It's Show Time!

Well, it's now wednesday and session one is nearly over! I can't believe how quickly it has gone yet at the same time I feel as tho I have been here so much longer! We are now in full runs of 'Phantom' which is looking and sounding great! The kids have worked so hard! We have 2 performances - Saturday and Monday! I can't believe how much has been accomplished in 7 days!

The last week has been great, altho I have been sick with a cold on and off which has sucked and the weather has been very up and down - stinking hot one day and freezing cold the next! We had our staff talent show on Saturday night which was a lot of fun and Monday was our day off - and well needed! We had a 2 hr rehearsal in the morning, then Beth, her husband Michael, Anne - our choreographer, and I all went in Hancock to have lunch at the Circle E Diner which was really nice. I then waited for Katy to finish her rehearsal in the afternoon and then Katy, Dan and I headed to Binghamton. Unfortunately the directions we had were wrong and when we stopped at a 'gas' station the guy working there pointed this out but told us about another place about 45mins away where there was a Walmart and it was cheaper called Honesville, in Pennsylvania, so we decided to head there.

It was a really nice drive and nice to see other bits of the country. The place wasn't that flash but we did some shopping and found a nice restaurant to have dinner at before heading back and relaxing. It was just nice to be out of camp for a few hours.

Now we are back into the swing of things. The Festival has officially started. We saw the One-Act Plays tonight and the magic shows are also on then the musicals/concerts (including our 'Super Troupe' show) etc... all start from Friday and we also have visiting day for the parents on Sunday so it's busy busy busy, but a lot of fun and I am working with such great people!

In the Swing of Things!!

Well everything is going really well!

We are into the full swing of rehearsals for Phantom - the kids are great, learning everything really quickly and I think it's going to be a great show! My Super Troop class are fab as well! We have some talented kids!

The last few days have just been busy with the usual routine. The weather has been exceptionally hot - in the high 30's - but really muggy, finally 2 nights ago there was a huge thunder storm (and tornado warnings - not so good!) and the whole camp was trapped in the Playhouse for an hour os so while it passed and we could get the power back on! I managed to slip down the stairs on the way out, but no major damage done! But at least the weather has cooled down now which is a relief!

Not too much more to report at this stage, my kids are great - I was moved bunks about a week ago so I ma now in Girls Senior Lodge 2 and have 8 girls ages 15/16 who are all lovely! We have another day off - 'lazy day' - on Monday which I am looking forward to but at the moment it's all Phantom, Phantom, Phantom which I am really enjoying!

Oh we also had a Cabaret night on Monday which was lots of fun - Mike conned a bunch of to get up and sing amongst the campers and we have our Staff Talent Show on Saturday! I will keep you all posted on how the next week of rehearsals etc... go....we open in 9 days!!!

Auditions!

Today was audition day!!

It was stinking hot so thankfully I was in an air conditioned study for most of the afternoon/early evening!

Auditions for all the musicals take place at one time - the lower camper shows are in one room with their Directors and AD's and the upper camper shows in another. We were lucky enough to see most people today - there are some really talented kids! Then we see a few more in the morning, do call backs, then go into a casting session with all the Director's and work out which show each kid will be in - everyone who auditions gets in! Then we hopefullt start rehearsals tomorrow night! So it's all on the go!

I have been listening to the Score of 'Phantom'as well (not the ALW version) and it has some great songs, I am really excited to be working on it!

On Thursday we had a day off so most of us caught the buses that were provided into Binghamton which was about 45 mins away. We had a great day - all you can eat Chinese buffet for lunch, we caught a session of 'Sex and the City'which was fab!! then shopping at Walmart! It was huge! It had everything you can imagine and was all soooo cheap!

On Friday we were in meetings all day and then we had our first lot of campers arrive! So now the kids are here!

Our proper schedule starts on Monday and my classes for this session are:

Major 1 - Phantom Rehearsals
Minor 1 - Phantom Rehearsals
Minor 2 - Theatre Games (with another counsellor Lexi)
Major 2 - OFF
Minor 3 - Theatre Games (with Joe)
Major 3 - Super Troupe (with David and Jessica)

Super Troupe is going to be great, we have chosen our theme - my suggestion - TV Show Themes!!! So we have to work with the 11-14's to produce a show by the end of session!!

Well that's about all that is happening at the moment, which is actually quite a lot! Computers are blocked for the next fews days as kids aren't allowed to email/call home for a while, I am using my Bunk mate's laptop, but I think I may be run off my feet for the next few days!! It's just great to be finally started!!

Busy Day!!

Today was quite busy! Full of meetings about camp, campers, procedures etc... In the afternoon we had a Theatre Dept meeting where 2 of the Diretor's - Mike and Stuart, took us through a 'mock' class and we spent an hour or so playing theatre games which was lots of fun! The ppl in the theatre dept are fab! We then got our Schedule for Session 1, which includes our show!

I am going to be working on Maury Yeston's version of 'Phantom' with Beth (The Camp Director) as my Director! I am really looking forward to it as I wanted to work with Beth and I don't know the show that well! I got my script and the cast recording to listen to today! We are going to be in the Playhouse, which is the 2nd largest theatre here. I am also for the first session teaching 2 different Theatresports/games classes and working on 'Supertroop' which is the 11-14 yr olds who do a variety/cabaret type show for the end of session! Very exciting! I think it's going to be lots of fun:)

Tomorrow we all have a day off, so we are taking buses in Binghamton which is about 45mins away for the day to do a bit of shopping etc... 

I have also had to move Bunks s one of the Stage Manager's left yesterday and they needed another counsellor in their cabin! I will now be with the oldest campers (16-17). Our first session isn't as busy and we have our first campers arriving friday night!

Everything is going really well:) And I am meeting some great people! Oh I also still have Hotmail and Facebook access - all up in the air at the moment so sorry to everyone I have been sending countless emails to!! 

Day 2

Well I am at camp!! I arrived yesterday afternoon, found my bunk which I am sharing with 2 other counsellors (as well as the kids) - Katie and Lauren. Katie is from London and working in the Stagecraft area and Lauren is from Sydney and works in Woodwork!

We had dinner in the dining hall, collected our linen etc.. and had the night to ourselves, which was pretty uneventful - it consisted of upacking, walking around, meeting people and then sleep!

This morning we had breakfast at 8am (I was up and ate breakfast can you believe it!!) then we went to our departments, where I received an orientation pack and as we are going to be busy from tomorrow onwards today we had time to finish unpacking and start cleaning the bunks! fun! lol

So Katie and I got to work scrubbing things down and now I have the rest of the day to wander around before our activities in the evening! The place is really pretty, everyone is very friendly, so far! Hopefully I will be able to post some pictures later in the week!

French Woods!!

Well, today is the day! I am finally off to French Woods! I have had a great time in NYC these past 2 weeks, but really looking forward to starting at camp - as that is the reason I am here:)

Only 2 hours til I am picked up from Columbia University! YAY! Here is to a great summer!!