Showstoppers

Ages 11-13

Showstoppers explore and hone their acting, vocal, and dance techniques through a series of immersive theatrical programming.

Whether they are a seasoned performer or just venturing onto the stage, there’s a place for everyone! Participants create their own summer adventure as they choose from a variety of 1 and 2-week programs geared towards offering a range of performance experiences. Showstoppers should expect to challenge themselves to grow and learn, celebrate their talents, and collaborate with peers and professionals.

Legally Blonde Jr. Join this fast-paced musical hit as we go on an exploration of self-discovery and tackle stereotypes! This Broadway at Brooks experience is a two-week summer theatre workshop for participants ages 11 to 13. Participants will gain artistry skills, increasing their ability to execute excellent technique, through instruction from our experienced and diverse team. Hosted in the Brooks School’s state-of-the-art theater, industry professionals with an invaluable depth of knowledge and years of experience in the field provide a meaningful and long-lasting summer experience for our students. Every student will be challenged and take away valuable performing, public speaking, and social skills. This program focuses on the theatrical process, not the product. This program culminates in a workshop performance that fellow Brooks campers, friends, and family can attend!

Brooks TV: Become a screenwriter, director, and movie star as you write and produce your own short film! From camera angles to cameos, from b-roll to bloopers, this program will give the campers the ‘on-set’ experience as they work as a team to take over the big screen. Outside of time on the set, participants will participate in outdoor day-camp activities. Participants will share a bit of their process in a showcase for friends and family, and the final films will later be distributed via email. Have you taken BrooksTV before and want to join again? Awesome! This class is designed to be repeated. No two films are the same, and it’s possible to participate in a new area of focus each summer. See the daily schedule.

Broadway Cabaret: “Come to the cabaret!” Participants in this program will explore their voices and performance techniques as they share their favorite songs from Broadway and Beyond. New voices and polished singers are welcome! Singers will participate in group and solo songs. Triple Threat Intensive Put on your dancing shoes, start those vocal warm-ups, and get ready to play all the characters as you put your skills to the test in this one-week intensive! Performers will collaborate with peers and professionals as they tackle a variety of vocal, acting, and dance styles and techniques as they discover their strengths and identify areas for growth. While performers will work together, they will receive one-on-one instruction tailored to their individual abilities and interests. Experienced and new performers are welcome! See the daily schedule.

About the Space

The Brooks Studios and Stages Program provides participants with a variety of activities and spaces that no other local camp can equal. Participants will have access to our 270-acre campus. The newly constructed Center for the Arts opened its doors to students, faculty and staff for use on October 30, 2018. The $28 million facility has transformed the school, bonding the visual, musical, and performing arts together and placing them on display at the center of campus.

Performances, teaching, and community gatherings have a spacious, comfortable home in the theater, with 387 seats. Its stage connects to a scene shop and a 1,200-square-foot Black Box theater, which provides a flexible teaching space and an additional performance venue. A costume shop, changing room, and green room are included as well.

A Typical Day

Showstoppers rotates through acting, music, and dance each day. In these time blocks, students collaborate while professional instructors help the actors learn their lines, notes, and choreography. There are breaks built into the day (including some outdoor time during lunch) to allow students to re-group and socialize. At the end of the day, students participate in tech time, where they gain skills in technical theatre, including costume, props, and lighting.

8:30-9:00	Drop-Off
9:00-9:15	Morning Meeting
9:15-9:55	Creative Block
10:00-10:40	Free Swim
10:40-10:50	Snack
10:50-12:20	Creative Blocks 1 & 2
12:20-12:45	Lunch
12:55-2:25	Creative Blocks 3 & 4
2:25-2:35	Snack
2:35-3:15	Skateboarding
3:20-3:50	Gymnastics
3:50-4:00	Afternoon Meeting
4:00-4:30	Pick-Up

Two friends standing in front of the costume rack

Program Team

Meghan Hill

Producing Artistic Director

Megan grew up training horses on a farm in southern Mississippi before graduating magna cum laude with her BA in Theatre Studies and Dance from Wheaton College in Norton, MA where she was recognized for Excellence in Acting and awarded a Fulbright Scholarship. Hill also received a Certificate in Performance Studies and Movement from the Moscow Art Theatre School in Moscow, Russia. As a freelance director, actress and coach, she spent several years teaching communication and performance skills to young artists across America and then traveled to Istanbul, Turkey for five summers where she created and managed the performance arts portion of the Robert College Summer Program. Prior to joining Brooks School, Hill served as the producing artistic director of Watertown Children’s Theatre and the Mosesian Center for the Arts youth programs, where she developed educational theater programming and high-quality productions. When she’s not in the theater, Hill enjoys spending time with her family, giving new life to old furniture, and learning about holistic healing modalities.

Sarah Spollett

Art Technical Director

Sarah Spollett grew up in the neighboring town of Andover, doing hobby carpentry with her dad and community theater with her mom. She combined her love of both when she attended Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Fine and Performing Arts, Music, and Theatre. Sarah then spent numerous years doing freelance carpentry for many regional theaters, including stints at the Weston Playhouse, Barnstormers Theatre, Tufts University, and the Watertown Children’s Theatre. She was a carpenter and then shop foreperson at the Tony Award-winning Huntington Theatre Company in Boston, before turning to education. Most recently, Sarah taught technical theatre and carpentry at Emerson College. When she’s not in the theater, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children in Cambridge, Mass., where they live, and working on their service project: making meals for people experiencing homelessness.

Kenya Jones

Community Engagement Supervisor

Kenya helps to create and foster a strong sense of teamwork, cooperation, and morale among all staff, campers, and families, as well as provides direct assistance to all program supervisors. For over twenty years, Kenya has been actively involved with the Brooks School Summer Programs as an activity counselor and LIT 1st and 2nd-year Coordinator. Kenya has been part of the Brooks School faculty since 2007, where he has held several roles, including form dean, psychology teacher, and coach, and now serves as the Director of Multicultural Affairs and Assistant Director of Admission. Kenya holds a B.S. from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell with a concentration in Psychology and a minor in Legal Studies. When not on campus, Kenya enjoys traveling, cooking, playing trivia, and rooting for all New York teams.

Nicole Belisle

Logistics Supervisor

Nicole has a passion for the food service industry. As part of the Brooks School Summer Programs, Nicole supervises the logistics team to ensure all programs remain in compliance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and North Andover Board of Health. For almost twenty years, Nicole has been involved in school-based nutritional services. She holds industry certifications in ServSafe, Allergy Awareness, CPR, and First Aid. During the academic year, Nicole leads a team of youth development professionals in North Andover’s after-school program. Her hobbies include softball, tennis, and gamming. Nicole lives in North Andover with her husband, two dogs, and a cat.

Alison Cambridge

Health Services Supervisor

Alison directs all aspects of the health center’s operation in accordance with state and local regulations and collaborates with our Health Care Consultant. Alsion strives to ensure that all participants have a healthy and safe experience. She is committed to community health and health care equity. Alison has worked as a pediatric nurse for 17 years and has been a member of the Brooks School Summer Programs since 2018. During the school year, she works with local pediatrician’s offices and as a school nurse. Alison is the mother of three children who enjoy the outdoors. Her family is passionate about camping and boating in the summer and skiing and snowboarding in the winter.

Core Programs