Imagination takes the stage at Clear Space summer education programs

Clear Space Theatre Company recently announced the schedule for its Musical Theatre Summer Intensive season. Five separate week-long camps held at the Clear Space theatre in downtown Rehoboth Beach offer the opportunity for children to learn like the pros.

The Musical Theatre Summer Intensives for grades 1-12 return this summer after enthusiastic responses from students and parents alike during their premiere in 2011. Each Intensive is designed to give students a taste of life in a professional theatre. Mimicking the rehearsal and production process of Clear Space’s own summer repertory season, students create and perform a condensed version of a popular Broadway musical in just one week.

The faculty consists of industry professionals who guide students through instruction in acting, dance and vocal technique, as well as group rehearsals. Children are presented with challenging but attainable performing arts activities culminating in two performances on the final day at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Clear Space offers the following camps: Grades 1-3: "Peter Pan" - Monday, July 8 to Friday, July 12. Grades 4-6: "The Little Mermaid" - Monday, July 15 to Friday, July 19. Grades 7–12: "Footloose" - Monday, July 29 to Friday, August 2. All grades (by recommendation): "Wicked" - Monday, August 5 to Friday, August 9.

In addition to the Musical Theatre camps, the Acting Summer Intensive (Grades 1-12) is designed to give students a more direct focus on acting technique and dramatic study. In this weeklong program, students will be led through instruction in body awareness and physicality, voice, basic acting technique and working as an ensemble. The week’s studies are all focused on the creation and performance of a children’s theatre piece to be presented at two performances on the final day at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Tuition for each camp is $325 and includes all instruction, materials, Camp T-shirt, two tickets to the Student Performance and one student ticket to a CSTC Summer Repertory evening performance. Scholarships are available for talented students with financial need. Only 40 students per camp may register – early registration is advised as the camps tend to fill up quickly.

For further details and registration go to clearspacetheatre.org or call the box office at 302-227-2270.