City arts coordinator details summer theatre camp, Seussical Jr. shows July 25–27

Jim Kleinbeck, arts program coordinator for the City of Auburn, said the city—s summer theatre program will stage Seussical Jr. after a three-week summer camp for children. The camp is limited to 50 participants this year; Kleinbeck said 49 children were signed up at the time of the recording.

The program runs a condensed schedule: camp participants will put together a 60-minute show in three weeks and perform July 25—27, with a Friday evening show and two shows on Saturday and a Sunday matinee. Kleinbeck said the company will rehearse at a local elementary school during the final week and present the performances at Auburn Riverside High School.

Kleinbeck said the city has run a kids—summer-stage program since roughly 2008 and usually produces one large youth musical each summer. "This summer I set our cap of 50 and we have 49 kids signed up to put together basically what they're doing is putting together a show, a 60 minute show within three weeks," Kleinbeck said. He described the camp curriculum as learning choreography, musical parts, and stage blocking with a director, and then focusing on running the show during the final week.

Kleinbeck said the camp typically serves children roughly ages 7 to 15 and that auditions are part of the process; he emphasized that every participating child will be given a role or a task in the production. "Every kid will have a part in the show one way or the other," Kleinbeck said. He added that parents sometimes ask to enroll younger children who are almost seven; staff will make limited exceptions and monitor progress to make sure the experience is appropriate.

The arts program also presents shows at alternate venues while the city—s historic theater is being replaced: Kleinbeck said the city uses Cascade Hall at Green River College and other community locations for productions. He noted the city—s broader performing-arts work includes two larger musicals per season, comedy nights in a local banquet room, and collaborations with outside presenters.

Kleinbeck said sign-ups for the camp generally begin in February and that the Auburn Community Players and the city—s performing-arts pages carry audition and registration information. "You can find all of my information on the performing arts page," he said.

For families: auditions are required even for enrolled campers, and the camp will end with performances July 25—27 (Friday evening, Saturday matinee and evening, Sunday matinee). Parents and caregivers are directed to the City of Auburn performing-arts web pages for registration and audition notices.

Kleinbeck said the city aims to give children a broad theater introduction, from auditions and lines to teamwork and backstage roles. "They learn what it's like to audition to learning what it's like to not get the part that you want," he said. "That's always a tough one, especially with the kids."