FAIRFIELD SUMMER STAGE 2023
NOW OPEN FOR REGISTRATION

ABOUT THE 2023 PROGRAM:
Fairfield Summer Stage is a comprehensive immersive theatre experience for young actors, supported by a professional creative staff of directors and designers, led by longtime directors Christy McIntosh-Newsom and Chelsea Dacey. This year’s program will again be held on the grounds of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in downtown Fairfield, CT. During our summer sessions, we will mount a full production of a show, starting with the initial audition and followed by a rehearsal process, culminating in an exciting performance where family and friends can enjoy your hard work. No previous experience required!

Session 1 (Fri June 23-Fri July 14):
Entering Grades 1-5 (in fall 2023):
Finding Nemo Jr.
dates: Fri June 23 - Fri July 14
live performance for families: Thurs July 13 @ 7pm (performance held across the street @ Wakeman Hall inside First Church Congregational of Fairfield); no camp Tues July 4th.
times: Mon-Fri 9:30am-3pm, plus one required evening tech rehearsal Tues July 11 from 5-8pm and the performance for families on Thurs July 13 (5pm call time for the 7pm show.
Cost: $1,000 ($250 minimum deposit due at signup to reserve your spot, or pay-in-full option; any balance due by June 1)

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Entering Grades 6-10 (in fall 2023):
The Addams Family (Young @ Part 60min edition)
dates: Fri June 23 - Fri July 14
live performance for families: Fri July 14 @ 7pm (performance held across the street @ Wakeman Hall inside First Church Congregational of Fairfield); no camp Tues July 4th.
times: Mon-Fri 9:30am-3pm, plus one required evening tech rehearsal Wed July 12 from 5-8pm and the performance for families on Fri July 14 (5pm call time for the 7pm show.
Cost: $1,000 ($250 minimum deposit due at signup to reserve your spot, or pay-in-full option; any balance due by June 1)

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Session 2 (TWO WEEKS ONLY!: July 17-28):
Entering Grades K*-10 (in fall 2023):
Matilda Jr.
Mon July 17 - Fri July 28
live performance for families: Fri July 28 @ 7pm (performance held across the street @ Wakeman Hall inside First Church Congregational of Fairfield).
times: Mon-Fri 9:30am-3pm, plus one required evening tech rehearsal Thurs July 27 from 5-8pm and the performance for families on Fri July 28 (5pm call time for the 7pm show).

Cost: grades 1-10: $750 ($250 minimum deposit due at signup to reserve your spot, or pay-in-full option; any balance due by June 1)

*Due to popular demand, we are NOW OFFERING A KINDERGARTEN HALF-DAY OPTION for Session 2 MATILDA JR! This program will be for kids ages 5/6 (entering K in fall 2022). There are limited slots available for this special experience, which is only offered for Session 2 (Matilda Jr), July 17-28. This younger group of performers will attend camp from 9:30am-noon for two weeks and will be featured in 3-4 songs in the performance of Matilda Jr. Veteran staff member Maggie Meath will serve as the dedicated director for these young performers, and will guide them through the rehearsal process, as this may be their first introduction to theater. The children will also get to work with the older kids and other staff members like Director Christy McIntosh-Newsom and Choreographer Kellie Schweon Rosati. The cost for this half-day kindergarten option is $450 and is limited to 10 students.

Location:
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
661 Old Post Rd
(St. Paul’s is on the Fairfield Town Hall campus)

Times:
Drop-off: 9-9:30am
Rehearsals/Activities: 9:30am-3pm
Pick-up: 3-3:30pm
no camp Tues July 4th

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—NEWLY ADDED FOR 2023 —
Session 3: SUMMER STAGE JUNIOR SHOWCASE (Shorter rehearsal hours, ONE WEEK ONLY!)
Entering Grades 1-10 (in fall 2023):
Summer Stage Junior Showcase
Mon July 31 - Fri Aug 4
Live performance for families: Fri Aug 4 @ 7pm (for this session, rehearsals and performance will be held Wakeman Hall inside First Church Congregational of Fairfield).
times: Mon-Fri 10am-1pm, and the performance for families on Fri Aug 4 (5pm call time for the 7pm show).

Cost: grades 1-10: $300 (full payment due in full to reserve spot) (additional $25 discount for current students and any of our youth program alums (CATS, SpongeBob, Summer Stage 2022 etc)!)

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Available Discounts:
Both-session Discount: Save $200 if you sign up for both sessions! ($1,550 instead of $1,750). Can be stacked with sibling discount!
Sibling Discount: Save $100 for each additional sibling per session (i.e. two siblings in Session 1 would pay $1,900 ($1,000 + $900)). Can be stacked with 'both session' discount!

Sample Day: 
9:30-10am Vocal and physical warm-ups 
10-10:45: Rehearsal 
10:45-11: Snack Break 
11-12pm: Rehearsal 
12-1: Lunch 
1-2pm: Improv and theatre games, some smaller group breakout rehearsals 
2-3:30 Workshops/classes *schedule fluctuates throughout the week/program

Costume/Makeup gameplan:
Tuition fee will cover the performer’s costume and fun makeup for the show, however, families are expected to provide appropriate footwear (style tbd) for rehearsals and the performance (FCS does not provide footwear). Any allergies please alert us, meanwhile we will communicate along the way the gameplan for costuming and makeup.

Performance/Ticket Policies:
Performances will take place indoors on the stage of Wakeman Hall inside First Church Congregational, directly across the street from St. Paul’s. Ticket allocations: Each camper will be allocated 4 free tickets per camper, included with camp tuition. After initial tickets have been allocated to families, we historically release additional tickets for purchase @ $15 each, typically with a limit of +4 per family. We always try to get in everyone who wants to come support your little one. Families will be provided a link to reserve their tickets sometime during the first week of camp. There is no charge for the first 4 tickets, but we are grateful for donations (cash/check/venmo/paypal/square accepted) which directly support our scholarships that are granted to financially challenged families interested in participating in our program.

Pick-up / drop-off:
Daily drop-off time: 9am-9:30am 

Daily pick-up time: 3pm-3:30pm (pickups later than 3:45pm will incur a $25 late fee*). 

Address: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 661 Old Post Rd. Fairfield

There is a loading zone for drop-off as you enter the church/town hall parking lot.

Medical Forms:
Camp staff will be in touch at some point in March/April regarding standard medical forms and other waivers. Please remember that your child’s forms must be filled out before 9:30am on the first day or your child will not be able to participate on Day 1. Please remember to pay your balances before 9:30am on the first day or your child will not be able to participate on Day 1. 

*Late pickups: most of our staff do have other commitments immediately following the rehearsal day -- if you are later than 3:45pm, we will require a $25 late fee, which goes directly to the affected counselor/staff member.

Covid/Mask Protocols:
Fairfield Center Stage follows Covid guidance from the various venues we rent from. These guidelines are dynamic and we thank you for your understanding. Our goal is to be able to successfully present live performances to live audiences. Current policies at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (camp) and First Church Congregational (performances) include mask-optional environments. If for some reason the climate in July 2023 does not allow us to hold a live performance indoors with an audience, we would plan to film the show for families’ viewing pleasure at a later date.

Questions?:
christy@fairfieldcenterstage.org

About the Shows:
SESSION 1: FINDING NEMO Jr. (Session 1, entering grades 1-5)
Disney’s Finding Nemo JR. is a 60-minute musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 Pixar movie Finding Nemo, with new music by award-winning songwriting team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Marlin, an anxious and over-protective clownfish, lives in the Great Barrier Reef with his kid Nemo, who longs to explore the world beyond their anemone home. But when Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney, Marlin faces his fears and sets off on an epic adventure across the ocean. With the help of lovable characters such as optimistic Dory, laid-back sea turtle Crush, and the supportive Tank Gang, Marlin and Nemo both overcome challenges on their journey to find each other and themselves.

Featuring memorable songs such as “Just Keep Swimming,” “Fish Are Friends Not Food,” and “Go With the Flow,” Finding Nemo JR. brings a vibrant underwater world to life on stage in a story full of family, friendship, and adventure. 

SESSION 1: THE ADDAMS FAMILY (young @ part 60 min edition) (Session 1, entering grades 6-10)
Celebrate the wackiness in every family with this authorized 60 minute edition of the hit Broadway musical. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family whom her parents have never met. She confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before– keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.

SOLD OUT —- SESSION 2: MATILDA JR.
Rebellion is nigh in Matilda Jr., a gleefully witty ode to the the anarchy of childhood and the power of imagination! This story of a girl who dreams of a better life and the children she inspires will have audiences rooting for the "revolting children" who are out to teach the grown-ups a lesson.

Matilda has astonishing wit, intelligence... and special powers! She's unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing, however – the school's mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don't abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils' saving grace!

Packed with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs, Matilda JR. is a joyous girl power romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.

SESSION 3: Summer Stage Junior Showcase
Join us for this special ONE WEEK session, July 31-August 4, 10am-1pm. Fairfield Summer Stage Jr. Showcase will culminate in a performance on stage, open to friends and family. Together, we will design a simple show featuring Broadway songs and scenes chosen by the kids themselves, and put on a show that will feature every participant in whatever way they feel comfortable (singing solo, acting in a scene, dancing, or just singing together with their friends!)

About the Directors:

Christy McIntosh-Newsom, Director “The Addams Family” & “Matilda Jr”: Christy is a professional actress and Artistic Director of Fairfield Center Stage. As a voice teacher and audition coach, her students have appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, regionally, locally and on national television and feature films. Christy is proud to have helmed BTC Jr. (which then merged into DCT Jr. at the Downtown Cabaret, where she served until 2018 as Associate Artistic Director). In her tenure with these programs and Summer Stage, she has produced over 20 children’s productions. She was also an instructor for the Playhouse on the Green summer program, Project Broadway, Coleytown Middle School, and Broadway 101 for the Trumbull Youth Association. She is currently the Drama Director at Fairfield Ludlowe High School. Some directing highlights include “Rock of Ages”, “Footloose”, “A Christmas Carol Experience,” “Matilda,” “The Secret Garden,” “Barnum,” “The Music Man,” (Fairfield Center Stage) “The Hunchback of Norte Dame,” "In the Heights," "Hairspray," "Memphis," "Fancy Nancy," and "Rapunzel,”. Christy is a proud member of the Actors' Equity Association and SAG/AFTRA. Proud mommy to CJ and Melody.

Chelsea Dacey, Director “Finding Nemo Jr”:
Chelsea is delighted to be back at Fairfield Summer Stage! Her past summers include directing “Beauty & the Beast Jr”, “The Little Mermaid Jr.”, “Frozen Jr.”, “The Lion King Jr.”, and so many more! Chelsea is currently a vocal instructor, and music teacher at Independent Day School. Her performance credits include many local, regional and off-broadway shows. chelseadacey.com