By Ryan Duey
Registrations are being accepted for Choose the Arts, a weeklong summer camp that provides arts education for elementary and junior high students. The camp will be held in Frankfort from June 17 through June 21; the camp will be repeated in Marysville from June 24 through June 28.
The camp is sponsored by the Marshall County Arts Cooperative.
The camp starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m. for students entering first grade to those entering ninth grade. In Frankfort, the camp will be at the Frankfort United Methodist Church, 410 North Kansas Avenue; in Marysville, the camp will be at Marysville High School, 1011 Walnut Street.
This year’s camp has an emphasis on the performing arts. Throughout the weeklong camp, the campers will work with directors to produce a play they will perform on the last day of camp. The Frankfort camp will focus on the classic tale of Gulliver’s Travels and the Marysville camp will focus on Hercules, the famous Greek myth.
The play’s directors are with the Missoula Children’s Theatre, the nation’s largest touring children’s theatre. They bring the set, lights, costumes, props and make-up, everything it takes to put on a play. Campers will go through an open audition on the first day of camp. The show is rehearsed throughout the week and a public performance is presented at the end of the week.
In addition to the two directors with the Missoula Children’s Theatre, the camp will be run by a camp counselor and five other leaders. There will be volunteers on hand, too.
The shows are original adaptations of classic children’s stories and fairytales. Creativity, social skills, goal achievement, communication skills, and self-esteem are some of the skills taught – in addition to the fundamentals of theatre.
Campers in Frankfort will work on “Gulliver’s Travels,” adapted by Michael McGill. The show is a sci-fi spin on the timeless tale.
It follows the brave explorer, Gulliver, who is lost in space with nothing but an invisible force to guide him. While transporting from world to world, under the control of the Maniacal Scientist of Lapunta, Gulliver is forced to confront aliens, arrogant Horse Leaders of the foolish Yahoos, larger-than-life royalty, and robots.
Campers in Marysville will focus on “Hercules,” also adapted by McGill.
The show is set as the Olympic Games are about to take place. The Cyclops and Titans are both expecting to win big at the games; however, the tournament can’t start without Hercules. The play focuses on the legendary strongman as he works to start the festivities on time.
The fee for the weeklong camp is $50. Scholarships are available.
Campers should bring a morning snack and a sack lunch. Campers should bring their own drinks, too.
Instruction will also be provided on the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as bullying prevention. Matt Simpson, Marysville chief of police, and Tim Ackerman, Marshall County Sheriff, will teach these classes.
The arts cooperative received funding from the Marshall County Board of Commissioners, the Frankfort Community Foundation, and the Marysville Community Foundation to sponsor the camp.
Registration forms may be found on the arts cooperative’s website, marshallcountyarts.org. To request a registration form or to receive more information, call or text the arts cooperative at 785-859-4260.
