If the Souris Valley Theatre’s summer musical theatre camps are any indication, it would appear some local youths have been bit by the acting bug.
The theatre wrapped up its summer camps for children by hosting their Act 3 camp from July 25 to 29 and Aug. 2 to 6. Not only did young people between the ages of 13 and 16 get to further their talents in acting, dancing and singing, but they got to perform a one-hour musical comedy, Game of Phones, which was written by SV Theatre board president Maureen Ulrich.
The performances took place on Aug. 5 and 6 at the theatre’s Frehlick Hall, with family members and friends in attendance.
“Game of Phones is about time travel,” said Joshua Pele, who co-ordinated the camps with Kelsey Potoma. “Our main character, Julie, it’s her birthday, so her mom is trying to plan a birthday surprise for her.”
Julie, her sister Gracie and friend Teagan go to the grocery store, and are sucked into a time travel machine.
“They go back in time to the Egyptian king, they go back in time to Marie Antoinette and they go back in time to Madam Currie. And some Vikings show up, too,” Pele said.
Students who signed up for Act 3, and weren’t on stage for Game of Phones, gained valuable experience by working as part of the crew.
“They did an amazing job,” said Pele. “We have people on lights and sound, and backstage making the props and all that fun stuff.”
Pele hopes the format for Act 3, with two weeks of classes and a production at the end, will become an annual occurrence. The young people enjoyed it, and they were thrilled to perform a show in front of their friends.
Angelle Avery had the lead role of Julie. She has been coming to the camps the last two years, and has loved the experience.
She was selected for the lead after a talent inventory that evaluated their dancing, singing and acting skills.
“We all sat around in a circle, and Josh told us to read our lines,” said Angelle. “So, we read them, and here we are.”
This year’s camp has enabled her to learn so much on how to improve her abilities as a performer.
“I’ve been acting since I was eight in the Missoula Children’s Theatre’s (annual appearance in Estevan), and I’ve been in Pleasantdale productions of Annie, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” said Angelle.
Pele was pleased with this year’s camps. Act 1 ran from July 4 to 8 and was for kids ages six to eight. Act 2 was from July 11 to 15 and had youths ages nine to 12.
“A lot of the Act 2 kids from last year actually moved up into Act 3 this year,” said Pele.
He believes Act 3 had an increase of about 10 participants compared to last year.
Act 1 and 2 provided young people with information on the basics of theatre, the areas of the stage, and tips on voice projection, acting and dancing. Participants create their own show at the end.
The theatre continues to receive positive feedback from the young people who are part of the camps, he said, and participants are bringing friends the following year. It keeps the numbers strong for the camps, and he believes it also creates interest in the theatre among young people.
