Children taught theater skills at camp

Elementary school pupils sang Lolly, Lolly, Lolly Get Your Adverbs Here in one room while high school students worked out choreography to Throw Away the Key in the room next door.

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Charmain Z. Brackett/Correspondent

Brandon Brune gets elementary school pupils warmed up before they start classes at the Augusta Players' camp at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. The children will perform Friday.

Almost 50 children between the ages of 5 and 18 are learning different pieces of the show School House Rock during a two-week camp put together by the Augusta Players. The camp will culminate in a performance at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 402 Aumond Road.

"It's an abridged version. Each group is learning two scenes and two songs," said camp director Anna Borke.

The camp began July 7 and runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Each day is packed with activities related to musical theater, including acting, singing and movement classes. There is a tech class that teaches a little bit of swordplay, with swimming pool noodles used as weapons.

The students are divided into four groups according to age and theater experience. The most experienced theater performers have their own group, and those students have an additional musical theater class.

Elaine Beachum, a 7-year-old Episcopal Day School pupil, has been to a couple of camps this summer, but she said the Augusta Players' camp has been the best.

"Acting is my whole life," said Elaine, who appeared as a munchkin in the Augusta Players production of The Wizard of Oz in May. "I love acting, singing. I love to dance."

The session that began July 7 was the second for the Augusta Players theater camp this summer. Another session was held in June.

Reach Charmain Brackett at czbrackett@hotmail.com.