Creative teens can learn professional filmmaking and acting techniques and make a movie in a week during Compass College of Cinematic Arts’ summer Film and Acting Camps. These fast-paced, hands-on camps give high school students a glimpse into the real world of multimedia production and on-camera acting.
Both camps run June 19-23, and registration is open to teens ages 13-18. In Film Camp, students work with industry professionals and state-of-the art film equipment to write, direct, and edit their own short film. Meanwhile, students in the Acting Camp are cast in these films, and spend the week refining their on-camera acting techniques. At the end of the week, students walk the red carpet and their films premiere for friends and family in the theater at Compass College.
“Film camp was a great first look at the industry,” said John LeFan, former film camper and 2013 Compass College alumnus. “It’s a great starter program to get your feet wet. I was immediately hooked.”
The camps are designed for students with little to no film and acting experience. The instructors at Compass College make the process fun and as similar to a real-life production set as possible.
“Learning how to act on camera and having a role in a real short film was the most fun I’ve ever had at a camp,” said 2016 camper Rian Turner. “I enjoyed it so much that I’m coming back again this summer!”
The film campers go behind-the-scenes of the movie-making process to learn screenwriting, cinematography, lighting, camera, audio engineering, editing and much more—all while working with the actors in the acting camp! The acting students walk through the same process a real celebrity would use to learn their role for a new movie. They practice improvisation, master different acting techniques, audition for roles, rehearse their script, and discuss costume design. Then it all comes together in front of the camera.
“It’s a great opportunity for the campers to learn the filmmaking process in a creative and fun way,” said Joshua Courtade, Film Camp instructor and award-winning screenwriter, “The film students get to collaborate with the acting students and the results are some very fun short films.”
Over the years, campers have had the opportunity to Skype with Hollywood actors and producers like Beau Wirick, Mark Clayman, and Ralph Winter who have worked on the sets of shows like NCIS, The Office, and Arrested Development, and produced feature films such as, Pursuit of Happyness, X-Men, and X-Men Origins.
Space in the camps is limited so early registration is recommended. For more information, call Compass College at 616-988-1000, or visit online at www.compass.edu.
The secret’s been out for some time now, but it’s never too late to offer well-deserved kudos to talented, hardworking actors. We are pleased to share the names of the 2015 Grand Awards winners honored during a ceremony held at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 11.
In addition to celebrating local community and college theaters, the awards ceremony raises money for the Combined Theatre Scholarship Fund.
Without further ado, here are the 2015 Grand Award Nominees. Bold denotes the winners.
Norma Brink Lifetime Achievement Award:
Jean Reed Bahle
OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
• Penelope Notter for “Mary Poppins” – Civic Theatre
• Carrie McNulty for “Catch Me If You Can” – Circle Theatre
• Scott Mellema for “Avenue Q” – Civic Theatre
• Jean Reed Bahle for “One Night with Fanny Brice” – Jewish Theatre
• Fred Sebulske for “Company” – Circle Theatre
OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A PLAY
• Jolene Frankey for “Becky’s New Car” – Circle Theatre
• Fred Sebulske for “4000 Miles” – Actors’ Theatre
• Penelope Notter for “The Mousetrap” – Civic Theatre •Fred Sebulske for “Other Desert Cities” – Actors’ Theatre
• Tom Kaechele for “The 39 Steps” – Circle Theatre
OUTSTANDING MUSICAL
• “Avenue Q” – Civic Theatre
• “Catch Me If You Can” – Circle Theatre
• “Company” – Circle Theatre
• “Light in the Piazza” – Actors’ Theatre
• “Mary Poppins” – Civic Theatre
OUTSTANDING PLAY
• “4000 Miles” – Actors’ Theatre
• “The Boatwright” – Civic Theatre
• “The Mousetrap” – Civic Theatre •“Other Desert Cities” – Actors’ Theatre
• “The 39 Steps” – Circle Theatre
OUTSTANDING THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
• “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” – Civic Theatre
• “Footloose” – Civic Theatre
• “The Jungle Book” – Circle Theatre •“The Little Princess” – Civic Theatre
OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTION
•Charles Hutchins for “Avenue Q” – Civic Theatre
• Wright McCargar for “Catch Me If You Can” – Circle Theatre
• Charles Hutchins for “Company” – Circle Theatre
• Charles Hutchins for “Mary Poppins” – Civic Theatre
• Wright McCargar for “South Pacific” – Civic Theatre
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY
• Chris Carnevale for “Avenue Q” – Civic Theatre •Mary Lohman for “Catch Me If You Can” – Circle Theatre
• Kyle Amanda Dutkiewicz for “Company” – Circle Theatre
• William Schutte for “Evita” – Circle Theatre
• Mary Lohman for “Mary Poppins” – Civic Theatre
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
•Jeremiah Postma as Anatoly in “Chess” – Actors’ Theatre
• Larry Young as Bobby in “Company” – Circle Theatre
• Todd Lewis as Carl Hanratty in “Catch Me If You Can” – Circle Theatre
• Kyle Jurassic as Frank Abagnale Jr. in “Catch Me If You Can” – Circle Theatre
• Jacob Reinstra as Princeton/Rod in “Avenue Q” – Civic Theatre
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
• Jolene Frankey as Eva Perón in “Evita” – Circle Theatre
• Sarah LaCroix as Fanny Brice in “One Night with Fanny Brice” – Jewish Theatre •Molly Jones as Kate/Lucy in “Avenue Q” – Civic Theatre
• Kathy Gibson as Margaret Johnson in “Light in the Piazza” – Actors’ Theatre
• Alyssa Bauer as Mary Poppins in “Mary Poppins” – Civic Theatre
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
• Mark Ayers as Brian in “Avenue Q” – Civic Theatre
• Andrew Schneider as Luther Billis in “South Pacific” – Civic Theatre
• Jared Douglas as Fabrizio Naccarelli in “Light in the Piazza” – Actors’ Theatre
• David Duiven as Frank Abagnale Sr. in “Catch Me If You Can” – Circle Theatre
•Kyle Jurrasic as Nicky/Trekkie Monster/Bad Idea Bear in “Avenue Q” – Civic Theatre
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
• Amy Groen as Amy in “Company” – Circle Theatre
• Eva Switek as Bloody Mary in “South Pacific” – Civic Theatre
• Chelsea Herrema as Clara Johnson in “Light in the Piazza” – Actors’ Theatre • Julianne Howe-Bouwens as Gary Coleman in “Avenue Q” – Civic Theatre
• Abbie Westers and Elizabeth Foster as Jane Banks in “Mary Poppins” – Civic Theatre
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY
• Patrick Hendren as Ben in “The Boatwright” – Civic Theatre •Kyle Cain as Richard Hannay in “The 39 Steps” – Circle Theatre
• Owen McIntee as Leo in “4000 Miles” – Actors’ Theatre
• Patrick Hendren as Willy Loman in “Death of a Salesman” – Jewish Theatre
• Zach Johnson as Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet” – Heritage Theatre
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A PLAY
• Amy McFadden as Becky Foster in “Becky’s New Car” – Circle Theatre
• Teri Kuhlman as Linda Loman in “Death of a Salesman” – Jewish Theatre
• Marti Childs as Vera in “4000 Miles” – Actors’ Theatre
• Carrie McNulty as Brooke Wyeth in “Other Desert Cities” – Actors’ Theatre •Jean Reed Bahle as Polly Wyeth in “Other Desert Cities” – Actors’ Theatre
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY
• Matt Ablan as Clown in “The 39 Steps” – Circle Theatre
• Dylan Harris as Clown in “The 39 Steps” – Circle Theatre
• Eric Hatch as Christopher Wren in “The Mousetrap” – Civic Theatre
• Jon March as Lyman Wyeth in “Other Desert Cities” – Actors’ Theatre •Kyle Los as Trip Wyeth in “Other Desert Cities” – Actors’ Theatre
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
• Sydney Doornbos as Annabella/Pamela/Margaret in “The 39 Steps” – Circle Theatre
• Nancy Wagner as Mrs. Boyle in “The Mousetrap” – Civic Theatre
• Sandy Kirchinger as Nurse in “Romeo and Juliet” – Heritage Theatre • Rose Anne Shansky as Silda Grauman in “Other Desert Cities” – Actors’ Theatre
• Rachel Varley as Mollie Ralston in “The Mousetrap” – Civic Theatre
OUTSTANDING SCENIC DESIGN
• David Len for “Avenue Q” – Civic Theatre
• Christian Poquette for “Light in the Piazza” – Actors’ Theatre
• David Len for “Mary Poppins” – Civic Theatre •David Len for “The Mousetrap” – Civic Theatre
• Christian Poquette for “Other Desert Cities” – Actors’ Theatre
OUTSTANDING PROPERTIES DESIGN
• Mary Jo DeNolf & Val Fischer for “Catch Me If You Can” – Circle Theatre
• Mary Jo Denolf for “Light in the Piazza” – Actors’ Theatre
• Sharon Hayes & Michael Wilson for “Mary Poppins” – Civic Theatre •Sharon Hayes & Michael Wilson for “The Mousetrap” – Civic Theatre
• Jennifer Smith for “Other Desert Cities” – Actors’ Theatre
OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN
• Timothy Schmidt for “The 39 Steps” – Circle Theatre
• Sam Johnson for “Avenue Q” – Civic Theatre
• Timothy Schmidt for “Catch Me If You Can” – Circle Theatre
• Timothy Schmidt for “Company” – Circle Theatre •Sam Johnson for “The Mousetrap” – Civic Theatre
OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN
• Kelly Lucas for “Catch Me If You Can” – Circle Theatre
• Bill Dunckel for “Light in the Piazza” – Actors’ Theatre •Robert Fowle for “Mary Poppins” – Civic Theatre
• Robert Fowle for “The Mousetrap” – Civic Theatre
• Kelly Muschiana for “Other Desert Cities” – Actors’ Theatre
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN – Co-winners.
• Catherine Marlett Dreher for 4000 Miles – Actors’ Theatre •Thomas V. Lohman for Catch Me If You Can – Circle Theatre •Catherine Marlett Dreher for Light in the Piazza – Actors’ Theatre
• Catherine Marlett Dreher for Mary Poppins – Civic Theatre
• Mark Neumann for The Mousetrap – Civic Theatre
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COLLEGE PRODUCTION
• Robbie Ellis as Dennis in “From White Plains” – GRCC
• Jerry Jones as Ethan in “From White Plains” – GRCC
• Connor Manion as John Barrymore in “I Hate Hamlet” – Aquinas
• Caleb Jenkins as Mikey in “Up” – Aquinas •Gabriel Reitemeier as Papageno in “The Magic Flute” – GVSU
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COLLEGE PRODUCTION
•Taylor Nefcy as Blue Girl in “Shout! The Mod Musical” – Aquinas
• Sarah Osborne as Deirdre McDavey in “I Hate Hamlet” – Aquinas
• Kendra McInerney as Helen in “Up” – Aquinas
• Zoe Collenburg as Tilly in “Melancholy Play” – Aquinas
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COLLEGE PRODUCTION
• Myles Messinger-Platt as Gregory in “From White Plains” – GRCC
• Gabriel Reitemeier as Harry in “Company” – GVSU
• Caleb Joyce as Hovstad in “An Enemy of the People” – Cornerstone
• Kenneth Judge as John in “From White Plains” – GRCC •Alexander Williams as Monostatos in “The Magic Flute” – GVSU
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COLLEGE PRODUCTION
• Maggie Bickerstaff as Amy in “Company” – GVSU
• Marisa Purcey as Green Girl in “Shout! The Mod Musical” – Aquinas •Macey Madias as Joanne in “Company” – GVSU
• Giovana Barrett as Maria in “Up” – Aquinas
• Katie Tamayo as Marta in “Company” – GVSU
OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A COLLEGE PRODUCTION
• Tom Kaechele – “Anton in Show Business” – GRCC
• Kathy Gibson – “Shout! The Mod Musical” – Aquinas
• Tom Kaechele – “From White Plains” – GRCC
• Randy Wyatt – “Up” – Aquinas
OUTSTANDING COLLEGE PRODUCTION
•“Anton in Show Business” – GRCC
• “From White Plains” – GRCC
• “The Magic Flute” – GVSU
• “Shout! The Mod Musical” – Aquinas
OUTSTANDING COLLEGE STAGE MANAGER
Each college names one winner. They are:
Bethany Brown – Cornerstone Kendra Jones – GRCC
Caitlin Cusack – GVSU
Ellie Allen – Aquinas
OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER
Recipient: Dirk Grasman
RECOGNITION OF THE PAUL DREHER SCHOLARSHIP
Recipient: Amanda Wright
RECOGNITION OF THE NORMA BRINK SCHOLARSHIP
Recipient: Joshua Regan
RECOGNITION OF DAVID & NICOLETTE SCHOLARSHIP
Recipient: Patrick Nowak
Photos courtesy of Grand Rapids Civic Theatre and Circle Theater
By Jessie Hollett
The camps are designed for students with little to no film and acting experience. The instructors at Compass College make the process fun and as similar to a real-life production set as possible.
“It’s a great opportunity for the campers to learn the filmmaking process in a creative and fun way,” said Joshua Courtade, Film Camp instructor and award-winning screenwriter, “The film students get to collaborate with the acting students and the results are some very fun short films.”
