Meet our FLC Drama Heads

JC Nordt is a theater student at Emmanuel College. He is going into his sophomore year. Although he has only been a part of the Theatre department at his school for one year, he has already been part of four productions! His shows include Tom in Night of the Living Dead, Corporal George Reedy in All Out, Gerry in Dancing at Lughnasa, and featured dancer and actor in Xanadu. JC is also in the process of writing his own show that he will be directing in his senior year. His favorite form of theater is a straight comedy, preferably Commedia dell’arte. Camp really helped him start pursuing his interest in theater. He can’t wait to start directing plays at Forest Lake Camp and give other campers the same great experience he got when he was a camper.

What are you most looking forward to in leading the drama program at FLC this summer? The thing I look forward to most about leading drama this summer is the idea that I will be able to give campers a taste of what theater is and perhaps encourage them to want to pursue it. Participating in drama at camp is what made me want to pursue it as a major in school. When people think of a sleep-away camp in New York, drama does not always come to mind.  I want my campers to see what it can be like  and what a great experience it can be.  I look forward to getting to know all the campers and putting on a great show that they will enjoy, as well as the rest of the camp. 

What is your favorite part about being on stage? My most favorite thing about being on stage would have to be the idea that in that moment I am a different person and everything else that I have going on in my life comes to a halt. I don’t really consider my life to be a part of me when I act. My favorite form of theater is comedy and I love being able to make people laugh and know that I am pulling that emotion out of them.

If your campers could walk away from the summer having learned one thing from you this summer, what would it be and why? I hope that the campers learn to be able to express themselves more and not be afraid to put themselves in situations that would seem strange, such as wearing funny clothes. I remember in a recent production I had to wear gold tights and a tutu but I had no problem with it. It was fun to me because I was making a fool of myself and that was ok. Having a camper come out of their shell and act as someone that they didn’t think they would be is something I hope for them to learn.

What is the most fun production you have been apart of? The most fun production I have ever been in…hm. I would have to say Xanadu. Although it was a musical, and I don’t lean too much towards them, I did get to do a solo dance number which was really fun. Everyone else in the cast was very envious of me!

Anna Watts is a theater student at Hofstra University. She is going into her senior year, and she has been involved in many productions in her university’s Department of Drama and Dance. Some of her collegiate credits include Dainty June in Gypsy, Luciana in The Comedy of Errors, Ensemble in Antigone, and Puck in A Midsummer’s Night Dream.   She has also served as assistant stage manager and has led set crews. She loves Shakespeare, dancing, singing, and sharing her love for theater. Anna is looking forward to directing theater at Forest Lake Camp!

What are you most looking forward to in leading the drama program at FLC this summer? I am looking forward to an opportunity to share what I love so much about the theater with campers.  I am also very excited to apply my skills to bring a play to life.

What is your favorite part about being on stage? My favorite part of being on stage is having the opportunity to tell a story and to play ‘make believe’. Theater is all about telling stories through character development and dramatic occurrences.  I love finding a character and using that character to guide the audience through the journey of the play.  Being a character other than yourself is playing ‘make believe’.  For the length of the play, I get to be a fairy, a vaudeville star, or an orphan.  I guess, I really love to have fun!

If your campers could walk away from the summer having learned one thing form you this summer, what would it be and why? I want my campers to walk away with the understanding that the theater is hard work but fun, rewarding work. They will learn that through rehearsal and practice, they will gain the confidence and teamwork skills to put on a performance that will entertain and impress the rest of camp! 
I hope they walk away feeling confident in themselves and in performing.  I want each camper to feel comfortable being his or her self on stage.

What is the most fun production you have been apart of? The most fun production that I have been a part of is a one hour adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream called What Fools!   This production was through my University, but we toured to local high schools on Long Island.  I loved bringing the beloved works of William Shakespeare to teenagers who had never seen Shakespeare performed before.  The part I played was also an absolute blast! I played Puck, a mischievous fairy, and I got to climb on top of suitcases and do cartwheels all across the stage.  Overall, the experience was unforgettable!