The jungle is jumpin' with jazz at the Panida this summer

The Panida is offering summer camps sure to answer your child's "I'm bored" dilemma with quality options for parents. Designed to keep your kids' minds stimulated, the exciting and educational summer art adventure camps, themed "It's a Jungle In Here," offer several opportunities for different age groups with a variety of performing arts experiences. Three opportunities for youths ages 5-18 are found in the summer lineup. A two-week summer musical theater camp ages 9-18; another one-week camp for ages 5-8; and then a one-day improv workshop for kids.

Youths will have the opportunity to explore the magic of musical theater on the Panida main stage in a two-week camp designed for performers ages 9-18, and all levels of experience. The triple-threat camp features a well-rounded curriculum in theater taught by well-known acting/theater director Jeannie Hunter from Sandpoint High and Growing Dream Productions and Patricia Walker White, camp producer.

Students will be introduced to nearly every aspect of live musical theater in an exciting and supportive environment. Triple threat includes singing, acting and movement for the music theater stage so that students can improve their skills in all three areas.

Youth will explore how to be in character as an animal and how to bring an animal characteristic to a human role, and learn more about acting, make-up, choreography and performance skills.

Camp students will enjoy fun, interactive sessions each day that enliven imaginations, get kids working together and instill a lifelong love of theater. Students who attend can use the skills and knowledge gained to go on to perform on stage with local theater companies and can use their skills to do better in class presentations.

The first camp starts June 22 to July 3 and runs Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day with a final full musical performance on Friday, July 3 at 7 p.m. for the public. The pages of "The Jungle Book" including the characters of Mowgli, Bagheera and Baloo come to life in the Rudyard Kipling classic. They'll improve acting skills as they create characters, learn to work as an ensemble and take workshops in singing technique and musical theater dance. The camp culminates in a full performance for the public on the evening of July 3 on the Panida stage.

"Lions, Tigers and Bears Center Stage" takes place July 20-24 daily from 9:30 a.m. to noon with a performance on July 24 at 11 a.m. in the Panida Little Theatre. Young actors will explore theater through games, character study and acting in this fun camp. They will learn how to use props and costumes and will perform at play on Friday.

The final opportunity to unleash your inner animal happens with American Laboratory Theatre's Jess Quintero on Aug. 9 from 1-3 p.m. in an Improv Workshop for ages 6 to 12 at the Little Theatre.

More information about the camps or registration forms can be found online at www.panida.org or can be picked up at the POAC office or Eve's Leaves.