Tuesday, June 17, 2025

A restful morning

At camp, schedules can be very full with rehearsals, master classes, and activities. On Tuesday, our campers had the chance for a bit of rest and recuperation. Campers were allowed to sleep in and had the option to attend breakfast in the dining hall as a group. Many campers instead chose to check out and head into downtown Staunton to eat at one of our many lovely local restaurants. 

Sherando Lake

After a calm morning, our campers loaded up onto the bus to leave for a nearby lake. At Sherando are many options for restful activity. Some campers stayed in our main pavilion area. They worked on lines and text work. Others went into the water. In the middle of the lake is an island, which some campers swam out to. A few campers went on a short hike around the lake. 

Our evening

After an afternoon in nature, our campers arrived back on campus just in time for dinner. One group of campers sat in the first-floor lounge and decorated nametags while watching a recorded production of Much Ado About Nothing starring David Tennant and Catherine Tate. Other campers enjoyed each other’s company while working on assignments for their classes and preparing for off-book dates. At the end of the evening, our wonderful 1 Henry VI dramaturg Analise Toone read a lullaby to the campers before they went off to bed and sweet dreams.

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Morning rehearsal

This morning, I had the privilege of helping our fight director Jake Raiter teach the fight between Joan of Arc and Talbot in 1 Henry VI. Meanwhile, our director Hailey Pearce and other assistant director Emerson Helmbrecht worked on blocking act 2. Throughout rehearsal, our music director Brooke Crittenden worked with campers on sound cues. 

An afternoon with Ralph

After lunch, the campers received training from a very special guest. The founder and visionary behind the American Shakespeare Center and The Shakespeare & Performance Graduate Program, Dr. Ralph Alan Cohen, joined us to teach a workshop on Shakespeare’s text. Each camper had the opportunity to work with Ralph on a piece of their own text. The campers were thrilled to work with him and had a wonderful time.

camp insights

At camp, we love to rehearse, work hard, and dedicate ourselves to the art we create. We bring our joy and wonder to each event, but after many consecutive long days, it can be difficult to function at our full capacity. Days like this Tuesday are so important to our wellbeings as humans and artists. One should not underestimate the value of taking the time to recharge. I hope this is a concept that campers will carry with them through their future endeavors. I got to go to Sherando Lake almost every year I attended camp as a camper. For the past couple of years, the lake day has been replaced by other days of rest and whimsy. Going back to Sherando this year meant a lot to me. In theatre, we spend a lot of time indoors in classes and rehearsals. Taking a moment to be outside in nature is a valuable piece of self-care that I believe is very important to continue working successfully. I am so happy to have seen a new group of campers experience a day that meant so much to me.