The Clinton Area Showboat Theatre is known for producing quality professional theatre to the greater Clinton area, but not many know that it also has one of the most unique theatre education programs as well. Started in mid-ninties, the Showboat’s intern program has brought many a local budding actor to bloom.  Area high school students audition in February to be a part of the Showboat’s summer company.  Once selected auditionees start in the summer, they are lead through acting, dance, voice, and tech classes by the Showboat’s professional staff.  They receive minor and chorus in the mainstage productions.  Star in the Saturday @ Noon Children’s Theatre and also star in their own mainstage limited engagement show.

Many former interns have gone to college and majored in theatre and have been working in professional theatre including 2004 intern Brandan Haagenson who is currently touring with the Broadway production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Sarah Hayes who has founded Class 6, a theatre company in Mesa, Arizona.  Others have pursued other interests such as teaching, architecture, and medicine. Marisa Decker a former multi-year intern commented, “Although I am studying to become a doctor and not pursuing theatre as a profession, being an intern on the Showboat helped me to interact with people on a personal level.  It really did increase my self confidence and was a major part of shaping who I am today.”

This years intern class hopes to reach these levels.   The 2010 intern roster includes John Barger, Derrick Bertram, Ian Black, Megan Collins, Haley Courter, Jordan Hirl, Javian Jones, Jacob Kilburg, Brooke Larson, Isabelle Johnson, Adam Luckritz, Megan Mohs, Cole Rauch, Markie Regenwether, John Steger, Noah Strausser, Justin Tegeler, and Rubina Vidal.  The 2010 intern director, Tommy Iafrate, a directing graduate student from Western Illinois University states, “To my knowledge this is the largest intern company in the Showboat’s over 20 year history.  Excited is not a great enough word to express how I feel about the potential of this group of high school students.”  On July 10 and 11 the intern company will perform their mainstage limited engagement show, High School Musical Jr. Tickets are on sale at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre box office, online at www.clintonshowboat.org, or by calling (563) 242-6760.

“With our intern program being so successful, we wanted to give other children in the area an opportunity to learn about theatre as well.”  Patrick Stinson, the Showboat’s producing artistic director, continues, “This year we are starting a 2 week theatre camp for kids going into 1st grade through 8th grade.”  The Showboat’s Theatre Fine Art’s Camp gives children the opportunity to learn directly from the Showboat’s professional staff.  Students will take classes in music, dance, tech, and also put on a show for family, friends, and the public at the end of the camp.  The camp starts on June 28 and runs Monday through Friday for 2 weeks.  There are 2 sessions in the morning and the afternoon for four hours each.  The morning session’s final performance is scheduled for July 9 at 7:30pm and the afternoon session’s is scheduled for July 10 at 3:00pm.  Those interested in signing up for the $75 camp can go to the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre box office, go online at www.clintonshowboat.org, or call (563) 242-6760.  There are plenty of spots still open.