CCHS holds first-ever Drama Camp

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

The North Grand Building was alive again over the weekend, filled with young actors and theater artists.

Nearly 50 students in grades 9-12 participated Saturday and Sunday, as the Charles City High School drama and music departments participated in the first-ever CCHS Drama Camp.

“It was a great event for our kids,” said CCHS drama director and speech coach Michelle Grob. “We wanted it to be fun for them, but we also want to respect them as young actors and artists and give them meaningful instruction as well, and I think we accomplished both of those things.”

The students participated in several fun events that were also educational, and locally-connected theater experts presented workshops to the students.

There were workshops on choreography by Amy Wolfe, stage combat by Mike Lembke, stage design and construction by Janiece Bergland, audition tips by Michelle Grob, basic and advanced acting by Linda Brant, musical theater by Scott Blankenbaker, stage make-up by Lynn Bauer, improvisational acting and back stage crew by Rosie Baldus and playwriting by James Grob.

Also, Jennifer Jacob, a professional costumer at The Metropolitan Opera, presented a workshop on costume design to the students via ZOOM.

Students were also given the opportunity to become certified to run light and sound equipment and can get paid to run the equipment for events.

The camp took an Olympic theme, as the students were divided into different nations and competed against each other. They even designed their own team flags, and each team created its own national anthem.

Teams competed for gold, silver and bronze medals in several events, including a video scavenger hunt, a buzzer-beating game show type of activity where the trivia questions were all about theater and drama. They also wrote and performed a skit and there was a costume fashion show.

Parents were invited to attend a potluck dinner and enjoy the fashion show and other events Saturday night.

The fall musical this year will be “Grease,” and the students watched the movie version of the musical Saturday evening.

The entire camp came at no cost to the students. Performing arts boosters contributed water and soda and popcorn, while the Fine Arts Century Club picked up the tab for the breakfast pizza Sunday morning. Charles City Middle School drama directors Marie Conklin and Katelyn Stultz helped set up and serve the meals.

Team leaders were Michelle Grob, Derek Sturtevant, Erika DeBruyn and Justin DeVore.