MADISON – Aspiring actors and stage technicians can expand their skills at the 2024 Summer Spotlight Theatre Camp at James Clemens High School. Registration is now open.

“We call it ‘Four Day Broadway,’ because every group does a short play or song in just four days,” James Clemens drama teacher Amy Patel said.

Camp dates will be May 28-31 from 9 a.m. to noon. Campers will perform, onstage or backstage, in the Spotlight Showcase for family and friends at noon on May 31 to showcase what they have learned. Following their performance, campers will enjoy a pizza party.

Rising second- through ninth-graders in the 2024-2025 school year from any school are invited to enroll.

The camp offers three different ways for involvement – “Acting, Musical Theatre AND Technical Theatre, which isn’t a program that we have in any of the elementary or middle schools,” Patel said. “Campers in Technical Theatre actually get to build a set, run the lighting board or sew . . . all the things that really happen on a tech crew.”

Campers will get to meet the actors that they have seen on the James Clemens stage. The counselors have performed in “Urinetown,” “Metamorphoses” and “Cyrano de Bergerac,” so “they have lots of experience and really enjoy passing on that excitement for theatre, which they love, too,” Patel said.

James Clemens drama students endorse the camp:

* Senior Camille Leffler – “If you’re thinking of getting into theatre, but you’re not sure about it, camp is a great way to try it. You get to do a short play in just a few days. It’s pretty cool.”

* Junior Claire Landers – “It’s a great opportunity to meet other students with similar interests.”

* Freshman Kate Butler – “If you’re a future Jet, it’s a great chance to make connections and perform on the JC stage before you become a student here. It gives you a taste of what JCTheatre may be like. It’s theatre. And theatre’s fun! So why not?!”

* Freshman Kate Butler – “We start with ‘Just Dance’ in the morning, and then we learn a lot by doing theatre games and rehearsing the plays and songs.”

* Sophomore Lena Racelis – “You get really close to a group of people in one week, because you have a similar goal. It’s only four days, and it’s a great way to kick off summer, because it’s right after school gets out. It gives you a chance to interact with older students who have experience and leadership. You get to meet people who might be in your classes next year.”

Campers can choose their primary interests during camp:

* Acting — In a small group, campers will rehearse and perform a short scene.

* Musical Theatre — In a group of 15-plus students, campers will rehearse for singing and dancing to perform a song from a Broadway musical.

* Technical Theatre — In a small group, campers will design, build and run the technical elements of the show, including set construction, lighting and sound. Creating props, sewing costumes, hair and makeup design for the stage also are components.

Camp fee is $75 per student and must be paid at time of registration. Campers receive a T-shirt, daily snack, a closing pizza party and a great experience. Campers will need to bring a water bottle each day.

Campers must complete the registration form at forms.gle/emERjWa6A1HgTXtT9. Payments will be accepted only on LEANSTREAM at madisoncityk12-al.leanstreamrp.com/district/marketplace/4/view/1382.

Registration closes April 30 or when the camp reaches capacity. Organizers will email detailed information one week before the camp.

For more information, email jamesclemenstheatre@gmail.com.