Wilson theater camps begin

The Wilson Performing Arts Center will once again offer a chance for kids and adults to expand their acting and behind the scenes skills.
Wilson executive director Val Zane said there are four camps upcoming this month, both old and new.
“The summer musical theater intensive camp is one that we have had before, and now it’s expanded to include a bigger age range. That’s usually the most fun and most exciting camp that we have planned for this summer,” Jane said.
The camp will be overseen by Becca Jackson-York, who recently directed “Jekyll & Hyde,”
“Everyone loves her. She’s high energy and fun and has a large background in theater and all things performing arts,  and she’ll be directing “The Little Mermaid,” next year,” Zane said. Zane said last year, the camp was split up into different age groups. This year, they’ll participate together.
“We did a camp for tweens and bigger kids. All the kids want to learn the same things, so it was decided to have one group. We’ll have breakout sessions for the individual age groups so they can have time apart, and also learn from each other. It will be more immersive, and everyone will get the same kind of experience and point of view,” stated Zane. “The older kids will be able to help with the younger kids and the younger kids look up to them.”
The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 8-12, and the cost is $225.
The Wilson will host a Summer Art camp July 22-26. The morning session, from 10 a.m. to noon, will focus on mosaics, and the afternoon session, from 1 to 3 p.m., will involve painting with watercolor. Jacque Stephens will host the camps.
“This camp is available for anyone age 8 and above. My mother signed up for the camp as a matter of fact. Jacque is an amazing with art, and everyone loves her. Our lobby has been decorated by students from her Inman class multiple times.  Participants will come up with a mosaic that will be displayed, probably in the lobby. They will have some themes to run with. The afternoon session will teach them how to paint on mixed media, and creating textures, using plastic wrap, and that kind of thing,” advised Zane. 
Summer Art camp is $225 per session, and art supplies will be included in the cost.
New to the Wilson will be the Project Dreamland, and Little City summer camps. Both camps will be overseen by Laura LaPrell.
“Last year, Laura did a family play session; it puts play and imagination first. Rather than learning all the things about theater forming, these camps have a focus on playing and having fun and spending time together. Camp Little City if for kids in kindergarten through second grade, and Project Dreamland will be for kids in third through sixth grades,” commented Zane.
The Little City camp will allow its participants to make itself a whole city in the Wilson.
“The kids get to decide the make up of the city. They’ll decide if they want to be a bank, or a pet store, or a newspaper, or be a police officer. Each participant will play a role, and at the end of the week, the kids can invite their parent or guardian or friends to come and play in the city with them,” explained Zane.
Litle City camp will be held from July 29 to Aug. 2, from 9 a.m. to noon, and will cost $150 for each child. A snack will be provided.
Zane stated that Project Dreamland will follow a similar style, but a different theme.
“While that camp takes place in the morning, Project Dreamland will take place in the afternoon on the stage. It will still involve imagination and playing, but rather than a city, the participants can choose their own theme. Maybe they want to build a spaceship, or something interactive or tell a story around their theme. Larua is a really fun director and is so good with all of the kids.”
As is the case with Little City camp, parents, guardians, and friends and family can come on the final day and interact on the stage. Times are 1 to 4 p.m., and the cost is the same, at $150 per participant with a snack provided.
Closing out the camp season will be the Ken Hindman Memorial Special Needs summer theater camp. The camp will take place Aug. 5-9, and a session will be included for youth and adults. The adult session is 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and the youth camp is from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
“Ken Hindman, the president of our theater board, passed away last year. The special needs camp was very important to him, so we’ve named it after him. This year we’re following a theme from “The Lorax,” We’ll plant flowers outside the Wilson, and focus on why it’s important to be good to the environment. Candy Garey, our director of operations, will run that camp, and I will assist her,” Zane stated. “Last year it was a major success, and it’s totally free. We take donations from the community for snacks, water, and items for events. We did a lot of activities to engage them and have fun.”
Zane said it’s been very exciting to not only bring back some familiar favorites but be able to expand.
“I see things and I want to make them bigger. We have so much fun together with all the creativity, There’s something for everyone,” Zane commented.
To register for the camps, visit wilsonartscenter.org, or call 623-3135.