On the Williamstown Theatre Festival schedule July 5 through July 10 is the world-premiere of Camp Monster, book and lyrics by Sharyn Rothstein and music by Kris Kukul, directed by Kate Pines, and featuring actors from the Festival’s non-equity and apprentice companies.
For years, the sons and daughters of the world’s most famous monsters (Dracula, The Wicked Witch, Wolfman, and more), have spent their summer at Camp Flonster, the only camp in the world where young monsters can be themselves. But this year, Camp Flonster has a new director, the oppressive and diabolical Roseanne Finicula, who harbors a secret desire to rid the world of all monsters! When the young monsters learn of Roseanne’s plot, they must put aside their daily squabbles to work together and beat Roseanne at her own game –and keep the world safe for even the strangest among us.
Camp Monster also features musical direction by Sarah Hirsch and Kris Kukul and choreography by James Cusati-Moyer. The design team includes scenic design by Phil Tokarsky, costume design by Jeanette Lee Porter, lighting design by Jake Bray, and sound design by Sean Luckey. The production stage manager is Lisa Jaeger.
Camp Monster runs on the Main Stage from July 5 through July 10. The schedule is as follows: Monday, July 5 at 7:00pm and Tuesday, July 6 through Saturday, July 10 at 11:00am.
Kid’s Day at WTF
In conjunction with the Free Theatre performances, WTF also announces Kids’ Day. Taking place on the front lawn of the theatre prior to the Saturday morning performance of Camp Monster, Kids’ Day allows children of all ages to partake in theatre games, dancing, crafts, ice cream, autographs from performers and more. Kids’ Day is free of charge and takes place on Saturday, July 10 at 9:30am.
The Greylock Theatre Project
Kids and families alike will enjoy The Greylock Theatre Project, a replication of the 52nd Street Project in New York City, which has been working with children from the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood for over 20 years. Started in 1996, the Greylock Theatre Project is an educational outreach program that works with children from North Adams who live in the Greylock and Brayton Hill neighborhoods to create theatre. In the three programs running this summer, One on Ones, Replay, and Playmaking, children ages 8-16 will work with professional theatre artists to create original works as well as perform short plays and musicals.
Greylock’s One on Ones pair one child with one professional theatre artist to spend a week rehearsing a 10 minute play which they will then perform together for the community. The performances are on Monday, July 12th at 5pm and 8pm in Goodrich Hall.
For Greylock’s Replay, actors from the Festival will read new scripts written by Greylock Theatre Project Teens. There will be one performance of Replay at 5pm on Monday, July 19th in The Log, 79 Spring St., Williamstown.
In Greylock’s Playmaking, children attend a series of 8 classes to learn how to write a play. When they have completed the classes, they are paired with a professional dramaturg/director to help them write a play performed by actors from the Festival. Performances are on Monday, August 2nd at 5 and 8pm in Goodrich Hall.
The Greylock Theatre Project aims to serve kids in the North Adams community by introducing them to the empowering act of creating theatre. Through a variety of tasks in playwriting and performing, the children strengthen skills in team building and conflict management and exercise their imaginations through repeated work in creative expression. The Project is co-directed by Christopher Kauffman and Emily Windover. Phillip Ballantine is the Project Manager. Interns are Hayley Piekut and Khristian Walker.
Williamstown Theatre Festival Free Theatre tickets
All performances are free, but seating is limited, so reservations are a must. Tickets can be reserved by phone at (413) 597-3400 or in person at the ’62 Center for Theatre and Dance, 1000 Main St (Route 2), Williamstown, MA 02167. Box Office hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10am- 5pm, Sunday 11am- 4pm.