Johns Creek Arts Center Offers Broadway Summer Camp for Kids

When school’s out for summer, there are still plenty of opportunities for kids to learn. For example, the John’s Creek Arts Center’s (JCAC) Theatre Arts Camps teach acting skills as well as set and costume design. New for the JCAC’s 2011 summer season is Broadway Camp, a two-week (Monday through Friday) theater camp for kids that culminates in the spectacular show Aladdin Jr.

Broadway Camp is designed for both veteran and new campers ages 7 to 13 years old. The camp gives children the opportunity to act, sing and dance, or just specialize in one of these talents. Plus, Broadway Camp gives campers the opportunity to be a part of a real Broadway show and allows them to star in their own production of Disney’s Aladdin Jr., licensed from Music Theatre International (MTI). The play will take place on Northview High School’s professional-grade stage, and parents, families and friends of the campers are invited to attend.

According to JCAC Executive Director Gail Hisle, “Unlike the other Theatre Arts Camps, Broadway Camp is a very structured camp where the intention is for the campers to act in a professional performance. With the other camps, the children may create their own scripts and backdrops, but with Broadway Camp, we have purchased the rights to an existing play, and the campers will perform as if they are professional cast members. Also, this is the only camp with an evening performance, which takes place after a full day of dress rehearsals.”

Of the play, MTI says, “All of your favorite characters are here in this stage adaptation of the Disney hit, including Aladdin, Jasmine, and, of course, the Genie. Filled with magic, mayhem, and flying carpet rides, audiences' spirits will soar with excitement. Most of all, the tuneful, Academy award-winning score with songs including "A Whole New World" and "Friend Like Me" will certainly make this musical a favorite for many years to come!”

Actress/director/choreographer Anna Galt serves as Director for Broadway Camp. Galt has been acting, directing and choreographing since she graduated from Baylor University in 2008, working on productions of Junie B. Jones, CATS, Music Man, All Shook Up and others. Galt works with many schools and workshops that teach techniques on acting and dance, and she has taught theater to children of all ages, as well as adults.

Broadway Camp happens on Monday, July 18, through Friday, July 22, and Monday, July 25, through Friday, July 29, with the final performance on Friday, July 29. Camp runs from 9 a.m. (drop-off from 8:30 a.m.) to 3 p.m. each day, except the final day, which will include a full day of rehearsals from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., ending in the production at 5 p.m. that same evening. 

Broadway Camp takes place at Johns Creek Presbyterian Church, 10950 Bell Road. The Aladdin Jr. performance is at Northview High School, 10625 Parsons Road. The cost for Broadway Camp for JCAC members is $395 per person; non-member cost is $415 per person.

The Johns Creek Arts Center seeks to provide affordable quality cultural arts education to the residents in the vicinity of north Fulton County including, but not exclusive to, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Roswell, Duluth and Suwanee. For more information or to reserve a space at Broadway Camp, call Johns Creek Arts Center at 770-623-8448 or visit www.JohnsCreekArts.org.