This is the first in a two-part series to discover fun and educational options in the area for students during spring break.

For those students in town who are interested in the arts and looking for something to do over spring break, there are a variety of fun-filled – yet informative – programs that are being offered during the week of March 14-18.

Between an art camp instructed by local artist Jo Watts, a theatre camp at Playhouse Smithville and an acting camp at 1st Act! Academy, there is sure to be something to keep students’ minds active and entertained.

1st Act!’s Acting Camp

Mary Farrar, owner and director of 1st Act! Academy, 301 Whitehead St. in Smithville, is offering her first spring break acting camp for students ages 8 to 12, plus or minus a couple of years.

“Our age requirement is somewhat flexible,” Farrar said. “Much depends on each child’s level of maturity and reading skills, so I will speak in advance with each parent to determine our program’s suitability for the children.”

Farrar said that if a child needs help in reading, the program encourages improvement.

Each day, the camp will begin at 7:30 a.m. with relaxation exercises and ongoing activities will take place until 4 p.m. Students may be picked up any time after 4 p.m. but no later than 6 p.m.

According to Farrar, the week’s curriculum will include a strong emphasis on improvisation and creativity.

“My kids seem to get carried away whenever they are challenged to create their own stories and I’m amazed at the talent kids already have that can be coaxed from them,” she said. “I’ve learned from years of professional acting that improv is not just an acting skill but a life skill.”

Farrar said the big project students will work on is a “Cooking Challenge,” which will be developed, cast and performed on video and will focus on behind-the-scenes requirements to produce a television show.

“We’ll be using video from Incredible Story Studios, short programs written ‘for kids by kids,’” she said. “The students will gain insight not only as actors, but as production assistants, directors and creative writers.”

1st Act! veteran students Netanya McKeown, Reece McKeown and Justin Dees will be available as interns during the camp, according to Farrar.

The cost of the program for each student is $10 per day if they are enrolled for three or more days and $15 for single days. A discount is available for siblings who attend together.

Lunch and snacks will also be provided.

To register, call (512) 216-2645. Early registration is encouraged, as space is limited.

Jo Watts’ Art Camp

Watts, who is a member of the Lost Pines Artisans’ Alliance and who has taught several art classes in town, will be holding an art camp in her studio, located at 680 Old Antioch Rd. in Smithville, for students ages nine and up.

The camp will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day and will focus on different types of art.

“In these five days, students will learn real processes and techniques,” Watts said. “There will be fun and games and some crafts, but for the most part, time will be spent learning how to draw, make prints, make paper bowls and how to work in clay.”

Watts said the camp will kick off with a clay project in order to have the pieces dried and fired by the end of the week.

For the rest of the week, she said students will work on the rules of one, two and three-point perspectives, shading their drawings, blind contour and how to draw what they see. They will also learn about the importance of good composition and creating collages.

The cost of the five-day art camp is $220 per student with a discount for multiple family members.

“All supplies, teaching materials, firing of clay and snacks will be supplied by me,” Watts said. “There is plenty of space to enjoy the picnic lunches the students will bring for themselves and I have lots of scenery and animals to draw.”

Watts said that she will be aided in teaching by Doni Lucious, who taught kindergarten through high school art for more than 35 years in Mississippi.

For more information, call Watts at (512) 577-5252, e-mail her a jo1artist@hotmail.com or visit her website at www.JoWattsClaySmith.com.

Playhouse Smithville’s Theatre Camp

Playhouse Smithville, stationed at 110 Main St., will be offering its first-ever spring break theatre camp for students ages seven to 14.

The camp will have morning and afternoon sessions each day from 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. with a one-hour brown bag lunch break in between.

According to Playhouse artistic director john daniels, jr. (sic), students will spend the week working on the production of Flinging Fractured Fairytales, written by him.

The show is based on the classic Fractured Fairytales from the well-known cartoon series The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show and will be performed on Saturday, March 29 at 2 p.m.

“For the last four years, I have been writing and directing plays for young actors and their parents in Austin and it has been a blast,” john said. “In fact, Flinging Fractured Fairytales is one of the scripts I wrote two years ago for my young Austin actors and their parents and this will be its third production. The show has singing and dancing and many jokes.”

That’s right – parents are also invited to participate.

“Our production camp encourages parents to participate in the production as well,” said April Daniels, Playhouse executive director. “Parents may be in the show as actors or technicians at no charge and are welcome to join in all of the workshops and rehearsals.”

The cost of the camp is $75 per student and space is limited. Visit playhousesmithville.com or call (512) 360-7397 to register or receive more information.

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