The 41 youth of Rexburg Arts’ 2024 Youth Theatre Camp have been spending six hours every day from Monday through Friday for two weeks to put together and rehearse a performance of “Footloose the Musical: Youth Edition” for this weekend.
Camp director Kaatia Larsen said many of the participants are returning to the camp after the camp’s performance of “Newsies” last year.
The camp offers the youth the opportunity to build skills in choreography, dialogue, vocals and more.
"It's a very involved six-hour day. We start at 8:30, we get done at 2:30,” Larsen said. “There's usually a line outside the theater door before we even open the door because the kids are so anxious to get in and get started. They love coming here."
The major goals of the camp are to educate, help the participants grow in confidence and strengthen the sense of community.
The group stands in a circle every day and nominates people who have been especially amazing that day for a group shout out. The youth also have the opportunity to raise their hands and share things they noticed their peers did well.
The campers are quick to compliment each other, creating a positive environment.
"They're always on the lookout for those good things in each other instead of focusing on negative things or somebody doing something wrong. They're looking for the good and boosting each other up. It creates this really kind environment," Larsen said.
The camp has become so popular that one camper who heard about it on Facebook traveled all the way to Rexburg from Florida to attend.
Larsen said that although it is a two-week camp, the talent of the youth and their connection as a cast creates a magical show.
You can see the group perform in any of their three shows this weekend at the Romance Theater. The times are 7 p.m. for Friday and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. for Saturday.
Larsen predicts tickets will sell out quickly. The price of tickets is $14.
To purchase tickets, visit Footloose Youth Edition Performances | Rexburg Cultural Arts (rexburgarts.org).