Community Players offer scholarship to Coker College summer Theater Camp for Youth

Are you looking for a creative outlet for your children’s energy this summer? If a camp featuring singing, dancing and acting sounds interesting, look no further.

Coker College is offering a two-week performing arts day camp beginning July 11. The Theater Summer Camp will culminate with the production of the musical, “Seussical Jr.,” on July 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Watson Theater. Tickets will be $3.

Campers will incorporate singing, dancing and acting into their learning experience as well as work on set design and choreography.

Camp dates are July 11-15 and July 18-22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration fee is $250. Campers may register up until opening day. Campers must provide their own lunch and snacks.

To help students who need assistance with the tuition fee, the Hartsville Community Players is offering $600 in scholarship funds. The amount of scholarship money each applicant receives toward their tuition will be determined by the number of scholarship applicants.

“The Players are thrilled to partner with Coker on this program.  Getting children involved in theater is part of the mission of our organization, so it is only natural that we would lend our support.  In our discussions, the board agreed that we would hate for a Hartsville child not to have this opportunity due to lack of funds.  The scholarship program is a way we can lend a hand to help both our community members and our community partners (Coker College),” said Jason  Umfress, Vice President Hartsville Community Players

Applicants should submit an essay telling “Why I Want to Participate in Performing Arts.” Deadline for entering is July 6. Please send essays to: etmahn0795@yahoo.com

Camp is for children ages 10 to 16, however, Phyllis Fields, associate professor of Theater and chair of the Department of Dance, Music and Theater at Coker College and camp coordinator, said there is some flexibility in the age limits if a student really wants to attend.

Fields said assisting with the camp will be David Dawson and Trevor Robinson of Coker College. Coker students and several graduates will be helping out.

The students will be learning the language of the theater, how to get in character, leadership skills, responsibility.

As director of the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center, Fields said the campers will learn what it takes to put on a production.

“I want the kids to get a real sense of a performance,” Fields said.

Fields said she has been tossing idea for this camp around in her head since last year and is very excited to see it come about.

“When I say it out loud it sounds neat,” said Fields, who hopes to continue to build upon this first camp and continue it next year.

Fields and other Coker College staff are donating their time for this camp as a gift to the community.

Fields hopes campers will be “bitten by the theater bug” and will want to continue participating in theater through school and Community Theater or at the very least become theater goers.