Summer break is just around the corner and we’re excited to announce that theater camp begins on Wednesday, June 1, at the Matthews Opera House.
Group A (7th-12th grade) starts at 9 a.m. Group B (2nd-6th grade) starts at 1 p.m.A parent’s informational meeting will be held at the Matthews theater on Tuesday, May 31 at 4 p.m. Scripts will be handed out at that time.
Registration
Registration will be open from April 15 through May 29. Please download the form below and return it to the Matthews Opera House gallery. You can also pick up a printed copy of the registration form at the gallery during business hours, Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm.
GROUP A
This group is for students entering 7th-12th grades this fall. They are performing “Game of Tiaras” by Don Zolidis.
Workshops: Starting Wednesday., June 1 through Fri., June 24. They are held every weekday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Mon-Fri).
Performances: “Game of Tiaras” Saturday, June 25 at 7 p.m. AND Sunday, June 26 at 2 p.m.
GROUP B
This group is for students entering 2nd-6th grades this fall. They are performing “Laffin School” by Keith Jackson.
Workshops: Starting Wednesday, June 1 through Fri., June 24. They are held every weekday from 1-4 p.m. (Mon-Fri).
Performances: “Laffin School” Saturday, June 25 at 7 p.m. AND Sunday, June 26 at 2 p.m
Play Descriptions
“Game of Tiaras” | Group A | Actors in grades 7-12 (entering these grades in Fall 2022)
When the aging king of a Magical Kingdom (England) decides to split his empire between his three daughters, Cinderella, Belle, and the Snow Queen (who in no way resembles a copyrighted character), terrible tragedy ensues. Terrible, hilarious tragedy. Combining the gut-wrenching plot twists of Game of Thrones and the soul-numbing despair of Shakespearean tragedy, this adaptation of King Lear will leave you dying with laughter as the body count mounts. When you play the Game of Tiaras, you win or you die.
Produced by special arrangement with PLAYSCRIPTS of New York, NY
“Laffin School” | Group B | Actors in grades 2-6 (entering these grades in Fall 2022)
Jokes! Jokes! Jokes! It’s the classic situation. A young substitute teacher, Miss Quackenbush, turns up at the Little Red Schoolhouse and finds her class is comprised of the dumbest (and funniest) pupils found anywhere. The previous teacher had a nervous breakdown. No wonder! With things like mice in lunch boxes and a student with the measles, anything more will drive you crazy! Unless the likable but dim-bulbed pupils can pass a simple exam, they won’t advance to the next grade. Find out why the pupils don’t want to be “promoted” and why Miss QUackenbush has to find some way to get rid of them!
Produced by special arrangement with PIONEER DRAMA SERVICE, INC. of Englewood, CO
Some MOH Children’s Theater History
The Matthews has been home to our children’s theater since 2008 with the production of “101 Dalmatians.”
The plays throughout the years have been:
2008: 101 Dalmatians
2009: Sleeping Beauty
2010: Jungle Book
2011: Willa Wonka
2012: Aladdin, Jr.
2013: Little Mermaid, Jr.
2014: Beauty and the Beast, Jr.
2015: My Son Pinocchio, Jr.
2016: Alice in Wonderland, Jr.
2017: High School Musical, Jr.
2018: Little Mermaid, Jr.
2019: We Are Monsters/A Lonely Boy’s Guide to Survival (and Werewolves)
2021: All I Really Need to Know, I Learned by Being in a Bad Play/Once Upon a Shoe
All of the shows have been KIDS versions except Willy Wonka. “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “My Son Pinocchio, Jr., and High School Musical, Jr.” are Broadway Junior versions of these shows.
Play materials are ordered from Music Theatre in New York. These materials include a script which has the lyrics and the score of every song as they appear in the musical. The cast and crew get to keep these scripts, along with the rehearsal CD of all the music in the show.
The casts and crews of each production are also children. They design and create everything from costumes to set and props and lighting. Also, this program has had many dedicated, talented adults who use the power tools and all kinds of equipment and expertise that is needed to perform a fabulous show.
In 2019, the name of the PB&J Players changed to the Froelich Young Actors Guild to honor long-time children’s theater director Ann Froelich. This change also broke the production into two plays: one for ages 2nd – 6th grade, and another for ages 7th – 12th.
