By: Kathryn Fenstermacher

There’s drama going on in Blackford County, quite literally. This week, Blackford County Arts Place (BCAP) has drawn elementary-aged students from several surrounding counties for a much anticipated Theatre Camp, where they learn about show business and put what they learn into practice with a full-length play on Thursday evening.

This popular summer activity is back after a two-year hiatus due to COVID. Theatre Camp is affiliated with Arts in the Park, an outreach of BCAP that offers a series of low-cost summer arts workshops designed to introduce students to a variety of performing and visual arts. Theatre Camp participants meet at BCAP at 9 a.m. and start the day with a group session with director Melinda Huber, who teaches them about a topic in theater and leads an acting workshop to practice the skills they’ve learned. Then students break up into smaller groups and visit stations where they learn about other aspects of a show, such as costumes, props, and scenery. Part of the day is spent in rehearsal for the production that takes place at the end of the camp. “It’s a real learning experience,” said Amy Day, director of BCAP.

Director Huber is a Blackford County native, beloved by students during her tenure at Blackford and now Huntington County schools. In addition to planning and directing the camp, Huber writes an original play for them to perform. Her plays are based on well-known stories and characters that kids can relate to, and she ensures that each child has a role. “I really stress to them that every part is important in a play, even if it’s behind the scenes,” Huber said.

Theatre Camp is open to students from kindergarten through sixth grade, from any county. The number of participants is capped at 25 – in years past, there was always a waiting list. One student participating this year is coming all the way from Huntington. 

Hosting a summer theater camp was first proposed in 2016 by Huber’s brother, a BCAP board member. Huber stepped up to direct the first camp, and has been coordinating it ever since. “I’m all about getting kids to stretch and challenge themselves and at the same time build their self confidence,” Huber said. “I just think acting is a way to do that, and kids love it once they get into it.”

Huber has rallied a team of volunteers from Blackford and Huntington school districts to help the camp run smoothly. In addition to teachers and staff, a couple high school students have stepped up to help based on their positive experiences participating during elementary school.

One of those helpers is Una Bowman, a senior at Blackford Junior-Senior High School (BJSHS), who participated in the camp in sixth grade. Bowman said that experience helped build her confidence, and that she hopes to help this year’s students do the same. “I’m really looking forward to kind of helping kids come out of their shell like I did, and seeing theater as a place to truly accept themselves,” she said.

Bowman has gone on to act in several productions with the BJSHS Drama Club, including playing the lead role of Agnes in last year’s production of “She Kills Monsters.”

Theatre Camp has inspired another local student to continue a family legacy. Rylee Dunica, a sophomore at BJSHS, played his first lead role at Theatre Camp. He said the prospect was scary at first, but in the end, “I was really proud of all the work . . . that I did and how well that I did it.”

“I think he gets it from his grandma,” said his mother, Holly Dunica.

Rylee’s grandmother, Maxie Malotte, is a long-time resident of Hartford City who participated faithfully in Heritage Days plays and community choir. Following in her footsteps, Rylee has continued to be involved in drama through BJSHS. “To watch him do it and grow as a person and as an actor in each character . . . was really fun,” Dunica said. “It gives [students] a chance to . . . explore something new and different that maybe they wouldn’t have the chance to do, and then obviously grow upon it if it’s something that they really do like.”

One of Huber’s priorities for Theatre Camp is making sure that the students feel involved. Students have a say in every aspect of the show, from designing their own costumes to choosing the refreshments that are served to the crowd afterward. This characteristic is the secret to her success. “I loved the creativity that . . . Mrs. Huber allowed all of the students to have,” Bowman said. “That was way more fun than just being told exactly what to do.”

“She takes into consideration your opinions and your input,” Rylee agreed.

The closing show, “A Cookbook Fairy Tale,” will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 23 at Blackford County Arts Place, 107 W Washington St, Hartford City, IN 47348. Admission is free. For more information, call (765) 348-4154.