C-K Resumes Productions with 'Camp Rock'

Claysburg-Kimmel will present the musical “Camp Rock” at the high school auditorium on Saturday, March 23, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 24, at 2:30 p.m.

The show is based on the Disney movies Camp Rock 1 and Camp Rock 2. It is about a group of kids at a music camp for the summer. There is a rival music camp across the lake that they do battle with.

Theatre advisor and show Director Maria Leppert said that this is the first show that the school has done since 2011. She said that the district wants to get more of the arts back into the schools since many school districts are cutting the arts.

Leppert said, “We used to do a show every other year. It just kind of fizzled out. So, now we are bringing it back and hopefully, it will be year after year after year.”

Leppert said that she has heard several of the kids say that the show was fun.

“They leave here singing the songs sometimes louder than they sing on stage,” she said. “I think that they’re enjoying it.”

Sophomore Guisella Mejia-Mock plays Mitchie, who is all about the music. She is a second-year participant of Camp Rock. She wants Camp Rock to win the battle against Camp Star and whenever they lose, she is sad about it. In the end, the students all realize that it isn’t about winning or losing, it is about the friendships that they have in this camp.

“That is what she is all about,” Mejia-Moick said. “She (Mitchie) is all about friendship.”

Mejia-Mock said that she auditioned for all of the roles because she wanted to be a part of the show because her best friend Gwendolyn told her that she really wanted her to.

“So, I auditioned for it and I was really excited when I got the role of Mitchie,” Mejia-Mock said.

Mejia-Mock said that the audience will understand from the show that friendship is very important.

“Friendships are like any relationship in general because it is really dependent on honesty and dependent on your characteristics as a person,” Mejia-Mock said. “For instance, if you’re kind and if you’re a healthy person to be around.”

Twelve-year old sixth-grader Jerrika Burket said that she loves performing on stage. She thought that this was the perfect play for her to be a part of.

Leppert said that she hopes that the audience sees that the kids are capable of achieving, not just sports, not just academics, but the also in the arts.

Leppert said that involvement in the arts in school doesn’t necessarilyi have to lead to a career. It can be an interest or a hobby.

Participating in the arts teaches students to be kind to each other, Leppert said. It teaches them to get along with people that they normally might not socialize with, because there are always different groups in the theatre, especially in school.

“You talk to your friends and that is about it. You’re going to be talking to kids that you never thought that you’d talk to,” Lepper said. “I think it’s good to build character to build the kindness aspect. I think parents will see their children grow and be a little bit more independent as well as a little bit more imaginative and a little more fun because we are trying to loosen them up while they are up here. A lot of confidence will come out of the kids this way. I am hoping that they will be able to grow a little more after being on stage this one time.”

Tickets for the show can be bought at the door.