Mainstage's Summer Stage Keeps Young Actors Busy

There's no such thing as the “lazy days of summer” for the kids participating in Mainstage Center for the Arts' Summer Stage camp.

Approximately 400 children, from second through 12th grades, have convened at daily to participate in the 2012 edition of the annual camp, which exposes the aspiring actors to theater in all aspects.

Stacy Napoltiano, MCA public relations specialist, explains that the summer theater program is broken into three age brackets.

"Kids Stuff" is for younger children, typically in second and third grades, and is a partnership of Mainstage and Ridley, PA-based Front and Center. The students will perform a musical revue, Disney Spectacular, later this summer.

The "Apprentice" program is geared toward slightly older children, typical fourth- and fifth-graders, and focuses on developing children’s strengths in theater. They will also perform a musical revue later this summer—Disney Takes the Stage.

And, of course, there is the summer theater program for tweens and teens, drawing students ranging from sixth grade to seniors in high school. These campers will put on three productions this summer—the first, Winnie the Pooh, will be shown from July 11 through 13 in the Dennis Flyer Theatre in Camden County College's Lincoln Hall.

Caitlin Weaver, who is entering her second year directing for Mainstage, says while she’s excited to be directing Winnie the Pooh, the first production is always the scariest. She explains that being first means there is not as much time to rehearse.

Weaver says by the end of the first day of rehearsal, her cast had already learned the choreography to the opening number. Not an easy feat, especially when the cast consists of 55 or more kids.

“My kids are really great and I am really proud of them,” Weaver said.

Weaver explains that poems from the author and pieces of his other works were lifted to extend the show in order to feature every child. She describes the story of "Pooh" as being very whimsical and that the characters are lovable, with very one-track minds—for instance, Winnie the Pooh's insatiable appetite for honey.

“All the characters are stuffed, their brains are full of fluff,” Weaver said, explaining the simplicity of those who live in Hundred Acre Wood.

Weaver says that more than directing, she loves the fact that she can be a teacher to up-and-coming actors. In addition to being an assistant director for productions in Philadelphia, she also directed Annie for Mainstage last year.

Mike Deluca, who will take center stage as Winnie the Pooh, couldn’t be more excited.

“I fell in love with it,” Deluca said.

This is Deluca's fifth year at Mainstage, but his first major role. Yet, Deluca probably has less jitters than most adults in his position. He says he’s “used to it,” as he has performed in both Father of the Bride and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at his high school.

Although, Deluca says he will probably not pursue acting as a career, he would still like to be involved with community theater as an adult.

What about the other shows?

In addition to Winnie the Pooh, Mulan Jr. and Honk Jr. will also run this summer at Dennis Flyer Theatre.

Napolitano says that a typical day for a kid in the summer program starts out with two hours of rehearsal, then a lunch break, a class of their choosing and another rehearsal. All of this takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Anne Marie Weaver, Caitlin's mother and the director of performance and show choir, explains that each group of students, while working on their individual show, also are working on a performance for the end of the camp season. That finale will feature the casts from all three productions in musical revue Disney Heroes.

“Essentially they are working on two shows all summer,” Anne Marie Weaver said.

But it is not all hard work on their productions for the young Summer Stage thespians—as part of the day, the campers can attend a class of their choosing.

Classes can range from dancing to theater makeup.

“It just gives the kids the opportunity to explore other areas of theater or grow in an area that they are specifically interested,” Anne Marie Weaver said.

If theater is not your thing

Mainstage is not only for aspiring theater actors and production workers. Napolitano says there are about seven different programs that fall under Mainstage, one being a seven-week course in film.

Michael Licisyn, freelance videographer and owner of Mixed Nuts Production, teaches and oversees students as they shoot their own short films.

“The best way to describe it is a crash course in how it’s done,” Licisyn said.

Licisyn says that he spends about one to two weeks covering theory, technique and skill. The remaining five weeks or so are devoted to shooting and editing.

Licisyn says filming takes place all over campus and students are encouraged to bring props and supplies, including wallpaper, for their own sets.

“A quarter of our room becomes a bedroom, an office…everything,” Licisyn said in regards to set construction.

All of the students' hard work pays off on premiere night, when Licisyn says each student’s film is shown. In addition to an introduction to filmmaking, this program gives students a chance to network and meet alumni of the program that have gone on to have careers in the film industry.

Working behind the scenes

At the helm of the technical crew is Anne Marie Weaver’s husband, Tom Weaver, who has worked on set construction for more than 24 years. Tom Weaver works with the staff and campers of the technical program to build the sets.

Currently, he is working on three sets, two of which are for the first two productions for Mainstage. He says while working on Winnie the Pooh, the crew started Honk Jr. Wednesday, and they expect to start Mulan Jr. next week.

“Interestingly enough, my favorite part about set design is everything you see here has to come apart in a half hour,” Tom Weaver said.

He says he can’t help but get a kick out of the fact the kids who work on sets for Mainstage in the summer go back to their high schools and teach them what they have learned. He says many of his kids go on to major in technical theater and engineering in college.

Tom Weaver says that technical theater is completely “sex-blind.” Where as theater designates parts for males and females, Tom Weaver says that his crew is about half male and half female.

“And we’re about as multicultural as we can possibly get,” says Weaver with a chuckle.

What do the kids think?

Brian Lynn, who plays a bullfrog in Honk Jr., describes a typical day at Mainstage as a lot of dancing, exercising, acting and a bunch of other fun stuff. Lynn says he is happy to have a role with a lot of speaking parts.

Timmy Smith, who has a role as an owl in the opening ensemble of Winnie the Pooh, says he has lots of fun with his friends and gets to sing a lot. He started with Mainstage while in second grade and is now entering his eighth year with the program.

“It’s my most favorite thing to do in the summer,” Smith said grinning from ear to ear.

Dionna Vereen, one of the more enthusiastic campers, says she was the “happiest person alive” when she learned that she would play the part of “Ugly,” the lead in Honk Jr. Vereen, being nothing close to what her character’s name suggests, says she has never gotten such a big part in her four years at Mainstage.

She says she is excited by the role, but understands it is a huge responsibility. Yet, at just 15 years old, she has a large repertoire of performances. Such as her role as Mrs. TV in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at Cherry Hill High School West.

Vereen goes on to say that it took her a while to get adjusted to the summer camp environment, but now she loves it. She is confident it will be a big part of the rest of her life.

“I absolutely plan to pursue theater. There is no ‘plan B,’” says Vereen.

For a list of show dates, please visit the Mainstage Center for the Arts website.