If you’ve got a teen who loves to sing Broadway hits and act out scenes, two Tri-City dancers may have an experience of a lifetime for them.
This summer, Nicol Spinola and Nicole Stevens — well-known choreographers and teachers at the Lindbjerg Academy of the Performing Arts and the Tri-City Dance Centre in Coquitlam – will launch their Overnight Musical Theatre Camp for Teens.
Called Camp Cue, the six-night get-away — from July 17 to 23 — takes place at TELUS Wilderness Point on the Sunshine Coast, north of Sechelt.
Spinola and Stevens will lead the instruction while guest performers will also teach including Robert Markus, an actor and singer from Ontario who played the lead role in Dear Evan Hansen for the Mirvish production.
Young campers will build a range of musical theatre skills like improv and acting through song. They will also learn about the industry and what it takes to be in the spotlight.
Still, there will also be time for campers to relax and take in the natural setting, as well as participate in hikes, swimming, yoga and campfire gatherings.
“There are hundreds of kids right across B.C. who share my lifelong passion for musical theatre,” Stevens said in a news release.
“Like me, they will have been training in studios week in and week out but have never had the opportunity to hone their skills at a dedicated musical theatre overnight camp like Camp Cue.
“Camp Cue will give them the space to learn from some of our industry's leading figures and allow them to express themselves to the full, all whilst experiencing the beauty B.C. has to offer at TELUS Wilderness Point.”
Spinola said the founders’ aim at the camp is to create a special home for young musical theatre fans that is safe and inclusive.
As a professional choreographer, Spinola’s credits include productions of Mary Poppins and Cinderella (Theatre Under the Stars), both winning Ovation Awards for Outstanding Choreography; Mamma Mia (Chemainus Theatre Festival); 13 the Musical (Bring on Tomorrow Co); Enron (United Players); Annie, Legally Blonde and Shrek (Align Entertainment); 9 to 5 (Capilano University); and Rock of Ages (Renegade Productions)
Spinola is also the co-managing artistic director and resident choreographer for Raincity Theatre Company.
As for Stevens, she studied with the Canadian College of Performing Arts and completed the Broadway Teacher’s Workshop. She’s been a musical theatre teacher for more than 20 years and has performed on stage in several shows including Theatre Under the Stars’ Grease! and Legally Blonde, Fighting Chance Productions’ Little Shop of Horrors and Nunsense, APPLAUSE’s The Unsinkable Molly Brown and RCMT’s West Side Story.
To learn more about Camp Cue, visit campcue.com or go on Instagram (@campcue).
A scholarship program is also available to provide financial assistance to families in need.
