Theatre campers prepare for production

Sarah Williamson hasn’t lived in Sudbury for about seven years, but the Ryerson University dance program graduate said she is happy to come home and share her passion with aspiring performers.

Williamson is the choreographer at Lock and Keynote Productions, a Toronto-based musical theatre instruction company that travels to places that otherwise might not have exposure to musical theatre.

The company began a two-week instruction program in Sudbury on July 5.

Twelve young ladies, between the ages of nine and 16, signed up for the camp to refine their skills in singing, dancing and acting.

Lock and Keynote Productions will also host camps in Timmins and Corner Brook, Nfld. later this summer. “What’s great about the camp is when we travel to Cochrane and Timmins and Newfoundland — these were all our homes when we were growing up,” Williamson, a former student at the Diane Boulais Dance Studio in Hanmer, said. “It’s very much like a giving back to the community sort of thing.”

Vikki VanSickle, a founding member and playwright with the company, said over the two weeks, the actors in Sudbury will rehearse a production she wrote — The Name of the Show is Secret: A Musical Mystery — and perform it for friends, family members and the community on July 16.

“We pride ourselves on doing family entertainment,” VanSickle said. “Even though we’re using youth actors, the quality of our show is quite good. It’s intended for a wide audience — it’s not inappropriate in any way, but it’s also not a children’s show. It’s definitely a family show.”

VanSickle said the campers have been putting in long, hard days to prepare for the show. Since the camp isn’t at capacity, each camper has the opportunity to be more involved in the production.

“When we have a smaller cast like this, it means each of the kids gets more than one role to play,” VanSickle said. “They get a chance to try on more acting roles (and) they get a more rounded acting experience.”

The children and teens will perform at Thorneloe Theatre at Laurentian University at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and are available at the door.

Visit www.lockandkeynote.com for more information about the company.