Hershey Area Playhouse to Kick Off Summer Classes, 6/10

Hershey Area Playhouse kicks off summer with children's theatre classes that focus on great American works. The youngest children will study classic story books near and dear to American childhood, while older elementary students work on a favorite genre, the melodrama. middle school and high school students will explore American Playwrights and their great historical and cultural connections. All classes end in a gala evening of plays, fully staged with costumes, lights and sound created and operated by our technical theatre students.

The Great American Works summer camp begins on Monday June 10th and runs through Friday June 21. For more information and to register for any of these classes, visit www.HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com.

In Kids Camp Jr. - Classic American Tales, students entering Grades 1- 3 will learn acting skills using classic American tales and award winning children's books with themes of Americana. Children will dive deep into a study of drama with an emphasis on developing imaginations and learning to create a character.

In Kids Camp - the Great American Melodrama, students entering Grades 4-6 will learn acting poses, gestures and stock character types in the genre of melodrama with a healthy dose of stage combat thrown in. In the process they will create their own stories and character studies.

In Studio & Scene Study, designed for students entering grades 7-12, students explore scenes and monologues by famous American authors. Class work focuses on text analysis, acting technique and audition skills. The resulting scenes and monologues will be fully staged complete with costumes, lights, sound effects and music to create a free form play at the end of the session.

Theatre for Techies is open to students in grades 8-12. Tech camp students explore the other half of the world of theatre, learning what goes on behind the scenes. Students will receive training in lighting, sound, and design with guest artists teaching the roles of a production team. Tech Camp students will put their skills into action supporting the final performance.

New this year, Hershey Area Playhouse partners with the Hershey Gardens to explore Alice in Wonderland and create an original performance piece. This camp is open to students entering grades 4 - 8, and begins on Monday July 22 and runs through Friday July 26, from 9 AM to 12 PM.

On Monday students will tour The Playhouse and learn how an actor uses a stage. The rest of the week will be spent at the Gardens exploring the world of creative dramatics, improvisation, character work and stage combat. The camp will culminate in an evening performance in the Garden's amphitheater on Friday. Call the Hershey Gardens for information or to register at 717-508-5968.