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Dec. 30, 2011
Let us put on a show!
Camp fun can teach life skills and confidence.
PEARL SALKIN
Most of us lament that our lives are inundated by drama. It often seems that hardly a day goes by when we don’t have to deal with a difficult deadline, or a scary situation that demands making an instant decision that could have dire consequences. What is predicted to be a small amount of winter precipitation turns into a nightmare of nine hours on the icy roads. But for kids, a little bit of drama – the theatrical kind – can be a great thing.
Kids with a touch of show biz in their blood won’t need any prodding to participate in a camp theatrical production. Whether their talent is real or imagined, Jewish summer camps are accommodating. From bit parts to starring roles, kids have an opportunity to perform. And those who prefer to put their creative efforts into work behind the scenes can be part of the production, too.
Since today’s most popular methods of communication require just some gadgets and nimble thumbs, it seems that getting together with peers, face-to-face, in a community project is becoming rare. That let’s-put-on-a-show enthusiasm that entertained movie-goers back in the days when Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney were teens seemed to have vanished until Disney’s High School Musical hit the scene. With TV’s Glee an overnight sensation, kids’ interest in taking part in theatrical productions is growing.
Eddie Cantor, Walter Matthau, Larry King, Jerry Stiller, Gene Simmons and Neil Diamond got the chance to try out their thespian skills at an early age when they attended Surprise Lake Camp in Cold Spring, N.Y. This now-coed Jewish camp started out as a rustic summer haven for big city boys living in less-than-favorable conditions more than 100 years ago. The facilities have been vastly upgraded, and the camp population today includes many kids from suburban homes. Luckily, theatre is still a shining star on the Surprise Lake list of summer activities.
“Theatre is a way for kids to reinvent themselves. It can bring them out of their shells. My kid would never step foot on a stage until he went to camp. Here [at camp], kids take chances. It’s wonderful!” said Carol Prisamt, performing arts supervisor at Surprise Lake Camp.
Theatrical productions at Surprise Lake are serious undertakings. It’s not unusual to have an audience numbering in the 700s. Auditions are held for major roles, such as Tevye and his family in Fiddler on the Roof. Every kid who wants to be a part of the experience will find a place either onstage (in the chorus) or behind the scenes, helping with lighting, props, sound, costumes or the other things necessary for a production to be a success.
Kids put in lots of time and effort to perfect their performance and the overall production. The best part of the whole project might be the can-do attitude and positive community spirit that takes over. “It becomes a whole team process,” said Prisamt. “Bunkmates help each other learn lines and then cheer for them.”
Getting a laugh at the right moment or a round of applause at the end of a show is a guaranteed self-esteem booster that can last a lifetime.
Prisamt stressed that there are also many opportunities for kids to be involved in smaller performance projects, such as workshops and improvisation.
While the long list of distinguished alumni of Surprise Lake is impressive, some of the names might be unknown or seem somewhat dated to today’s potential Jewish campers. But there are two Jewish former campers who are hot Hollywood headliners that kids should know – Jeremy Piven, star of HBO’s Entourage and movies, and Vancouverite Seth Rogen, of flicks like Knocked Up, Pineapple Express and The Green Hornet.
Piven attended JCC Camp Chi in Lake Delton, Wisc., the summer resident camp of the Jewish Community Centre of Chicago. Rogen made fellow campers roll on the floor laughing when he entertained them at Habonim Dror Camp Miriam on Gabriola Island.
Not every camp has tryouts and big productions. Many camps choose to make moving presentations part of their daily or weekly programming, and rely on more informal ways of getting kids involved with theatre arts.
“We incorporate drama into all kinds of activities. Oneg Shabbat is a good example,” said Tammy Schmidt, registrar at Habonim Dror Camp Moshava in Maryland. “Kids create – depending on their age, they may write the script – and perform. Or it might be a fun evening activity. We try to give everyone a chance so that all kids will feel comfortable in front of others.” Schmidt added, “Age-group activities can focus on creating a play of some kind to work in some educational programming.”
Sure, many kids love the limelight and can really ham it up in front of an audience of one or 1,001. But other kids need a little coaxing. When asked if shy kids are encouraged to participate, Schmidt responded, “Of course! With love and a gentle hand. We want to build self-confidence!”
The overwhelming majority of kids who attend Jewish camps and participate in theatrical productions won’t become the next big Hollywood star. But there is a good chance they will compete for a spot in a prestigious graduate school, face a panel of potential bosses at the final round of some job interviews and/or need to make a presentation at a professional conference or business meeting. Anything that can help our kids feel comfortable on the stage of life is a good investment in their future.
Pearl Salkin is a freelance writer living in Florida.
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