Troy University offers summer drama camp

Published 6:58 pm Thursday, June 11, 2009

What could be more fun than a Creative Drama Camp in July at Troy University?

If you’re on summer break from school and you just happen to have a bit of “ham” in you, the answer would probably be “nothing.”

That’s what Adena Moree, director of theater and dance at Troy University, thinks and hopes.

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The Troy University College of Communication and Fine Arts-Department of Theater and Dance is offering a Summer Spotlight, “a grand adventure” for ages four through 14 July 12 to 16.

“Summer Spotlight is an important step in serving the arts, children and youth and the community,” Moree said. “It’s part of our new theater education program in the Department of Theater and Dance where students can major in theater education.”

Tori Lee Averett has been selected director of Summer Spotlight.

Averette, a Brundidge native, is currently teaching theater and dance to kindergarten through fifth-grade students in the Georgia public schools. She is a graduate of Troy University and holds bachelor degrees in music education and theater, as well as a master’s degree in music education.

“Tori is also a member of the Department of Theater and Dance adjunct faculty,” Moree said. “She is teaching our theater education majors this summer, all of whom will be playmakers during the Summer Spotlight.”

Working with Averette and the theater education majors in leadership roles will be Deborah Hicks, Grace Collins, John Patton, Mike Schafer and Jenny Davis Meadows.

Hicks will be the instructor for the morning camp for four- and five-year-olds – the Mini-Spotlighters.

Patton and Schafer are faculty members of the university’s department of theater and dance. Patton’s role in the Summer Spotlight will be costume design, masks and puppet making. Schafer will be the technical director.

Meadows is a department staff member and will be in charge of publicity. Collins is a senior theater education major from Birmingham.

The Mini-Spotlighters’ (ages 4 and 5) camp hours will be from 8 a.m. until noon and the sessions will include movement, dance, storytelling and arts and crafts. The Spotlighters (ages 6-14) will meet from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“A wide array of activities will be offered to the Spotlighters including workshops and group and individual coaching,” Moree said. “Workshops include acting, puppetry, stage choreography, stage management, musical theater, mask construction, creative movement and dance, performing for an audience, singing, costume design, clown makeup, improvisation and set, props and lights.”

Summer Spotlight activities are based on the National Standards for Arts Education-Dance-Music-Theater-Visual Arts, What Every Young American Should Know and Be Able to Do in the Arts and also the Alabama Course of Study for Arts Education.

The fee for both the Mini-Spotlight and Spotlight camps is $100, and registration is under way. For more information or to register, call 334-808-6142 or visit the Troy University Department of Theater and Dance, Malone Hall 132.