SUNDRE – Local youths who might be interested in exploring their flair for the dramatic are about to get a chance to do just that in Sundre with an upcoming theatre camp.
When Lilyann Saunders took on the position of summer youth programming coordinator with Greenwood Neighbourhood Place Society, the umbrella organization overseeing The Den – Sundre Youth Centre, she immediately sought the board’s support in developing the program and pitched the idea.
“I have been wanting to do something like this camp for a while,” Saunders told the Albertan.
“I am excited to put on this theatre camp because I am very passionate about music and theatre,” she wrote by email, adding the society has never before delivered anything quite like it.
“But as soon as they heard about my theatre and musical experience, I was asked to run a theatre camp. I was ecstatic!”
The program is intended for youths between the ages of 10 to 14 and will be held at The Den, located at 102 Centre Street immediately north of the traffic lights at the intersection with Highway 27-Main Avenue.
“My goal in putting on this camp is to give kids an introduction to musical theatre so that they can see how fun it can be,” she said.
But beyond offering youths a chance to see if having some fun under the spotlight might be of interest to them, she said there are also other aspects in acting that can help hone skills that will carry over into every day life.
“I believe that it is important to give kids opportunities to perform and explore the fine arts because they can benefit from it in so many different ways,” she asserts.
“For example, participating in theatre builds confidence and public speaking skills, and gives kids the opportunity to create something with others,” she said, adding it also develops or improves one’s ability to collaborate with people.
“Theatre teaches kids and adults alike to work with others as a team and to help each other give their best performance.”
Saunders said she will work with the young actors to create a musical skit with support from volunteers who will bring theatre experience to help.
“We will have five afternoons to put together the skit while also playing theatre games, learning about vocal warm-ups and techniques, and having fun,” she said, expressing enthusiasm to see the result.
“I am excited to see what the kids create!”
The theatre camp, which Saunders dubbed Rising Stars, will run over the course of five days from Aug. 11-13 and 18-19 from 1-5 p.m. all culminating in a final performance for friends and family that is scheduled for Aug. 20 at 7 p.m.
