Playhouse Merced’s festival calling on young thespians

The Young Artists Conservatory at Playhouse Merced is offering seven weeks of all-day summer programming.

The Summer Youth Theatre Festival is a way to introduce children from ages 5 to 18 to shows and songs in a professional theatrical environment. It begins June 8.

Participants can take part in three weeks of classes for “Cinderella KIDS,” a 45-minute production of the classic fairy tale.

The show will be fully costumed, with a set and lighting design to give young theater performers a fully formed experience, according to a press release.

The children are taught about theater production.

Students between 12 and 18 will be honing their craft on the classic musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr.” The four-week performance camp aims to familiarize the children with the 1920s through history lessons, costume projects, design work and discussion periods, the press release stated.

The show featuring the older children has a focus on tap and other dances.

The three-week class for younger children is from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. every weekday from June 8 to 26.

It costs $250, and children end their education with performances on Playhouse Merced’s main stage.

The four-week class for older children costs $315, and is from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. every weekday from July 6 to 31.

That class also culminates in performances on Playhouse Merced’s main stage.

The Young Artists Conservatory also plans morning workshops during those dates in June and July at an additional cost.

To register or for more information, go to www.playhousemerced.com and click on the “Summer Youth Theatre Festival.”

Or, call (209) 725-8587 or email “Miss Noelle” at point.your.toes@gmail.com.

This story was originally published May 27, 2015 at 12:03 PM with the headline "Playhouse Merced’s festival calling on young thespians."