Brewer Youth Theatre plans summer workshop, musical

BREWER – A summer theater program will be conducted July 9-20 by Brewer Youth Theatre at the Brewer Middle School.

The workshop will conclude July 20 with the performance of the musical “How to Eat Like a Child.”

The two-week workshop, which will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, is open to all pupils in grade three through grade eight. The cost will be $100.

Participants do not have to be Brewer residents or attend Brewer schools to enroll, according to director Rich Kimball.

Kimball, assistant principal at Brewer Middle School, founded the theater group a few years ago to give Brewer pupils more opportunities to perform. Last year’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” had a cast of 100, including 40 fourth- and fifth-graders, with high school students playing the lead roles.

“There’s a great interest in the arts in the community,” he said. “There just hadn’t been an opportunity to flourish before. The more shows we do, the more kids want to get involved. Kids’ interest in theater doesn’t end when the school year ends.”

Kimball said some high school students who have worked on several productions will help coach the pupils during the summer workshop. In addition to acting, participants will have the opportunity to work on set design, makeup, lighting and some of the “unglamorous grunt work that goes with theater,” Kimball said.

The Brewer Youth Theatre will present the musical “Li’l Abner” at 7 p.m. May 18, 19, 25 and 26 at Brewer Middle School. For information, call Kimball at 990-3131 or 989-8640.