Manitou Theater - Behind the Scenes

Manitou has a wide selection of creative activities, foremost among them is our drama program. So makes the Manitou theater experience so special? Let’s ask counselor Adam Ryan who is part of our 5-person theater staff team.

Describe how it is to work on the plays?

In a 6 day production period every minute is a brainstorm. New ideas are constantly popping up, changing and evolving. We never truly completely the show until the final performance. It’s important for us a staff to allow the campers to shine as brightly as possible, not out-staging them in any aspect. Our first priority is always to prepare the campers as much as possible.

How is Manitou theater different from professional theater?

Its rare in conventional theatre for there to be such a sense of teamwork. These kids come to a camp with a focus on athletics and they bring that team mentality from the fields on to the stage. Each performer is here to support one another in whatever way they can. This mentality benefits each production in ways I’ve never seen in theatre.

An unavoidable aspect to doing theater at an all boys camp is the need to fill female roles, can you speak to the challenges that this posses?

Because each play is for College League, many campers see dressing up as a woman as an opportunity to go the extra mile for their team. We ask them if they are comfortable playing a female part at auditions; if they say no it’s our policy to make the feel as safe as possible. While it is hilarious to see them reherse in high heels, no one gives them grief, the team is very supportive.

Describe the chaos of play night.

That entire 24hr period is a site to behold. With a thousand jobs left to be done, no one is above chipping in in whatever way they can. We have campers doing other campers make-up. The paint is usually still drying on the sets as the audience is filling in. From where i sit in the booth I can see the stampede of campers rushing up from dinner to see the show, and thats when I know the show is about to start. It is both amusing and terrifying.

What is the most important thing that you’ve learned from Manitou theater?

I have never been more challenged creatively in my life. I’ve had to learn how to fabricate 80 red bowties from scratch, we turned a bundle of cloth and some paint into the alamo. We made an 18 wheeler out of a golf cart! I’ve definetly become a more resourceful and thoughtful person because of my experieces in Manitou theater.