EDUCATION
SUMMER 2025
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Hadestown: Teen Edition (Rising 9th-12th Graders + age 19)
in association with Museum of Glass Teaching Artists: Becca Jourden, Elijah Bellis and Nyah Hart Dates: July 21st-August 8th Time: 9:00AM-4:00PM Showcases: August 8th 7:00PM at Lakewood Playhouse and August 9th 2:00PM at Museum of Glass Location: Lakewood Playhouse/Museum of Glass Participant Fee: $600 This full-length Teen Edition of Anaïs Mitchell’s haunting, jazz-inflected folk opera follows Orpheus’ mythical quest to overcome Hades and regain the favor of his one true love, Eurydice. This intriguing and beautiful folk opera delivers a deeply resonant and defiantly hopeful theatrical experience. Following two intertwining love stories - that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of immortal King Hades and Lady Persephone - Hadestown invites audiences on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. For this exciting collaboration between Lakewood Playhouse and Museum of Glass the final showcase performances will take place in the Hot Shop at the museum!
This three-week camp will focus on each stage of the production process from audition through to performance, culminating in a showcase of Hadestown: Teen Edition. Using this musical as the focus, participants will build and sharpen their singing, dancing and acting skills, and develop the tools and techniques to enhance their work in the journey from page to stage. Becca Jourden is thrilled to be working at Lakewood for the first time! They are a local teaching artist based in Tacoma. They teach all around but mostly you’ll find them at Tacoma Little Theater where they directed Honk Jr, Spamalot: School Edition, and Cinderella, as well as after school and homeschool classes. They are passionate about creating a safe space for students to grow their confidence and creativity and most of all have fun! Elijah Bellis is an Olympia based teaching artist, music director, and designer whose work spans the Puget Sound. Previous teaching credits include Into The Woods Jr. and Six: Teen Edition at Lakewood Playhouse, Honk! Jr. and Spamalot: School Edition at Tacoma Little Theater, and assorted workshops with Olympia Family Theater and The Evergreen State College. He is so excited to continue educating and working with the future generation of theater makers, and he extends so much gratitude to his friends and family for their endless support. From competitive dance to classical music, Nyah Hart has spent many years in the performing arts. The former Miss Thurston County has been dancing since the age of 4 and trained in various styles from ballet and jazz to tap and hip hop getting the chance to study and perform in New York, Chicago, and Canada. Her talents have given her the opportunities to be in music videos for local Seattle musicians and even be a backup dancer for more well-known artists. As a musician herself, she found ease and enjoyment most with tap dancing and loves to continue educating and helping educate others of the historical significance it has had in her community. In her free time, Nyah voluntarily coaches a special needs cheer team in Olympia, enjoys helping out at Special Olympics events, and is an active competitor in the Miss America Competition. Hadestown: Teen Edition is now fully booked. Please email [email protected] to join the waitlist.
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Newsies Jr. (Rising 3rd-8th Graders)
Teaching Artists: Courtnee Ramos and Ellie Jay McKee Dates: August 11th-22nd Time: 9:00AM-4:00PM Showcases: August 22nd 7:00PM/August 23rd 2:00PM Location: Lakewood Playhouse Participant Fee: $500 Newsies Jr. is a version of the 2012 Broadway musical, based on the 1992 film. Inspired by the rousing true story of newsboys in turn-of-the-century New York City, Newsies Jr. features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein.
When powerful newspaper publishers raise prices at the newsboys' expense, the charismatic Jack Kelly rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions. Together, the newsies learn that they are stronger united and create a movement to fight for what's right. Including the now-classic songs "Carrying The Banner", "Seize The Day", and "Santa Fe", Newsies Jr. is a timeless story full of spirit and heart. In this two-week experience, participants will use this musical to develop their skills in singing, acting and dancing. Courtnee Ramos is a natural born leader that organically makes people in the room feel respected, heard and appreciated. She has studied at Utah Tech University in St. George, Utah, and holds a Bachelors of Science in Theatre, Music, and Psychology! Her recent directing credits include an original, which she wrote and directed called Fantasy: The Musical, as well as 101 Dalmatians Jr., Little One, and many others! Courtnee has developed a diverse skill set and a passion for storytelling and producing connections with a wide range of ages and cultures. Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, she is ecstatic to help your young performers learn and grow here at Lakewood Playhouse! Ellie Jay McKee is ecstatic to be returning to the Playhouse after spending the holidays as Lana Sherwood in It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play! Ellie moved back to WA last summer after 7 years as a performer and educator in New York. Ellie graduated from CAP21/Molloy College with her BFA in Theatre Arts. While in New York, Ellie had the opportunity to not only perform in Off Broadway (Patty DiMarco, School Of Rock The Musical) and Regional Playhouses (Jojo in Seussical, Nikko in The Wizard Of Oz), but assist behind the scenes as well (Newsies, Legally Blonde, High School Musical). When Ellie wasn’t on stage, she was an after school teacher to elementary school students in the city. Ellie taught kids about puppetry, costume design, songwriting, and musical theatre performance as well as leading summer camp sessions. When Ellie is not on stage or in the classroom, Ellie can be found in the air practicing her aerial craft or on the ground with her dog LadyBird Johnson. |
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Seussical Kids (Rising 1st-6th Graders)
Teaching Artist: LaNita Hudson Walters, assisted by Sunny Guzman Dates: August 25th-29th Time: 9:00AM-4:00PM Showcase: August 29th 4:00PM Location: Lakewood Playhouse Participant Fee: $300 "Oh, the thinks you can think!” Join us as some of Dr. Seuss’ best loved characters come to life in an exciting 30 minute version of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s Seussical the Musical!
This fun five-day camp will utilize this fantastic family musical to give your actors a taste of the theatrical process. From audition to performance in just one-week this will give the young actor a chance to develop their skills while learning through collaboration and experiencing every aspect of the production process. LaNita Hudson Walters is an Actor, Director, Choreographer, Vocalist and Teaching Artist in the Pacific Northwest. She has been a performer from the age of 3 and a Teaching Artist for the last 25+ years. She attended Berklee College of Music and then took time off to raise her children. LaNita is and has been a Master Teaching Artist at Tacoma Musical Playhouse, Tacoma Little Theatre, Tacoma Arts Live, Lakewood Playhouse and Seattle Rep. Sunny Guzman is thrilled to be back as a teaching assistant this year for Seussical Kids! Most recently you might’ve seen Sunny here in Hadestown, or as Serena in Legally Blonde at SOTA. Working with Lakewood Playhouse has always been a delight, and Sunny is overjoyed to have this opportunity again. |
At Lakewood Playhouse we believe finances should not be a barrier to participation. Please contact us for scholarship and assistance options.
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