By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Over the winter break, young Sitkans are being invited to play theater games and learn acting skills in a new city Parks and Recreation program.
The eight-day camp runs December 19 through December 30. Two sections of the class are offered, both of them at Blatchley Middle School. The class for grades two through four is 10 to 10:45 a.m.; the class for grades five and six is 11 a.m. to noon. No classes will be held on December 23-26.
The cost is $35 per camper and scholarships are available.
Michele Kellrooney, an AmeriCorps who tutors and offers enrichment at Blatchley, is instructor of the program, which is part of the new and growing city Parks and Recreation program.
Kellrooney started the Lunchtime Theater Club at Blatchley this fall that culminated in a performance of “As Seen By Me,” monologues by about 10 young actors at the Performing Arts Center.
Kellrooney already has ideas for the class that starts next week, but said a lot will depend on the skills and desires of the participants. Her general idea is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” If kids aren’t comfortable in speaking roles, Kellrooney has ideas for other performance roles that don’t involve speaking or memorizing.
“I just want to make it as nonthreatening and appealing as possible,” she said. “It’s just going to be fun. Lots of jumping around and lots of theater games, just kind of based on what the students bring to it.”
Kellrooney has extensive theater experience, including performing adaptations of classic tales for young audiences, in English and other languages for foreign language students.
She studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and has worked as a professional actor, primarily in touring theaters for young audiences. She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Tennessee State University, and has taught in a variety of locations, including Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Kolongo, Uganda. In Sitka, she performed in the Sitka Community Theater Radio Adventure Hour last month.
Barb Morse, temporary Parks and Recreation coordinator, said she’s enthusiastic about the wintertime theater camp.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to offer it and have someone willing and able, and with incredible skills,” Morse said.
Other programs in the program are City League basketball, which drew 13 teams and concludes with a tournament in early January; open gym for families and youths on weekends; and open skates 1:30 to 3 p.m. Saturdays, starting up again in January.
City League volleyball is slated to open in January.
Other popular offerings are facility rentals for birthday parties and other get-togethers, said Andrew Roseman, recreation specialist.
The Parks and Rec office, just inside the entrance at Blatchley Middle School, will be open 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, so there is still time to sign up before camp starts on Monday, Morse said.
For more information or to request a registration form, contact Parks and Recreation by emailing recreation@cityofsitka.org or calling 907-747-4031.
