Totem Pole Playhouse Welcomes Charlie O'Rourke as New Summer Theatre Camp Director

Totem Pole Playhouse has announced the hiring of a new summer theatre camp director, Charlie O'Rourke, from the IDEAL School in New York City. O'Rourke teaches Performing Arts at the Manhattan based school, which offers a unique model of inclusion education and has been featured on the Today Show, CNN, and in The New York Times.

Mark Needles, a professional actor and director from the highly regarded Missoula Children's Theatre, has also been added to the staff of Totem Pole's Children's and Teen's Camps as an instructor.

"The addition of Charlie to our educational staff will allow us to include disabled children in our Children's and Teen's Camps this summer, " said Totem Pole's Producing Artistic Director Rowan Joseph. "Thanks to the wonderful work of the Chambersburg Area Council for the Arts, the Missoula Children's Theatre has been an important part of children's creative lives here since 1997. Having Mark, who recently directed one of Missoula's national touring productions, also join us for the summer is truly an added blessing."

Totem Pole's Children's Theatre Camp is open to students ages 8 to 12 and will run from June 16th through the 27th from 10am to 3pm, Monday through Friday. Campers will also have an opportunity to audition for a children's choir to be included in the theatre's upcoming production of the Broadway musical Godspell, which opens on August 8th and runs through the 31st.

The Teen's Theatre Camp is open to students ages 12 to 18 and will run from July 7th through the 18th, 10am to 4pm, Monday through Friday. Teens will write, produce, and perform an original show this summer based on the theme of "bullying." The show will be presented at the playhouse on the final day of the camp.

Totem Pole's Comedy & Improv Camp will return for the third year from July 21st through August 1st, 10am to 4pm, Monday through Friday, and is open to students ages 10 to 18.

Parents interested in enrolling their children are urged to call Daphne Blair at (717) 352-2164 ext. 1004. Scholarships will once again be available this year to families who need assistance in covering the camp's $385.00 fee.

Totem Pole Playhouse is currently seeking corporate funding and private donations to help defray costs of offering the camps. Those interested in helping the children should contact Sue McMurtray at (717) 352-2164 ext. 1003.