Having grown up in children's theater, I know firsthand how transformative experiences like this can be. Being part of a production isn't just about learning lines or perfecting a dance step. It's about building confidence, learning to work with all types of people, thinking on your feet, and practicing skills that last a lifetime. These attributes, along with the sense of family that we create in spaces like this, are even more important than the performance itself. The research shows that theater kids become adults who embrace challenges, think outside the box, and connect well with others, both on stage and off.
Directing a show at a summer camp does come with its own unique set of...let's call them creative obstacles. Creating a rehearsal schedule that works is more challenging than keeping flying monkeys on the ground! Thanks to the tireless efforts of division leaders, office staff, and counselors, we managed to keep everyone happy and to get them where they needed to be... well, most of the time.
I would be remiss if I did not send a special thank you to our wonderful assistant, Sam. You got thrown into the crazy world of youth theater and you rose to the challenge! Thank you so much for your artistic talent, and pure dedication to painting that beautiful flat in the hottest shed known to man. Most of all, thank you for your comradery. I enjoyed all of our time together this summer, whether we were considering the stability of artificial wheat stalks or having deep life conversations! Remember, the secret to life is: a hot glue gun, zip ties, and "it's not that serious..."
As Dorothy discovers, "There's no place like home." For us, that home is Frogbridge. We might not take the Yellow Brick Road, but we do take Yellow Meeting House Road to get here, and that path always leads to a place full of magic, laughter, and heart.
Thank you to the entire Frogbridge staff for your support in making this production possible, to the families of the cast and crew who cheered us on every step of the way, and most importantly, to our TheatreWorks campers. Your hard work, energy, and dedication brought this story to life in a way that only you could. I couldn't be more proud. You're here to do two things: to tell a story and to have fun. If you do both, the audience will love you... and Your Drama Mama loves you!!!
xoxo Miss Holli
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It has truly been an honor as assistant director for my first Frogbridge summer! Not only is the cast extremely talented, but they were also accepting of my hardships as I had less experience at the camp and assitant directing a youth musical. I've learned so much from thsi experience and wouldn't trade it for the world! The closer we got to the show, the closer I got to th cast and crew, and it was truly something special.
I'd like to thank the crew for stepping up with painting the set with me along with their hard work backstage. I'd also like to thank the cast for showing up to the rehearsal despite missing some fun activities! I hope it was all worth it to have gotten the opportunity to put on this amazing show! I am so so so proud of all of the work you have put into this, and it truly paid off!
And of course, I have enough brains, heart, and courage to say that this show would not be possible without everyone in the cast and crew along with the director herself, Holli Albanese. Holli, it was truly an extraordinary experience to work side by side with you and understand all of the work that goes into camp shows here at Frogbridge. The amount of work you do to put on a single night of singing, dancing, and acting along with helping with sets, props, and those insistent emails is incredible, and I applaud you for that. You were helpful and kind to me during the entire process and I wouldn't ask for anything more! But, just remember, a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.
Thank you all for the experience of a lifetime, and break legs!
~Mr. Sam
