Drama

Drama activities and producing our camp play provide creative performance opportunities for girls at Rockbrook.

summer camp newsies
• Drama • rbc

Newsies at RBC! 

The final Wednesday of every session has many traditions, most notably spirit dinner and spirit fire. But before we get there, Rockbrook thespians participate in the most exciting camp tradition of all, the play! Campers who elect to participate rehearse for only one hour a day, and by the end of the session have a full musical production ready to perform. It is a feat of scheduling and dedication, not only for the campers who spend fourth period rehearsing, but also for the counselors who direct, choreograph, and manage the show. It is a massive group effort to get everything ready for curtain! 

summer camp newsies show

This year, campers tell the story based on the real newspaper strikes of the early 1900s, but that many today would know better by the Disney film or Broadway musical. Led by a young Jack Kelly, the newsies of New York demand fair wages from Joseph Pulitzer. The intrepid young reporter, Katherine, shows them the power that media can have in swaying public opinion and forcing Pulitzer’s hand. The newsies learn that they don’t just sell news, they make it! Through this story, the campers have gotten in touch with their positive rebellious streak, learning songs like Seize The Day, Carrying the Banner, and King of New York. 

Loud and Proud Over Perfect

Although the costumes, lighting, and scenic design are not exactly what you’d find on Broadway, we transform our own Rockbrook gym to the streets of NYC with the help of some signs, suspenders, and suspension of disbelief. Campers who do theatre at home may be shocked at how much they’re able to accomplish and fun they’re able to have, even with far less stage tech and rehearsal time than they’re used to. Since we perform without microphones, and rainy afternoons are commonplace in our tin-roofed gym, rule number 1 of the Rockbrook play is to be LOUD and proud! More important than hitting all the right notes, or even saying all the right words, is making sure you do it with confidence and project! 

summer camp acting show
summer camp performance crew
camp Newsies performance

Everyone Has a Part to Play

Singing, dancing, and skits are all hallmarks of camp life, so it only makes sense that we would have so many talented campers ready to step into the roles. The play is open to everyone, and there is no role too small. During intermission, campers who have taken dance throughout their time at RBC get to show what they’ve been working on in the dance show. Even the counselors get a chance to strut their stuff in the “counselor dance” – a camp play tradition where for one song, the counselors emerge from their seats in the audience to fill in as ensemble dancers, often to the delight of their campers.

This story of camaraderie, collective action, and finding your power has been a great connection point for our cast, and even those not in the play are often recruited to help run lines with cabin mates, or end up humming the catchy tunes they overhear. Bravo to the cast of Newsies, and be on the lookout for links to our video recordings!

— Alyssa Calloway

camp Newsies all cast
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summer camp madagascar play
• Drama • Jeff Carter

Talent and Creativity

Another way that we celebrate our time together as a community is the performance of the session’s musical. Yes, believe it or not, a group of dedicated campers— 36 in all —plus 4 staff members this session, have been working to produce a musical that they can perform for the rest of the camp. This session was just shy of three weeks long, so these folks had to work fast. Together, they met almost daily to learn songs, rehearse choreographed dances, and memorize lines for the show. Today, we all enjoyed their hard work, talent and creativity.

summer camp lemur makeup

Madagascar Jr. Takes the Stage

The show was a performance of Madagascar Jr., a musical based on the popular DreamWorks movie. It follows four friends, Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Gloria the hippo, and Melman the giraffe, as they find themselves on an adventure escaping from their home at the New York Zoo and ending up on the island of Madagascar. Along the way, they meet a squad of very capable penguins, and a troupe of lemurs led by the eccentric King Julien. The story unfolds with Alex wrestling with his predatory instincts, and King Julien’s hope that the newcomers to the island can somehow protect the lemurs from cat-like predators called the Foosa.

summer camp performance
summer camp musical

The show is funny and entertaining. The campers played all the parts, and sang the familiar musical numbers, the highlight being the whole cast singing “I Like to Move It.” It was great fun to watch. I appreciated seeing how much fun the girls were having on stage and the cheers of support that came from everyone else in the audience. The duet sung by Alex and Marty called “Best Friends” was my favorite because it expressed so sweetly the importance of friendship and loyalty… perfect for camp! Looking around, it seemed like everyone was really enjoying the show.

summer camp stage girls
summer camp madagascar jr show
summer camp staage play
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rockbrook campfire assembly
• Drama • rbc

Focused and Celebrated

wizard of oz camp cast
beware of the dangerous woods

The Wizard of Oz Musical

Producing and performing a stage musical ordinarily takes a group of people hours of rehearsal over several months, unless, that is, it’s a group of Rockbrook Camp girls at work. Today we witnessed the powerful talent of these girls when they presented their production of “The Wizard of Oz.” With only about two and half weeks to prepare, the girls put on an amazing show complete with characters, costumes, music, singing, and stage acting.  The familiar storyline made it even more enjoyable to see our friends from camp —”I know her!”— dress as Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin man, the Lion, and the Wicked Witch of the West… and Toto too.  Likewise, it was delightful to hear the girls sing favorite songs like “Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” “Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead,” “We’re Off to See the Wizard,” and “If I Only Had a Brain.”

During the intermission, more campers took the stage as the different age groups took turns performing a choreographed group dance. There was such enthusiastic support for all of these performers, as the crowd of campers watching cheered and clapped spontaneously.

Both in the dance performances and in the play, the girls seemed poised and relaxed, happily following the choreography and delivering their lines. It was clear they were having a grand time, slyly giving each other a smile at times, laughing at their minor missteps, and loving the attention and admiration from the audience. Wonderful!

girl camper friends

Spirit Fire Closing Ceremony

Later in the evening as the sun began to set, the whole camp gathered at Vesper rock dressed in their uniforms for the closing campfire of the session. It’s a tradition, our “Spirit Fire,” that goes back to the very first summer when Nancy Carrier founded Rockbrook. She knew, and we continue to acknowledge, that when girls spend this much time together, build this much meaning together, grow this close, they need a way to express their feelings about camp before departing. The program of the Spirit Fire, for this reason, is a series of traditional camp songs, and speeches delivered by campers and counselors, with Sarah wrapping everything up. The setting is gorgeous— nearby the lake, surrounded by huge trees, with crickets and frogs chirping their calls over the crackling fire. Tonight it was also emotional as several speakers described Rockbrook as the only place were they feel accepted enough to be fully themselves. But mostly, we heard about how the people here at camp are so special, in ways vastly different than friends at home. For these girls, camp is different.  And that’s a very good thing.

The final part of the Spirit Fire program is a candle lighting ceremony. Sarah lights a white candle from the fire and then passes that flame to every camper as they file by. Slowly, with lit candles in hand, the whole camp then forms a line around the lake. Facing inward, singing softly, it’s a last moment of quiet reflection to end the night.

Looking out over the candle reflections in the water, we all felt it tonight. We all knew this has been a wonderful session. The spirit of Rockbrook, focused and celebrated during the campfire, has affected us all, connecting us profoundly to this place and to each other.

rockbrook camp closing campfire
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spirit candle girl camper
• Drama • Jeff Carter

Shoulder to Shoulder

Willy Wonka JR Camp Play

This afternoon the entire camp, plus a few of the invited parents of girls performing, gathered for a special event in the gym, which, like last night’s banquet, was the culmination of creativity and hard work spread over many days during the session. It was this session’s camp musical, Willy Wonka JR! Throughout the session the cast members have been learning songs, rehearsing choreographed dances, and memorizing lines for the main characters in this well-known story of Charlie and his quest for a golden ticket to tour the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory. We had campers of all ages playing the main parts: Willy Wonka, Charlie, Grandpa Joe, Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, Mike Teevee, and an entire crew of Oompa-Loompas complete with orange skin and green hair. The songs were wonderful too— “Cheer Up Charlie,” “Pure Imagination” and the “Candyman,” standing out as favorites. Watching the performance, I could really tell the girls were enjoying themselves. Thanks to everyone, particularly the drama instructors, for making it an enjoyable afternoon for everyone!

A Different Kind of Campfire

Campfire Closing Night of Camp
Camp Spirit Candle Girl

We closed the day, and the session, tonight as Rockbrook girls have closed their session every summer since the camp was founded in 1921— with a special campfire we call our “Spirit Fire.” Different from the zany exuberance we’re more accustomed to around here, this is a chance to slow down a little, clean up a little (We wear our “whities” uniforms.) and enjoy a campfire together paying tribute to the experiences we’ve shared, the deep relationships we’ve formed, and the personal strides we’ve made together at camp. The scene is beautiful— counselors and campers gathered around the fire, squished shoulder-to-shoulder, maybe sitting on a welcome lap, inching as close as possible together, stars and tall oaks high above, crickets chittering about, all glowing a dim orange from the fire and nestled in the woods we have come to know and love so well. Adding to this are the traditional songs sung as part of the Spirit Fire program. Here’s a 1-minute recording of a song from last night.

Candlelight and Connection

The program also included campers and counselors from each age group presenting short speeches summarizing how they feel about Rockbrook and relating what they’ve learned during the session. Sarah also spoke, tonight giving everyone a challenge to enliven their “Rockbrook Spirit,” their kindness and generosity of attitude, their authentic selves, back home and at school. We closed the Spirit Fire with everyone lighting their own small white candle and forming a row around the lake, singing softly. With the water reflecting candlelight back onto everyone’s faces, surrounded by all these friends, and filled with so many great memories from the last few weeks together, this was an emotional, beautiful moment. I can’t think of a better way to mark the great camp session we’ve had together.

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Summer Camp Girls Acting
• Drama • rbc

Have you ever tried acting?

Summer Girls Acting

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!

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Into the Woods Musical
• Drama • rbc

Summer Camp Musical

Into the Woods Summer Camp Musical Drama

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.

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