Summer Theater Camp Seeking Members

Imagine, if you will, a town that requires you to pay to pee during a water shortage.

Such is the premise of the hit musical comedy, "Urinetown, the Musical," which will be performed by Centre Stage Productions this summer as the culmination of a two-week long theater camp.

Centre Stage Productions, is seeking children grade eight through high school to participate. Run by Nathan Colby and Michael Lapomardo, it is their hope that the participants will have fun and learn something about theater in the process.

"Centre Stage is a small theater company designed for students who want a more intense look at theater," Lapomardo said. "The concept is very simple. Students attend a two-week day camp and work on putting together a production. In the professional world, most actors only get two weeks of rehearsals before opening to a crowd. The students are kept involved in various ways and the students also gain valuable skills from being both on the stage and off."

Lapomardo, who teaches at the , has been involved in theater for over 10 years, and admits to being bitten by the theater bug early on. He has been involved in over 30 productions, and is pleased to be a part of the burgeoning Central Massachusetts theater community. He is especially passionate about teaching kids.

"Centre Stage Productions is dedicated to providing theatrical experiences for the youth of Central Mass.," Lapomardo said. "We encourage all students to create, imagine and explore the arts through the medium of live theater in the hope they will discover things about themselves and others and learn to accept and respect what is unique in their fellow participants."

Ultimately, Lapomardo and Colby would like to see their summer theater camp grow and blossom.

"We would love to see future productions and have a youth theater, a teen theater, and an advance troupe all running at the same time," Lapomardo said. "But for now, we'll keep it to small steps."

"Urinetown, the Musical" was chosen because of its' witty humor and its' references to well known plays like "West Side Story," "Les Miserables" and "Fiddler on the Roof."

"Biting Humor, catchy tunes, and truly memorable characters come together during a water shortage where the citizens of Urinetown must pay a fee to the monopolizing, ever-powerful Urine Good Company in order to pee," Lapomardo said.

This musical will, hopefully, allow the kids to experience acting with kids from other areas and have fun.

"Ultimately our goal is for the kids to walk away having a lot of fun, making new friends, having a greater understanding of theater and feeling empowered to take risks in front of others, which can be a scary but rewarding experience," Lapomardo said.

Early registration for this camp ends on April 23. Students will meet for 10, eight-hour days, and put up a final production. Camp will begin when school ends. The tuition is $225.

"We think it is important that all students have the opportunity to work with others from various high schools," Lapomardo said. " It's a rewarding experience and a whole lot of fun. We hope the students will gain further knowledge about characterization, script study, movement, acting, singing, and design in the course of their time with us."

Centre Stage Productions is most grateful to the Massachusetts Cultural Council, as it is through their support that this new theater group was able to form.