Premiere Stages Announces Camps for Young Theatre Artists

Premiere Stages, the professional theatre in residence at Kean University, is proud to announce two fun and engaging theatre camp sessions, the perfect summer arts activity for creative students.

Session 1, "So You Want to Write a Play," is a Playwriting Camp for Ages 11 - 14, and runs from July 19th - July 30th, 2010. Students enrolled in this session work with professional actors, directors and playwrights in a fun, creative and collaborative environment to develop original plays. Campers learn the elements of playwriting through innovative, active exercises and games that help them translate their creative ideas and impulses into theatrical scripts. This camp session culminates in a public performance of the campers' original plays, performed by professional actors and high school students. Camp runs Monday through Thursday from 10am - 2pm, with a final performance on Friday, July 30th.

Session 2, "Taking the Stage" is an Acting Camp for ages 15-18, and runs July 26th - August 6th, 2010. Students enrolled in this session will focus on the craft of acting including scene work, audition technique, monologue preparation, movement and voice/speech. Students will all have the chance to work closely with professional actors and directors, as well as guest artists in fields such as stage combat and improvisation. Campers will perform the scenes written by students enrolled in Session 1 on July 30th, and will have their own final showcase on August 6th. Camp runs Monday through Friday from 10am - 2pm.

Premiere Stages has offered just one camp session in previous seasons. This year's expansion to two sessions is made possible by a generous grant from the Westfield Foundation, an organization dedicated to the betterment of Westfield and its surrounding communities. "This has been a very challenging year...with a tight grants budget," notes Elizabeth Chance, the Foundation's executive director. "The Trustees were very impressed by [Premiere's] summer camp and felt it was appropriate to provide seed money to expand the program."

The cost for each session is $295. Scholarships are available, with preference given to Union County residents. For more information or to request an application, please contact Erica Nagel, Producing Associate at enagel@kean.edu or 908-737-4092. Interested students should submit a completed registration form, along with a short "camp expectations" paragraph statement and a $25 application fee to Premiere Stages at Kean University. The fee ensures inclusion in the camp and serves as the initial tuition payment. Space is limited and slots will be filled on a first come, first served basis.

More information and application forms are available online at www.kean.edu/premierestages.