Jammin’ in Hailey
By MIKE MCKENNA
The goal of the Cadence Theatre summer camp coming to Hailey in July is pretty simple. As Anna Senechal Johnson, the company’s artistic and managing director, explained, “We want to team up with local kids to create something fun that we can share with the whole community.”
Anna is a former local community member herself. She’s bringing the Virginia-based nonprofit theatre company to Idaho because she feels the Wood River Valley is an ideal place to be creative and someplace that has long been supportive of the arts.
“It’s such an inspiring place to create and to be artistic and to share stories,” she said. “Being in the middle of nature helps me and many others feel creative. That’s why so many people come here, to get away from the chaos of city life and be creative.”
Anna first came to the Wood River Valley in the mid-’90s to serve as stage director for Company of Fools. She would then spend 13 years guiding local theatre, including helping found the St. Thomas Playhouse.
“I completely fell in love with the people and community and the natural surroundings,” said Anna, whose daughter was born locally. “When we moved, half of my heart was left here.”
Anna and her family have returned regularly and she is excited to be teaming up with locals like Hillary Neely and Footlight Dance Centre, director and actor Andrew Alburger, musical director John Mauldin, and set designer Joe Lavigne, to bring Cadence Theatre’s camp to town this summer.
Jammin’ in July is a two-week summer camp for students from second through eighth grade. The camp runs from July 10–21 and offers fun-filled activities in acting, singing, dancing and art, culminating in final performances of “Shrek: The Musical JR.” This marks the initial phase of a plan to bring a two-week residency program for playwrights and screenwriters to the Valley. The program is part of the Pipeline New Works Fellowship Program.
Kids of all abilities and experience are welcome and everyone will be in the cast. The camp will take place at Hailey Elementary School and the Footlight Dance Centre studio, with the final musicals taking place at the Community Campus.
“There are so many benefits for kids—self-esteem, life skills, communication skills,” Anna explained. “It’s a structured and meaningful experience and something they will always remember.”
Ending the camp with a public performance also adds the positive impacts the camp offers.
“Producing a musical really helps young people create community,” Anna said. “It’s such a special community and the heartbeat of it is the kids. That’s why this is a dream come true.”
As the call for campers and cast members goes out, it was King Artie from the Shrek films who said it best: “If there’s something you really want, or someone you really want to be, then the only person standing in your way is you.”
Find out more or get the Early Bird Enrollment Special for Cadence Theatre’s Jammin’ in July in Hailey by going to CadenceTheatre.org, email info@cadencetheatre.org or call (804) 233–4894.