WhatExit? Summer Theater Camp at Burgdorff Center

Summer day camps are winding down all over the towns, but the lights are just going up on one camp at the Burgdorff Center in Maplewood Village.

Maplewood's WhatExit? theater company has launched a new summer theater camp, expanding upon its already successful winter and spring programs. Dubbed "The Performance Classroom," the camp, run by the company's Director of Education Jen Crane Turner and the WhatExit? staff, provides hands-on learning for diverse groups of kids—including warm ups, theater games and rehearsals —culminating in a full-on performance.

"It's such a thrill to grow the Whatexit? education department. It's one thing to be producing theater, but we also want to build a year-long enrichment program that breeds confidence, self esteem and creativity," Turner said, "We want to do this by giving the kids a taste of how a show really develops from beginning to end."

The camp's first session for kindergarten through 1st graders ends this week; session 2 (beginning Monday August 9) focuses on young thespians in the 2nd through 4th grades.

Assisting Turner is local theater veteran Jane Keitel, who first connected with the WhatExit? education program in 2006. WhatExit? summer camp duties are just part of her heavy teaching/artist schedule that spans 19 years of working with professional and youth theater programs. "We really want kids to come away with a positive performance experience, and to have tapped into the tools needed to overcome nerves and self-doubt," she offered. Keitel also provides the musical direction and is an accomplished pianist.

Just as it is on stage, timing is everything. "Part of why this worked is because we scheduled it after most of the other local camps are through," explained WhatExit? Artistic Director David Winitsky. "We had so many Maplewood parents asking for this. We've had great success with our winter and spring sessions. Folks wanted the opportunity in the summer as well."

Each day's events are well choreographed and provide a healthy student/teacher ratio, explained Turner. Safety and attention to detail are very important. Staff is on hand to handle parenting issues and pick up/drop off logistics so the teachers can concentrate on the material.

Each day of The Performance Classroom has a disciplined, well-crafted routine, but staffer say there's a healthy focus on fun (and "a good snack"). The performance that the kids build is rooted in vaudeville and comedy, because "these forms are the most accessible to the kids. They introduce the skills of timing, and working together that are so critical to the theater," said Winitsky, "and if you can do comedy, drama looks easy!" he added. 

There are few spots open for the second camp session (August 9-August 20, 9:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.) for students in 2nd through 4th grade. The course fee is $450, and reservations can be made by contacting Jennifer Crane Turner at 973-763-4029, or jenn@whatexittheatre.com. The Performance Classroom is held at the Burgdorff Center, 10 Durand Road in Maplewood.