Twenty-five students, from Scotland County, the Kansas City area, and visiting participants from Iowa, performed in the Drama Camp production “Olympus: The Greek Rock Musical” sponsored by the Memphis Community Players, Inc. on June 26, at the Memphis Theatre.
Students between the ages of 8 and 18 participated in the five-day Production (Drama) Camp learning lines and songs, blocking which reflects the authentic behavior of the characters, and choreography which is the sequence of steps and movements in dance.
Appearing on stage were the Cousins Aria Ambrose, Zoe Florez, Sadie Jackson, Adrienne Lucas, Heidi Lepley, and Rylee Santos. The Storm Gods were portrayed by Anna Freburg, Morgan Jackson, Micah Ogle, and Rucker Ward. Adelyn Brown, Brooke Jackson, Ruth Madden, and Kinley Moss were the Wind Gods. The Sleep Gods included Hadley Elliott, Eve Taylor, and July Taylor.
Young actors performing in the show as Zeus’s Kids were Emmy Behrens, Haylee Graham, Chandler Harris, Camilla Olfus, Karrah Steele, and Georgia Tallman. Other Greek Gods were Uriah Ogle, Westin Tallman, and Bryleigh Ward.
“Olympus: The Greek Rock Musical” is an original musical written for kids with the book by Kerry Kazmierowicztrimm and music and lyrics by Denver Casado. Beat by Beat Press promotes the play as “a laugh-out-loud rock musical where ancient myths meet modern mischief! The Greek gods, tired of their immortal routines, spark a competition to meddle with mortals and prove who’s the greatest Greek god of all time. When a group of modern-day cousins set off on a hike to “Olympus Overlook,” they have no idea they’re about to be tested by ancient deities. With catchy songs, heartfelt moments, and plenty of laughs, Olympus is a mythic adventure about family, connection, identity, power, and discovering that the real view from the top is the one you share together”.
The camp was conducted by Maples Repertory Theater from Macon, Missouri. Gideon Lancaster, Education Director at Maples, was the director for the production of “Olympus: The Greek Rock Musical”. Ren Christensen, Assistant Education Director at Maples, and Hadley Elliott, Student Intern at the Theatre, assisted with the production.
Lynnette Dyer, member of the Memphis Community Players, was the Production Coordinator for the camp and performance. Chrissy Myers, Scott Hathaway, and Keregan Middleton assisted with the production. The MCP sponsors the annual event at no cost to the participants to promote and support fine arts in the community.
The Memphis Community Players would like to express gratitude to Tri- County Electric Co-op Association for the TCEC Foundation Grant and to other volunteers who helped make the Drama possible for students.
