Summer Theatre Camp 2009

Summer Theatre Camp Offers Unique and Educational Experience for Kids

Each summer parents search for activities to keep their children productive, and Lewis University’s Philip Lynch Theatre (PLT) in partnership with Heritage Theatre Company (HTC) is answering the call with a unique musical theatre experience for children ages 6-12 years old. The newly formed “Actors Academy” will offer theatre classes for junior drama stars on July 20 – 23, and July 27 – 31 from 9 a.m. to noon. On the last day of class, participants will perform "America's Tallest Tales: The Musical" complete with costumes, lights and props on the beautifully intimate PLT stage. Participants will also have two free public outdoor performances at Kidzfest sponsored by Lewis University on Saturday, August 1, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lewis’ Actors Academy will be an educational experience including dance, music, and acting. Lewis University alumna, of Joliet, who taught for 4 years at the Rialto School of the Arts, will teach the classes. Her company, Eberhard and Friends, is now with Lewis University’s Actors Academy. A local educator for over 30 years, Barbara Eberhard is the Academy’s director. She was recently named a recipient of the 2009 Joliet Area Great Teacher Award for commitment to the highest standard of teaching excellence.

“America’s Tallest Tales: The Musical” is a musical mystery. Paul Bunyan’s best friend, Babe the blue ox has gone missing, and Paul vows to find him. Paul Bunyan, with the help of Bess Call, the strong- armed cattle-friendly heroine of the Adirondacks, is criss-crossing America in search of his missing companion. Has Pecos Bill rustled the big ox? Did Annie Christmas, Queen of the Mississippi keel-boaters, borrow him to pull her boat up the river? In the course of their adventures Paul and Bess run into John Henry, Alfred Bulltop Stormalong, and a host of other stars of America's Tallest Tales.

There are a maximum of 24 spots (minimum 10) available for children with a flair for the dramatic from ages 6 – 12 years old. This unique, educational opportunity will cost $230 per student, and $150 for each sibling. That is a cost savings of $80 for additional children of the same talent-filled family.

Registration forms are available by calling the PLT box office (815) 836-5500 or online on the PLT website www.lewisu.edu/plt under the Actors Academy link. Mailing in a check will confirm registration, and parents will be sent a confirmation with complete consent forms and an Actors Academy Handbook. Registration deadline is July 15.

All classes will be held at the Philip Lynch Theatre located on the main campus of Lewis University on Route 53 in Romeoville. A Catholic university sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis offers nearly 80 undergraduate majors and programs of study, accelerated degree completion options for working adults, various aviation programs and 22 graduate programs in nine fields. The 10th largest private, not-for-profit university in Illinois is being honored for the fifth consecutive year by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. For more information please visit www.lewisu.edu.

To top