Theatre
Summer High School Music Theatre CAMP at Muskingum University to Conclude with June 28 Performance
Muskingum University is hosting its Summer High School Music Theatre CAMP June 22-28. On June 28, a performance will showcase the hard work the students put in during the six-day camp. The performance will be held at 2:30 p.m. in Caldwell Hall on the main stage. It is free and open to the public and consists of 15 scenes from a variety of Broadway musicals.
Founded in 2006, the residential Summer High School Music Theatre CAMP is celebrating its 20-year anniversary. Music Theatre CAMP has been recognized and supported in part by the Ohio Arts Council, which helped fund the program to encourage educational excellence, cultural enrichment, and economic growth.
The staff is led by CAMP Director Carol Wilcox-Jones, Muskingum University artist-in-residence (ret.) and co-directors Todd Schreiber of Whiteford Schools in Michigan, Amy Leacock of Upper Arlington Schools in Ohio, Belinda Andrews-Smith of Purdue University Fort Wayne, and Robert O. Jones, Muskingum University emeritus music professor.
This year marks Wilcox-Jones’ last year as CAMP Director. For the 20-year anniversary, the CAMP will include more than 30 alumni campers who are returning to celebrate. They will share their own CAMP “impact” stories and be featured in their own musical selection on stage.
This year’s CAMP has 38 students from 20 high schools. They include:
- Wyatt Ballentine, Cambridge, Guernsey County
- Dahlia Kiraly-Black, John Glenn, Muskingum County
- Katelyn Caswell, Gahanna-Lincoln, Franklin County
- Clare Coll, John Glenn, Muskingum County
- Frankie Filippi , Thomas Worthington, Franklin County
- Allie Fullerman, Worthington Kilbourne, Franklin County
- Cooper Gadd, John Glenn, Muskingum County
- Laney Gebhart , Cambridge, Guernsey County
- Sydney Gernert, Johnstown-Monroe, Licking County
- Alyson Haught, Tuslaw, Stark County
- Andrew Holmes, Gahanna-Lincoln, Franklin County
- Brody Johnson, River View, Coshocton County
- Jillian Johnson , River View, Coshocton County
- Nealonah Johnson, John Glenn, Muskingum County
- Grayson Jones, Clayton, St. Louis, Missouri
- Reese Kornokovich, Bishop Rosecrans, Muskingum County
- Zoe Kourlas, Upper Arlington, Franklin County
- Kynsingten McMasters, River View, Coshocton County
- Adalynn Miller, Mid-East, Muskingum County
- Maggie Millians, Upper Arlington, Franklin County
- Lanie Nickerson, River View, Coshocton County
- Laynee Oldson, Cambridge, Guernsey County
- Jaxson Preston , Zanesville, Muskingum County
- Emeri Rieder, Marietta, Washington County
- Mikayla Schockling, Shenandoah, Noble County
- Minh-Lien Scott, Philo, Muskingum County
- Minh-Phuong Scott, Philo, Muskingum County
- Taven Shirkey, New Lexington, Perry County
- Ashton Skoutelas, West Muskingum, Muskingum County
- Hugh Snyder, West Muskingum, Muskingum County
- Yuli Staneart, Johnstown-Monroe, Licking County
- Brittin Steffan, Johnstown-Monroe, Licking County
- Cohen Todd, Bishop Rosecrans, Muskingum County
- Lydia Van Winkle, Worthington Kilbourne, Franklin County
- William White , Washington, Fayette County
- Gabby Williams, Global Impact STEM, Clark County
- Kole Williams, John Glenn, Muskingum County
- Jimmy Zolkowski, Upper Arlington, Franklin County
“I am very proud of our dynamic residential program and the highly qualified professional staff who continue to inspire, educate, and encourage these motivated young people,” Wilcox-Jones said. “These aspiring young musicians, grades 9-12, want to learn more about singing, acting, dancing, and performing for the Musical Theatre genre. Not only do they enjoy personal success in our positive CAMP experience, but parents, teachers, and camper surveys confirm that students return to their home school programs with increased self-confidence, improved performance skills and broader cultural understanding.”
The camp has 10-11 staff members and a ratio of three students to one staff member. During the week students are immersed into daily movement classes, private voice lessons, scene study, improv and acting sessions, master classes and so much more. In the evening, they have events including square dancing, swimming, movie musicals, and making friendships. Many students are returning this year who have been to previous camps due to how much they enjoyed the experience and the learning.
