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36 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday June 15, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com W.E.S.T. summer camp has proved a hit By Andrew Fruch SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Most people have dreamed about being an actor at one time or another. For children in the Oakville area that dream can become a reality through summer drama camps hosted by the West End Studio Theatre (W.E.S.T.). "If the kids are interested in pursuing a career in the performing arts, we can certainly help them with it," said Yo Mustafa, Artistic Director for West End. "One thing that I think is unique about the studio is all the people that work here are professional actors. They are either doing it, auditioning them- selves or going to school for it." For the past nine years, the theatre has hosted four two-week sessions every summer that are open to youth aged 7-16. The camps allow children to come out and be themselves in a comfortable, high-energy atmosphere while at the same time, learning acting techniques for stage and film. The camps have an average 75 per cent return rate, which is evident by the fact that instructors Tim Welham and Franny McCabeBennett, both fourth-year university students at Ryerson and Guelph, are former students of the camp. "I wouldn't be in school if I had- n't come here," said McCabeBennett. "Because there is really only so much you can get out of school drama. I remember coming here, because I sang in a choir. I sang for years and so this was the first time I tried just acting. And I thought wow this is really neat. I'm not singing, but I still like it. It was really fun, so I kept on doing it and doing it and now I'm going into fourth year at Guelph and Tim is going into his fourth year at Ryerson." Along with Mustafa and another instructor by the name of Jeff Morrison, Welham and McCabeBennett teach a mixed age group of 40 students. "The great thing about it is that we don't segregate the students by age like other camps do," said Welham. "We actually put all the kids together as one, where the older kids can rise up as leaders and the younger kids also rise up as leaders depending on the group. It actually fosters a really great learning environment for the kids, that they might not get if they're only paired with their age group." The first week of the drama camp has the students honing their skills and learning new ones through various performance exercises in improvisational theatre, creative dance, voice and mime. The second week is dedicated to the students showcasing their creative expression by working together to create an original play that is performed in front of parents at the end of the week. "They come up with themes themselves," said Welham. "And they create different improvised scenes around the theme. So the play that they put on is a play that they've created themselves, which is unbelievable." Welham, McCabe-Bennett and Mustafa believe that the drama camps provide the opportunity for personal development and growth that benefits students for the rest See Preparing page 37 Better Get There Fast. Honda races. PURCHASE FINANCING You win. FOR 36 MONTHS ON APPROVED CREDIT ¥ MISSISSAUGA - Port Credit Harbour Marina June 23rd & 24th, 2007 McDonald's and Oak-Land Ford Lincoln co-present the $29,700 MSRP* Sunday, June 17th CR-V LX 4WD, model RE4837E Father's Day-Rain or Shine 5km Run · 5km Power Walk · 3kmWalk 1km Fun Run CR-V Totally redesigned for 2007 Engineering concepts tested and refined through Honda's race program are found in the new 2007 CR-V. This generation of CR-V delivers the latest Honda i-VTEC® engine technology, plus amazingly nimble car-like handling that makes driving fun. CR-V LX 4WD features: Race inspired 2.4L 166hp DOHC 16-Valve i-VTEC® Engine · RealTimeTM 4WD System · Track tested Drive-by-Wire Throttle SystemTM · Independent MacPherson Strut Front Suspension · Independent Multi-link Rear Suspension...and more. CRV: Limited time financing offer based on new 2007 CR-V LX 4WD, model RE4837E, available through Honda Financial Services on approved credit. *MSRP is $29,700, plus $1,505 freight and PDI, financed at 3.9% APR equals $919.91 per month for 36 months. Cost of borrowing is $1,911.70 for a total obligation of $33,116.70. Taxes, license, insurance and registration are extra. Retailer may sell for less. Retailer order / trade may be necessary. Offer valid from June 1st, 2007 through June 30th, 2007 at participating Honda retailers. Subject to change or cancellation without notice. See your Honda retailer for full details. ¥ Visit iihs.org for more information. June 16, 10am-4pm Registration and early race kit pick-up at The Running Room 156 Lakeshore Rd. E. Volunteers Needed!! www.otmhclassic.com Contact: Aleta Mayer 905-845-2571, ext. 4351 500 Iroquois Shore Rd. Oakville 905-844-9831 Oakville Oak-land Ford Lincoln