Broadway Camp Puts Kids Center Stage

CHICAGO - Aspiring actors and actresses from second grade to high school will get the chance to live the Broadway experience while learning the fundatmentals of drama, dance, and voice when they enroll in Broadway Jr. Camp at North Shore Dance Center in Skokie, IL, outside of Chicago.

“Campers learn to sing, dance, and act and then perform on stage in adaptations of the musicals "Cats" and "Grease". It's very fun and exiting," explains managing director Ali Fran-Potter, a Glenview school district drama teacher with a Masters in Fine Arts Curriculum.

"Cats: The Musical" Camp (July 21-August 1) and "Grease: The Musical" Camp (August 4-August 15) cost $265 per session, or $500 for both. Discounts are available for siblings or groups of five or more. Studnets receive a free professionally produced video of their performance.

"Boys and girls of all backgrounds will hae a great time in 'Cats' and 'Grease.' There is no experience necessary, "encourages artistic director Arla Faye, a theatrical choreographer who performed with Chicago Opera Ballet. "We have programs for kids in grade school, junior high, and high school."

Students from North Shore Dance Center have appeared at Great America, Walt Disney World, Navy Pier, and Radio City Music Hall, and have starred in productions of "Annie," "Grease," "Sound of Music," and "The Wizard of Oz."

Scripts for "Cats" and "Grease" will be adapted by novelist and playwright Rikki Lee Travolta, himself a national touring actor who will also serve as creative consultant on both camps thus adding to the Broadway experience of the students.

"Our focus is on enrichment and empowerment, allowing young people to try new things, develop new talents, learn teamwork, and achieve their dreams," explains Travolta, who has shared the stage with Broadway diva Liza Minnelli and appeared nationally in productions of "West Side Story," "Bye Bye Birdie," and "Tony n' Tina's Wedding."

Videos will bbe produced by Richard Neumann's Abracadabra Productions whose recent DVD and video projects include Skokie Valley Symphony and Chicago Ballet.

North Shore Dance Center is a modern, air-conditioned, fine arts facility located at 8401 Crawford in Skokie (at Main).

To enroll in Broadway Jr. camp call (847) 674-2216 or e-mail NSDCSkokie@aol.com