Camp to stage ‘Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr.’
May 23, 2012 4:08PM
In 2010, Curtain Call Theatre's Emily McCabe Musical Theatre Program staged "Disney's Aladdin Jr."
Updated: July 2, 2012 9:48AM
Participating in musical theater can be a magical experience. The transformation of a mere script full of words and music notes into a vibrant stage production is an exhilarating process.
Hundreds of children have had the opportunity to be a part of this thrilling process during the past 10 summers thanks to Curtain Call Theatre’s Emily McCabe Musical Theatre Program.
This year marks the program’s 10th anniversary.
The program recently was awarded the rights to “Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr.” and will be the first group in the area to perform this colorful show.
The CCT summer theater program was started 10 years ago and named after Emily McCabe, a 9-year-old who loved to perform.
After she died, the camp began in a warehouse with 40 participants in one session. The children staged “Schoolhouse Rock” during their inaugural performance.
Through the years, the camp has grown to both a junior camp (for students in grades one to three) and a senior camp (for students in grades four to eight).
There are morning and afternoon sessions of each camp, and approximately 120 children participate each summer.
The senior camp has performed many popular musicals including “Annie Jr.,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Music Man Jr.,” “Grease: School Version,” “High School Musical,” “Camp Rock,” “Disney’s Aladdin Jr.” and “Oliver.”
The junior camp performs age-appropriate musicals, which put huge smiles on their audience’s faces.
Emily’s mother, Meg McCabe, who coproduces the camp, describes the camp as “a wonderful opportunity for children who love to perform to experience a very fun, yet extremely professional, summer theater program.”
The camp has a professional staff of five talented adults including a director, an assistant director, a musical director, a choreographer and an activity director.
The staff collaborates to put together not only a fabulous show each year, but a program that nourishes young children’s talents and allows them to develop friendships with other children who love to perform.
Coproducer June Graffy said, “The first day of camp is always so heartwarming to see. The campers are thrilled to be back for another year of fun-filled performing as well as meeting new friends.
“They not only love to perform but also give each other great support and encouragement. Many children have theater as their ‘sport.’
“This camp offers the opportunity to children with the same love for musical theater to come together and sharpen their performing skills.”
Meg McCabe said the group wanted to do a spectacular show for the camp’s 10th anniversary and officials were delighted when “Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr.” was released.
“It is sure to be visually stunning and a delightful show for both the participants and the audience,” officials said.
“The show has many of the same characters and songs as the Disney movie and is sure to be a crowd favorite.”
The production will take place July 15-17 at Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox.
There is still availability to participate in the camp, which begins June 11 and will run for five weeks.
Details about the show and camp can be found on ccctheatre.com by clicking on Children’s Program.
