Piedmont Players Theatre sponsors summer camps starting in June. Camps run from June 16 to Aug. 15. Complete schedule including camp descriptions and instructor information is available below.
Registration forms are available at the PPT offices, 213 S. Main St., or on the PPT website, www.piedmontplayers.com. Return signed registration form with payment to: Piedmont Players Theatre Summer Camps, P.O. Box 762, Salisbury, NC 28145.
For more information or to register for the 2014 season call 704-633-5471.
Cost: One-week camps — $150 or $130 for PPT season ticket holders; Disney’s POCAHONTAS Performer Camp (two weeks), $250; K-2 and half-day Camps, $70. Prices include all materials and a camp T-shirt.
Boxed lunch option: PPT has partnered with Sidewalk Deli. Pre-ordered box lunches will be available for campers for just $5 per day and will include a fresh made sandwich, side, dessert and drink and will be delivered to the theater. Menus will be sent with registration forms. Campers can order lunch for one day, multiple days or opt to bring their own.
Acting Up Camps: Kindergarten-second grade
Elementary: Rising third through fifth grade
Middle school: Rising sixth through eighth grade
High School: Rising ninth-12th grade.
Acting Up 1 (K-2 camp), 9 a.m. to noon. Theater is a way for young students to learn and express themselves. Campers will play games, do puzzles and learn basic acting and design skills. This camp will not have an end-of-the-week program since the focus is not performance but fun and process. Instructor: Anne Cote Hoffman.
Disney’s “Frozen” (elementary musical), 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come this summer and learn the songs, try on some new steps, and be charmed by the music of Disney’s newest sensation. Spend a week learning the rich music of Disney’s “Frozen.” Instructor: Gwen Matthews.
Costume design: “Frozen” (middle and high school), 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attendees will learn the basics of costuming a show while gaining practical, hands-on experience. Collaboration with each other will be stressed while brainstorming ideas through research, inspiration and sketching. Elementary patterning and sewing techniques will be taught as well as incorporating design principles for an aesthetically cohesive show. Campers will get to see the culmination of their work on stage as actors in the corresponding drama camp give their fully-costumed performance at the end of the week. Instructor: Maddie Shue.
Acting Up 1 (K-2 camp), 9 a.m. to noon. Instructor: John Rummage
Heroes and Villains (middle/high school), 1 to 4 p.m. Students will participate in an in-depth analysis and production of one of Shakespeare’s plays. Learn breathing exercises, delivery and what goes into the choices you make for each role. By the end of the week the students will star in a camp production. Instructor: Edward Whitney.
Taking the Stage (elementary drama), 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stage presence isn’t just a quality a few lucky people possess; it’s a skill that can be learned. Discover how to take the stage with greater confidence and freedom. Through a variety of fun and challenging acting exercises and improvisations, students will learn how to tap into the physical, vocal and mental energy required to create a strong and clear performance. In addition to becoming better actors, students in this camp will develop self-awareness, enhance collaboration skills and gain a richer understanding of the art of theater. Instructor: Andy MacDonald.
Taking the Stage (middle/high school drama), 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn stage presence. Instructor: Andy MacDonald
Sing Disney (elementary musical). 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you need a description for this camp then it’s probably not for you. Anyone who loves to sing Disney will love this camp. Instructor: Caroline Stephenson.
Finding the Character (middle/high school drama), 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This camp is for young actors ready to take their skills to the next level. Students will be introduced to a variety of techniques used by professional actors to create a compelling and convincing character. By tapping into the power of the imagination and learning how to listen and react to their acting partners, students will learn how to speak their lines with greater spontaneity, creativity and authenticity. Instructor: Andy MacDonald.
Disney’s “Frozen” (middle/high school musical), 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn the songs, try on some new steps and be charmed by the music of Disney’s newest sensation. Instructor: Gwen Matthews.
Costume/Makeup Design “Frozen” (middle and high technical), 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn the basics of costume design and construction from concepts and sketching to sewing and fitting. Students will learn the importance of teamwork while meeting with the director and other designers to create a cohesive whole production. They will discuss all aspects of design including color, pattern, themes and concepts. They will learn the basics of how clothes are made and altered, following patterns to create pieces and occasionally making simple patterns from scratch. At the end of the week student can see their creations on stage. Instructor: Brian Holloway.
Intensive Dance Camp (middle/high school dance), 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This camp at the Norvell will show students what it’s like to live the life of a professional dancer. It begins with deep stretching and conditioning. Students will take ballet, jazz, modern and hip-hop classes and learn choreography for a showcase at the end of the week. Instructor: Marianna Jarrett.
Heroes and Villains (elementary drama), 1 to 4 p.m. An in-depth analysis and production of one of Shakespeare’s plays. Learn breathing exercises, delivery and what goes into the choices you make for each role. Includes camp production. Instructor: Edward Whitney.
Acting Up 2 (K-2 camp), 9 a.m. to noon. Take it to the next level. All campers must have attended Acting Up 1. Instructor: Anne Cote Hoffman.
Disney’s “Frozen” (elementary musical), 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn the rich music of Disney’s “Frozen.” Instructor: Gwen Matthews.
Auditions: Start to finish (all ages), 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students will learn how to present themselves, what directors look for in auditions and how to make quick and active choices for audition purposes. At the end of the week the performance for family and friends will focus on scenes for each pair of actors that showcase and highlight their talent. Instructor: Ed Whitney.
Kids on Broadway (elementary musical), 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Spend a week performing songs and scenes from your favorite shows where you star as the main characters. At the end of the week we will bring these characters to life on the Norvell stage. Instructor: Caroline Stephenson.
Greek Myths Come to Life (elementary drama), 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join Caroline Stephenson in retellings of the most well known Greek myths with pop/show tunes. At the end of the week we will show the campers’ families what creative story telling is all about.
Production Camp – Disney’s “Pocahontas” Spend 10 rehearsal-filled days learning the musical script of Disney’s “Pocahontas”! Plenty of singing, dancing and exciting Disney characters. Join us for a summer production. For the performers out there, take the two-week performer camp to be on stage during the production. For backstage youth, there is either a one-week tech camp or a one-week costume design camp.
Performer Camp (middle and high musical), 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a two-week intensive camp that will put together the production of “Pocahontas.” Campers will learn choreography, music and scripts to the entire show. Instructor: Gwen Matthews. Campers must attend both weeks.
Behind the Scenes “Pocahontas” (middle/high school production), 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Does your child love the theatre but does not want to perform? Have them join tech camp to help design and build the set and lights for the production of Disney’s “Pocahontas.” They will learn how to safely use hand and power tools, how to hang and focus theatrical lights and how to work backstage as crew and stage managers. Instructor: Andy MacDonald.
Costume design “Pocahontas” (middle and high technical), 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn the basics of costume design and construction from concepts and sketching to sewing and fitting. They will discuss all aspects of design including color, pattern, themes and concepts. They will learn the basics of how clothes are made and altered, following patterns to create pieces and occasionally making simple patterns from scratch. At the end of the week you will have the chance to see your creation on stage. If you have a sewing machine, feel free to bring it along. Instructor: Maddie Shue.
Gwen Matthews. Last season all her camps were sold out. In addition to summer camps, Matthews teaches PPT’s youth musical audition camps. She has also directed PPT’s Productions of Disney’s “The Jungle Book KIDS,” “Honk Jr.,” “The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley Jr.” and “The Little Mermaid.” This summer she will bring “High School Musical” to the Meroney stage.
Caroline Stephenson holds degrees in music performance. She has taught camps and classes in creative drama, dance and music for Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Matthews Playhouse, The Uwharrie Players and others, and performed in many productions throughout the Carolinas. She teaches at Salisbury School of Music.
Edward Whitney has appeard in PPT shows including “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Spamalot,” “The 39 Steps,” “The Count of Monte Cristo” and “Chicago.” He earned his bachelor of fine arts in acting from the University of Central Florida. Enjoying all aspects of theatre, he spent time shooting short films in Los Angeles after a summer season with the Utah Shakespeare Festival tech and production crew.
Anne Cote Hoffman Anne has a BA in communication arts from Catawba College where she performed and volunteered with The Blue Masque and an MA in school counseling from UNC-Charlotte. She has performed in many productions with Piedmont Players, St. Thomas Players and Lee Street Theater. As an original Drama Camp teacher, she helped build and expand the program to what it is today.
John Rummage is a theater teacher and technician originally from Rowan County. He works as a substitute teacher for Rowan-Salisbury Schools and was last seen at PPT working backstage for “Spamalot.” He has a bachelor of arts in theater from Catawba College and a graduate certificate in theater education from UNC Charlotte.
Marianna Jarrett is a dance major at UNCC and the studio director and choreographer for Spotlight Dance Co. She has performed in the Orange Bowl Halftime Show, danced with the Rockettes, was a dancer for the Doobie Brothers, performed for Royal Caribbean, the Moondance Orchestra, choreographed and performed for the Harlem Globetrotter halftime show and has produced the “Alice in Wonderland” ballet.
Brian Holloway has been seen nationwide working on the Home Shopping Network, he also teaches middle school theater arts in Union County. His credits also include national touring companies of Shakespeare and various musicals including featured roles in “Big River” and “Jekyll and Hyde,” among others. On the internet, he can be seen in “Star Trek: New Voyages/PHASE II” as performer as well as being credited as makeup supervisor for the past four released episodes of the series.
Andy MacDonald is director of theater arts at Cannon School. He has more than 20 years experience teaching the arts, and has previously instructed classes ranging from introduction to theatre to advanced acting. In 2012 he received the Excellence in Directing award from the North Carolina Theater Conference.
Maddie Shue is a graduate of Appalachian State with a degree in apparel design and merchandising, Shue has designed costumes for PPT’s productions of “The Little Mermaid,” “The Count of Monte Cristo,” “Chicago” and “Leap of Faith,” among others. This is her second season working as a camp instructor.
Piedmont Players Theatre Inc., 213 S. Main St., 704-633-5471, www.piedmontplayers.com