CAMP MEDIA THEATRE PUTS THE SPOTLIGHT ON SUMMER PERFORMANCE FOR YOUNG ACTORS AND SINGERS

Children and teens have been singing and dancing at The Media Theatre each summer for almost two decades as participants in Camp Media Theatre. Now headed into its 18^th summer, the camp first opened in June of 2000 with only 30 members. It’s grown into one of Delaware County’s most popular summer theatre camps with registration of over 250 youth each summer who enjoy learning more about theatre while having a good time with others who share a similar interest. It is part of the educational component of The Media Theatre’s mission.

With five two-week day camp sessions to choose from, plus a “Heathers: High School Edition” camp for teens, there are plenty of opportunities for budding thespians, singers, and dancers.

Artistic Director Jesse Cline looks forward to Camp Media Theatre. “With the growth of our New School conservatory-style music theatre education program September through April, plus the success of our youth musicals, the camp is in direct correlation to our mission defining us as a professional music theatre company,” he said.

Cline added, “The philosophy of education here is based on The Meisner Technique which states that ‘acting is living as truthfully as one can under an imaginary circumstance’. Camp Media Theatre is structured so that the young people involved gain self-confidence and a strong ability to work well with peers.”

“The camp is fun and upbeat, but the instructors and directors involved do enforce the idea that acting is not about pretending,” Cline explained. “It’s about living, it’s about doing, and it’s about being comfortable with who you are.”

Once everyone is registered for Camp Media Theatre, the youth are divided into two age groups. The age groups may fluctuate a bit, depending on how many children are in each camp session and what the median age range tends to be.

A typical camp day begins at 9:30am and ends at 3:30pm. Each age group works with the instructors on a rotating basis throughout the first part of the camp day, with all age groups working onstage together from 2pm until 3:30. As a courtesy to parents and guardians, early drop-off is accepted after 8:30am although the actual camp day does not begin until 9:30am. Counselors are on hand during the early hour to supervise the campers before classes start.  All ages bring their own lunch, enjoy lunchtime with their friends, and are able to purchase supplementary items from the theatre’s concession stand.

Each two-week session has its own theme, based on the songs in the camp. This information is found at www.mediatheatre.org. After two weeks of rehearsing, and adding scenes which are created during the daily acting classes, each session has a camp performance which is held the final Friday evening of each session. Each child, regardless of age or experience level, becomes actively involved in the production.

In addition to the day camps for ages 5 to 14, The Media Theatre brings "Heathers: High School Edition" to the Teen Camp Experience in 2018. This is specifically for ages 12 and up, and has a completely different schedule than the day camp. “Heathers: High School Edition” Camp meets during early evening hours Monday through Friday starting June 18, and the production---full scale, with directors, musicians,  lighting and costumes, etc.---performs for audiences each weekend in July on stage.

Camp Media Theatre 2018 promises to be an enlightening, entertaining, and enriching experience for young people who have an interest in music theatre. Participants will perform on an award-winning professional music theatre stage in an environment which promotes and cultivates each individual unique personality as the singing, acting, and dancing creates a memorable summer.

For camp registrations and information, call the Media Theatre at 610-891-0100 or CLICK HERE TO SAVE ON REGISTRATION NOW