamwork.

Riverside Center Theater Camp 95 Riverside Parkway, Fredericksburg Session I: July 13-24 Session II: Aug. 10-21 Track One (ages 8-12): M-F, 9 a.m.-noon Track Two (Ages 13-18): M-F, 1-4 p.m. Cost: $450 per child Info: 540/370-4300; riversidedt.com Christian Youth Theater Summer Camp Chancellor Baptist Church, 11324 Gordon Road, Fredericksburg "Beauty and the Beast": July 13-17 (ages 12-18): 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. "The Aristocats": July 27-31 (ages 6-12): 9 a.m.-3 pm Cost: $175 per child Info: 540/379-0558 or 540/582-3728; cytfred.org Stage Door Productions Summer Camps Spotsylvania Department of Parks and Recreation Loriella Park, 10910 Leavells Road, Spotsylvania Art Camp: July 6-10: 9 a.m.-noon (grades 3-8) Cost: $125 Musical Theater Camp: July 13-17, 1-5 p.m. (grades 3-8) Cost: $130 Creative Arts Camp: July 20-24, 9 a.m.-noon (grades K-2) Cost: $100 Comedy Production Camp: July 20-24, 1-5 p.m. (grades 3-8) Cost: $130 Info: 540/507-7529; stagedoorproductions.org

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Date published: 7/2/2009