Swampscott Summer Theatre taking places

SWAMPSCOTT – The school year may be ending, but the curtain is rising for the next generation of actors to grace the stage in the Swampscott Summer Theater.”For many kids, they’ve never done anything,” said Jim Pearse, the theater and choral director at Swampscott High School. “But it’s pretty fun because they’re excited about being there.”The Swampscott Summer Theater has begun recruiting for its 11th season providing a musical theater camp for students entering grades three through nine. Organized by Pearse, the program will meet for three hours, three days a week beginning July 5. The season culminates in a performance of “Aladdin Kids” on Aug. 4.But more than just theater games and rehearsals, Pearse and his students say that the program serves as a kind of “orientation” for those interested in theater at Swampscott High School.Upperclass members of the Drama Club are the counselors, and participants get the opportunity to not only learn how to act, but also design costumes for the first time, build sets and learn about the lighting system.”I just really wanted kids to start getting involved right in ninth grade,” said Pearse.Freshmen students can take only one elective, he explained, and the frantic fall pace makes it hard to get to know many of the new students.”It allows me to get to know the kids in a more relaxed time, not trying to fit it in during class or in between periods,” he said.Student Hannah Yaeger joked that it gives them an opportunity to also “get used to Mr. Pearse.””It gives you a head start, and makes you more prepared” to participate in theater, explained Shauna Gorham.But the program is also one of only a few opportunities for Swampscott kids to do musical theater, Pearse explained. Unless a teacher decides to do a show in elementary school, students are unlikely to get onstage acting experience until they reach middle school or sometimes high school.Gorham said she participated in the program for several years between entering third grade and her final year, two summers ago. “You get onstage, show off a little bit,” she joked. “For those in third to fifth grade, it’s their only chance.”So the classes start with the basics.”Face the audience, project your voice, emphasize facial expressions ? ” joked Pearse.And while the program has become more ambitious over its eleven years – the final productions only began three years ago – the goal for younger participants is just “to get their feet wet,” Pearse said.”You go do summer theater from 10 to 1, and then do something else like play frisbee or go swimming,” Pearse said. “It’s a really nice opportunity because a lot of these kids are not going to be in theater. But it teaches you the comfort level that you need talking to a neighbor and just to be a citizen.”But quite a few participants officially catch the theater bug.”It’s too bad that it only goes up to kids in the eighth grade,” said Yaeger. “I would do it every year if I could.”For more information, call Pearse at 781-596-8830, Ext. 5702.