Classes are Monday through Friday from 9am to 2pm at the Ice House. Younger students age 5 to 7 may attend the workshop from 11:30am to 2pm. Workshop teachers are Margi Griffiths and Brice Williams. There are also two teen aides working with the pair.

“The workshop will teach everything from acting technique and stage combat to lighting, sound and costuming,” explained Mary Hott, MAC’s Executive Director. Students work with scripts and scores, music and choreography. “It’s a great opportunity for the students to have an intense and full range of theater experience,” she said. Hott pointed out that experienced kids can learn new skills and hone the ones they have. “Kids new to theater will be exposed to all aspects so they can learn what appeals to them the most,” she said. Hott went on to point out the benefits children get from theater work. “They develop poise and an ability to move on stage plus improve their capacity to memorize and focus.”

Although students are asked to bring their lunch and water bottle daily, snacks and materials are provided as part of tuition. “Thanks to generous donors, we are able to offer some scholarship assistance to those who apply and qualify,” said Hott. “We also have sibling discounts so all the kids in a family can attend.”

Students are asked to register. Forms for registration were distribited in Morgan County schools and are also available at the Boys & Girls Club, Morgan County Library and online at www.macicehouse.org. For questions, please call 258-2300. A second theater camp is scheduled for Paw Paw in August.

Funding for the Youth Theater Camp is provided by the National Endowment for the, West Virginia Commission on the Arts, hotel/motel tax funds from Morgan County and Bath, and special donors to the Ice House Youth Art programs. MAC also receives funding as a United Way group in Morgan County.