Alliance for the Arts hosting fun for children, adults alike

Although the first day of summer is still a week away, Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers is already knee-deep in summer fun, with their 18th Annual Summer Arts Camp in full swing and arts classes for adults being offered in the evenings.

"This season is off to a great start for the camp," said Amy Smith, education coordinator for the Alliance. "We have to hold adult classes in the evening because during the day the whole facility is taken up with the kids."

Whether it is cowboy hats and square dancing during "Rodeo Round Up Week" or mittens, marshmallows in hot cocoa and snowstorms during "Winter in July Week," each themed week of art camp rotates children through four visual arts stations as well as theater, song, dance and literary art sessions. Along with creating individual visual artwork, the children are rehearsing an original play, written by camp instructor Michelle Messina, each week.

Every Friday campers will perform the play for family and friends.

"I was amazed," said Smith of last week's performance.

"Even the 5 and 6 year olds had the dance steps down and memorized their lines."

Working to go beyond simple arts techniques, Messina structures the theater portion of the camp to teach children public speaking skills and teamwork as well as self-confidence.

"We do a lot of games that help, if they are shy, to bring the kids out of their shell and start interacting more," she said during a break between classes. "We try and make sure each game and activity is switched around so the kids are working the different groups and get to know all the other kids."

It would be easy to think teaching 110 children, ranging from first-graders to sixth-graders, the basics of theater, as well as writing an original script each week that gives each of those children at least one line in their final performance, would be enough to keep Messina busy. But, Messina thrives on a full schedule. She is gearing up for the second annual Creative Theater Workshop.

Messina, a theater major at Florida Gulf Coast University, initiated the workshop last year, involving area children and adults in a 10-week experience in thespian education along with rehearsals for the musical "Tom Sawyer," which sold out all seven performances at the end of the class.

This year, Messina is looking forward to the workshop's production of "Annie." While rehearsing for the production, participants will also learn techniques and concepts such as improv, stage combat and mime.

Based on workshops Messina participated in as a child in New Jersey, the Creative Theater Workshop is part classroom and part greenroom.

Growing up in close proximity to New York, Messina would travel to the city and take classes from Broadway actors and theater professionals. The lessons she learned at the feet of the masters in theater are the lessons she wants to pass on to South Lee County residents.

"I'm very excited to do a children's program and take the things I learned and pass them on to the community," she said.

"Working with such an age range is challenging," said Messina, "but it is more adventurous and you learn from each other." She said during the Tom Sawyer production they had participants ranging from 5 years olds to grandmothers, from experienced actors to people who had never set foot on a stage before. A lot of the adults who get involved have never even thought about acting before, she added. But they bring their kids in for the workshop and end up getting involved and having fun themselves.

Each Saturday, starting Aug. 5 and going through Nov. 11, workshop participants will be involved in morning classes and activities, learning different aspects of theater skills and methods. After lunch, the workshop will focus on rehearsals for the production.

"It's really a fun experience and she teaches you so much," said 13-year-old Peter Gadley.

Gadley signed up for last year's Creative Theater Workshop, auditioning and winning a spot in the cast of "Tom Sawyer." The experience fired an interest in the theater, and Gadley will not only be auditioning for a spot in this year's workshop, but is volunteering as one of Messina's assistants in the theater portion of the summer camp.

Auditions for "Annie" will be held on Aug. 5, and Messina is expecting over 200 people to try out for the workshop and production. In addition to parts for both children and adults, Messina will be holding "doggy auditions" for the part of Sandy on Saturday, July 22.