Audiences Join June Bug Actors ‘Under the Sea’
-The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on July 22, 2021.
The June Bug Center’s Musical presented three performances of The Little Mermaid Jr. at the Floyd County High School auditorium over the weekend (July 16 – 18), incorporating a number of handmade props and set pieces made by campers at a June Bug Theatre Tech Camp class.
With a largely seasoned crew of 14 actors who participate in the Center’s Musical Theatre Camp for Teens After School Program, along with Emily Gruver and Amanda Keyton as camp instructors, the team had three weeks to put the show together, said Gruver. “It’s truly mind blowing what these kids can so when they put their minds to it.”
Adapted from the animated 1989 Disney film and the classic story by Hans Christian Anderson, the drama involves a mermaid named Ariel who dreams of the world above the sea and gives up her voice and her fins to find love.
The costumes were creative, the songs were catchy and the ensemble song and dance numbers were especially entertaining, incorporating just the right amount of tension, color, humor and mayhem.
Gruver who has served as the Center’s executive director, will be taking a job teaching theatre at Blacksburg Middle School. Shannon Hardwicke will take on the role as June Bug director, and Resa Mattson is the new program coordinator, Gruver said.
Gruver noted other classes for youth at the June Bug, including Robotics, Legos, Improv, and Acting Out (theatre for the younger kids).
She said she plans on helping out with the next theatre production (for actors in the 6th to 12th grade), set for September, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
“Thank you all. We couldn’t do these shows without out your support. The kids love being on stage and we love doing it. We’re just so thankful for this community for letting us do this,” Gruver said.
Check out video clips of the performance HERE. – Colleen Redman
August 3rd, 2021 9:44 am
Theater Camp is a wonderful thing. Our son was in several and it was always a highlight of the summer. It is cool watching the kids coming together to pull something magical off.