Musical Theater Camp Ends with Show
Spectators were treated to an evening of “Great Moments in Musical Theater” Friday evening as the 2016 Musical Theater Camp concluded with an outstanding performance from the 21 youth that participated in the weeklong camp.
The camp, held at Thomas Persons Hall, was directed by Sandy Dennis as she also made a guest appearance as Cinderella’s fairy godmother. This year’s summer camp drew close to the same amount of participants as last year’s inaugural camp which was directed by former Jasper County educator Karen Ferrell-White.
The 50 minute show sampled songs from 10 different musicals and was narrated by James Fletcher. It opened with Ashleigh Long singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from the Wizard of Oz before the entire cast joined in for a rendition of “Oklahoma” featuring Hanna Tinney as Laurey and Joshua Manning as Curly.
Ella Mercer then took to the stage as Cinderella as Mrs. Dennis transformed her while performing a duet of “Impossible.” Next were performances from Fiddler on the Roof with the matchmaker sisters Emma Curry, Haiden Crews, and Emily McElheney singing “Matchmaker” and theater veteran Roger Harrison treating the audience to his rendition of “If I Were a Rich Man” while Cashton Hinz appeared as an old man.
Well-rehearsed groups sang “We Go Together” from Grease featuring Emily McElheney as Sandy and Evan Rapp as Danny. “It’s a Hard Knock Life” from Annie featured Anna Francis Alexander, Addy Mercer, and Carley Whitmire with orphan solos and Harley Slauson singing Tomorrow.
The play then Ease(d) on Down the Road with Robyn Asbell as Dorothy, Corbett Crews as the Scarecrow, Bayleigh Blalock as the Tin Man, and Savanna Martin as the Cowardly Lion in a scene from The Wiz.
The Lion King was on deck next with solos from Jackson Perry as Pumba, Joshua Manning as Timone, as George Moody as Simba singing “Hakuna Matata.”
Marie Perry as Belle and Evan Rapp as Lumiere opened the “Be Our Guest” number from Beauty and the Beast featuring Riley Holland as Babbette, Emma Morris as Chip, Robyn Asbell as Mrs. Potts and Corbett Crews as Coggsworth. Musical director Joneen Padgett sang the crowd into an interlude with her rendition of “Tale as Old as Time.”
“Can’t Stop the Beat” was performed from Hairspray prior to the finale of “Let’s Go On With the Show.”
“Musical theater camp was fantastic this year due to a collaborative effort of community volunteers,” exclaimed Director Sandy Dennis.
She cited the large group of volunteers to came together to help the camp function without a hitch.The director also announced that ticket sales produced enough funds to purchase two more theater seats for the Thomas Persons Hall auditorium. The seats retail at $250 each.
There were just as many, if not more, behind the scenes workers to manage the weeklong event as youth performing The list includes Alexa Huntsinger as dance instructor; Gail Harrell aiding as technical director, producer, stage manager; James Fletcher as drama teacher and stage manager; group leaders Susan Haynes, Sarah McMichael, and Nate Rapp; costume designers Abbie Brooks, Mandi Clottelter, Lura Curry, Lisa Fuller, Margaret Watson; set designers Walt Harrell, Jill Dyer, Jeanne Trammell, and Susan Haynes; additional stage managers Lisa Fuller and Susan Jacobs; wardrobe mistresses Abbie Brooks, Mindy Clotfelter; makeup, Towander Dennis; curtain master Nate Rapp; lights Buddy Aldridge; lunch managers Ann Mercer and Cissy Benton; theater set-up Al Verheggen; and ticket takers Norma Mattison, John Stork, Walt Harrell and Margaret Watson.
The Jasper County Histroical Foundation, which sponsors the camp, thanks the busnesses, organizations, and individuals that donated goods for the production of the set and costumes including Permatherm, Bank of Monticello, Busy Bee Quilters, Gail and Walt Harrell, Joneen Padgett, Mindy Clotfelter, Jeanne Trammell, Susan Haynes. Also thanks to the First United Methodist Church, Dairy Queen, Tammy Ingram, Tiffany Ingram, Lisa Fuller, Joneen Padgette, Ann Mercer, Becky Thompson, Rindy Trouteaud, and Lura Curry for providing daily lunch to the youth.
