When 85 young budding actors and actresses take the stage tonight, it’s going to take more than a Summer Spotlight to Showcase their talent.

All spotlights at the Trojan Center Theater will be on the participants in the Troy University Summer Spotlight Creative Drama Camp that will conclude with a summer spectacular at 6:30 tonight at the Trojan Center Theater. A packed house is expected to “review” what the youngsters ages four through13 have accomplished during the weeklong creative drama camp.

“I think if you talk to any one of the campers, they will tell you that this camp has changed the way they look at art,” said Jenny Meadows, camp creative drama and art teacher. “The campers have said that they will go back to school with a better understanding of how the arts apply to their other subjects. They have learned how much fun it is when you think creatively and out of the box.”

“Thinking out of the box” is the theme for the four-day creative drama camp, and Meadows said the campers have shown they have that ability.

“They can definitely think out of the box,” Meadows said. “The Showcase performance will demonstrate the many ways they have found to be creative with ordinary objects. Really, they have floored me with their ideas and their enthusiasm.”

Each of the four age groups will have a special Showcase scene. Meadows’ group will be doing its version of Shel Silverstein’s “The Giving Tree.”

“I was amazed at the ways they found to be the branches,” she said. “Each group will have an opportunity to show anything cleaver that they did in class. Some will show costumes and others artwork. They have all done excellent work.”

The Grand Finale will be a work of art itself with all 85 campers on stage for a dance number.

“That will really be a treat,” Meadows said. “All the campers have worked very hard, and I’m sure they will perform for an appreciative audience.”