Marin Theatre Company | Summer Camps

Summer Camp 2008

Welcome to Marin Theatre Company’s 2008 Summer Camp! Marin Theatre Company is proud of its commitment to providing educational opportunities for our community. Experiencing the joy and challenge of theatre provides our students with the opportunity to explore their creativity, make new friends, and build skills and confidence that will serve them well throughout their lives.

The first three weeks of Teen Camp 1, the first week of Youth Camp 2, and the first two weeks of Teen Camp 2 will be held at Marin Horizons School, just up the street from MTC. All remaining weeks (including all of Youth Camp 1) will be at Marin Theatre Company. Performances for Youth Camps and Teen Camp 1 will be in our Boyer Theatre; performances for Teen Camp 2 will be in our Lieberman Theatre.

We need parent-volunteers! We ask that each parent volunteer at least two hours of time to help supervise students backstage during rehearsals and performances the final week of camp. You’ll be receiving an email about how to sign up to volunteer.

Regular camp hours are 10am to 5pm Monday through Friday. All campers must be picked up by a parent or authorized adult no later than 5:05pm , unless you give permission for your child to leave camp without an adult (Teen Camps only). If the camper is not picked up, a late fee of $15 will be charged for each 15-minute increment thereafter. MTC does not provide before- or after-care.

There is no camp on the Fourth of July, or during the day on the final Friday. It is very important that all campers attend the first day, and that there are no surprise conflicts.

Students should come dressed in clothing that is easy to move in, including soft-soled shoes. Sandals and flip-flops are not allowed, as they are difficult to wear during dance or movement exercises. No bare midriffs or other inappropriate clothing. There will be a snack break and a lunch period every day. Please remember that students must bring their own lunch and snacks.

We have more scholarship requests this year than ever before – please help send these kids to camp by making a tax-deductible gift to MTC’s Scholarship Fund. We have never had to turn down a scholarship request, and we don’t want to start now. Your donation will be matched by the Peter J. Owens Fund.

If you have any additional questions please do not hesitate to contact me; I’m usually able to respond most quickly to emails. Thanks so much for choosing MTC – it’s going to be a wonderful summer!

-Josh

YOUTH CAMP 1
Musical | Grades 2-6 June 23 – July 13
Performances July 10-13
Thu/Fri/Sat 7pm, Sat/Sun 2pm

YOUTH CAMP 2
Musical | Grades 2-6 July 14 – Aug 3
Performances July 31-August 3
Thu/Fri/Sat 7pm, Sat/Sun 2pm

THE STINKY CHEESE MAN
Based on the book by Jon Scieska
Based on the award-winning childrens’ book, this delightful musical adaptation skewers all the fairy tales you know and love. Performs in MTC’s Boyer Theatre.

TEEN CAMP 1
Musical | Grades 7-12 June 23 – July 20
Performances July 17-20
Thu/Fri/Sat 7pm, Sat/Sun 2pm

INTO THE WOODS
By Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine
The Brothers Grimm go Broadway in this cockeyed fairy tale where all of your favorite characters — Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (and his beanstalk) and The Witch — cross paths on their journeys. Performs in MTC’s Boyer Theatre.

TEEN CAMP 2
Festival | Grades 7-12 July 21 – Aug 17
Performances August 14-17
Thu/Fri/Sat 7pm, Sat/Sun 2pm

ONE-ACT FESTIVAL
Drama, comedy, mystery, and tragedy — you’ll get a taste of everything, and everyone will get to play a leading role in one of the short plays that make up this exciting performance. With playwriting and directing thrown into the mix, this new program is perfect for students looking to deepen their craft and expand their horizons. Performs in MTC’s Lieberman Theatre.

Drop Off and Pick Up at Marin Horizon
(Teen Camps and Youth Camp 2 only):

Marin Horizon School:
305 Montford Ave, Mill Valley

from 101:
exit Blithedale, go west
left on Camino Alto
right on Miller Ave
left on Montford
left on Melrose
right into parking lot

Marin Horizon has a very strict Traffic Plan that we ask you to please respect. From Miller Ave, please drive down MONTFORD Avenue to Melrose, turn left, and proceed to the entrance of the MHS Parking Lot. Turn right into the parking and drive to the back of the lot, you will see a metal gate on your right. This is the entrance we will use for all Marin Theatre camps. You may either drop off your child, or park in any of the available staff parking spaces and walk them in. When you exit the lot, please exit SLOWLY and proceed down Evergreen to Miller Avenue. DO NOT MAKE A U-TURN IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING. We also ask that you NOT drive down Evergreen as your route to the school, as we try to minimize two-way traffic on this street. It is a walking route for neighbors with small children. Please do not park in front of MHS in the parking chute or park in the surrounding neighborhood. There will be ample parking in the MHS lot for all MTC campers. If you require any information, please contact Marin Theatre Company’s administrative office. The Front Office at Marin Horizon will NOT have any information regarding the MTC camps. Please be aware that there will also be camps for very young children going on at Marin Horizon at the same time as MTC. We ask that you be respectful and drive slowly during dropoff and pickup times, and encourage your child-care providers to do the same. Thank you!

2008 Summer Camp Permissions Form

CASTING POLICY

The MTC Conservatory is aware that casting is a concern for students and their families. We receive many inquiries about casting, and usually the implied or explicit concern is that the size of the student’s role will have a significant effect upon his or her experience with the program. It is MTC’s Policy that every student will have a positive educational experience regardless of his or her casting. We have consistently observed, both at MTC and at other programs around the country, that the size of a student’s role does not have to be a determining factor in their educational experience. Here are several factors that we ask all parents and students with concerns about casting to consider:
• The directors will ensure that every student has something interesting and significant to do on stage as a part of the show; even the smallest roles have exciting challenges and opportunities.
• There will always be a greater number of talented actors than there are lead roles to cast them in. This is just as true for MTC’s professional productions as it is for the Conservatory. The best actors seize every opportunity to practice their craft, and remember that there will always be another chance to play the lead.
• The Summer Camp program includes classes as well as rehearsals, and all students will have the opportunity to perform their class projects prior to the full production.
• Every actor is a member of the ensemble. Being a part of a strong ensemble, all striving toward the goal of putting on a show, is a powerful and important experience regardless of the size of your role.
• Lastly, and most importantly, theatre is not about being the star. Theatre is about telling a story with commitment and passion and imagination. Every actor is a storyteller, invested in this process and responsible for the story being told. Learning that lesson doesn’t depend on the size of your role – and there’s no more important lesson we could teach.
Materials for classes and performances have been chosen with the aim of challenging each student in the program to expand their abilities in all areas. The faculty has been chosen because of their professional experience, their training, and their understanding of the educational process as well as their ability to combine all of the elements of performance into a production. The Conservatory approaches each production with respect to the process of acting, and it is the time spent between the audition and opening night that is our focus. Every actor is equal in the process of creating a production.