2022 Summer Programming
Summer Programming
2023 Summer Camps
Join us at the Playhouse again this summer for weekly camps. Information and rates below. Questions? Please email Chris Sullivan
Creating the World
June 20-23 (4 Days), 9:00am - 12:00pm
Instructor: Tyler Costigan
Ages: 8-12
Cost: $160
Seats Min: 4 - Max :24
This class is for those new to the stage who want to explore and develop their acting skills. Through imagination exercises and improv games, we'll talk about how to place yourself in the world of the story, how to build interesting characters, and how to create a lasting impression on the audience. Students will learn audition techniques, preparation exercises, and tips to shake those performance jitters. Ages 8-12
Dr. Seuss on Stage
June 26-30, 9:00am - 12:00pm
Instructor: Laura Morris
Ages: 6-9
Cost: $195
Seats Min: 6 - Max :15
An acting class for kids! Over the course of the week Kids will work on a dramatized adaptation of a Dr. Seuss book: Horton Hears a Who. Kids will learn with dance, singing, act, and perform in a little half-hour showcase on the final day. This class is fun for kids of all acting abilities. Ages 6-9
Scene Studies for Teens
June 26-30 from 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Instructor: Laura Morris
Ages: 12-16
Cost: $195
Seats Min: 6 - Max :12
This class is for teens looking to develop their acting skills. The course includes an introduction to acting basics, scene studies, and a half hour showcase on the final day. The course is appropriate for new actors as well as actors hoping to progress their talents. Ages 12-16
Preparing for a Role
July 3- 7 (4 Days), 9:00am-3:00pm
Instructor: Tyler Costigan
Ages: 11-16
Cost: $325
Seats Min: 6 - Max: 15
This class is intended for students who have 2+ years of theater training or have performed in 2+ shows. In this four day intensive workshop, students will learn how professional actors prepare for a role. Through exercises and scene study we'll talk about how to take a character from “page to stage”, how to build relationships and how to “live truthfully under imaginary circumstances”. Students will learn invaluable techniques to develop characters and create realistic emotions onstage. Ages 11-16
Intro to Improv
July 10-14, 9:00am - 12:00pm
Instructor: Makenzie Sands and Rob Faucher
Ages: 10-14
Cost: $195
Seats Min: 6 - Max: 20
Welcome to the world of improv! This introductory camp will teach you the basic fundamentals of improv through various games, lessons, and projects. This camp will also allow you to step out of your comfort zone and teach you how to work on the fly. Improv can be used in daily life to navigate different tasks and important conversations. Not only that, it will allow you to learn about yourself in ways you never thought possible. Come join us to learn and have some fun along the way! Ages 10-14
Love: Musical Theater Camp
July 17-21, 9:00am - 3:00pm
Instructor: Bethany Perkins
Ages: 10-14
Cost: $390
Seats Min: 6 - Max:20
Camp participants will express what love means to them through musical theater songs and scenes! The camp will culminate with a showcase for their families at RRCP in the afternoon Friday. There will also be an optional opportunity to perform for a fundraiser for Finding Our Voices, a domestic abuse prevention group. Ages 10-14
Improv & Theater Games I
Aug 7-11 from 9:00am - 12:00pm
Instructor: Keith Anctil
Ages: 8-11
Cost: $195
Seats Min: - Max:
In this week-long camp, we’ll explore a bunch of improv comedy formats. We'll look at short form, long form, skill building and classic games! No experience is necessary. All you need is some creativity and a willingness to laugh! Improv comedy can help you: make friends, be more mindful, be a better listener, take risks, not take yourself so seriously and find time to play! Ages 8-11
Improv & Theater Games II
Aug 7-11 from 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Instructor: Keith Anctil
Ages: 12-16
Cost: $195
Min: - Max:
In this week-long camp, we’ll explore a bunch of improv comedy formats. We'll look at short form, long form, skill building and classic games! No experience is necessary. All you need is some creativity and a willingness to laugh! Improv comedy can help you: make friends, be more mindful, be a better listener, take risks, not take yourself so seriously and find time to play! Ages 12-16
Dance & Singing
Aug 14-18, 9:00am - 3:00pm
Instructor: Jake Boyce & Lauren Murphy
Ages: 11-16
Cost: $390
Min:6 - Max: 20
Why do we love musicals? The singing and dancing of course! This camp gets you moving. Campers will practice singing and dancing through learning musical numbers from beloved musical theater shows, all leading up to a final presentation for family and friends on the last day of camp. So dust off your dancing feet and get ready to learn some showtunes! Ages 11-16
Story Book Musical
Aug 21-25, 9:00am - 12:00pm
Instructor: Annalisa Ledson
Ages: 5-10
Cost: $195
Min:6 - Max: 18
Do you love stories? This story book musical camp is for you! During the week we will sing, dance and act out an exciting story book. Campers ages 5-10 will be moving and grooving all week with a mini performance at the end to share what they've been learning. Starting with the basics of story structure and performing fundamentals - these campers will finish off the week feeling like Broadway stars!
MEET OUR TEACHING ARTISTS
KEITH ANCTIL
Keith has been involved in the Maine improv scene for the last 18 years or so. He has performed with The Escapists, Acorn Studios, Stranger Than Fiction, F.P.I. (Freeport Players Improv) and was a founding member of The Improvised Puppet Project. He has taught improv workshops across New England. Keith is a special educator by day and directs drama programs at Cheverus High School and South Portland High School after work. When not performing, teaching, designing or directing, Keith can be found running, kayaking, fishing or gardening, Keith loves to laugh. Laughing is his favorite.
JAKE BOYCE
Jake Boyce earned his BA in Dance Education from the Joan Phelps Palladino School of Dance at Dean College in 2016, and has just recently earned his Professional Lyric Writing Certificate from Berklee School of Music! He has been choreographing for theatres and schools around Maine since 2015. Jake's style lies in Musical Theatre with a touch of inspiration from hip hop, contemporary, and jazz. Some notable choreographer credits include head choreographer for Chicago at CLT, Matilda at Lyric and Midcoast Youth Theatre, Urinetown at CLT, and Directing and Choreographing Catch Me If You Can in Standish, Maine to name a few. From 2014-2016 Jake was a Director of Dance at Community Little Theatre for their Youth Musical Theatre Summer Program as well as their Teen Musical Theatre Summer Program. After 2 years of hustling the entertainment industry here in Portland, Jake left his full time job in education to pursue his career as Chartreuse (his Drag Persona) full time, booking a comedy show in NYC, working with Miz Cracker from RuPaul's Drag Race, and working closely with Equality Maine here at home. Jake was one of the trillions of people whose careers were affected by COVID 19, but he is so happy and grateful for the opportunity to teach and meet the community of Royal River Community Players!
TYLER COSTIGAN
Tyler Costigan has been performing for stage and screen for over 30 years, most recently with Mad Horse Theatre in South Portland. Tyler spent the summer of 2022 at the Celebration Barn Theater, training in Advanced Eccentric Performance under the instruction of Avner (“The Eccentric”) Eisenberg, and performed at the Barn's 50th Anniversary celebration alongside some of the world's funniest people. In 2018 Tyler discovered his passion for teaching young performers and has since led workshops at True North Theatre, Ten Bucks Theatre, and The Grand. He served for one year as the theatre director at Ellsworth Middle School, and has just finished his second year as director at Jordan Small Middle School in Raymond.
ROB FAUCHER
Rob Faucher is a Downeast native and Southern Maine transplant currently making his way in the local artistic community. Recently graduated from USM, he has directed productions such as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and The Zoo Story, as well as occasionally writing for and performing on the stage. Rob has a background in Shakespeare, and has studied with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon. He currently teaches at STAGES Youth Theater, and will be directing A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Deertrees Theater in September.
LAURA MORRIS
After minoring in Theater at UMO, Laura acted professionally at the Dallas Theater Center, Indianapolis Rep and other venues before founding the Second Chance Foundation with the mission of helping youth make healthy decisions through theatrical school programs. She worked as a Theatrical Director with the Council for Drug Free Youth as well as founded MASK (Master Acting Studio for Kids). Currently, she directs peer-to-peer prevention programs on coping skills, decision making and youth substance use within her role as the Executive Director of the Be the Influence Coalition in Windham. She is an Acorn Board member and has acted for the past two years in the Maine Playwright’s Festival, Heartwood Theater, River and Company, Bath Rep and other venues. Her favorite role is as “mother” to her two sons, Ben (28) and Josh(24).
BETHANY PERKINS
Bethany Perkins Hall has performed her entire life, as an actor, singer, and pianist. She holds a Bachelors in Music in vocal performance, and is currently enrolled in the Masters of Education in Humane Education program through Antioch and the Institute for Humane Education. Bethany is a musical director throughout Southern Maine. Recent credits include "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "West Side Story," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Nice Work If You Can Get It". She is also the chorus teacher at Greely Middle School and a general music teacher at Mabel I. Wilson Elementary. Bethany is a soprano who sings regularly with St Mary Schola and OperaMaine. She lives in Gorham with her husband, two stepsons, three cats and a dog.
Makenzie Sands
Makenzie was born and raised in Maine, and she did theatre whenever she could growing up. She moved down to Portland in 2019, and received her Bachelors degree in Theatre (Tech/Design and Performance) from the University of Southern Maine. During her time at USM, she was an Assistant Stage Manager for The Love of The Nightingale, Tilly Evans in She Kills Monsters, Miss Scarlet in Clue, and she was the Stage Manager for The Thanksgiving Play. Recently, she was the Assistant Director/Stage Manager for And Then They Came For Me at Footlights Theatre, as well as the Stage Manager for Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella at Lyric Music Theatre. She is excited to share her knowledge with young performers and watch them grow.
Lauren Murphy
Lauren Murphy (She/her/hers) has been teaching music since 2013 after graduating from the University of Southern Maine with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. She also does both directing and music directing for community theater productions. She was the music director of Royal River Community Players production of “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown” in 2022 and is excited to return to RRCP for camp this summer. She also enjoys performing and is currently a member of the Portland-based a cappella group “The Pine State Pitches”.
ANNALISA LEDSON
Annalisa Ledson is excited to join the wonderful performing arts community in Maine! She is a teaching artist, choreographer and performer by way of New York City. She is the co-artistic director of Current Harbor and has created and performed in new works at; BAM Fischer Hall, HERE, Frieze Arts, Joe’s Pub, The Tank, and Mark Morris. She loves teaching workshops and summer camps, most recently at the Flynn Theater in Burlington, VT including all over New England and NYC. M.Ed in Interdisciplinary Studies, UVM. Annalisa can frequently be found dancing and laughing with her toddler at the beach!