Theater Arts

Theater

One of the strongest and most popular departments at Brown Ledge is Theatre Arts. Three one-act plays are cast at the beginning of almost every week and produced the following Saturday night. On Theatre nights, the excitement is the air is palpable, as everyone in camp eagerly looks forward to attending the performances. In addition to one-acts, the eight week season features a well-known Three-Act play in late July, a Stock Company performance, and a full-length Broadway musical during the last week of camp.

Brown Ledge offers a theatre facility with seating for over 250 audience members, complete with proscenium stage and arena. Our theatre is equipped with a make-up room, a complete lighting booth, a bay of all the props you could ever need, and a separate building that houses our costumes.

Brown Ledge recognizes that all involved in producing a play, both actors and those working off-stage, play important roles. Every girl in camp is welcome to try out for a variety of roles each week. As interest is so high, acting parts cannot be guaranteed — but even those who aren’t cast can be involved in that week’s performances. Campers are always needed to serve as assistant directors, lighting operators, costume designers, or props managers. In addition, campers may participate in acting or improv classes, try their hand at directing single scenes, or join the always-busy crew working to design, construct, and paint the sets that will serve all three plays that week.

Stagecraft

It is our belief that live theatre is a vital art demanding commitment from both sides of the curtain. Play production is a team effort, and our theatre staff encourages campers to learn all aspects of theatre.

Classes are held on a wide-range of topics, introducing campers to all the “behind-the-scenes” work that goes into producing a play. Here campers may learn how to design and safely construct sets; they may change the gels in the stage lights and practice creating evocative lighting and sound effects; they may “run props” or select and alter costumes from our large costume shop; they may try their hand at stage- and house-management. Each week’s productions provide practical applications for these skills.

Dance

In years past, dance at BLC was synonymous with the end of the summer musical. Now, Dance is its own department within the Theatre department. The Dance department offers daily classes in modern, jazz, hip hop, and ballet. It also hosts regular special events, dance labs, and choreography workshops.