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The Little Theater at Lake Braddock Secondary School is staying busy over summer break as 25 students prepare a full-length musical on a schedule resembling a professional production.
The middle and high school performers have just three weeks to rehearse SIX: TEEN EDITION, a high-energy musical comedy that reimagines the six wives of King Henry VIII as pop stars comparing their troubled marriages through songs and choreography.
The show is the centerpiece of Production Camp, a new Institute for the Arts summer program offering hands-on experience in theater, dance, music and visual arts. Students rehearse six hours a day, five days a week, with choreography in the morning and music practice in the afternoon.
Director and choreographer Evie Korovesis said students were introduced to the show on a Monday and auditioned by Tuesday. Full rehearsals began almost immediately afterward.
That pace is much faster than a typical school production. Saida Tiouat, a rising Oakton High School freshman, said students normally have several months to prepare during the academic year. With only two or three weeks at camp, she said, the cast must bring greater focus, effort and dedication.
Korovesis builds each musical number section by section, teaching the performers new movements before adding more choreography and offering immediate feedback on their delivery.
Music director James McNamara said he was impressed by the ability of the students—including many rising ninth graders—to remain focused throughout the demanding daily schedule.
The camp is intended to provide a pre-professional experience for students considering careers in the performing arts. Maeve Nash, an educational specialist for fine arts projects, said her theater students often asked how they could improve their auditions and performances between school years. Her advice was to find a summer program that would keep their skills developing.
Saida, who is considering a theater career, said the program is helping her gain experience, learn more about the field and expand her potential.
Other students said the benefits extend beyond the stage. Rising Oakton freshman Zaiya Hurlburt credited theater with improving her confidence, public speaking, singing and dancing while introducing her to peers who genuinely want to participate.
Lake Braddock seventh grader Evan Sullivan said theater has helped him manage his time, balance practice with schoolwork and become more comfortable speaking with other people.
Korovesis said theatrical productions require participants to make eye contact, engage with others, memorize material and work together toward a shared goal. Those skills can help students become stronger communicators, collaborators and more resilient, goal-oriented people in any career.
Despite the compressed schedule, Saida said the cast’s dedication has made her confident that the group will deliver a strong performance.
Production Camp will present SIX: TEEN EDITION at Lake Braddock Secondary School at 7 p.m. Friday, July 25, and noon Saturday, July 26. Both performances are free and open to the public.