Sounds of “Take Back Your Mink,” “Luck Be a Lady” and “Rockin’ the Boat” could be heard coming from the back room of Heritage Presbyterian Church last week as the Mount Vernon Community Children’s Theatre Summer Camp wrapped up their second session. Students in the camp were rehearsing for a performance of “Guys & Dolls,” which they presented to their parents on the last day of camp.
A third and final session is being held through the end of next week. Students in each session work towards putting on a musical performance. Last week’s performance was about 45 minutes long, an ambitious undertaking for two weeks worth of teaching.
The Musical Theatre Workshop is for children nine to 16 and according to drama teacher, Cathy Ebert, each session usually has about 25 students enrolled.
Camp director Susan Hazard, said that the final session had 30 children enrolled. Because the class is so large, Hazard said that she would be co-teaching with Ebert. Unlike other sessions, where the ratio of boys to girls is fairly even, for this session they have 27 girls and 3 boys “We are going to be very creative with this group,” said Hazard. “We’re going to do some of the numbers from ‘Grease,’ but we’re writing our own story lines.
A morning session for five- to six-year-olds focuses on imaginative play, creative movement for preschoolers and dramatization of fables.
The children’s theater group recently celebrated their 20th anniversary, and the camp has been held for the past 12 years.
Mount Vernon Community Children’s Theatre will continue another season of children’s performances and classes. For information call 703-360-0686.