“This is simple, this is easy, this is fun,” chant a dozen kids.
“We’re going to say this five times,” calls out their instructor. “On the fifth one, I want you to sing out as loud as possible.”
The mantra is led by veteran actor Rachel McLaughlan as she guides a group of 10- and 11-year-old students in vocal warm-up exercises as part of her beginning musical theater class at South Coast Repertory.
The class is part of the 2023 Summer Acting Workshop taught by experienced professionals in multiple two-week sessions. The annual summer camp is held at South Coast Repertory for students in third through 12th grades.
In her July 26 class, an energetic and enthusiastic McLaughlan started with a series of vocal and movement warmups followed by an introduction to the number “Revolting Children” from the production “Matilda The Musical.”
She concluded the class with two improv games, “Zip, Zap, Zop” and “Add On.” During each exercise, McLaughlan seeks input from the students on how and what they want to create.
“Not only are we teaching the kids the fundamentals —how to sing, how to use their body when they sing — but also learning how to be collaborative and work with groups,” said McLaughlan.
“I think this program is super fun,” said 10-year-old Billie Goubran. “Everyone is such a great singer, and all the teachers are real nice.”
Fellow student Elle Medlin, 11, said, “This is my first time in musical theater, but I did an acting class here, and I like singing so I decided to sign up for musical theater.”
By Friday, Aug 4, when they perform for parents on the Segerstrom Stage, the students will have learned two group numbers and created their own characters and choreography. Many will even perform their own solos from different shows.
Callisto Willis, 11, sums it up when she says: “I really enjoy it because there’s a lot of really nice people here, and it’s fun to learn with them.”
The 2024 Summer…
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