A week isn’t long enough to stage a full-length musical.
But in a week of musical theater summer camp, Mickey Lubeck creates a shorter production for children to be immersed in and get a taste of what theater is like.
“I do a base story,” said Lubeck, the executive director of Musical Theatre Workshops, who created camps based on popular plays she done with the workshop students in previous seasons.
From June 12-16, 40 children between the ages of 7 and 13 years old entered into the world of The Lion King, learning songs from the show and readying for a showcase on June 16.
“I like to give as many kids an opportunity to shine as possible,” she said.
Because there’s limited time to learn a show, the roles are divided with two actors playing parts such as Scar, Simba and Nala.
“Summer camp is really fun,” said Cameron Myers, a rising seventh grader at Stallings Island Middle School. “There’s no pressure. You get to have fun and try your best and learn new theater and acting techniques.”
Myers has been part of both the summer camps as well as the program during the school year.
She said she likes be able to concentrate on theater without having to worry about school.
For some children, the summer camp is an introduction to Lubeck’s musical theater school.
Read more: Musical Theatre Workshops offer peach of a show
Sofia Latif, a Stevens Creek Elementary School rising fifth grader, said she first learned about Musical Theatre Workshops through summer camp.
“I’ve been to multiple summer camps,” she said. “It gives you a lot of practice, and you get a lot of chances to get parts.”
The camp prompted her to want to attend classes during the school years.
Lubeck said having the camp in Augusta Prep’s theater is “a wonderful experience.”
The theater setting is magical for the students, she said. When they get to stand on the stage under the lights, there’s a sense of awe that she sees in many of them. It sparks their interest in acting and singing.
They also have the opportunity to see what takes place behind the scenes as well as learn audience etiquette.
Lubeck said she has a couple of additional camp sessions planned, but they filled up a few weeks ago. Registration started in February, and classes were full by Masters Week.
Although the camps are full, Lubeck said registration is open for the school year program. For more information, visit the website.
In addition to her regular musical theater classes, she’s adding some straight acting classes this year.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News, has covered Augusta’s news for 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
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