Mentor UMC summer camp prepares ‘Aladdin, Jr.’

Mentor United Methodist Church’s Truth & Light Players is ready for this weekends’ production of “Aladdin, Jr.”

Tammy Palermo serves as producer and coordinator​ for this theater arts camp. Performances are 7:30 p.m. June 15 and 1 p.m. June 16. Tickets are $5 general admission and can be reserved at mentorumc.org/current. Mentor UMC is at 8600 Mentor Ave.

This year’s camp is the largest since it started in 2007 with 57 actors and seven crew members. The staff is comprised of ​18​ youth and adults.

Throughout the week, kids are also exposed to scripture and devotions that relate to themes in the Aladdin story and ​the development of ​characters.

Palermo loves that so many of the staff enjoy musical theater and want to share their enthusiasm with these kids.

“As director of Children & Family Ministries, this camp brings together my passion for Jesus and His message of love with my enjoyment​ ​(borderline obsession​)​ of musical theatre,” Palermo tells me. “It has also been rewarding to have former Riverside Theatre students be involved on the production team. Kyle and Gabby have been invaluable to this camp.”

Palermo assists with the theatrical productions at Riverside High School, which is how she nabbed Kyle Martin Andree and Liz Kallay again this year as the director and music director, respectively. Syndie Toth returns as costume director, and Gabrielle Galvan is also returning as technical director while home from Webster University where she is studying stage management.

“The kids continue to amaze me with the amount they’re able to accomplish in just 30 hours of rehearsal time,” Andree said. “I have seen incredible growth within some of these kids in my two years here. I am sad to see some of them graduate from our program, but am thrilled to send them into a whole new world of theater.”

Gabriella Galvan has been part of Theatre Arts Camp twice as long as Andree.

“In the four summers I have been working shows with this program I have worked with limited budgets and limited materials but unlimited creativity and charisma from the kids I work with on the crew,” Gabriella says. “They are always looking for ways to help and learn. They love to make the props or paint a drop to hang on the stage. They want to learn how to use power tools I bring in and they learn the safety that comes with using them. In my time working I have learned a lot about designing. I know these kids will go on to do great things in theatre or wherever the choose to go.”

Check out their “Whole New World” this weekend.

Young Thespians is a regular column that focuses on youth in theater. Do you have a production you wish to see featured? Email stevecouch@windstream.net, follow me @StevenRCouch on Twitter or join our “Young Thespians” Facebook group and post your show information.