Westport Country Playhouse Announces Debut of Middle School Summer Camp
Press ReleaseWestport Country Playhouse will launch CampWCP, a new, in-person, social justice theater camp for 10 middle school students (6th through 8th grade) with playwright José Casas and the Playhouse’s Roz and Bud Siegel director of education Jenny Nelson. CampWCP will run from July 6 through July 30, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the theater’s rehearsal studio. Registration opens Monday, May 3, at noon. Licensing from the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) is pending approval.
The four-week camp will be split into two classes: acting taught in the morning by Nelson, and playwriting/production taught in the afternoon by Casas. The 10 young artists will create original pieces focusing on the question: "What does home mean to you?,” working with Casas to weave their collective stories into a play. In addition, Playhouse staff will give the campers insight on what happens behind the scenes at a professional theater. At CampWCP’s conclusion on Saturday, July 31, students will share their original creations, in-person, at the Playhouse for an invitation-only event for their family and friends.
Casas believes that “this camp is the creation of a safe space so that youth feel free to express all their thoughts, feelings, and opinions. It is a collaboration and exchange where youth voices are acknowledged, listened to, and celebrated."
Casas is a playwright and assistant professor who heads the playwriting minor in the department of theatre and drama at the University of Michigan. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild as well as a board member of Children’s Theatre Foundation of America. He has a BA in theatre arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara; MA in theatre arts from California State University, Los Angeles; MFA in playwriting from Arizona State University; and two years of graduate coursework in drama and theatre for youth and communities (DTYC) at the University of Texas at Austin. His plays have been performed across the country and included in anthologies. His plays, “la ofrenda” and “somebody’s children,” received both the Bonderman National Playwriting Award and the American Alliance of Theatre and Education’s Distinguished Play Award. His book, “Palabras del Cielo: An Exploration of Latina/o Theatre for Young Audiences,” was awarded the American Alliance of Theatre and Education’s Distinguished Book Award.
Nelson hails from Arizona where she received her bachelor’s degree in theater, master’s degree in theater from the University of Arizona, and a second master’s degree in education from Fairfield University. She is the associate artistic director of Collective Consciousness Theatre, a social justice theater in New Haven. She has taught at several universities, including City College of New York in the graduate program for theater professionals and educators. She has also worked as an artist and educator at several theaters, including Long Wharf Theatre, Shubert Theatre, and Yale Repertory Theatre. Recently, Nelson was a nominee for the Tony Teaching Award of Excellence.
Fee for the four-week camp is $750. To ensure that all young artists have equal access, scholarships and payment plans are available. Maximum camp capacity is 10 students. Registration will be online from Monday, May 3 through Tuesday, June 1 at https://www.westportplayhouse.org/show/campwcp/
Campers will receive a limited edition CampWCP t-shirt; a copy of instructor José Casas’ play, “somebody’s children”; and a bound copy of the play collectively created.
Masks will be worn by staff and campers at all times; social distancing and health protocols will be followed, including OEC and local Covid-19 guidelines.
CampWCP is sponsored by Paige and Jodi Couture; additional 2021 Education Program supporters include the Eunice and David Bigelow Foundation; The David and Geri Epstein Foundation; George A. and Grace L. Long Foundation; Adolph and Ruth Schnurmacher Foundation, Inc., The Westport Young Woman’s League; as well as Athena and Daniel Adamson; Anna Czekaj-Farber; and Roz and Bud Siegel. WSHU is a 2021 Season Media Sponsor.
For Westport Country Playhouse tickets and information, visit westportplayhouse.org, call (203) 227-4177, or email at boxoffice@westportplayhouse.org. Stay connected to the Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), and on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse).
Team “Townies” Fighting for First Place in CLASP’s Un-Scavenger Hunt Fundraiser Today
As CLASP’s Great Westport Un-Scavenger Hunt is underway today, members of Team Townies took to the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge in the fight for First Place in the competition. The coveted 1st place spot, and the grand prizes that comes with it, is currently held by “Team G”.
Pictured is Julie Buoy Whamond, Melissa Kane, Marcy Sansolo, and Darcy Hicks. Executive Editor Jaime Bairaktaris is also participating with the (second place) team.
The event raises funds for CLASP Homes Westport, whose mission is “to create and support family environments for people with autism and intellectual disabilities by attracting and retaining a nurturing and dedicated staff.” Teams paid to enter the competition, with prizes such as a private car show or a sunset cruise on Long Island Sound.
Classic Imperial Avenue View
A classic view of an Imperial Avenue home flanked by brilliant red tulips and surrounded by a crisp white picket fence.
99 Year Old WWII Veteran to Serve as Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal
William Vornkahl, President of the Westport Veterans Council, announced today that the Grand Marshal for the Memorial Day Services is Nicholas Rossi. Nicholas Rossi was born in Oyster Bay, New York on September 3, 1922. He graduated from Oyster Bay High School in 1940, where he earned a Varsity letter in four sports: football, track, baseball and basketball.
Soon after graduation, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II and served from December 1942 through March 1945. His flight crew was part of the 305th Bombardment Group of the 364th Squadron, assigned to the 8th Air Force Bomber Command in England which flew the B-17 “Flying Fortress” bomber in the European Theater. A Technical Sergeant, Rossi flew multiple bombing missions as a B-17 gunner over occupied central Europe.
Rossi was discharged from the Army in March of 1945 but remained in Liege, Belgium after the war for several more years. As a civilian, he was employed by the government to work with the American Graves Registration Command for the purpose of locating and identifying unrecovered dead military personnel.
Rossi married in 1956 and raised five children (Paul, Christine, Caren, Carla and Peter) in the house he built in Mill Neck, NY. After the passing of his wife, Nick relocated to Westport, Connecticut and now resides with his son Paul and daughter-in-law Marguerite and his three grandchildren.
Now in his 99th year, Nick is delighted and honored to be this year’s Grand Marshal of the Westport Memorial Day parade.
Following the parade, Memorial Day Services will be held on Veteran’s Green.