Summertime is here: hot dogs, ice cream, barbecues, picnics, time at the pool, day trips to the beach and Stage Door Summer Youth Theatre Camp.
Stage Door has had the premier affordable theater summer camp on the Plateau since the turn of the century. It has brought to life shows like “Willy Wonka Jr.,” “The Sword in the Stone,” “Into the Woods Jr.,” and “Sheik, Rattle and Roll.” Stage Door has also done a variety of one-acts like “The Real Inspector Hound,” “The Frog Princess” and “The Paper Bag Bandit Rides Again.”
This summer Stage Door brings to the stage a potpourri for audience’s entertainment pleasure. First will be “Rising Stars” and a hilarious melodrama “The Ransom of Emily Jane.” It’s a funny look at life in the old west and a girl with a lot of gumption. It is adapted from O’Henry’s “The Ransom of Red Chief.” Performances are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $6 in advance, $8 at the door Enumclaw High School auditorium.
Next, Stage Door takes audiences on a new adventure with “Stars of the Plateau” at 7 p.m. July 25.
“We feel that no matter what your economic standing that every child should have a opportunity to go to camp,” said Stu Johnson, Stage Door director of education. “Whether it be a sleepaway camp, a sports camp or theater camp. “Stars of the Plateau” is a scholarship fundraiser for kids who cannot afford to go to camp, Johnson said. “We want them to have the experience and with the economic times we are in no child should go without.”
Johnson and others have brought together some of the top youth talent on the Plateau and just for fun they tossed in some adults. Tickets will be $10.
The “Acting for Teens” members will sing, act and dance their way through the Tony-award winner for Best Musical “Guys and Dolls Jr.” The musical tells the story of gangsters, a showgirl, a mission doll and the heartfelt boy meets girl, girl hates boy, boy loves girl. How long can a couple be engaged? Come and find out. It is filled with exciting songs and dances.
Performances are 7 p.m. July 30, July 31 and 2 and 7 p.m. Aug. 1 at the EHS auditorium. Tickets are $6 in advance, $8 at the door.
Looking back to the 1920s, Stage Door goes with “Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr.,” the winner of six Tony Awards in 2002 including Best Musical. Stage Door is the first to bring this show to the Plateau. This production is performed by its “Main Stage” 9- to 14-year-olds. It’s a story about a sweet girl named Millie who moves to New York, becomes modern and sets out to find a job so she can marry her boss. But, along the way you get “kidnapped” into the Roaring ‘20s where skirts got shorter and the music jazzier. Many toe-tapping tunes fill the jazzy musical.
Performances are 7 p.m. Aug 13 and Aug. 14 and 2 and 7 p.m. Aug. 15. Tickets are $6 in advance, $8 at the door.
