Do you have kids from ages 10 – 13 looking for summer activities? How about participating in the Pinocchio summer theater camp? Below you will more information about this exciting summer camp program from The Growing Stage. We are Loudoun’s largest and oldest non-profit theater company.

To sign up for this camp now, please look for Look for activity #409301 here: Loudoun Summer Camps, or call the Lucketts Community Center at: 703-771-5281. Learn more at growingstage.org/camps/pinocchio-camp.

The 2013 Summer Camp for Young Frankenstein will begin on August 5. We look forward to seeing you there!

Age group: 11 to 17 years of age

Location: Franklin Park Performing Arts Center (tentative).

Rehearsals: Held daily, rehearsals will be from 9 am to 3 pm during the week from August 5 through August 23.

Performances: 

Thursday, August 22 –  2 pm

Friday, August 23 – 7 pm

Enrollment will open soon.

Young Frankenstein is a 1974 parody of such horror films as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Son of Frankenstein. Written by Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder and directed by Brooks, it became was a critical favorite and box office smash. Read more: www.growingstage.org/camps/young-frankenstein-camp-2013

The Growing Stage is pleased to announce two of the three 2013 theater summer camps. The Pinocchio camp will host children actors in the 10 to 13 age range group. The Hansel and Gretel camp will host children in the 7 to 11 age range group. The third camp is unannounced, but it will be a monster! Stay tuned!

The Growing Stage welcomes Mark Stevens and Linda Burke as co-Artistic Directors for our upcoming summer theater camps. Stay tuned for details regarding the summer camp offerings. Below you will find information about both of these fine individuals. Please help us welcome them!

Mark Stevens

Mr. Stevens has been a middle and high school teacher for the past 22 years. He has an undergraduate degree in theatrec ommunications and a master’s degree in special education. Most recently, Mark worked at Blue Ridge Middle School as a Learning Specialist and was the drama coach for nine straight years.At BRMS, he was in charge of selecting shows, managing money, finding volunteers, auditioning, selecting and assigning parts and directing the shows.

Linda Burke

Mrs. Burke participated in adult community theatre beginning with the Blue Ridge Alliance of the Performing Arts, (BRAPA in the late 70’s) and of late with Run Rabbit Run Theatre. She carries several years of experience in all aspects of producing shows for adults and children. These include acting roles, creation of costumes and sets as well as production and management. In the summer of 2012 she managed the summer camp for Run Rabbit Run Theatre.

The shows are getting close. Here is a snapshot of the rehearsal this week. The performances are to be held at Franklin Park on October 19, 20 and 21. Tickets can be purchased here: http://www.growingstage.org/community-theater/sound-of-music/.

For Immediate Release:
The Growing Stage, Inc.
The Sound of Music: On Stage At Franklin Park Performing Arts Center
October 2012

The Loudoun foothills are alive with the Sound of Music and the von Trapps are not the only family singing. This fall, Growing Stage Inc. expanded to include adults, attracting families for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s famous hit.

“This is such a great opportunity for families to perform together. What better experience than to sing and dance with your children?” said director Karlah Louis.

“When Captain von Trapp faces off with Rolf Gruber, it’s David and Sean Hemphill, father and son on stage together,” explains music director Ann Stewart. “And we have mothers and daughters in our nun choir singing together in harmony,” she adds. “Rather than an evening where everyone goes in separate directions, some families are making the theatre their home for the night. It’s become a family event.”

Laura Roden, a singer in the nun chorus, with two younger daughters in the cast explains, “Community theatre is great because it gives adults an opportunity to go beyond their day jobs and pursue artistic passions that have perhaps taken a “back seat” to jobs and kids.”

For kids and parents alike, performing together at Franklin Park is a dream come true. “When my oldest daughter was two, she helped raise the framework on the Performing Arts Center,” explained Stewart. “At the time I dreamed our family would perform in that theatre together. Now almost 13 years later, it’s hard to believe that I’m directing music for that production.”

After auditioning with 70 other children, Sophie Gwartney, Josh Wilk, Johanna Wichern, McKenna Morin, Chris Hunt, Kristina Ayers, and Evelynn Hepburn earned the von Trapp children roles. The lead role of Maria comes naturally to Amy Blair who by day was a teachers’ assistant at a local day school. “My favorite scenes involve the children. They’re all so talented.” And in typical Maria fashion Blair adds, “They’re like my children now. I’m so proud of them!”

Offstage parent volunteers have been busy sewing costumes for the cast of 60. And under the capable direction of Karlah Louis, Artistic Director of The Growing Stage, with the assistance of Franklin Park Performing Arts Center, the sets and projections are simply beautiful, transporting audience members to the Austrian alps.

Hearing Loudoun families filling the foothills with the sound of music, might be just the ticket this Oktoberfest. But tickets for the four performances October 19-21 (two matinees, two evenings) at the Franklin Park Performing Arts Center are selling quickly. They can be purchased online at www.growingstage.org/community-theater/sound-of-music/

As the performance dates for The Sound of Music draws nearer, the Growing Stage Theatre Company is now offering tickets for sale. To see this exciting performance, to be held at the Franklin Park Performing Arts Center, visit the Sound of Music page for more info: http://www.growingstage.org/community-theater/sound-of-music/.

Performance Dates:

Friday, October 19 – 8:00 PM

Saturday, October 20 – 2:00 PM

Saturday, October 20 – 2:00 PM

Sunday, October 21 – 3:00 PM

Thank you for supporting the performing arts in Loudoun County!

The performance of Grease will be held on the two following dates at Franklin Arts Performing Arts Center. These performances are the culmination of the Grease summer camp, which is currently winding down. Come to the FREE performances of Grease and see our Loudoun youth in dramatic action.

Thursday, August 2 – 7 PM

Friday, August 3 – 2 PM

See you there!

For Immediate Release
The Sound of Music at Franklin Park
May 28, 2012

The Loudoun foothills are alive with the Sound of Music and more than the family Von Trapp is involved.

As Growing Stage grows up, their summer music theatre camp expands and is attracting families to audition for its community musical theatre production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s famous hit. Though the show rehearses September and October, auditions have been taking place in May and June and enthusiasm has been high with more than 70 children auditioning for Von Trapp family singers. Directors look forward to hearing their parents and other adults in the community on June 4th.

“This is such a great opportunity for families to perform together. What better experience than to sing and dance with your children?” said director Karlah Louis.

“Rather than an evening where everyone goes in separate directions, some families will make the theatre their home for the night, singing together in harmony,” said music director Ann Stewart.

This isn’t the first time Stewart and Louis have worked together. For the past two years they’ve paired to direct two of Harmony Middle School’s musicals. And Louis also brings in 35 years of professional experience and the honor of winning the prestigious Helen Hayes Award.

Laura Roden, a mother of two Harmony actors and volunteer parent now looks forward to auditioning for the nuns’ chorus and singing with her two daughters. “Community theatre is great because it gives adults an opportunity to go beyond their day jobs and pursue artistic passions that have perhaps taken a “back seat” to jobs and kids.” After one teenager auditioned, Karlah encouraged his dad to come out and play a German officer. Though a little nervous and excited, dad was flattered and began speaking with a German accent for the next two days and brushing up on his “Edelweiss.”

For the adults who think that one of their “favorite things” might include singing and acting, they can audition June 4 from 6-9 at Franklin Park Performing Arts Center. Experienced actors as well as wanna-bes are welcomed. Adult females should prefer 16 measures of “Sound of Music,” or “Climb Every Mountain.” Adult males should prepare “Edelweiss.” After hearing children from Loudoun audition, Louis remarked, “If this is a sign about the talent in Western Loudoun, I can’t wait to hear some of their parents next week!” admired Louis.

For kids and parents alike, performing together at Franklin Park is a dream come true. “When my oldest daughter was 2, she helped raise the framework on the Performing Arts Center,” explained Stewart. “At the time I dreamed our family would perform in that theatre together. Now almost 13 years later, it’s hard to believe that I’ll be directing the music for that production.”
And if listening to the sound of music is your preference, buy tickets for the performances on October 19-21 at the Franklin Park Performing Arts Center and watch the Loudoun families in action.

THE GROWING STAGE THEATRE PRESENTS:

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Directed by Karlah Louis

AUDITIONS AT FRANKLIN PARK

MAY 21ST – VON TRAPP KIDS & ROLF 6-9PM
MAY 22ND – KIDS & ROLF CALLBACKS 6-9PM
JUNE 4TH – ADULT PARTS 6-9PM
JUNE 7TH – ADULT PART CALLBACKS 6-9PM
REHEARSALS BEGIN: SEPTEMBER 4
SHOW DATES: October 19, 20, 21

PLEASE COME PREPARED WITH 16 BARS OF EITHER–DO -RE-MI, SIXTEEN GOING ON SEVENTEEN, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, CLIMB EV’RY MOUNTAIN OR EDELWEISS. CHILDREN PLEASE SING DO-RE-MI. (NO CHILDREN UNDER 7 YEARS OLD PLEASE. CHILDREN AUDITIONING SHOULD NOT BE OVER COMMITTED ELSEWHERE DURING THIS REHEARSAL PERIOD. ) TIME PERMITTING ON THE FIRST AUDITION DAY YOU MAY READ FROM THE SCRIPT. IF YOU CANNOT MAKE THE FIRST DAY OF AUDITIONS FOR YOUR AGE GROUP PLEASE CONTACT ME AND I WILL RESERVE UP TO 20 MINUTES OF THE SECOND DAY TO SEE PEOPLE ON A FIRST COME FIRST SEEN BASIS. IF ASKED TO STAY, BE PREPARED TO STAY FOR CALLBACKS.

WE WILL ATTEMPT TO CAST BETWEEN 40 AND 45 TOTAL AND ARE LOOKING FOR STRONG ACTORS/SINGERS AND A STRONG CHORAL ABILITY FROM THE CHORUS. ONCE WE HAVE CAST WE WILL DETERMINE THE REHEARSAL SCHEDULE ACCORDING TO OUR ACTORS NEEDS. REHEARSAL HOURS WILL BE FROM 6-9PM AT VARIOUS VENUES IN PURCELLVILLE AND CHORAL PARTS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO REHEARSE AT LEAST 2 TIMES A WEEK AND PRINCIPAL PARTS AND CHILDREN BE PREPARED TO REHEARSE AT LEAST 3 NIGHTS A WEEK. THE FINAL TWO WEEKS OF REHEARSAL WILL BE MANDATORY FOR ALL CAST AND CREW AND WILL BE M-F WITH THE FINAL WEEK BEING M thru SUN STRIKE. Director: Karlah Louis Karlahlouis@aol.com