The Times Advocate, 2004-07-21, Page 10Crossroads
10
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Exeter Times Advocate
Huron Country Playhouse teaching theatre skills
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
GRAND BEND — The
Huron Country Playhouse
doesn't just produce plays
all summer — its theatre
camp plants the seeds of
theatrical knowledge in
kids aged six to 16.
This season's theatre
camp at the Playhouse
started July 5 and contin-
ues until the end of
August. Sessions are a
week-long each and are
geared to a different age
group each week. In the
camps, children learn
acting skills, theatre
terms, script writing, set
design, improvisation and
stage crafts.
Instructor Jen Wilbee of
Thedford also takes the
children through theatre
games every morning,
helps with auditions and
coaches them on volume
and action while on
stage. The children are
also able to tour the
Huron Country Playhouse
facilities and speak to an
actor from one of the the-
atre's plays.
Each week, those in the
theatre camp work on a
play and then perform it
for family Friday after -
Children at the Huron Country Playhouse's annual theatre camp rehearse "The Mystery of the Dunbar
Mansion" last week in preparation for a performance in front of family.The camp, offered by the Playhouse for
16 years, runs until the end of August. From left are Braeden Etienne, Jessica Andre,Austen Payne, Meaghan
Forrester and Paula McKechnie. (photos/Scott Nixon)
noon. The camp -goers
paint their own sets and
are able to use the
Playhouse wardrobe
department for their
characters.
"It's exciting for them,"
Wilbee says.
Wilbee, a recent
teacher's college gradu-
ate, started preparing for
the job in May, research-
ing things like theatre
games and gathering the
materials necessary. The
plays are chosen to fit
each age group, and
Wilbee said the younger
age groups primarily sing
and dance in their perfor-
mances since it's harder
for youngsters to remem-
ber lines. Also, those
uncomfortable with hav-
ing speaking parts in a
play can opt out of those
roles.
Wilbee is assisted by
Nicole Christie of Huron
Park and Thomas
Alderson of Strathroy.
Because of Grand
Bend's popularity as a
vacation spot, the theatre
camp hosts many non -
local children, including
one a couple of weeks
ago from Ireland and
another last week from
California.
Wilbee said some of the
students have acting
experience and return
from previous years'
camps, while others are
newcomers. Experience
isn't necessary.
And not only do partici-
pants learn about acting
and plays — Wilbee says
they enjoy the games,
making new friends,
meeting Playhouse actors
and touring the facilities.
"It's been fun," Wilbee
says of the camp this
year.
While the one-week ses-
sions started at the begin-
ning of July, parents can
still sign up their children
for the remaining age
groups: July 26-30 (ages
9-11), Aug. 2-6 (ages 8-
10), Aug. 9-13 (ages 10-
12), Aug. 16-20 (ages 6-7)
and Aug. 23-27 (ages 12-
16).
A week-long session
costs $150 per child. The
camp runs from 9 a.m. to
4 p.m. daily.
To register your child,
or for more information,
call the Huron Country
Playhouse at 238-8387.
From left, Melanie Martens, Garett Cloud and CarleyWillcock rehearse at the
Huron Country Playhouse last week.
ShelbyTatomir of California is one of 73 children enrolled so far this summer in
the Playhouse's theatre camp. Here she helps narrate "A BearyTwisted Tale."
Huron -Perth Catholic school board hires archivist
By Stew Slater
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE
DUBLIN — The Huron -Perth Catholic
District School Board hopes to dust off some
neglected bookshelves, open up some
creaky old trunks, and sift through some yel-
lowing papers, as it seeks to consolidate its
9r..h;'t
At the board's final regular meeting of the
year June 21, director of education Larry
Langan announced the hiring of Marg
Rowland, a former Huron -Perth teacher
who will start work next September, a few
hours per week as a "system archivist."
"We're going to try to organize our
archives," Langan explained after the meet -
fries "an, rnrnr`lc (VI r h;cfnrc, nnr -fro`l;linn
— they haven't gotten the attention over the
years that we think they should have got-
ten."
The move was praised by South Huron
trustee Mike Miller, who's active with a
Zurich -based historical society examining
the fate of hundreds of years worth of infor-
mation compiled by the Catin family —
`lncrnnil on+o of +hn fn,,n`lnr of 4hn C+
Lawrence Seaway.
According to Langan, records about
Huron -Perth Catholic schools are either held
within each school community, within the
county towns of Stratford and Goderich, or
elsewhere. He said Rowland's job will be
researching where those archives are, as
well as researching how other school boards
h ovn on -not -air] o+n`l 4hnh' rnrnr`lc