Kids Rule campers select Stage Company spring play
The San Benito Stage Company’s Kids Rule Theater Camp ended June
26, but the more than 150 kids who attended have something to look
forward to next year.
Kids Rule campers select Stage Company spring play
The San Benito Stage Company’s Kids Rule Theater Camp ended June 26, but the more than 150 kids who attended have something to look forward to next year.
For the first time, the campers voted on the San Benito Stage Company’s children’s play for 2010. Given three choices, the young thespians selected “Willy Wonka, Jr.”
“We sort of had it narrowed down to productions we had gotten feedback that people were interested in doing,” said Amelia Souza-Hatcher, a stage company board member. “We did solicit our supporters and asked what they would like to see us do. We had to investigate licensing and see if it was available.”
The board members presented the kids with ballots with the three options, and “Wonka” won hands down.
San Benito Stage Company has been a supporter of the Kids Rule Theater Camp since its inception.
“One of their main goals is to continue to give back to the theater,” said Kristy Burchard, founder and director of the camp. “By getting children’s theater education in town, it saved parents from driving to San Jose or Salinas.”
The program also received a grant from the San Benito Arts Council this year that Burchard used to offer scholarships to some participants.
“It helped to get some kids at camp that normally couldn’t afford it, even though tuition is very low,” Burchard said. ” They [the arts council] chose to see arts education is important and I am really thankful for that. It’s cool to be able to call up these people that I had on a waiting list and offer some tuition assistance.”
The camp ran June 22-26. There were 145 campers enrolled in the Kids Rule program and 16 in an advanced program called Encore Theater.
“It is actually a really good way to teach kids how to audition and what to expect when they go to audition,” Burchard said.
Many of the participants have been to camp before or have been in past theater productions.
“A lot of kids have done stage production and it gives them a chance to get back with their theater group since it draws from all the schools in the area – even San Juan Bautista,” she said.
Some of the participants are new to the program that works with kids ages 6 to 13.
“We did have a lot of newcomers that hadn’t been involved who are excited about trying out for Stage Company productions this fall and spring,” she said.
Older teens, including former campers, work as counselors.
“That’s what makes it so stable and so well known,” Burchard said. “So many of these counselors started as campers and moved through the ranks.”
Each year, the camp has a theme that influences the finale they perform that is open to family, friends and the general public. This year’s theme was “Disney Past and Present.” The kids learned classic Disney songs and music from some of the more recent films such as “High School Musical” and “Cars.”
At the finale, the kids do an ensemble number and then each age group sings two songs, dances, and performs a skit.
“They’ve got to come up with that themselves,” Burchard said, of the skit. “The counselors help them brainstorm.”
The performance lasted more than two hours this year.
“The kids do love to get up on stage,” she said. “They are learning theater through games. They don’t get they are learning theater and stage positions.”
Melissa Flores can be reached.
Upcoming events
San Benito Stage Comapny’s Guys and Dolls
July 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 and Aug. 1 at 8 p.m.
July 19, 26 and Aug. 2 at 2 p.m.
Tickets $16 general, $13 children and seniors
All performances will be at the Granada Theater, 336 Fifth St. Purchase tickets at Postal Graphics or at the door.
For more information, call 636-2895.
