Theatre
Summer High School Music Theatre CAMP at Muskingum University to Conclude with June 22 PerformanceMuskingum University is hosting its Summer High School Music Theatre CAMP June 16-22. On June 22, a performance will showcase the hard work the students put in during the six-day camp. The performance will be held at 2:30 p.m. in Caldwell Hall on the main stage. It is free and open to the public and consists of 15 scenes from a variety of Broadway musicals.
This year is the 17th anniversary of the camp; it was started in 2006 but had a two-year break due to COVID. Music Theatre CAMP has been recognized and supported in part by the Ohio Arts Council, which helped fund the program to encourage educational excellence, cultural enrichment, and economic growth.
The staff is led by CAMP Director Carol Wilcox-Jones, Muskingum University artist-in-residence (ret.), and co-directors Todd Schreiber of Whiteford Schools in Michigan, Amy Leacock of Upper Arlington Schools in Ohio, Belinda Andrews-Smith of Tulane University, and Robert O. Jones, Muskingum University emeritus music professor.
This year’s CAMP has 36 students from 21 high schools. They include:
- Cadin Bailey, Grove City, Franklin County
- Katelyn Caswell, Gahanna-Lincoln, Franklin County
- Tanner Caudill, John Glenn, Muskingum County
- Jayden Clarett, Columbus School for Girls, Franklin County
- Lily Comisar, Upper Arlington, Franklin County
- Jaclyn Connell, Bishop Rosecrans, Muskingum County
- Josiah Cutlip, Cambridge, Guernsey County
- Sydney Gernert, Johnstown-Monroe, Licking County
- Alyson Haught, Tuslaw, Stark County
- Andrew Holmes, Gahanna-Lincoln, Franklin County
- Brody Johnson, River View, Coshocton County
- Nealonah Johnson, Cambridge, Guernsey County
- Kynsingten McMasters, River View, Coshocton County
- Adalynn Miller, Mideast, Muskingum County
- Maggie Millians, Upper Arlington, Franklin County
- Lanie Nickerson, River View, Coshocton County
- Michala Ogg, Lakewood, Licking County
- Madison Peters, Cambridge, Guernsey County
- Adriana Pudloski, Tuslaw, Stark County
- Mikayla Schockling, Shenandoah, Noble County
- Gavin Schwab, Johnstown Monroe, Licking County
- Minh-Lien Scott, Philo, Muskingum County
- Minh-Phuong Scott, Philo, Muskingum County
- Rylea Scott, Cambridge, Guernsey County
- Taven Shirkey, New Lexington, Perry County
- Josie Smith, Meadowbrook, Guernsey County
- Hugh Snyder, West Muskingum, Muskingum County
- Yuli Staneart, Johnstown-Monroe, Licking County
- Cohen Todd, Rosecrans, Muskingum County
- Lydia Van Winkle, Worthington Kilbourne, Franklin County
- Valentina Vergamini, Upper Arlington, Franklin County
- Sara Waggle, Tri-Valley, Muskingum County
- Becca Wharton, Sheridan, Perry County
- Kole Williams, John Glenn, Muskingum County
- Audrey Williamson, Tuslaw, Stark County
- Jimmy Zolkowski, Upper Arlington, Franklin County
“It is such an uplifting experience working with these talented young students and my gifted professional teaching team.” Wilcox-Jones says. “How I wish there had been such a strong and exciting opportunity like this one when I was 16 growing up in Kansas.”
The camp has 10-11 staff members and a ratio of three students to one staff member. During the week students are immersed into daily movement classes, private voice lessons, scene study, improv and acting sessions, master classes and so much more. In the evening, they have events including square dancing, swimming, movie musicals, and making friendships. Many students are returning this year who have been to previous camps due to how much they enjoyed the experience and the learning.