Theater Summer Camp Culminates in Musical Production

For the last four summers, Carrollwood Cultural Center has rented space to two Hillsborough County Public School teachers. They are friends who share a passion.

Chad DeLoach and Brian Jonas met while teaching at Adams Middle School and discovered they both loved theater - one in front of the curtain and the other behind it.

In 2005, their common interest took on the official name: DJ Productions.

“Though we are not directly associated with the Carrollwood Cultural Center, we rent space, and we’ve developed a wonderful partnership,” says DeLoach. “They are really great here, and their focus has always been on the kids. It’s really cool to work with people who have a passion for the same thing you have a passion for.”

Combining their education backgrounds of music and technology, DeLoach, musical director and Jonas, stage director, host a five-week intensive theater summer camp called “Summer Broadway Series” which culminates with the production of a play. The camp runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Nineteen students of all ages are immersed in every aspect of theater, from cold readings, auditioning, casting, costume design and set-building to learning group dance choreography, singing and acting “big” on stage.

For a $500 registration fee - equivalent to twenty dollars a day- DeLoach and Jonas were quick to stress that they didn’t create the theater summer camp for the money. They did it because of the kids.

“We love to teach and get bored during the summer," says DeLoach. “It’s something fun for Mr. Jonas and I to do during the summer. We mount the entire show in about 25 days.”

“All the kids want to be here. They’re all interested in coming to camp, and they want to learn new things every day,” adds Jonas. “It’s just a blast. Being around kids who are really into theater is great.”

Students are welcome regardless of their experience – whether their talent is on the stage or building it.

"We have a place for everyone," DeLoach says. “We decided years ago we want the kids to take ownership of the camp and the show.”

The artists in the group sketch the sets, everyone paints, and those who want to build sets and props, learn to work with the proper tools under DeLoach and Jonas’ careful supervision.  

“Even when we go costume shopping, we take them with us so they can get some kind of inspiration, find something they like and would want to wear,” explains DeLoach.

This summer’s seventh production steps away from their usual classic musical into the production of the contemporary Broadway musical, "Seussical Jr.," with characters including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie and a little boy with a big imagination, Jojo. The musical takes the audience from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos.

“Doing this musical and getting to hang out and getting to know the kids is fun," says DeLoach. "The coolest thing is watching them grow, watching their characters develop. Kids who were quiet and shy when you first meet them get into their character and just come alive. It’s really neat to watch."

With a background in musical theater, fifth-year camp member Courtney McDonald, 16, explains what she enjoys best about the summer camp. “When the whole show comes together and when the performance is on. We’re just like one big family. It’s just fun.”

The youngest camp members, first timers Kayla Landers and Kennedy Logan, both 9, agree that the cast “feels more like family than a cast.”

First time campers Elena Smith, 12 and Madison Maha, 13, got to learn just how much work it takes to put on a production.

Elena says, “I like how everything (the performance) has to be bigger in theater than in normal life. (When we participate in all aspects of production), you get to see how it comes together and how much work it takes.”

Said Madison: “This is my first time doing a Broadway camp, and it’s been really fun. It’s great to meet new people and do new things that you might not get to do. You get to perform as a character and actually feel like you’re on Broadway."

Seussical Jr. runs August 5 at 7 p.m., August 6 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and August 7 at 3 p.m. for the cost of $10 adults and $5, children 10 and under.  

To learn more or to purchase tickets online, visit www.dj-productions.weebly.com.