Libertyville middle-schoolers attending theater camp

Olivia Paczek is thinking big.

The 12-year-old from Vernon Hills says she hopes to act on Broadway some day.

"I love singing, I love acting, I love being seen on stage," she said. "It's my dream to become an actress."

Her journey to New York City has to start somewhere, and it might be Libertyville.

Paczek is one of nearly 100 middle school-aged students attending theater camps in the Libertyville area this summer.

Run by the Libertyville-based Improv Playhouse, students are attending camps centered on filmmaking, improvisation and musical theater. The three-week sessions are giving kids an alternative to just hanging out or playing video games.

Shannon Campe is an alum, who has returned to help with directing. The Libertyville High School senior said theater can bring out the best in children.

"I've seen shy kids break out of their shells and become who they really are," Campe said. "Many kids aren't good at sports, but are great at performing on stage. Theater offers them a chance to show off their skills. They come together and work as a team in much the same way they would if they were playing sports."

Under red and white stage lights at Highland Middle School in Libertyville, the students are rehearsing for their performance of the musical "Into the Woods." The production interweaves fairy tale characters Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella and others. They'll perform for parents Thursday morning.

This is the fourth year Brandon Cohen has attended the camp. The incoming freshman at Vernon Hills High School said he can't imagine a summer without theater camp.

"This place is like home to me," Cohen said. "I've met so many kids. It's a welcoming place and everyone fits in perfectly. We all have similar interests."

Much like a regular school day, the sessions run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Campe said organizers try to keep it fun.

"We remind ourselves that this should feel like a break from school," she explained. "We want to keep that summer camp feeling and make sure they don't work too hard."

Paczek played the part of Rapunzel. She said she's getting an education on the finer points of stage performance.

"I'm learning how to project my voice and where to place myself on the stage," she said. "I'm learning so many things I've never known before. I'm also making new friends with kids that don't even go to my school."