Upper Valley Connection performers take center stage in ‘Guys and Dolls Jr.’

LEAVENWORTH — After a whirlwind week of rehearsing, 40 actors, 50 volunteers and theater professionals from Upper Valley Connection’s Theater Camp performed “Guys and Dolls Jr.” to a packed theater on June 26 and 27.

For more than 20 years, Theater Camp has been an integral part of Upper Valley Connection, an organization that fosters meaningful connection for youth and adults with special needs through sports, arts and other social activities.

“Theater camp is pretty magical. The ethos, or the idea here, is that everybody can, in theory, do anything here. And we cast them very carefully, based on what their capabilities are, and they always rise to the occasion,” said music director Nick Anderman.

Preparation for the full theatrical production started around September, according to Upper Valley Connection Executive Director Maren Cagle, with contracted directors, designers and volunteers working behind the scenes to design and build sets, create costumes, and establish lights and sound. In April and May, camp participants were introduced to line work, singing, dancing, and auditions, and were given scripts to start learning their lines.

The Sunday prior, 40 actors, 50 volunteers and theater professionals hit the ground running, practicing lines, blocking, and learning choreography for a show they would perform in front of a packed theater by Friday. 

The flow of the week follows a natural rhythm every year, according to Anderman. After several days of hard work, participants start to hit a wall — energy wanes and emotions run high. Then, they try on their costumes on Thursday, and the entire cast is reinvigorated with excitement.

“It's like they've never seen anything like that before,” said costume designer Barbara Roberts. “Some of them burst into tears, and my first thought is, ‘Oh no, they hate it.’ And then they go, ‘I’ve never worn anything so beautiful in my whole life.’”

That adrenaline carries over into dress rehearsal and opening night, where actors bring a new confidence and energy to the stage.

“That opening night is like a very exciting moment, I think, for everybody,” said Anderman. “People come out with things that we do not expect on stage…stuff that's never happened in rehearsal, and it's totally thrilling.”

Every year, theater camp brings together new and familiar faces, many of whom have been participating since the early years. While some are local to the upper valley, many travel from throughout the state to participate. For nearly a decade, actor Hannah Ross has traveled from Snohomish every year to participate in theater camp. For Ross and many others, theater camp is a weeklong reunion of friends.

“I love coming over here and seeing all my friends. I don't get to see them all year round,” said Ross.

Actor Rachel Valen, who travels from Quincy and has attended theater camp for more than a decade, said the experience has helped her grow both socially and as a performer.

Valen said theater camp has helped her open up to new people over the years while also pushing her outside her comfort zone on stage.

“I feel more confident on the whole, like the dancing part. Before, I didn't like to dance in front of a big crowd, but now I am getting more comfortable,” said Valen.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media