American Shakespeare Center Opens Teen Camp, Rehearsals For Shows Underway

Session 2 of the American Shakespeare Center's Young Company Theatre Camp is in full swing, with campers already diving into their roles in Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra, two plays presented in three parts. Auditions and casting happened on Monday, July 19th, with the campers receiving their roles just moments before barreling into their first rehearsals.

This year's campers come to the ASC from all over the country. Though most are still from Virginia or neighboring states, campers have also traveled from New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Nebraska, and California.

Spotlight on a Featured Camper

Alexi Sargeant, 17, is in his third summer and fourth session of YCTC. From Philadelphia, PA, Alexi heard about YCTC on an online forum from another camper, Charlie Eckman. Though they hadn't met previously, Alexi had "Shakespeare" in his user name, which encouraged Eckman to get in contact with him and suggest that he look into programs at the ASC. Alexi says it's the people at YCTC who have kept him coming back summer after summer. "I'm a huge Shakespeare geek, and it's nice to be around people who appreciate that." On what sets YCTC apart from other camps he's been to, Alexi says, "It's more close-knit. I think putting on a show together really pulls people together and makes really close friendships possible."

Previously at YCTC, Alexi has played Cerimon in Pericles, Pinch and Duke Solinus in The Comedy of Errors, and Oliver in this year's Session 1 production of As You Like It. In Session 2, he's already hard at work rehearsing Octavius Caesar for part one of Antony and Cleopatra. He says Octavius is his favorite role so far. "I love the way his mind works, because it's complicated." Alexi has been enjoying working with the rhetoric in Octavius's speeches, particularly how he constructs arguments, noting that Octavius talks in lists and that what he says "reveals a lot about his class consciousness." Alexi has drawn comparisons between Octavius and Antony, noting that Octavius stands for the rule of law and order, disdaining Antony's reveling with servants and slaves.

Apart from the culminating shows, Alexi also enjoys the What You Will talent show. At What You Will, which takes place on the twelfth night of the session, campers can perform monologues and scenes (from Shakespeare or from anyone else), sing, dance, and otherwise show off their unique skills. The show is also a chance for campers to push themselves by trying out something new. For this session, Alexi and some friends are planning a highly inventive version of the final fight from Henry IV, Pt 1.

Alexi is a rising senior in high school and is looking for colleges with strong English and theatre departments.

Photo Credit: American Shakespeare Center website