Budding thespians will have the opportunity to gain their own summer-stock-like experience beginning this June, when the Herndon High School Drama Boosters launches its first "Curtain Up!" summer theater program.
The program will feature two sessions: a four-week musical experience and a one-week drama program. Each session will end with the students putting on a full production for the general public.
"It's similar to summer stock. We'll be working on all facets of the show," said John Whapham, one of the program's directors along with Marcello Boss Rollando, and the theater director at Herndon High School, where the summer program will take place.
THE FIRST SESSION, from June 21-July 17, is aimed at students in Northern Virginia ranging in age from 10-18 years old interested in musical productions. The students will meet Monday through Friday for six hours with the goal of creating a full musical production at the end of the four weeks. The actual musical has yet to be selected, but the productions under consideration are "Les Miserables," "West Side Story," "Fiddler on the Roof," "How to Succeed," and "Red Hot and Cole."
Whapham said the students will learn about musical production first hand; they will be responsible for all aspects of the play from creating sets, staging the lighting cues and even the choreography.
Rollando said he has no doubt the students can rise to the occasion. He said too often adults don't have high enough expectations for the youngsters.
"I've done this many times in many places. One of my best performers was a 6 year old," Rollando said of his summer camp experience. "The one thing I've discovered with children, is the more you give them to do, they better they get at it."
Whapham admits the pair are setting their sights high, but has no doubt the students can pull everything together in time.
"The type of students we're going to have will be really interested in theater," Whapham said. "I've run a drama camp for elementary-school students for five years in Vienna and I really enjoyed that. And I was amazed at what they can do."
THE SECOND SESSION, open to students 13-18 years old, will concentrate on the aspects of drama production and will have an accelerated time table. The session is a week, with the ambition of staging a full production at its conclusion. The dramas being considered are "It's Only a Play," "Front Page," "Stage Door," "Once in a Lifetime," and "Steel Magnolias."
"The second session is to give the older non-singers that don't want to be in a musical an opportunity," Rollando said.
In both cases, the final production will depend on who and how many sign up for the sessions. Rollando said it is possible the productions could end up being a series of scenes.
"We'll do whatever will fit who arrives," Rollando said.
THE FIRST DAY of each session will consist of the students do improvisation so the directors can gauge the talent level and the various strengths of the performers. While each session is intensive, neither is aimed solely at experienced drama students. The programs are open to any students who simply has an interest in theater, said Rollando.
Rollando said drama camps are rivaling summer mainstays such as soccer in enrollment.
"Kids here love drama," said Whapham.