“Go!” Once participants in CSMA’s new Theatre Discovery camp hear those words, they come alive. Students are introduced to a variety of skills in this new summer camp, including storytelling and improvisation. Instructor Alexander Vargas was impressed by how creative the students were in coming up with their own stories to perform.
“They came in with great energy,” Vargas said. “They did amazing! Their stories were so unique.”
Theatre Discovery Camp is a two-week summer camp program that debuted this summer. Vargas shared that participants built their own stories, and he translated them into scripts. They also covered topics that included team building, character building, and storytelling.
On the final day of camp, they performed their original skits. From a camping trip gone wrong to a funny dog grooming skit, students had fun sharing their original stories.
“The goal is for them to tell a complete story with a beginning, middle, and end,” Vargas said. “I also wanted them to get comfortable with being silly. They had great delivery.”
CSMA’s Broadway Bound camp is another way for students to experience performing on stage and working together. Broadway Bound 2025 featured a selection of music from popular musicals like Wicked and Hairspray.
Instructor Kaye DeVries said students learned about 80 pages of music and were introduced to skills like stage production, choreography, solos, and more.
“They worked really hard to present something they can be proud of and you can be proud of, “ DeVries told the audience.
And they did just that. The camp serves as a good introduction to performing on stage and so much more. Students gained experience in dancing, singing, and acting through solos and ensemble numbers from musicals and more.
This summer was Audrey Y.’s first time participating in the Broadway Bound camp. Her favorite part of the experience was the singing, she shared. She has also sung with CSMA’s Training Choir.
Lila L. made her debut in Broadway Bound this year and loved every minute of it. She also participated in the Theatre Discovery camp. When asked what her favorite part of her CSMA camp experience was, her response was simple: “Everything!”
Lila’s excitement is what DeVries wants her students to feel as they complete the program. And more importantly, she said she wants them to keep exploring music and growing as performers.
By TaLeiza Calloway-Appleton
