Summer Stage Unveils Its 36th Year

It is that time of year again when the Summer Stage comes out to play.

Many area students and residents await the new season of children’s theater shows produced by the Upper Darby Summer Stage theater program and their main stage production which starts July 6.

The Upper Darby Summer Stage, now in its 36th season, and is known for producing great live theater entertainment for the entire family at a  price of just $6 to $9 per ticket. More than 700 children will perform on stage or work behind the scenes this summer on the seven stage productions.

Kicking off this season’s children’s theater series is Disney’s Camp Rock the Musical on July 6, 7 and 8. This new musical based on the hit Disney Channel original movies Camp Rock and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam will fire up the stage with over a dozen songs. 

Haverford High School senior Cameryn Richards plays one of the lead roles, Mitchie, and is a veteran Summer Stager with six years of Summer Stage under her belt. She is looking forward to playing this role because “the character really cares about her friends at camp and she wants to help them win the showdown.”

Richards started as an apprentice at Summer Stage in 2006 and has performed in The Jungle Book as King Louie in 2007, as Tootles in Peter Pan in 2008, as a dancer in Disney Princesses in Concert in 2009 and last year in Magic Up Our Sleeve playing Tina. The character Tina was loosely based on comedian Tina Fey, herself a former Summer Stager.

When asked what she likes best about being part of Summer Stage, Richards says, “It gives me a chance to become someone I’m not, to entertain an audience and most of all to spread the magic of musical theater and summer stage to as many people as I can. Summer Stage is about being encouraged to believe in yourself and following your dreams. The feeling is incredible.”

Hundreds of students come through the theater program each year and join the Summer Stage family. The summer program is uniquely designed to appeal to actors, singers, technical crews, directors, set designers and costume designers, allowing students to experience all aspects of theater and find their niche.

Other programs at Summer Stage include the Dance Troupe and Cabaret. Dance Troupe is an intensive summer-long dance workshop featuring jazz, tap, ballet and lyrical dancing. It is an opportunity for first-time choreographers to gain experience and confidence creating a dance on stage. Cabaret offers an opportunity for actors to perform solos and small group performances. Both programs perform one show on August 10.

Another program is the Shooting Stars, a dynamic show choir made up of Summer Stagers. These talented singers and dancers are invited to perform locally at the Upper Darby 4th of July Festival and the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade and at national events like the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC. The Shooting Stars are set to perform in Disney World next month.

Upper Darby Summer Stage is the brainchild of Harry Dietzler, executive and artistic director who founded Summer Stage in 1976 while majoring in music at Temple University.

Dietzler, who has five children of his own and all of whom have come through summer stage and have worked or are working in various staff positions says, “ I love to be here with all the humming and buzzing in the building and getting to see the shows come together day by day. My aim is to help shape great people not great actors. “

Dietzler says one of the best things about running this program is “seeing the adults who performed in Summer Stage over the years sending their kids back to experience Summer Stage as actors and behind the scenes. It’s cool to see the progression from generation to generation.”

Dietzler adds that the program creates a family type atmosphere.

“We have had 13 couples meet and marry over the 36 years,” he excitedly exclaimed.

A Summer Stage alumni recently dubbed Dietzler the “George Bailey of Summer Stage,” referring to the main character in the classic Christmas movie It’s a Wonderful Life. The movie’s premise has an angel show George Bailey what life would be like if he had never been born.

It is hard to imagine how life would be for these children if Dietzler had never started Summer Stage, the alumni stated.

The Summer Stage Children’s Theater Series starts with Camp Rock: the Musical. 

Next is Mulan Jr. from July 13 to the 15, followed by The Chronicles of Narnia running from July 20 to the 22. Rugrats: A Live Adventure performs from July 27 to the 29th, The Secret Garden takes the stage from Aug. 3 through the 5 and the season ends with The Dinosaur Musical from Aug. 10 to 12. 

For more information and to buy tickets, go to the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center website at www.udpac.org or call 610-622-1189.