Matthews Playhouse offers discount for campers who sign up by March 31

by Kara Lopp

Jessica Groves is a familiar face around the Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts.

The 24-year-old school teacher took her first theatre class with the nonprofit at age 17 and later played the first mate in the production of “The Little Mermaid.” She’s been a staple on stage and in the playhouse classroom since.

And in her next role she’ll be “playing” a returning summer camp counselor. That, the Charlotte resident says, is her favorite part to play.

“With summer camps there are a lot of offerings within one camp,” Groves said. “There are opportunities for art, music, joke telling even and everything in between. (Students) come up with their own ideas. If they have a good idea for their play and it makes sense, they can try it.”

Campers play acting games and rotate through sessions of music, art and drama. And yes, Groves said, they serve snacks.

Camps introducing students to the world of drama cost $125 per week-long session. Production camps, where students get serious about acting and put on a performance at the camp’s conclusion, complete with costumes and props, range in price from $150 to $375 per week-long session. New this year, the camps will provide before and after care, from 8:30 a.m. until the camp begins or afterward until 5:30 p.m., for an additional $30 per week.

Groves said the camps help improve students’ confidence and social skills.

“Some kids come in shy but by the end of the week you can’t make them be quiet,” she said. “For me it’s one of the most valuable parts of the job. It’s basically what I live for. I was a shy kid myself. It’s a big milestone … I don’t feel like a camp counselor – I feel like a teacher; an art director.”

The following is the schedule of some of the Matthews Playhouse summer camps. Students registered online by March 31 will receive a $20 discount. Find more information and registration options online at www.matthewsplayhouse.com.

Winnie The Pooh and Friends, ages 4 to 6
June 6 to 10,
9:15 to 11:45 a.m. $125
Campers will act out the stories, songs and dances from the movie and the book.  Pretend to be Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet and even Christopher Robin. Make props to enhance stories and act out a scene on Friday for an invited audience.

The American Girl Doll, ages 5 to 11
June 13 to 17 and July 11 to 15, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 9 a.m. to noon, $125
Time travel with the American Girl Dolls and friends. Girls will act out stories, learn dances and music  and create crafts from each special era. At the end of the week there’s a celebration party. Camp will focus on the dolls: Julie, Felicity, and Addy.

Live Music Video I, ages 7 to 12
June 13 to 17, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., $125
Make your own music DVD, record it, and perform it in just one week. Create a dance, learn the song and choose your own costumes Each performer receives a copy of their DVD.

Sing! Dance! Act!, ages 8 to 12
June 20 to 24,
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., $125
A junior version of Broadway Boot Camp, learn about all the Broadway styles through dance including jazz, tap and modern. Work on how to audition for a show, introduce stage combat and wind up on Friday with some activities to share with an invited audience.

Glee, ages 9 and older
June 20 to 24 or July 18 to 22,
1:30 to 4:30 p.m., $125
Just like the hit television show, join the Glee Club. Campers will perform skits and sing songs just like the show. Characters and songs are limited only by your own imagination. On Friday the Glee Club will perform for an invited audience.

Tangled with Rapunzel, ages 5 to 8
June 27 to July 1,
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., $125
Like the movie with the same name, the camp will travel to the castle where the princess lives. Act out the story, sing the songs and make the props to complete your presentation for family and friends.

The Lightning Thief, ages 8 and older
June 27 to July 1,
1:30 to 4:30 p.m., $125
Based on the book by the same name, create your own battle based in Greek mythology yet set in modern times. Learn stage combat and create your own version of the story.

Broadway Boot Camp, ages 12 to 17
June 27 to July 1,
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $225
Each day campers will work on scenes and songs from a different piece of the modern musical theatre. Students will be guided through different styles of dance and vocal techniques throughout the week. On Friday campers will put together what they’ve learned in a musical revue for an invited audience.

Harry Potter, ages 7 to 12
July 11 to 15,
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or
1:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m., $125
Just in time for the final installment of the movie – take a week-long adventure into the book like you have never done before. The week will end in a competition that makes everyone a winner.

Spy Camp, ages 8 to 12
July 18 to 22,
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., $125
James Bond has nothing on this camp.  Become a secret agent, send secret messages, go on missions and solve the international crime wave. You may even discover a double agent. Camp will end in a huge spy mission on Friday.

Mary Poppins, ages 6 to 10
July 25 to 29,
9 a.m. to noon, $125
Campers will learn songs, dances and short scenes from the movie and the Broadway musical. On Friday, you will act out your own version of the story using songs from the Broadway score to present to family and friends.

Dance Like You’re on Broadway, ages 9 to 14
July 25 to 29, 1 to 4 p.m., $125
Learn to dance like you’re in the most popular Broadway musicals. Learn dances from “Wicked,” “Hairspray,” “Grease” and more. On Friday you will dance for an invited audience.

Design Runway, ages 9 and older
July 25 to 29, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., $125
Young designers will get just three hours a day to create a different project every day.  Use recycled material to create costumes and accessories.  On Friday campers will walk the runway with their new creations.

The Wizard of Oz, ages 6 to 10
Aug. 1 to 5, 9 a.m. to noon, $125
Sing songs from the movie musical “The Wizard of Oz” and create some scenes from the book as well as the movie. Everyone will play a part!  Share your version of the songs on Friday with an invited audience.

Improv Comedy, ages 9 to 14
Aug. 1 to 5, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., $125
Learn to make up scenes on the spot and perform them, using many of the same games from the hit TV show, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”  Young actors will learn to think on their feet. On Friday you will present an improv show for an invited audience.

“Hairspray,” “Grease” and “Bye Bye Birdie”, ages 8 to 14
Aug. 1 to 5, 1 to 4 p.m., $125
Do you love Rock ‘n’ Roll? Then join a camp where you learn songs from the Rock ‘n’ Roll musicals of the 1950s and sing, dance and act your way into a presentation on Friday for family and friends.

Let’s Make a Scene, ages 9 and up
Aug. 1 to 5, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., $125
Hollywood style scenes will be chosen and worked throughout the week. Aspiring actors will learn warm-ups, improvisation and how to rehearse a scene for an audition. End the week with performances of some short scenes taken directly from the movies.

Charlie Brown, ages 9 and up
Aug. 8 to 12,
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., $125
Based on the cartoon of the same name, discover characters from the Broadway show including Pig Pen, Lucy, Peppermint Patti and more.  Act out scenes, sing songs and perform skits from the show.


How I Became a Pirate, ages 6 to 10
Aug. 15 to 19, 9 a.m. to noon, $125
Based on the book by a similar name. Learn all the ins and outs of becoming a pirate, go to sea and return home nightly, safe and sound.  On Friday you will show an invited audience what it’s like to be a pirate.

Shrek, ages 6 to 10
Aug. 15 to 19, 1 to 4 p.m., $125
Based on the Broadway musical of the same name, the camp will take you to the swamp where the Ogre Shrek was invaded by fairy tale characters, including the big bad wolf, three blind mice, three little pigs, Pinocchio and more. Act out your story on Friday for an invited audience.