by Courtney Price



DENVER – Put a group of 30 young drama students in a room, and you’ll get quite a show.

Ask them to act happy and they’ll start screaming with excitement.

They’ll portray sadness with wailing.

They won’t skimp on the drama.

“I like stepping out of my comfort zone,” 12-year-old Paige Smith said.

She attended the Lincoln Theatre Guild’s drama camp at Holy Spirit Catholic Church this week for the third time.

The group spent Tuesday morning doing mimicking exercises to practice body language.



“It was different from anything I’ve ever done,” Paige said. “It helps you learn movement in acting and how to not be all stiff like a board.”

Rachel Masters, a fifth-grade teacher at Pumpkin Center Intermediate School, is directing the camp.

“They learn all the elements of theater, from writing the script to designing the backdrop,” she said. “Then on Friday, they’ll perform for parents.”

The students broke up into groups for different decade-themed shows, featuring songs like “Little Bitty Pretty One,” “Respect” and “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”

“I want them to learn that it’s more than just music, that there’s a message behind it,” Masters said. “And they can showcase that message themselves.”

Paige said she’s excited about the Friday performance.

“I get a little stage fright, but I don’t let it hold me back from doing what I love,” she said.

It’s that performing attitude that drove parent Mandy Carrigan to bring her 8-year-old daughter Carsyn to the camp.

“At home (Carsyn) is very dramatic. Always trying to entertain everybody,” Carrigan said. “She’s not shy to get up in front of people.”

Myra Staley Sain, a member of the Lincoln Theatre Guild board, said the guild is working to bring more shows with children’s parts.

Want to get involved?

The Lincoln Theatre Guild will hold auditions for “Scrooge” from 8 a.m.-noon on Aug. 4 and 11 and 4-8 p.m. Aug. 13. The musical will require about 25 people, including children. The guild is also looking for a pianist for the show. For more information, call 704-735-2281 or visit www.lincolntheatre
guild.com.