The Illinois Shakespeare Festival (ISF) launches ISF Midsummer Day’s Camp, a new three-week summer camp for youth (ages 12–18) beginning Monday, July 10, and ending Friday, July 28.
Camp hours will run from 1–5 p.m. Monday through Friday on the Illinois State University campus at the School for Theatre and Dance (SOTD). The camp’s conclusion will take place July 28 at the Ewing Cultural Center with an original 45-minute adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream Jr. on the Ewing Theatre stage prior to ISF’s regular performance that evening.
“The goal of this program is to engage with families in a whole new way,” said Janet Wilson, ISF producer and the director of the School of Theatre and Dance. “These young students will be working with our instructors and professional artists engaged for the 2017 ISF season. And at the conclusion, they will perform their own production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on the same set that our professional company will perform on this summer.”
Cristen Monson will serve as the program’s administrator. Monson has extensive experience with youth theatre programs and is a member of the School of Theatre and Dance staff. “The students will receive training in acting, voice, movement, and stage combat; exposure to the design process including scenery, costumes, lighting and sound; and have an opportunity to use Shakespeare’s text to discover the magic of his poetry,” Monson said.
Tuition for the ISF Midsummer Day’s Camp is $280 per person. Online registration begins April 1 at IllinoisShakes.com. For more information, call Cristen Monson at (309) 438-3936.
