SIUE Cougar Theater Camp Puts Students Front, Center and Back Stage
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The message for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s summer Cougar Theater Camp this summer is: “There is no ‘I’ in theater.”
“Overall our students should take away the skill of collaboration,” said Ashley Melton, Cougar Theater Camp director. “Without collaboration, we could not put together a show in two weeks.”
Approximately 65 students from grades K-12 have participated in the camp that concludes today with a performance of Willy Wonka JR. Show times are 7 p.m. today and Saturday, June 13, and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 14. All performances will be in the Dunham Hall Theater.
Ticket costs are $10 for adults, $7 for SIUE retirees, alumni, faculty, staff, seniors and children. Free admission is for SIUE students with a valid student ID.
In the camp, the student artists explored multiple talents such as designing, painting, singing, dancing and more, according to Melton, who received a bachelor’s in theater and dance in 2014.
Each student was able to do a myriad of jobs that is part of the theater, she added. This year, the technical elements of theater were added to the curriculum.
“In our tech class, we teach scene painting techniques, how to create properties for a show, costume decorating and how the lighting systems and other technical elements work in the theater,” said Melton.
The Cougar Theater Camp, which has been running for more than 10 years, was started by Dr. Peter Cocuzza, professor in the Department of Theater and Dance.
A sample of other camps and events available at SIUE this summer:
- Percussion Institute, June 8-11
- Children’s Writing Day Camp, June 8-19
- Cougar Showcase, June 12-14
- SIUE String Academy, June 15-19
- Comedy of Errors, June 19-21
- Engineering Camp, June 21-26 and July 5-10
- SIUE Healthcare Diversity Camp, June 22-26
- Band Camp, June 22-26
- Music Technology and Composition Camp, July 7-10
- Shrek the Musical, July 10-12, July 17-19
- Musical Theater Workshop, July 13-17
- Kindermusik Camp, July 13-16
- Odyssey Science Camp, July 20-31
- STEAM Camp (STEM + Art & Design), July 20-31
For more information:
siue.edu/artsandsciences/theater or call (618) 650-2774
siue.edu/artsandsciences/music or call (618) 650-3900
siue.edu/artsandsciences/art or call (618) 650-3071
College of Arts and Sciences: Central to SIUE’s exceptional and comprehensive education, the College of Arts and Sciences has 19 departments and 85 areas of study. More than 300 full-time faculty/instructors deliver classes to more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Faculty help students explore diverse ideas and experiences, while learning to think and live as fulfilled, productive members of the global community. Study abroad, service-learning, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities better prepare SIUE students not only to succeed in our region's workplaces, but also to become valuable leaders who make important contributions to our communities.
Photos:
Two main characters in Willy Wonka JR are from left to right: Ben Schueler and Caleb Kelahan.
One scene shows the children selected to tour Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Seen from left to right are (back row) Lauren Johnson, Erich Wussitg, Sophia Henderson, Olivia Boone and Eian Sims; (front row) Alaina Bozarth, Maiya Young, Truman Chandler and Caleb Kelahan.
Students from the grades of K-12 participated in this year's Cougar Theater Camp.
