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Huntley High School summer theater camp to put on 'The Jungle Book'

Posted July 08, 2009 11:00 pm

By Emily Jurlina Daily Herald Staff

Young Mowgli, played by Connor J. Smith; is taken under the wing of Baloo, played by Marta Makowski, center; and Bagheera, played by Melissa Claussen; during a dress rehearsal "The Jungle Book" at Huntley High School. Rick West | Staff Photographer

The theater business can be unpredictable but, for Huntley High School's summer theater program, it truly is a jungle out there.

The theater program, a day camp of sorts for kids in grades 6 through 12, will be performing "The Jungle Book" this year at the Huntley High School Performing Arts Center, 13719 Harmony Road. Performances begin on Friday, July 10 at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. and will also be held Saturday and Sunday at 3 and 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling (847) 659-6535. General admission is $8; or $6 for seniors and those younger than 12.

The show features three different casts made up of 75 kids from Huntley Unit District 158. Each performance will feature a different cast, allowing everyone who wants a speaking role to get a chance to be in the spotlight.

For director Tom George, who has been working with the program since its creation four years ago, the best part of the summer theater camp is watching his students make emotional leaps and bounds.

"I love how much everyone becomes the family of summer camp," George said. "I like to watch the kids grow. It's so awesome to see that shy kid who started doing this four years ago in sixth grade ... now holding a lead role this year."

George has been an English teacher at Huntley High School for the past 12 years; he is also head coach for the speech team. The summer program, which has put on shows such as "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Alice in Wonderland," is a major fundraiser for the high school's speech and drama programs.

According to George, the funding the school provides for the speech team would only accommodate about 20 kids, a number completely at odds with the 66 or so who have signed up for this year's team.

Over the last three years the program has raised over $18,000, enabling the school to hire extra coaches for the speech team and provide the necessary funding to send students to speech tournaments and the state speech competition.

Production for "The Jungle Book" began on June 11, the first day of camp. Students met for four weeks Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. to practice and also learn different aspects of a theater production, like lighting and costuming.

"Doing this camp you learn so much more about theater ... when I first joined, I was more unsure and asked really silly questions, but I learned that asking those silly questions really helped me improve," said Tiffany Mazur, a sophomore who has been with the program all four years.

"I like helping people and I can do that here."

Tabaqui, played by Lauren Jones, left; and Shere Khan, played by Emily Tatosian; scheme to attack a sleeping Mowgli, played by Cody Schwartz; during a dress rehearsal for District 158's student production of "The Jungle Book" at Huntley High. Rick West | Staff Photographer

Mowgli, Cody Schwartz, meets the monkeys during a dress rehearsal for "The Jungle Book." Rick West | Staff Photographer

If you go What: Huntley High School Summer Theater program's production of "The Jungle Book" When: 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, July 10; 3 and 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 11 and 12 Where: Huntley High School's Performing Arts Center, 13719 Harmony Road, Huntley Cost: $8 for adults and $6 for seniors and children 12 and younger. Tickets can be purchased by calling (847) 659-6535. Details: <a href="http://www.district158.org" target="new">district158.org</a>

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