VPA summer camp presents "Comedy Tonight"

Comedy is on center stage this summer as Valley youngsters present a mixed bag of song, dance and theater.

The Valley Performing Arts Musical Theater Camp is wrapping up this weekend with two performances open to the public -- 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Fred and Sara Machetanz Theatre in Wasilla. General admission tickets are $4 at the door, and organizers are encouraging people of all ages to come join in the fun.

"It's a little bit of everything," said drama coach Mieke Iveson-DuprŽ. From Blues Brothers and Beverly Hillbillies sketches to solo dance and big musical ensembles, the entertainment should strike just about anyone's fancy with its theme of "Comedy Tonight."

While Iveson-DuprŽ said she expects the youth camp performances, featuring 25 students from around the Valley, to attract primarily neighbors, friends and family, she said it is also an excellent opportunity for VPA newcomers to get a taste of what the Valley has to offer.

"This is where VPA gets a lot of there young people … They get hooked," she explained.

For the past three weeks the students have had a rigorous schedule, meeting 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with Iveson-DuprŽ, music teacher Nancy Guiley and choreographer Sharon Peek. This is the second year for this team of teachers, and Iveson-DuprŽ said the camp is also bringing back many of the same students from one season to the next.

Selection for the camp is by a first-come, first-serve basis and organizers don't have any difficulty filling the 25 openings. The camp is $300 and by the end of the three weeks, the students are singing, dancing and acting their way across the stage.

"There's not a whole lot of other opportunities for kids this age to do drama … especially for the 11- to 15-year-olds," Iveson-DuprŽ said. "This is a great chance for them."

It is also a great chance for the audience. While regular VPA shows don't start up until the fall, usually with just one presentation geared toward children, Iveson-DuprŽ points out showgoers don't have to wait so long for "Comedy Tonight" and they can bring the whole family.

"It's something to do in the summer," she said.

In addition to the Beverly Hillbillies and the Blues Brothers sketches, the students will also present a spoof on soap operas, a modern take on Shakespeare's comedy "Twelfth Night," and a bit of Monty Python, along with solo dance and singing numbers and ensembles that include the entire cast.