SACO RIVER THEATRE LAUNCHES NEW CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING FOR THE COMMUNITY

The series kicks off with 4 vaudeville shows on Sunday afternoons in May and June and continues with 2 one-week summer camps in August

Saco River Theater (SRT), a 501(c)3 organization located in Buxton, announces an expansion of their programming to include "SRT, Jr", a family friendly theater program, beginning with 4 Vaudeville shows on Sunday afternoons in May and June and two one-week theater camps in August.

The performances feature well-known Maine performers, Janoah Bailin in meSSeS, Andrew Silver in The Silver Circus, Michael Trautman in Body Talk, and Jason Tardy's High Energy Juggling. They offer hour-long shows consisting of unicycling, juggling, feats, or contortion, balancing, and other physical skills bound to enthrall audiences of all ages. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 5 to 18. Admittance for children under 5 is free. Please visit Saco River Theater's website https://www.sacorivertheatre.org/ for tickets and performance dates.

The two one-week children's theater camps in August will be led by local theater professional Karen Ball. These theater camps will provide an enriching experience where children can explore their creativity and develop confidence through the theater. Future plans call for a production class in the fall. Each camp runs for one week from 9am to 3pm and features campers learning theater games, improvisation, and other group activities.

"Circus Ship Follies" Camp will take place August 5 to 9 for students entering grades 3-5. Set sail on a weeklong creative adventure of workshops, games, rehearsals, and stagecraft that help your child develop an understanding of how the magic of theater is created. Over the course of the week, campers will bring to life a page-to-the-stage adaptation of Circus Ship, by Chris Van Dusen, with a performance for families to end the week.

"Heroes and Villains" Camp will take place August 12 to 16 for students entering grades 6-8. Experience the joy of performance in an original one-act play. Campers will use their imagination to create original characters in a series of engaging theater games designed to teach them more about the craft of acting. These characters will form the basis of an original production to be performed for an invited audience at the end of the week.

Karen Ball is an actor and teacher. She earned her Master of Fine Arts at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire of Acting and Music in Birmingham, UK. Some of her acting credits include Hamlet, Titania, and Lady Macbeth. The cost for each camper is $350. Register at SRT, Jr. - Saco River Theatre.

Saco River Theatre is an Actors Equity Small Professional Theatre and music venue, now in its 34th season. By adding children's programming, the SRT board hopes to welcome more young families, furthering its mission to enrich the community as a performing arts center and public forum for accessible and diverse cultural and educational programs.