Homer resident Jim Anderson is directing a three-day theater workshop called Broadway Bootcamp for eighth grade students to high school seniors. The camp will take place Oct. 26-28 at Homer High School with a short showcase performance at 7 p.m. on Oct. 28 at the Mariner Theater.
The event is organized through Homer Community Schools and the cost to participate is $15.
Anderson has been working with youth for more than 30 years on theater arts-based leadership curriculum and this will be the second time the event is offered in Homer. Anderson graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City in 1987 and has used the skills gained there working with youth theater.
He was born and raised in Homer and moved back to the community in 2021. When he moved back several parents approached him with the idea of offering an event like this, he said.
Over three days, students learn everything from the music, choreography, character development and dialects. They perform the show completely memorized on the last day of the event.
“During the camp, I include a lot of leadership concepts and life skills that allow the kids to develop better confidence, posture and eye contact through the environment of the stage,” Anderson said.
“Because it’s musical theater and some people might be a little intimidated, I try to recruit kids who aren’t just interested in theater but kids who might be introverted, shy or might want to try the stage but haven’t done it yet. I want them to get to a comfort level that they might not have reached before.”
Other volunteer instructors for the event are Brittany Bradshaw, a vocal coach who will assist with music and singing and Jill Berryman, founder and former director of the annual Homer Nutcracker Ballet.
The camp will also provide the opportunity to learn components of technical theater such as stage management, lighting, costume and sound.
The production theme for the performance will be from the Broadway musical “Shrek.”
“It will all come together magically in three days. People will really be amazed at how much the kids can do in such a short period of time,” Anderson said.
