OK. So you’ve always thought it would be fun to act… perform a short scene, maybe create a character or personality, develop a story line. You’re a secret performer at heart. Sure, but the problem is, when do you do it? Who’s going to be watching? What will people think if suddenly you turn into a sweet old lady, or a glamorous Hollywood starlet, or a cranky bus driver?

That’s another fun thing about camp; there’s plenty of chances for acting. In addition to the Drama activity that meets most every day, you can join the group of girls producing the end-of-session musical (Did I mention singing too?). Also, some of the evening program activities provide opportunities to perform for your friends.

A great example of this is “Fractured Fairy Tales,” a fun game where each cabin of girls presents a skit combining more than one classic fairy tale. Can you imagine Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs in the same story? Needless to say, it can be pretty funny. Each cabin takes a turn performing its skit. With so many characters, everyone plays a part. It’s also fun to watch the other skits when its not your cabin’s turn.

Once you try acting at camp, it could become one of your favorite things to do!

This past summer our camp drama production was You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. Based on the popular Broadway musical comedy, this “kids version” of the play still has great music, singing, and story lines. It of course features many of the characters made famous by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in his comic strip Peanuts. There’s Snoopy and his doghouse, Linus and his blanket, and Lucy and her “psychiatrist” stand. In the story, Charlie Brown hopes to discover what it means to be a “good man,” and in the end, after many challenges and setbacks, realizes that it means doing your best. The kids at camp had a great time producing the play and performing it for the entire camp. Even a few parents of the cast members attended the performance. It was a really cute show.

Last year our summer camp musical was Into the Woods. Each summer we select a musical for the girls to produce, practice and perform at the end of the main sessions, and in 2008 it was this wonderful play by Stephen Sondheim. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a story that integrates aspect of Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack and the Bean Stalk, and Rapunzel. With so many characters involved, it’s a great summer camp drama production because so many campers can have a part, even a singing part. Then the girls are also designing and making costumes, painting scenery, and pulling together all the details of the play. It’s always a treat to see the wide range of talents the Rockbrook campers can show off.

In the next few weeks we’ll be considering different plays for this summer’s camp sessions. If you have any suggestions, let us know in the comments.

Another great thing about being at summer camp is all the opportunities for creativity you can find. Take Drama for example. This is a chance to really exercise your imagination, perhaps take on a new character, find yourself in an unusual setting or situation.  A drama camp means learning a few things about movement and body language, how to improvise, and even how to speak with a certain accent.  Throw costumes, make up, music and dance in there, and you can see why the Rockbrook Camp drama activity has been so popular (fun!) over the years.

P.S. That’s the Junior Lodge fireplace in the background of this photo.

Hey, it’s Lexie reporting to you directly from the Middler line… and beyond!

Many girls held their breath this morning as they nervously climbed the steps of the Dining Hall. The cast list for our play, The Wizard of Oz, had just gone up and everyone was anxious to see. The initial craze of shouts and laughter has died down since breakfast and the girls picked up their scripts at dinner from our director, Elise. Now all they have to do is memorize their lines and attend a few rehearsals, and we’ll have our play ready on Saturday, July 21st, for any and all parents who wish to attend. Good luck, girls!

Apart from the excitement of the play, we all dressed up in our hairiest costumes for Animal Dinner! We had everything from elephants to bears to flamingos dining together in harmony. I think I saw a lion stalking a zebra, but there are no fatalities to report. Stay tuned for more intense eyewitness accounts brought to you from Rockbrook Camp!

Drama has always been a popular activity at Rockbrook. Throughout the week, the drama activity periods involve improv situations, puppet shows, charades, and other games, but during each main session the campers and drama instructors also produce a full-blown play. Costumes, scenery, music, choreography, and of course characters presenting a story— it’s an elaborate production performed for the whole camp at the end of the session.

The camp play brings together so many different campers and staff members, all in a cooperative and noncompetitive spirit.  It’s a wonderful example of our kids camp philosophy, a great opportunity to create something together, and for all of us to marvel at the results.

P.S. This photo is from last summer’s production of Alice in Wonderland.