'Road Trip' by Amity Summer Theater Camp is Tonight

Woodbridge, CT - When I was invited to attend the final dress rehearsal for the Amity Summer Theater Camp show, I expected a small wrap-up performance marking the end of the month-long summer camp for young performers. I should have known better.

What I had the pleasure of experiencing was a musical review entitled ROAD TRIP that might well have been another one of the outstanding productions at Amity HS, if it weren’t for the fact that some of the campers were very, very young. When the entire ensemble was on the Amity stage in their camp t-shirts, they were 73 dancers/singers strong.

The annual summer camp is run by Andrea and Robert Kennedy. Mrs. Kennedy is the enthusiastic director/choreographer, with Kelsey Sullivan as her assistant director/choreographer. Mr. Kennedy serves as both acting coach and producer, and Emily Kilian is the camp’s musical director. How fortunate these children and teens are to work with such a dream team over the summer.

The eighteen camp counselors include some Amity stars like Lily Swain, Lilli Querker, Carly Chervenak and the talented-beyond-his-years Ryan Kennedy, as well as a host of teens setting a great example for the younger performers. The campers were divided into groups A, B and C and performed some numbers as such, with other permutations as well. There were a load of costume changes for everyone except the counselors, and the technical aspects were professional indeed.

The musical review numbers were an inspired list of Broadway songs old and new, opening with the 70+ campers singing “Something About This Night,” which I had forgotten was from the lovely FINDING NEVERLAND. There was great tap dancing in “Step In Time,” the littlest performers in “Iowa Stubborn” from THE MUSIC MAN, and a huge ensemble for “Run Freedom Run” from URINETOWN.

“All Over the World” from XANADU followed, and then most of the older young ladies danced (and sang) to “Buenos Aires” from EVITA. Other dancers performed “New York, New York” from ON THE TOWN, some of the littles did “Together” from GYPSY, and then I sang along to “Waterloo” from MAMMA MIA.

Older campers did “Skid Row” from LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and then came the cameo for the camp counselors with “A New World” from SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD. I got chills during this one; this was also when I recognized those familiar faces I mentioned above that I have seen at Amity HS productions.

“Vacation” from HEAD OVER HEELS was joyfully performed and from the brand new THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL, there was “Bikini Bottom Day.” “The Travel Song” from SHREK performed by the littles certainly fit the theme and made me smile. The song “On My Way” from VIOLET with the older campers did as well.

“Bring on Tomorrow” from FAME was next, with beautiful sign language accompanying the lyrics, followed by one of my favorites, the new “Beautiful City” by Stephen Schwartz from GODSPELL. The closer? “Raise You Up” from KINKY BOOTS, with everyone in their logo camp shirts.

Shout outs to every single performer on an excellent performance in every way. From the oldest to the youngest, every camper participated completely in the challenging choreography, sang their best and knew their cues. The tremendous amount of rehearsal they had put in was evident and everyone gave it their all. They also appeared to be having the time of their lives on that stage.

Kudos to the choreographers on wonderful designs that were executed perfectly by every dancer.

For the rehearsal, as well as the performance, Mr. Rob Kennedy served as technical director, Sarah Foley and Emily Kline were stage managers and ran the sound, Mr. Kennedy took care of the video and lighting and Elise Sullivan prepared a wonderful slideshow of photos taken during the camp that was shown at the end of the hour-long performance.

The production team invited a large group of special summer school students to attend this final rehearsal, and they enjoyed every minute, as I did.

Don’t miss this FREE production of the musical review ROAD TRIP, featuring over 80 students ages 6 to 18 years, tonight, Friday, July 26, 2019, at 7pm. Bring the family to The John J Brady Center at Amity High School and enjoy all of their hard work. The auditorium is not huge, so come early to get a seat. You will not be disappointed.

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.

Click here to read about Naugatuck Patch Mayor Nancy Sasso Janis.