Theater camp 56 enters fourth year

Chloe Baron selects some wood to use for making props during a Wednesday morning session of Theatre Camp 56 at Princeton High School. About 40 young people are attending the annual two-week camp, hosted by the University of Illinois Extension-Bureau County, the Princeton Theatre Group, The November Ten and the Bureau County Youth Development Coalition. (BCR photo/Donna Barker)

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PRINCETON — A group of area young people certainly haven’t been bored during the past two weeks of their summer vacations. They’ve been spending their time learning firsthand what goes into creating their own theatrical productions.

Since June 23, 41 area youth ages 8 to 13 have spent their days learning about various aspects of theater production and acting.

The fourth summer of Theater Camp 56 is almost complete at Princeton High School. Presented through a partnership between the Princeton Theater Group, the University of Illinois Extension - Bureau County, the November Ten and the Bureau County Youth Development Coalition, Theater Camp 56 is a two-week day camp for young people ages 8 to 13.

Cyndi Olson, head counselor of Camp 56, said the goal of the camp staff is to help the youth learn as much as possible about theater and aspects of theater production.

“We want to let them get familiar with what happens backstage during a production, as well as with acting,” Olson said.

Camp participants have the chance to experience and participate in many different aspects of theater, Olson said. They have made props, learned about sound and stage management, participated in a choreography session and a stage combat workshop, and played theater and improvisation games.

The campers have also spent time in rehearsal with professional actors from Festival 56.

Each camper will participate in two performances of the “Jesus Christ Superstar” musical.

The youth will also be featured in showcase performances before each Festival 56 performance of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” which runs from July 10 to July 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the PHS Council Auditorium.

For the young people, the hours of learning and rehearsing are accompanied by hours of fun.

This year marks the fourth summer of Theater Camp 56 for Taylor Tieman, 11, of Princeton. Taylor said she has enjoyed having the opportunity to work with professional actors and to perform on-stage.

“I like getting to know all the professional actors and perform with them,” Taylor said. “My favorite part is our showcases, because they are really fun. I started coming to camp because my friend was into theater, and she invited me to try it.”

Nate Mosier, 9, of Princeton said he is enjoying his first year of participating in Theater Camp 56.

“I have made a lot of friends,” Nate said. “My favorite part is the acting and the singing. My sister started coming to camp two years ago, and everybody wanted me to come too, so I did.”

Second-time camper Anjali Patel, 11, of Princeton said she enjoys meeting and working with other actors — both kids and adults. Her favorite Theater Camp 56 experience is working on the camp showcases and performing in a Festival 56 musical.

Jon Yaklich, 9, of Princeton is also participating in his first year of Camp 56. Jon agreed that the experience had been fun because it allowed him to meet new people and to keep busy with fun activities.

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