Summer Camp Info 2020
If your child already attends the semester Theatre program, is a returning camper or would like to try out a for the first time, this is a great opportunity to have fun and make friends in a creative, loving and fun atmosphere.
All our Summer Camps are two week camps this year by popular demand! Each camp will include theatre games, improv, physical theatre, accent and stage stills training, as well as a full play on the last day!!
For middle and high school students the last camp of Summer has become an institution with many genres of plays including Shakespeare, Murder Mysteries and Secret Agent Tales.
High School students interested in Community Service Volunteering please send a cover letter by email expressing their interest.
Comfortable clothes, water and a cooler lunch are all that's needed.
Scroll down for Dates, Rates, Time, Location and Photos from last year!
Each camp is a two week camp and runs from 9am to 1:00pm Mon - Fri with Aine Healy Richardson. Plays are held at 1:pm on the last day of camp, with an option for a second performance at 7pm depending on demand.
Places are limited to 14 so please book early.
June 1st - 12th for 1-3rd Grade
June 15th - 26th for 4th Grade and up
June 29th - July 10th for 1-3rd Grade
July 13th - 24th for 4th Grade and up
July 27th - Aug 7th 6th Grade and UP!
Tuition $380 per child per camp including a $20 production fee.
Deposit of $100 must be sent with Registration before confirmation. Deposit refundable up to one week before start.
Scholarships considered based on reservation numbers. Contact to discuss.
Please note all grades are suggested as we are open to considering children based on age, experience, maturity and sibling attendance!
Insufficient reservations may cause cancellation.
For more information and to request a Registration Form please contact Aine directly by email -
aine@thefirstactcct.org,
By phone
904 509 1472
or on
https://www.facebook.com/thefirstact/
All camps held at The Adele Grage Cultural Center Theatre,
716 Ocean Blvd at 7th Street, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233.
All classes held at:
The Adele Grage Cultural Center Theatre,
716 Ocean Blvd at 7th Street in Atlantic Beach, 32233
Introductory Class 1st - 3rd Grade
Saturday 11:15am - 1:15pm
Tuition cost is $280
Class runs from Jan 11th to March 28th
Intermediate Class - 4th -6th Grade
Saturday 9:00am to 11:00am
Class runs from Jan 11th to April 4th
Show/Play April 4th at 1:00pm and 7:00pm
Advanced Class 6-9th Grade
Monday 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Class runs from Jan 13th to April 6th
Show on Jan 11th at 7:00pm
Tuition cost is $300
Both classes have extended rehearsals or extra rehearsals close to the time of the performance. These extra hours are free of charge.
Children and families from our community will be invited to performances as seats are available after friends and family have booked.
Classes are capped at 14 students.
Middle and High School students looking to acquire Community Service Hours should send a cover letter by email expressing their interest.
Questions? Call Aine on 904 509 1472
or email aine@thefirstactcct.org for a registration form.
Checks to be made payable to The First Act CCT
Mailing address 612 13th Ave North, Jax Beach, 32250
Middle School Spring '19 Semester Play
Spring 19 Intermediate Class Semester class
Spring' 19 Junior Class
By Aine Healy-Richardson with stories from students and families
A series of vignettes based on the recollections of childhood and the teenage years of their Grandparents, Great Grandparents and friends. Spanning three decades, from 1941 - 1961 the cast portray and pay tribute to their familie's stories.
By Geoff Bamber
Directed by Aine Healy-Richardson
Spring '18
Summer Camp Gallery
Aine Healy-Richardson is the executive director and drama teacher at The First Act Children's Community Theatre Inc.
Aine is a native of Dublin, Ireland with a long history of working with children (including her twenty-five nieces and nephews). She grew up in an Oral Tradition – both her parents were great Storytellers with a passion for poetry and her immediate and extended family are involved in Theatre in Ireland. Aine was also part of a Community Theatre Group in London, gaining experience on and off stage. Aine spent fourteen years living and working in London where she worked as an Occupational Therapist in Community Mental Health. As part of that training, she originally studied Therapeutic Drama which she put into practice with adults and seniors in Mental Health for over ten years. Part of the purpose of that work was to help people increase self-confidence in all aspects of communication, and to use creative drama techniques to explore and express emotions. This is still part of the focus of her work with Children. But now she puts on plays too, and so much more!
Having moved to the Jacksonville Beaches in 2001 to marry Wes, Aine has since combined her love for Drama and working with children. Since 2005 Aine has taught classes at ABET Theatre, Players By The Sea , The Ponte Vedra Cultural Centre, The Cathedral Arts Foundation at The Carver Centre, Discovery Montessori School, Tides Montessori School, Beaches Episcopal School, Atlantic Beach Elementary School and The Jordan Centre.
In 2008 Aine started The First Act and in 2010 formed a collaboration with ABET Theatre where she happily taught classes and camps until 2016.
In Oct 2016 The First Act was awarded a contract with The City of Atlantic Beach to proivde the children's theatre program at The Adele Grage Theatre in Atlantic Beach FL. TFA are extremely appreciatiave to work in such a perfect environment for Children. A small and intimate stage next to a playground and two blocks from the beautiful ocean. Children walk, bike and skate to class and camp. Thank you City of Atlantic Beach!
In August 2017 The First Act Children’s Community Theatre Inc was formed and became a non-profit 501(c)3 registered in the state of Florida. With a board of directors and many volunteers and supporters, The First Act CCT looks forward to working with children and seniors together on a regular basis and promoting the benefits of drama for all children, and Reminiscence for Seniors.
This work is a collaborative effort by parents, children and volunteer artists, teachers and technicians.
Wes Richardson has been a volunteer Technical Director for The First Act since it opened it's doors in 2008 and works on it's behalf in some way or another on a daily basis!
Anne Roberts has volunteered her skills and expertise to these children for over seven years, passing on her knowledge and creating all kinds of props and set pieces that serve to greatly enhance the experience of story-telling for the children.
Mary Jo Evans has been volunteering her time at class and backstage for the past three years and brings a calm and nurturing influence to the work and is loved by the kids.
Rachel Dorrian a silent (and unpaid) partner for many years helped Aine build the program by tirelessly promoting and recommending to other parents and by being there to set up and break down on more occassions than can be counted.
Ingrid McCawley has been a wonderful parent and advocate for this work and this program and has given a tremendous amount of time to it for many years. We are delighted to have her serve as President of it's Board.
To all the above, and the many many more people who support Aine in this work, she thanks them heartily.
“I am fascinated with stories and all the ways there are to tell them. Children are natural storytellers and I believe that they benefit enormously and get great satisfaction from this work. It is wonderful to see so many of my students go on to receive further training in theatre, but I believe studying drama helps all my students to develop communications skills, gain increased empathy and understanding of others, explore their emotions and, importantly, to have fun with a group of friends"
Aine Healy-Richardson 2017
Board of Directors
P Ingrid McCawley VP Louis Weimer Tr Dorris Croasdell Sec Ginny Brinkley
D Renee Faure Aine Healy-Richardson
This drama class is the BEST!! My daughter has been taking drama here for three years and LOVES it. Thanks for all your hard work.
I’ve learned that people in the “olden days' did not have it easy; ironing hair with an iron instead of straightening, curling hair with rags and cans instead of curling irons, watching T.V. shows like Howdy Doody, Bonanza and many others. I’m sure us kids could NEVER live in that time! I mean, imagine it, black and white T.V.s with about 2 channels, no cell phones, no laptops, no ipads, iPod touches or any of the stuff kids do to entertain themselves nowadays. I have learned many things and am hoping to learn more!
The Reminiscence project has been a terrific experience! I learned a great deal of American history along the way, from victory gardens to the theme to Bonanza. However, the most important thing I learned was how to incorporate the seniors' experiences into my own style of acting to bring it to life for the audience. I'd like to thank everyone, from the seniors to Ms. Aine to the other kids I worked with.
I enjoy seeing how happy the seniors get when they recall their memories. I liked hearing their stories. I can't wait to see their faces light up when they see us bring their memories to life. Thank you for letting me be a part of this experience.
When I first started this drama class, I knew that some seniors would be telling stories from when they were kids. I was curious what kind of things I would hear and learn. When a lady told the story of how she got her braids inked by a boy sitting behind her in class, I thought that was really funny! A lot of people grew up during WWII, and it sounded pretty hard. I can’t imagine living like they did. You had to grow your own food, because food was rationed. They called those gardens Victory Gardens. What I learned was times back then were hard. One thing I didn’t like was how the girls always had to wear dresses and skirts. However, times back then were really a lot of fun because there were a lot of kids around to play with, and no video games to distract anyone. The Reminiscence Project has been a great experience and I can’t wait until the play performance!
What I learned on the way was the simple games that were played back in the day such as marbles. There were portable radios unlike what I've seen in older movies. I like bread so it was intersting to know back then the bread was delivered to their houses by the bread man. I also learned how easy it was for kids to board the train without parents and how to ride a train in a play. Most of all I learned kids back in the day are just like us kids today. We all like to play games and hang out with our friends.
I wanted to write and thank you for creating the "reminiscence project" and allowing C to be part of it. Besides being a wonderful show, the inter-generational friendships that occurred are priceless. C still calls Nancy "her senior" and when she has a chance to see her she gets so excited. Being in the audience and watching the women see their lives on stage was just amazing. Thinking about it still gives me goose bumps.
The lasting benefits from this program went on long after the curtain went down - and for that I am so grateful.
Thank you again, for creating such a wonderful program – and thank you Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Cultural Council for funding something so worthwhile in our community.
Aside from the impact to our children in the drama class, a real bonding occurred amongst the senior citizen participants. The children were able to watch them reminisce about their past, and they saw the friendships that developed as each senior remembered and shared his or her story. By the end of the project and performance of the play, everyone lives were enriched in an immeasurable way.
ADDRESS
Mailing Address
612 13th Ave North, Lower,
Jacksonville Beach, FL
FL 32250
Classes and Camps held at
The Adele Grage Theatre,
716 Ocean Blvd.
Atlantic Beach,
FL 32233
CONTACTS
Email: aine@thefirstactcct.org
Phone: (904) 509 - 1472
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