"During the two weeks of theatre camp, the campers will play a variety of theatre games, participate in helping with the set, make costumes and props, and mount a full-length non-musical play," he said. "The kids should have a good time with the fun characters in our 14 scene play, which will include Merlin, the Mad Hatter, the Big Bad Wolf, and others."
Open for children ages 7 through 17, the camp will run June 21-25 and June 28–July 2 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily. The exact time for camp may vary on the two performance days. Campers will need to provide their own lunch. Performances of the play will be held on the evenings of July 1 and July 2.
The board of Encore! selected Mannette’s original play, Merlin Meets the Mad Hatter and The Three Little Pigs Go Surfing, and hired him to direct the play and conduct the camp through Mannette's company Drawbridge Entertainment.
"Since Encore! contracts with outside entities, rather than sign as an individual I decided to form a company dedicated to this kind of situation and to other theatre related things," Mannette said. "Drawbridge is brand new, and we are excited at the many possibilities we can do with this enterprise."
In this "fractured fairy tale dream play", the central character in Merlin Meets the Mad Hatter falls asleep and experiences a Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland type adventure, according to Mannette. The central character is an 11-year-old boy, Artie, who is guided through his dream by Merlin and a jester named Flibbitygibbet. They encounter the Mad Hatter and his partner the March Hare at their hat shop, and also become involved in a plot devised by the Big Bad Wolf to get the three pigs out of the brick house and onto the city beach. Along the way, they encounter a variety of characters including Bo Peep, Jack and Jill, and a live chess game.
The play was originally written by Mannette in 1995 and was produced at a summer camp that he directed in Maine. With many years of experience in theater, he has directed more than 40 productions with casts of all or mostly children including 20 summer camp productions throughout the United States.
"One reason this production was selected was because of the large number of speaking roles," Mannette said. "I really believe this will be a great opportunity for the kids to have fun while getting valuable, hands-on experience in the world of theatre."
The fee for the camp is $65 with discounts for siblings. Registration begins June 1 at the Parks and Recreation office on Turnpike Road, and is a part of the Scotland County Parks & Recreation summer offerings.
The camp is held each summer at the Morris Morgan Theatre on the campus of St. Andrews Presbyterian College.
For information on registering for the camp, call 384-4516.
Post a Comment
