Kingsmen Summer Theatre Camp returns

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – May 18, 2012) The Summer Theatre Camp presented by the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company and California Lutheran University will return for its 27th year with several sessions offered between June 18 and Aug. 3.

Sessions of “Beginning Shakespeare” will be offered from 8 a.m. to noon weekdays June 18 through June 29 and July 9 through 20. Children aged 8 to 12 will learn about the Bard, textual analysis, vocabulary, stage movement and combat techniques as they prepare to present scenes on stage.

Training for 8- to 16-year-olds will continue with “Advanced Shakespeare I” from 1 to 5 p.m. weekdays July 9 through 20 and “Advanced Shakespeare II” from 1 to 5 p.m. weekdays July 23 through Aug. 3. The camp will cover Shakespeare scenes, stage combat and acting techniques in more depth and conclude with the presentation of advanced scenes.

“Acting Techniques” will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. weekdays June 18 through 29. Students 12 to 16 will study voice, movement, improvisation and stage combat while preparing to present prepared scenes and original work.

“Musical Theatre” for 12- to 16-year-olds will run from 8 a.m. to noon weekdays July 23 through Aug. 3. The session will cover vocal technique, auditioning and other aspects of the genre and culminate in a performance of selections from a musical.

Michael McCambridge, who has more than 40 years of experience in education and drama, returns as camp director. McCambridge chairs the teacher education program at CLU and teaches a creative drama course for the theatre arts department.

Barbara Wegher-Thompson, who teaches and choreographs at CLU and has been involved with the Young Artists Ensembles, will again teach “Musical Theatre.” Several other instructors, including actors from the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company, are returning from last year.

Classes will be held in the CLU Theatre Arts Building.

Each two-week session is $285. Two sessions cost $525 and three sessions cost $750.

The Kingsmen Shakespeare Company, the professional theatre company of CLU, presents the annual Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival each summer, coordinates apprentice programs for professional and aspiring Shakespearean actors and provides an educational tour program in local schools.

Registration is available online at www.kingsmenshakespeare.org. For more information, call 805-493-3455 or email campshakespeare@kingsmenshakespeare.org.