'BIG STARS' shine
By Kirsten Ballard
Published in News on July 1, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Olivia Lancaster, 6, sings and dances along while practicing the song "Green Eggs and Ham" during rehearsal of the STARS camp production BIG STARS.
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Olivia Lancaster is a big star.
From her frilly socks to her dance moves everything about her is star quality.
The 6-year-old actress has performed in "Cheaper by the Dozen" and the "Christmas Carol."
Her director, Marie Ashley, laughs when she talks about Olivia's role in BIG STARS.
"She can't read yet, but you tell her what you want to say, and she acts it out, it's so fun to see," Mrs. Ashley said.
Olivia brings the song "Green Eggs and Ham" to life with her 40 cast mates in the STARS camp production BIG STARS, that premiered last Friday at the Paramount Theatre. The 2-week camp session runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day at the Stagestruck building. In two weeks, the campers learned 14 songs over eight scenes. Directors Mrs. Ashley and Kaitlyn Wright taught singing, lines and choreography to the children in first through sixth grades.
Mrs. Ashley teaches the campers the music. She sang opera professionally in Palm Beach, Fla. for 13 years.
This is her first time working with Stagestruck.
She says she signed the contract and realized she had no idea how to direct.
"I've always been told what to do, now I'm telling them what to do," she said laughing.
Luckily, the children have risen to the challenge.
"They want to please," she said.
During warm-up, she alters the vocal exercises, sprinkling in ballet moves and funny pronunciations to disguise the work as a game.
For "My Bonnie" they hit the consonants hard and clap instead of saying the word "Bonnie" while doing a plié.
"It's our job to make this as fun as possible," Marie said. "They really get into it."
She enjoys working with the children and seeing the improvement.
Olivia says she has really improved since starting the camp.
"When I first sang, it sounded like 'blah, blah, blah,' but it sounds better now," she said.
Jaylee Amy, 11, has been attending the camp for six years.
She was not sweating learning the final two songs two days before the curtain goes up.
"I'm not nervous, I've done it a couple of times," she said last Wednesday as they prepared for their Friday performance.
"It's fun, and you can express yourself with your acting."
Ms. Wright worked with half the group on choreography.
"They just follow along, they're willing to do whatever you ask," she said.
Though this is her first time directing at Stagestruck, she works with children six days a week at the studio Step of Class.
"They are so energetic," she said. "They keep that energy four hours."
Charlie Mitchell, 9, says he has made new friends at the camp. He is most excited for the song "Race You to the Top of the Morning."
"I just really enjoy singing and dancing," he said.
He wants to keep acting as he grows up.
"I want to be a lot of things when I grow up," he said.
Elizabeth Howell, 11, has big ideas for being a big person.
She wants to be a professional singer.
She says she does not get nervous. She has been coming to the camp for six years, so she's an old hand at performing. However, she is somewhat nervous for sixth grade, but -- right now -- she's just happy to be with her friends at camp.
"It's a fun way to spend your summer. Acting is a way to show your life and what you enjoy. You get to be different people instead of yourself," she said.
The second camp session of STARS is from July 27-31. The show will be cut in half and only include seven songs. The performance for the second session will be at Daniels Memorial UMC fellowship hall.