2023 Summer Camp
Be in a one act musical where YOU have input to the character development, blocking, costume design and sets as you rehearse and create the production. Be trained by local directors in drama, dance, and voice. Everyone gets a part in the show. An exercise in creativity all around. This is a great environment to push yourself as an actor, try something new, and see how it works out. Together with your cast, create the set pieces, props, and costume pieces. Our Directors always see a difference in the abilities of performers who have participated in a Theater Immersion Camp.
FREDDIE THE FROG AND THE JUNGLE JAZZ
August 7-11, 2023
Ages 5-12 yrs
9am-3pm (you must be able to stay all day)
Final performance is Friday August 11 at 6:30 pm
1st child : $150.00 (includes script, camp, costumes, the final performance and a camp t-shirt.
Sibling cost is $125.00)
Final Performance is a $5.00 ticket donation at the door. (Friday night at 6:30)
Early drop off starts at 7:45 am (additional $15.00 pp fee-arrangements made in advance) Late pick up ends at 5:30 pm (additional $15.00 pp fee-arrangements made in advance. No late pick up on Friday due to the final performance).
Registration closes July 31, 2023 or when camp is full.
Freddie the Frog, Eli the Elephant, Babs Baboon and Micki Macaw join trumpet-playing elephants, trombone-sliding tigers, clarinet-playing monkeys and a flock of seagulls as they scat sing, swing and perform collective improvisation in this swingin' introduction to jazz. The characters soon discover how embracing their differences creates the ulti-mate jungle jam! This 30 minute show has a great message while introducing you to the music style of Jazz!
What is Theater Immersion Camp?
A show in a week! So much fun that Immersion Camps are one of our favorite programs! An unmatched exercise in teamwork and creativity as the cast works together under the supervision of professional drama, dance and voice coaches to create a one-act musical.
The actors have an enormous amount of creative input to the production. Every actor comes to us with a different skill set. We strive to meet them where they are, push them enough that they are proud and feel accomplished, while making sure that they have fun and don't feel stressed. The cast brainstorms and plans the sets and props.
The camp will begin with acting exercises and auditions - Auditions are low key and fun, no preparation is necessary our staff will teach theme everything they need to audition! They are very similar to the auditions for our regular season musicals thus preparing them for future productions. Throughout the week the actors will work with drama, voice and dance coaches to prepare for their roles, vocals and choreography.
The final show may be shorter then a regular season show but it includes all aspects of a full musical and requires the actors to go through all the same processes as they would if cast in a regular season show. This will help prepare them for future productions in our youth theater program.
Camp is held at: 2nd Street Performing Arts Center, 1123 2nd Street, Wyandotte, MI
Meet The Staff
Camps Administrator: Bryan Aue
Bryan Aue is a middle school educator of 18 years with a BA in elementary education science MA in School Administration. In addition to his education, Mr. Aue has supervised youth summer camps for 10 years, serves as the Assistant Operations Director for the Downriver Actors Guild, and has also performed in a number of productions. Mr. Aue has also directed a number of teen and youth productions for the Downriver Actors Guild including Footloose, Loveville High, Disney's Descendants, and Be More Chill. Through his professional career and recreational activities, Mr Aue has shown an ability to develop, lead, and foster an educational environment that is supportive and challenging. He very excited to be a part of the summer programs at the 2nd St. Performing Arts Center!
July 17-21 – Director: Makena Shell
Makena has been performing and directing theatre in the Downriver area for several years. She
currently serves on DAG’s Board of Directors and is the Social Media Coordinator for the 2nd Street
Performing Arts Center. Makena is currently attending school to become a teacher, and she strives to
make theatre an educational experience for youth performers. Previously, Makena has worked on
youth productions with the Southgate Community Players, Southgate Anderson High School, and
Roosevelt High School.
August 7-11 – Director: Nathan Vasquez
Nathan Vasquez has been involved with theater for over 20 years and has appeared in numerous plays
and musicals throughout that time. Starting in 2015, Nathan began directing children's theater and has
not stopped since. He has directed & choreographed many different youth productions throughout the
downriver area including shows for The Players Guild of Dearborn, DYPAC and the Downriver Actors
Guild. Nathan also serves as the director for the Melvindale High School Drama Club.
July and August Camps – Vocal Director: Bree Rafferty
Bree Rafferty has a degree in Vocal Performance from Wayne State University as well as a K-12 Music
teaching certificate. She currently teaches K-5 general music, middle school choir and is the directs the
Elementary Honors Choir director for Dearborn Schools. Bree enjoys teaching and directing as well as
performing. Favorite roles have included Ms. Dorothy in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Rapunzel in Into the
Woods and Maria in West Side Story. She is very excited and grateful to be involved with DAG, as a
parent and now as a musical director.
July and August Camps – Choreographer: Grace Harper
Grace has been dancing for 15 years and has been choreographing since she was 13. She gained most of
her early experience in school, choreographing for her middle school drama program and her high
schools show choir and drama program. In 2021, she worked as a choreographer and coach for the RHS
marching band’s color guard. She has worked with Downriver Actors Guild for many years, including
assistant choreographing Frozen Jr. in 2018, Descendants in 2022, and Little Mermaid in 2022, and lead
choreographing Pure Imagination in 2023. She also assisted with DAG’s youth summer camps in 2018.