http://www.smyrnaoperahouse.org/summer-camps
*For questions or to register, please call 302-653-4236, or stop by the Smyrna Opera House Box Office during office hours.*
July 9-20 (excluding weekends)
Ages 8-15
12:30-3:30PM
Final Assessment show- Friday, July 20th at 7:00pm
$175
The annual Summer Theater Workshop offered by the Smyrna Opera House is designed for students ranging in age from 8 to 15 years old. The workshop spans a two-week period each summer, and brings children together who have an avid interest in improving their theatre skills as well as learning new ones!
Under the direction of Jim McGuigan, camp focuses on the basics of acting: projection, staging, singing, characterization and improvisation.
During the first week the students will learn and actively participate in the fundamental aspects of performing in the theatre arts ... characterization, movement, improvisation, and music.
The second week is devoted to the students applying all that they have learned into a rehearsal setting and each student is given a part in our Assessment Show! This is the show that is performed for family and friends during the evening of our last workshop day and enables the students to shine in a “performance” like setting without the pressure. The students will see that everyday after rehearsal the entire process brings the entire ensemble closer to a good show at the end.
The Smyrna Opera House Summer Theatre Camp brings children together who have a great love for theatre. All of the students are able to hone their theatrical skills, are culturally enriched, and have a great deal of fun along the way!
Theater Workshop Instructors
Jim McGuigan- Workshop Director
Jim McGuigan was born in Wilmington, Delaware. He and his family moved to Smyrna when he was a young boy. Jim has been performing from the moment he first learned to speak, and he has had a love for the theatre ever since he saw his first Broadway show at the age of 13. He has performed in many productions over the years, both professionally and in community work. He got his first chance at directing in 1987 with the play Crimes of the Heart and his passion for theatre took a new path. Since then he has directed 12 different plays and musicals including Carnival, Anything Goes, Oliver, and A Christmas Carol right here at the Opera House. Jim also serves as the director of the Children’s Summer Theatre Camp. Jim has an amazingly talented son named Matthew, and has been a fifth grade teacher at John Bassett Moore Intermediate School in Smyrna since 1999.
Jessica Cantillon- Workshop Music Director/Pianist
Jessica Cantillon was born and raised in Smyrna, loves all-things-music, and has been playing the piano since she was 7 years old. She has performed for the Smyrna Opera House on many occasions and had a blast serving as accompanist for 2003‘s Missoula Children’s Theater performance of “The Frog Prince” here at SOH. Jessica has been teaching in the Smyrna School District for the last 10 years and can often be found singing, rapping, and dancing in the classroom. She’s looking forward to joining in on all the summer theater camp fun!