Masquerade Theatre Launches Lights Up Summer Program

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Masquerade Theatre was founded in 2020, and just as it was getting ready to open its first production, COVID-19 hit and the arts came to a standstill. Husband and wife team Tommy and Megan Balne, were not ready to let go of their dream of opening a theatre company and quickly pivoted to a virtual performance environment. In May of 2020, Masquerade made its debut on schedule with the play, Proof, one of the first fully-realized, live virtual theatre productions produced in the country during the pandemic. Masquerade has since produced four virtual productions, as well as a New Works Series, highlighting up and coming artists nationwide.

Now, Masquerade is bringing its ingenuity to launch its in person Educational Program, Lights Up! as well as its Teaching Artist Program.

“Arts education is so much more than the final performance on a stage,” Artistic Director Megan Knowlton Balne explains. “Theatre arts is where kids learn invaluable lessons in empathy, gain confidence, discover who they are and collaborate together to create a moving piece of art.”

“Our Teaching Artist Program will bring the arts directly to organizations and schools, through workshops, classes or performance,” Balne explains, whereas, “Lights Up is dedicated to in person youth arts instruction through summer camps and on-site classes.”

Lights Up! is holding in-person summer camp at Artists in Motion Dance Complex in Cherry Hill, NJ from June 28 - August 13, 2021. The camp has something for all ages and schedules.

The Apprentice Troupe, ages 8-18, have three options: Three-Week Play Intensive; Four-Week Musical or both.

First, Apprentice students can sign up for the Three-Week Play Intensive and Workshop session from June 28 - July 16th where students will work on acting, improvisation, and basic comedy, ending with a showcase performance. Apprentice students also have the option to sign up for the Four-Week Musical session from July 19 - August 13, where students will work on the production of High School Musical, Jr. Students also have the option to participate in both sessions at a discounted rate. Both sessions are Monday - Friday from 9AM - 3PM.

The Super Stars, ages 4-7, have weekly camps where Masquerade’s youngest artists create their own show based on a different theme each week. Super Stars have four different sessions from July 12 - August 6: Super Stars runs Monday - Friday from 9AM - Noon. Parents can sign up for one week or multiple weeks, and can sign up throughout the summer on a rolling basis. This is a great opportunity for young artists to try theatre, with a short, one week program, and if they love it, campers can always sign up for more weeks.

The Lights Up program is led by an experienced team of teachers. Balne, who earned her degree in Theatre from Ramapo College, has worked with several theatres and organizations in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania region over the past fifteen years. Kendra Hecker, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, has her Masters in Music Education from the University of the Arts and has been teaching music and theatre in area schools since 2010. Both are thrilled to be able to launch the educational program at Masquerade.

“As parents, we wanted to create a program that worked for families, that provided instruction to all ages, and provided flexibility for families,” Tommy Balne, co-founder and Managing Director, explains. “The arts was very important to Megan and myself growing up, and continues to be important to our kids, and we are excited to share our love of the arts with other families.”

There are still spots available for Lights Up Summer program. More information can be found at https://www.masqueradetheatre.org/lightsup.

Contact Person: Megan Knowlton Balne, Co-Founder and Artistic Director

Contact Phone: 856-441-0126 / Contact email: education@masqueradetheatre.org

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