Harness the Energy: Give Children Time in the Spotlight

School is officially out for the children in Bartow County and the city of Cartersville, and now parents face the challenge of finding activities for their kids over the summer. 

Terri Cox, program director for the , has a suggestion for those precocious and energetic kindergarten and first-graders, those rambunctious and entertaining elementary kids, and those talented and outgoing middle and high schoolers — theatre camp! 

When talking about the content of the camps, Cox said, "Each camp provides the students with activities in music, movement or dance, and acting.  We begin with the basics in the younger camps and take them through a full-blown Broadway production for the high school students." 

Cox added many theatre camp goers, once they attend their first one, come back year after year. 

Ali Harton has been coming to theatre camp since she was in second grade.  She is the daughter of Dr. Paul and Susan Harton.  When asked about her thoughts on the camps, she said, "The theatre camps helped me a lot with coming out of my shell and making friends."   

She continued, "I used to be really shy and self conscious, but performing in the camps for all these years has helped me become more confident. I've met so many new friends through the camps and it has been so much fun to go every year and perform a really fun show. These camps have been a huge part of my life, and I'm so blessed to have been able to be a part of them."   

Harton is the current president of the Darlington Players and is also a concert choir officer.
 
When asked about the history of the camps, Cox said, "The Grand Theatre’s Summer Camp program has been a Cartersville tradition since 1989.  Students from kindergarten through 12th grade have an opportunity to participate in a theatre production designed to meet their individual needs." 

Parents who may be asking themselves on the qualifications of the instructors will be happy to know they all have a background in theatre.   

"All of our directors have experience with drama and music. Our goal is to help the students develop confidence and enjoyment of the performing arts that will last throughout their lives," Cox said. 

The camps are broken down as follows: 

• Primary Camp for completed grades kindergarten and first takes place May 31 through June 4. The camp will be directed by Laura Hettinger and Tiffany Tindall and will feature a production entitled, The Bugs in the Bog.  The performance of that show will take place at the Grand Theatre on Saturday, June 4, at 7 p.m.  The cost for the camp is $100. 
• Elementary Camp for completed grades second through fourth takes place June 20 through 25 for the first session offering and June 27 through July 1 for the second session.  The camps will be directed by Laura Hettinger and Carol Nelson and will feature a production entitled, Pirates, The Musical.  The performance of that show for session one will take place at the Grand Theatre on Saturday, June 25, at 7 p.m.  The performance for the second session will take place Saturday, July 2, at 7 p.m.  The cost for either camp is $150.   
• Middle School Camp for completed grades fifth through seventh takes place June 6 to 18.  The camp will be directed by Barbie Sheppard and Warren Kennedy and will feature a production entitled, Disco Knights. Performances of that show will take place at the Grand Theatre, Friday, June 17, and Saturday, June 18, both at 7 p.m.  The cost for the camp is $275. 
• Senior High Camp for completed grades seventh through twelveth.  The camp will be directed by Erin Gunter, Nathan Autry and Carol Gough-Queen and will feature a production of the full-length musical, Crazy For You. The performance dates are Friday, July 22 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, July 23 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, July 24, all at 2:30 p.m.  The cost for the camp is $325. 

To sign-up for camps, call the box office at 770-386-7343.  You can also get more details on all Grand Theatre offerings and shows by visiting www.thegrandtheatre.org.