2019 Center Stage Summer Theatre Camp: New Format

This summer we have intertwined the love of performing with personal artistic growth as we place our focus on the overall performance experience. We found Disney’s Frozen Jr is the perfect outlet to broaden our campers’ theatrical perspective. Each camper will have the unique opportunity to be part of workshopping Disney’s Frozen Jr. Unlike our Junior Productions, campers will have a glimpse of the step-by-step process of “putting it all together” with daily rehearsals and master classes. Campers are not required to attend all four weeks in order to participate in the final presentation of Disney’s Frozen Jr.

With an emphasis on remaining artistically organic and working through a process that emphasizes leadership and individuality, campers will gain a much deeper appreciation of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into producing a theatrical performance.

Daily schedule from 9am-3pm will consist of master classes, electives, guest artists, and performance readiness. At the end of each week, campers will showcase highlights from Disney’s Frozen Jr and individual elective pieces. Throughout the four weeks, campers are rehearsing in preparation for the end of the summer performance.

Because we are presenting the full-length junior production of Disney’s Frozen Jr, campers will be asked to audition for specific roles. Anyone who would like to be considered for a lead role must attend all four weeks. We will consider those who have registered three weeks. It is imperative that campers are cleared whether they will be in attendance on Sunday, August 4, for a tech rehearsal from 12-7 and on Monday, August 5, performance day with a call time of 11am, as this will determine roles assigned in the show. Two performances 2pm and 7pm.

Center Stage Theater Camp Director/Acting Counselor
Irving Gonzalez

Irving is a performer, director, and choreographer. His work has been recognized by BroadwayWorld.com of Central PA, Theatre Sensation, Lancaster, Ephrata Review, and the Reading Eagle as well as the featured cover story for the Lancaster Latino newspaper La Voz Hispana. He is an alumnus of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC and studied under professors from Julliard, the New School and the New York Opera Company. Irving has also toured with The American Family Theatre Company based out of Philadelphia, PA. He is soon to be an Associate Member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Irving serves as Ephrata High School’s Theatre Program Director for its fall and spring productions in addition to Ephrata Performing Arts Center’s EPAC’s Kids4Kids Family Series. His regional works and credits expands throughout the Berks, Lancaster, and Lehigh Regional counties. Irv is the creator and responsible for EPAC’s Young Artist Cabaret Series where upcoming young artist have a creative outlet for vocal and artistic expressions. During the school year, Irving works for the Ephrata School District as a ParaEducator

Dance Counselor
Kristin Pontz

Kristin Pontz is a Lancaster County native and received her BFA in dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She has performed and choreographed all over the East Coast in such venues as the NY Fringe Festival, Merce Cunningham Studio, and the North Carolina Dance Festival. Ms. Pontz currently teaches at Elizabethtown College, where she serves as faculty advisor to the university dance group E-motion, and at Dickenson College. She is the Director of Rev9 Dance Company, a modern dance company that performs regionally and is Assistant Director of COBALT Contemporary Ballet of PA. Ms. Pontz has choreographed and served as assistant director for the award winning Hempfield High School Dance Theatre for over 14 years and has choreographed many musicals including EPAC’s production of American Idiot and for productions such as Opera Lancaster’s “Hansel and Gretel.” She is also part of the successful EPAC’s Kids4Kids Family Series Junior Productions as co-choreographer and artistic collaborator alongside Irving. She is responsible for the amazing dance musical numbers known as “Act III” at the end of the show seen in Aladdin Jr and The Lion King Jr.

Music Counselor
Zachary Smith

Zachary Smith is an accomplished pianist, music director and piano teacher in the Lancaster area. He received his MS and BA in Clinical Psychology from Millersville University with a Minor in Music. He has recently music directed Hello Dolly!, Heathers: The Musical and American Idiot at EPAC including Assistant Directing King Lear. He is current music director for the much-anticipated Hairspray musical starring Edward R Fernandez as Mrs. Edna Turnblad this summer.

Acting Counselor
Christine D. Cieplinski, M.Ed

Christine is an actor, singer, director, producer, improv comedian, and costume designer. She is a show director and United Way award-winning teaching theater artist with the Yocum Institute for Arts Education certified in the Children’s Theater Company of Minneapolis Neighborhood Bridges Curriculum. Ms. Cieplinski is a visiting or resident teaching artist and show director at many arts schools throughout the Tri-State region. She has studied Improv with Second City and Leela Improv Training Center San Francisco and performed Improv with Kevin Bull of American Ninja Warrior and Anthony Carrigan of Gotham. She is on the Principal Creative Team of Reading Theater Project, originating theater works relevant to Berks County, she directed their Improv troupe and produced their Penn Street LIVE! Bridging the Arts series. Having worked as the Clinical Director of a forensic therapy practice for 15 years, specializing in criminology and trauma, she produces a semi-annual theater presentation series for V-Day Greater Reading to assist child survivors of crime. Her costume designs have been seen on the Gretna Theatre, Montgomery Regional Theater, Reading Theater Project/Berks Opera Company, Ceres Gallery NYC, and June Havoc Theater NYC stages among many others. Her company, Cherry Herring Entertainment Company, has designed sound Off-Broadway at the Theatre Outlet, Dog Run Rep and June Havoc Theaters. CHEC also produces Interactive Theater for Young Audiences that focuses on critical thinking skills and self-protection. Ms. Cieplinski is proud to be the Chairman of the Board of the Children’s Alopecia Project, an international non-profit organization that helps kids who have lost their hair regain their self-esteem.

Please contact Irving Gonzalez at camp@ephrataperformingartscenter.com for more information.