News and Tribune

Homepage

Related Photos

  • Katie Hopkins, left, and Julia Moore were among 70 kids in grades two through eight participating in the Floyd Central High School theater camp. Staff photo by C.E. Branham

    07-29 FC camp.jpg

Discussion

Add a comment on this story
July 28, 2010

Stage hands: FCHS theater camp numbers exceed expectations

Camp to end with picnic Saturday

By CHRIS MORRIS Chris.Morris@newsandtribune.com

FLOYD COUNTY — Last summer construction halted the annual Floyd Central High School theater camp, so Director Chris Bundy had no idea what to expect Monday when the 2010 camp commenced.

What he got was 70 students, in grades two through eight, who were full of energy and enthusiasm.

“We were only expecting around 40 since it was the end of the summer, and with vacations,” Bundy said. “Now we have the space so its great. I wasn’t really sure what to expect.”

The camp, titled “Pure Imagination,” is broken into several different workshops — acting, dance, vocal music, television-movie production, art, special effects, make-up and theater games — so students can get a taste of all aspects of theater.

“I think that is important,” Bundy said. “Different camps do different things, but I like for my kids to get experience with a little bit of everything so they can see what they like.”

Bundy said he has students from all over the area attending the camp, but admitted most feed into the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp.

On Saturday, parents will get a chance to see what their child has been learning all week by spending 15 minutes at each workshop, which will be followed by a picnic.

Bundy said it’s important to expose kids who are interested in theater to camps, like the one at Floyd Central this week.

“I think they need to be engaged early on with their creative side. I don’t think they should be pushed into voice lessons at a young age because their voice is changing. But I think dance is good,” Bundy said.

He also said parents should do their homework before spending hundreds of dollars on theater camps. He said many of those camps only focus on one aspect, like acting.

Lagan Hamsley, who graduated from Floyd Central this year, returned as one of the student helpers. Hamsley, who wants to be an elementary teacher, said he loves working with children.

“I love the kids,” said Hamsley, who was in charge of the theater games portion of the camp. “I love theater and teaching kids games is always fun. Theater kids are always wild and crazy. It’s a lot of fun.”

“He is so great with the kids,” Bundy said of Hamsley. “I think it will help him as he furthers his experience to be a teacher.”

The Floyd Central theater season begins Sept. 2 with “Arsenic and Old Spice.”

Text Only | Photo Reprints
05-29 memorial day wb.jpg

Hilda Watson of New Albany places flowers on the grave of her brother, Col. Paul Frederick Johns, prior to Memorial Day services at the New Albany National Cemetery. Johns, a pilot in the United States Air Force, went missing in 1968 while flying a mission over Southeast Asia. His body was never recovered.

LATEST NEWS POSTS

SOUTHERN INDIANA SPORTS

LOCAL OPINIONS

LOCAL FEATURES