Camp W is proud to unveil some new things this month.
First, Mr. Frederick will be formally interviewed on October 14th. Look for some special guests to help uncover some cool things about Camp W and this year's Follies show. The video will be shared with the world on November 1st. Next, registration begins on October 15th. It's exciting because this will be the first year that 2nd and 3rd graders can attend the performing arts camp. Finally, look for Camp W's banners to be hung up along Portola and Alpine Rd in Portola Valley. A big cheers goes out to Benny Siam for his wonderful art work. Best wishes from Camp W! For those of you who missed 2015's Frederick's Follies, it was quite a success. 15 campers gave it their all to put on a grand performance at Corte Madera School. The students did a fantastic job impersonating bands such as The Bangles, Pitch Perfect, Katy Perry(ies), and Queen. They also put on a dazzling opening and closing number with some electrifying dance choreography designed by the wonderfully talented Sangini Majmudar. Many of the audience members were up on their feet clapping and singing.
Camp W is currently making some new and exciting changes to the program. First, the annual show will now be called Camp W Presents: Follies. The removal of "Frederick's" was decided because the program is no longer held during school hours as it did for over 14 years. Don't worry the new moniker will retain many of the previous title's elements. Secondly, the Camp is reaching out to 2nd and 3rd graders, while still allowing 4th-8th graders to participate. The camp's philosophy is that the campers mature and grow each year based on their grade, age, and skill set. At Camp W headquarters, we're hard at work putting together ideas for the 2016 show. Word on the street is that this year's show will have the look and feel of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sign-ups for Camp W: Follies will begin on Oct. 15th, 2015. Camp sessions will be held January 5 - April 30th. Stay tuned for more important announcements. As always... Thank you for your allegiance to Camp W. ~W. Frederick The idea of bringing Camp W to the Portola Valley came true. 2014 was certainly a year of promise and a sign of good things to come. Session 1 hatched on June 16th. The three campers showed strong passion for collaborating. The three campers gelled beautifully because they respected each other's strengths and weaknesses. Finding a wounded bird out in the fields became the camp mascot. The campers and myself enjoyed the summer hours by working on Taylor Swift, Postal Service, John Legend, and other inspirational artists. We put on a simple yet entertaining 60 minute performance that gave the community their first glimpse into what Camp W is all about: creativity, technology, and performing arts. This session also hosted a special guest from the community. Judi spoke to the students about lyric writing and did some simple vocal techniques.
Session II opened up early July. 17 campers hopped into the room with high enthusiasm. We built upon the success of session 1 and deepened our production. Laure, another professional singer, came in and worked with the students on staging and singing techniques. Griffin, a former student, guided the students on a 45 minute talk about his experiences as an artist. Bringing in a suitcase of stories and a guitar, he inspired hope into the campers. This time Camp W went the extra yardage by renting theatrical equipment to enhance the performances. My two assistants, Emma and Lucy, did a solid job keeping the spirit and energy afloat. The final performances were done with respect and high-throttle energy. Session III opened and expanded the door to a different style of performing arts. Camp W tried something new. The door opened up to a simplistic film camp that revolved around the magnificent world of Pixar. We explored how Pixar uses technological finesse and first-rate storytelling in order to capture filmgoers attention. For their final performance the the campers designed their own challenging 5 minute skit based on a Pixar short. Using just an activboard, Spotify, costumes, props, and the deepest of imagination. In January: Session IV will host the Frederick's Follies production. For the first time ever, the building of the FF show will occur after school in room 503. As you can see it was a productive year for Camp W. 2015 is shaping up to be even bigger, louder, and stronger. Thank for help preserving the integrity of performing arts and the endless support. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year from Camp W. I hope to see you on stage in 2015. ~W Today, the campers and I shot music promotional videos in three different locations. During one of the fun shoots, "Pipes" found a baby bird about the size of my pinky finger. On the way back to the classroom, the girls nursed the wounded bird by singing a lovely Taylor Swift song. It was a sweet and touching moment indeed. We also worked on rehearsals today for the first time. We worked with lighting and stage presence, two major components to performing. Tomorrow we're off to do some errands to Guitar Center, Diddum's, and Goodwill. Should be an adventure.
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