The Arts Proclaim 30 As Reason to Celebrate

Thirty is the magic number for two programs involving the Arts at CCBC Essex. Cockpit in Court is celebrating 30 years of great summer theatre and the Creative Arts Center's Performing Arts Adventure Camp is celebrating 30 years of inspiring youth performers.

Cockpit in Court is completing its 30th Anniversary and is poised for a strong 31st year. To celebrate, Cockpit is ending its 30th season with a bang. Recently, it received a "Governor's Citation" for its commitment to enhancing the cultural and spiritual lives of Marylanders through the arts.

"We are grateful for this recognition, and even more grateful for the many thousands of patrons who made this one of Cockpit's most successful seasons to date," said F. Scott Black, managing director. " I am proud that we are able to bring consistent and quality theater to our community. Our 30th year was definitely a success."

The Baltimore Sun theatre critic J. Wynn Rousuck agreed with Black, and recently wrote a very exciting review on Cockpit's final production of the season, Mame, in the Aug. 1, 2002 issue of the newspaper. (Check out The Baltimore Sun's review of Mame at www.sunspot.net/features/lifestyle/bal-to.theatcol01aug01.story)

The Creative Arts Center's Performing Arts Adventure Camp makes turning 30 a breeze. It has successfully taught more than 2,000 youth over its three decade history.

Each July young entertainers hone their performance skills through fun summer classes. Since 1972, the camp has been available for budding performers regardless of their area of performance interest and for many years it was the only camp affiliated with the college.

"Thirty years of continuous service by a youth program is rare," said Don Elliott, coordinator of the Creative Arts Center. "The fact that this program continues to grow and thrive is a real testament to the many talented instructors and students who have come together every July to explore the joy and energy of the performing arts."

Some children who don't have previous performance experience find a new direction and hidden talent as a result of their participation in the camp. Others already know that they have a love of performance. And then there is Paul Diem, a graduate of Towson University with a BFA in Theatre who came to the camp as a junior counselor when his siblings were campers themselves. Diem, a local performer in his own right, has risen through the ranks from junior counselor to senior counselor, and is now a teacher for the Performing Arts Camp at CCBC Essex.

Through the CCBC summer program, each camper is exposed to jazz dance, voice chorus, acting and more. During each camp session a performance by a visiting artist begins each full day of exciting activities with emphasis on skills building, not a level of talent. Several workshop-style presentations to family and friends are included during the run of the camp session.