Categories
Grace Koepele Italy

Third Time’s The Charm

My third camp of the summer brought me to Cimadolmo, a small town nestled among the Prosecco hills of the northern Veneto region of Italy. Along with a South-African, a Canadian, and a fellow Michigander, we had an incredibly eventful first week.

Six young women pose outside in a row, smiling and wearing red or blue shirts that read "ACLE CAMP TUTOR."

At the beginning of the camp, the children were quite timid with our morning circle songs and activities—something that is not uncommon — but their level of apparent disinterest made me worry that they would be an unenthusiastic bunch. Thankfully, the first afternoon of habitat games came around and my worries were alleviated. In habitat games, we divide the campers into teams and have them compete in various relays to select the animals, colors, adjectives, and places that will become their team names. By the second game, practically every kid was invested in the competition and in the fate of their groupʼs name. Once the names were selected and each group began designing their team crests, every camper had at least one marker in hand and was making some contribution to the artwork. After this activity we soon came to know that any artistic endeavor required at least 30 extra minutes because the kids loved so much to draw and create absolutely anything.

Several young children lean over a large sheet of paper, coloring a landscape.

Other afternoon activities fortunately proved to stir similar levels of excitement throughout the week; during our camp-wide scavenger hunt we had one Freddy Mercury impersonator, three human pyramids, four love letters to for us tutors, and 35 giddy campers running from one side of the school to another in an effort to solve all of the tasks first.

A young boy with his back to the camera posts a drawing on an orange wall next to several other drawings.

Once water games day came around we were in for a treat. Not only did we have 200+ water balloons to launch at one another but also a surprise “celebrity” participant (a camper impersonating Johnny Depp), a couple “Baby Shark” references, three water-war waging tutors (including myself), four completely soaked helpers, 10+ water relays, and countless buckets of water poured on anyone within range.

Young children smile and pose for a selfie--one wearing large, red aviators with the remnants of a fake mustache on his lip.

We ended the first week of camp with an eclectic talent show featuring everything from magic tricks, to the Macarena (courtesy of our lovely camp director and assistant), to gymnastics, to a re-telling of a Roman battle, to a dramatic reenactment of the time I was chased by a moose (which featured one of our camp helpers giving another a piggy-back ride so that they could chase me around the stage pretending to be a moose).

In addition to the excitement of camp, during my first few days in Cimadolmo, the Prosecco hills surrounding the town were officially named a UNESCO heritage site! Over the weekend, my host family and I visited a castle on one of the hills, where we made friends with some donkeys, admired the panoramic view of the nearby towns and countryside, and hurried down the hill back to the car when a hail-storm began aggressively pelting us with hail. Due to the storm, we spent 30 minutes hiding under trees, bridges, and overhangs in our car rather than drinking Prosecco but the adventure was lovely just the same (although I think Prosecco would have improved my sentiments toward the situation…. and lowered my panic as we scurried from one partially-safe spot to another).

A beautiful Italian landscape with old, white buildings in the background, rolling green hills in the foreground, and stormy clouds brewing.

All in all I enjoyed my first week in Cimadolmo and I look forward to what little adventures come my way next week!

Til then, ciao for now!

Categories
Cami Hancock

My Seven Favorite Theatregoing Experiences

I am a firm believer in the powers of theatre. I believe theatre is capable of much more than entertainment—it can provide you an escape, lead you to ask questions, and force you to see the world from a different perspective. Playbill’s website has a series where they have Broadway performers share their favorite theatregoing experiences. I’ve had multiple theatre experiences that played major roles in fostering my love of the arts and that I truly consider to be life changing, so I figured I would share them with you. These are my favorite theatregoing experiences of all time:

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

I bought the script for this show at Target on a whim last summer, and I ended up devouring the entire thing in two days. Although I had only read one Harry Potter book at the time, I found the script to be utterly thrilling and heartwarming. I knew I had to see it performed on stage, and I got to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway last November. The show is a spectacle that uses mind-blowing special effects to create the magic of Harry Potter. To this day, I don’t know how they do some of the magic. The show is performed in two parts, each at three hours long, so it is not a brief piece of theatre. Even so, the play whizzes by. The story is like a moving train: you hop on and brace yourself for the wild journey ahead. 

A young woman (the author) stands in front of the Broadway sign for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Ramin Karimloo in Les Misérables

Les Misérables was one of the first musicals I ever saw on Broadway, and it left me absolutely blown away. I found it to be stunning and heartbreaking. I cried (literally) six times. Although I loved the entire production, the standout for me was Ramin Karimloo as Jean Valjean. He has a gorgeous baritone voice, and he possesses a warmth onstage that made it so easy to feel attached to him and cheer him on through the show’s trials and triumphs. 

Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812

The Great Comet was the first immersive, experimental piece of theatre I had seen, and it completely changed my idea of what theatre can be. The show transformed every inch of Broadway’s Imperial Theatre into a 19th-century Russian supper club. With the renovation, they added seats to the stage, which is where I got to sit. I had Broadway actors performing on all sides of me. In addition, the performers interacted with me and the other audience members onstage. The actors sat at our table, gave us pierogies, and hand delivered us love letters. It was incredible to witness such a beautiful piece of theatre while being right at the center of the action.

A young woman (the author) sits in a red chair in a lavishly decorated room, holding a playbill that reads "Great Comet"
An interactive stage with pathways leading into the audience seats, decorated in reds and golds.

Jessie Mueller in Waitress

I completely fell in love with Waitress, which is an emotional piece of theatre that is equally charming and funny. I was most moved by Jessie Mueller as Jenna. Jessie Mueller is a unicorn on stage—seriously, she is one of a kind. Her voice has such a rich and unique tone and watching her feels magical because of how present she remains throughout the entire show. Even when she wasn’t speaking, I loved watching her reactions to the other characters onstage. Something about her is so vulnerable and honest. It’s impossible not to root for her. 

Jessica Vosk in Wicked

This is the only show on this list that I saw on its national tour rather than on Broadway. When I saw Jessica Vosk as Elphaba, it was my fifth time seeing Wicked. I was just looking forward to basking in one of my favorite musicals all over again, but as soon as Jessica began singing “The Wizard and I,” I was floored. I got chills throughout my entire body. Every time she sang, I was mesmerized by her. Her voice is stunning, and she pulled off riffs that I’ve never heard any other Elphaba manage to do before. She embodies the definition of a star, and I was not at all surprised that she moved to the Broadway company a year later. 

Hamilton

I’ve already written an entire blog post about this experience, but seeing Hamilton on Broadway changed my life. I saw it at the end of one of the most difficult periods of my life, and it made me feel grateful to be alive. It is unmatched in its originality and the strides it has made for people of color. I’m thankful that we are alive at a time where you can see such boundary-breaking, genius work living and breathing on Broadway. 

Dear Evan Hansen

I first saw Dear Evan Hansen in previews back in 2016, and while I loved it, it wasn’t until I saw the show for a second time in 2018 that it truly made me feel changed. Dear Evan Hansen made me feel validated and heard. I found myself able to connect with it because the show draws on the universal feeling of loneliness, something that everyone has experienced at some point in their life. To me, it perfectly verbalizes the feelings of being an outsider and not fitting in. I sat in the front row and sobbed so hard that the person next to me turned to ask if I was okay. With seeing the show a second time, I also got to pay attention to some more complex details, such as the similarities between Evan and Connor, as well as the universal experiences that link every character in the show to every person in the audience. It is a heartbreaking and healing piece of theatre that I recommend to any person that has a pulse.

Two young ladies (the author, right, and her friend Abby, left) pose in front of a stage while holding up a playbill that reads "Dear Evan Hansen"

Cami and her friend, Abby

Categories
Cami Hancock Uncategorized

The Only Camp of Its Kind

If you’ve been reading my blog this summer, you are well aware of my passion for all things theatre and may have read my post about the lifelong impact that theatre has had on me. I’ve always had a second passion, as well—one that has been present in my life for almost as long and one that influences my life daily: writing. 

Perhaps an unusual choice for most children, I spent my summers growing up attending Author Quest, a kids’ sleepaway writing camp in Ocqueoc, Michigan, owned by Michigan Chillers author Johnathan Rand. I first attended Author Quest in June of 2009 at only 10 years old. I remember being terrified of going to sleepaway camp knowing only a single person, and on top of that, feeling nervous of what other people would think of my writing. While I enjoyed writing, I had never received any sort of praise or encouragement about my writing from anyone other than my parents. My fears were quickly alleviated, however, as I stepped into the lush wilderness of Ocqueoc with 40 other campers who loved to write as much as I did. At that first camp, the staff and instructors at Author Quest took me under their wings and fully embraced me as a writer. They gave me a place where I felt safe to share my writing and deepest inner thoughts with others. They gave me the confidence to take risks with my writing, and to keep going, even when I may feel discouraged.

A picture of the author, Cami, as a ten-year-old child at her first camp session, wearing a red Author Quest shirt.

My first Author Quest in 2009

The effects of Author Quest on my life go far beyond improving my writing. Because of how much the people at Author Quest believed in me at that first camp session and all of the sessions following, they made me believe I can do anything I set my mind to—whether it be becoming a professional writer or pursuing whatever else fulfills my soul. Author Quest was also the first place where I got true leadership experience, first as a counselor-in-training, and now as a counselor. It inspired me to become a better person, and it made me want to lift up the current campers in the same way the staff has lifted me up all these years. In addition, Author Quest has given me some of my most treasured friendships, people that I talk to on a weekly basis and eagerly look forward to reuniting with every summer.

A group of Author Quest camp counselors in red shirt, including Cami, second from the right.

My camp friends

At the end of June, I returned from my 12th Author Quest camp session and my fifth session being a full-fledged counselor. I thoroughly enjoyed spending the week reading and writing for copious amounts of time, catching up with my friends, and listening to the campers read their newly crafted stories around the campfire every night. As a counselor, I’m thankful that I now get to play a small role in the experience of the current campers and give them similar encouragement and care that I received at their age. Each year, I am blown away even more by the talent of the campers who attend Author Quest. At 10, 11, 12, and 13 years old, they are using words I’ve never heard and creating such expertly constructed, inventive stories that I never could have dreamed of in a thousand years. Each camp, Ann Rowland, Author Quest’s camp director, stresses to the campers that they are good writers, not just good writers for their age —which is true and what I believe is a testament to the respect the campers at Author Quest receive. 

There’s a reason I’ve now attended Author Quest for 10 years. I’ve come to realize that the feeling of having someone believe in you is invaluable. The people at Author Quest have remained both positive and encouraging but have always challenged me when I needed it most . Because of Author Quest, I’ve worked diligently to foster my passion for reading and writing throughout my life. Author Quest is the reason I was brave enough to raise my hand in English class throughout school. It’s the reason I feel confident enough to publish my thoughts and writing on two blogs this summer. It’s the reason I want to incorporate writing into my future career, no matter where I end up. I’m grateful that my 10-year-old self somehow ended up at that writing camp in Ocqueoc all those years ago. I guarantee that if I hadn’t received their support, I wouldn’t be the same person or on the same path in life that I am on today.

A group of young people make a pyramid with their bodies, a child perched on top making a thumbs up gesture.
Categories
Grace Koepele

No Limits

The second half of camp in Mogliano-Veneto brought a new wave of post-camp activities, tested limits, and Independence Day traditions—both exciting and slightly terrifying.

My host family began the week with a day-trip to the Dolomites, promising a hike and lots of sheep. I cannot claim to be an avid hiker, but I do enjoy walking, being outdoors, and exercise enough to think of myself as somewhat capable when it comes to these types of excursions. At best, I envisioned a long, steady climb up some mountain in the Alps where I could celebrate the hike with a photo or two of the land below. At worst, I thought we may only climb partway up a hill while my young host brother chased sheep. Neither of these expectations were remotely close to the host parentsʼ actual plans.

The author, a young woman, poses with a young boy in a car.
A beautiful landscape photo of two mountains covered in trees in Italy.

After a lovely lunch in between two mountains, with sheep and cows grazing in the field beside us, my host parents led me to an “adventure park” in the forest next to us, where they cheerfully handed me a wristband to complete the high ropes course that curves between the trees. If my family in the States knows anything about me, it is that I have always had an intense fear of heights. I will not step near the edge of a balcony if it is too high off the ground, let alone climb any sort of tree even part-way. Whether due to an ever-present desire to please or some buried wish to redeem my 11 year-old selfʼs decision to sit out of a class trip to a ropes course some ten years ago, I do not know, but after what felt like two seconds to decide my fate, I followed my host dad inside a small hut to grab a harness and helmet before hooking myself up to a wire and beginning my ascent into the trees.

After my hands stopped shaking violently and the panic attack subsided a little, the course was actually quite fun: there were zip lines, jumping and swinging, and unstable portions, and even a stretch where I had to shimmy sideways across a wire. But, were it not for the photos and videos that my host dad—Massimo—promised to take during this horrific half-hour of playing Indiana Jones, I honestly would not be able to recall much about the first few obstacles.

The author, a young woman, poses with a young boy while both wear climbing gear.

While I was initially petrified of climbing and swinging (and falling) through the course, I am proud of myself for doing it and also glad that I didnʼt back out and have to choose the righteous path of redemption some ten years from now.

After I finished the course, my host mom—Sabrina—coined the phrase that has now become a bit of a mantra for me during this time in Italy: no limits. Obviously, it is healthy to have some limits, but I quite like the idea of pushing myself to really try things that I would otherwise decide are either for other people or for another time in my life.

The author, a young woman, stands in front of two forested mountains in Italy.

Following this mantra, I also ate octopus for the first time in my life—this being significant because I have been a vegetarian for a few years now and am not necessarily grossed out by meat, but I do stand by the fact that I donʼt love to see suction cups on my food when I eat it. Keeping with last weekʼs post-camp tradition of going to a friendʼs pool, I also finally managed to sit (and stay on) their massively cute (and unstable) unicorn floaty!

The author, a young woman, swims in a pool on a giant inflated winged unicorn floaty.

On Wednesday, my coworker Niamh and I took our two groups to Venice for a scavenger hunt full of lions, water wells, tourists, and as many gondolas as we could find (bonus points if the gondolier is in the vicinity of their gondola)! After this long day of interviewing tourists, taking photos, fending off ferocious pigeons, and successfully not having to fish any children out of the canals, both Niamh and I were able to learn and use some Venetian slang and enjoy a well-earned gelato. Nothing takes the cake for tested limits like agreeing to supervise two groups of hangry tweens alone right after youʼve told them that they must create their own pop song about how much they adore English camp before they can buy ice cream. We also agreed to share the bonus points amongst our teams from Niamhʼs human re-enactment of a gondolier with their gondola (my idea and her physical implementation).

On a street in Venice, a young woman lies on the ground pretending to be a gondola while a gondolier stands over her, pretending to paddle.
Three young women in red camp counselor uniforms pose with three young campers in Venice.

To end the week, I celebrated Independence Day with my host family by cooking them dinner, instigating a family spa evening, and simulating fireworks with sparkling candles in toast. 

A person sits on a patio in a folding chair with cucumber slices over their eyes.
A table is set with a striped tablecloth and a blue plate that has three candles pressed into a piece of toast.

All in all, I had an absolutely incredible time working in Mogliano-Veneto. While the camp was gigantic and the campers were many (sometimes too many), my coworkers were an amazing support system for laughs, moral reassurance, and company throughout the two weeks. Seeing as my next camp is a mere 23 kilometers away and still in the Veneto region, I have a feeling I will be returning to Venice soon with my campers for another exciting adventure!

Til then, ciao for now!

Categories
Cami Hancock New York

NYC Part 3: Attending the Tony Awards

Processed with VSCO with c1 preset

When you ask someone what their favorite holiday is, you probably expect them to say Christmas, Halloween, or maybe their birthday. Whenever someone has asked me that question over the last five years, I’ve always given another answer: the Tony Awards.

In case you’re not familiar with the Tony Awards, it is basically the Super Bowl for people who care about theatre instead of sports. It’s the one night a year where Broadway actors and professionals are awarded for their achievements. I’ve always made the Tony Awards into a big deal at my house—my family goes all out with voting ballots, decorations, and even baking a cake in honor of the big day. This year was even more special, though, because I got to attend the Tony Awards in person for the first time. 

As usual, the Tony Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The live telecast didn’t begin until 8 p.m., but they asked the audience to arrive at 5 p.m.. Once I got inside the lobby, I expected to be led straight away to my seat in the mezzanine, but that never happened. The audience was allowed to hang out in the lobby as long as they wanted, which meant that I got to watch the nominees trickle in over the next two hours.

We all had to be in our seats by 7 p.m., and during that hour before the live show, Broadway actors Karen Olivo, Danny Burstein, and Aaron Tveit gave out the special Tony Awards, as well as the non-aired awards, including Best Choreography and Best Scenic Design.

Then at 8 p.m., it was finally time for the live show. I was particularly excited for this year’s host, James Corden, because last time he hosted in 2016, he performed one of my favorite opening numbers of all time. This year his opening number was called, “We Do It Live,” and it did not disappoint. Cast members from all of the Tony-nominated shows joined him onstage during the number, and it was a huge extravaganza. 

My view from my seat.

I was especially compelled by the speeches at the Tony Awards this year. In fact, I think this year’s telecast featured the best collective group of speeches I’ve ever heard. I will admit that I teared up during the speech from Best Featured Actress in a Musical winner Ali Stroker, who happens to be the first actress in a wheelchair to win a Tony. She began her speech by dedicating her award to any kid watching who faces a disability and is looking for themselves to be represented. I also loved the speech from Rachel Chavkin, who won for directing Hadestown. Chavkin is only the fourth woman to ever win that award, and she used her airtime to call out Broadway’s lack of diversity on its creative teams, and therefore the lack of stories that are being told. This is a relevant issue on Broadway and one that I’m extremely passionate about, so I was inspired that she used her platform to address this social issue.  

My favorite part of attending the Tony Awards in person had to be the commercial breaks. I always assumed that they gave out the non-aired Tony Awards during the commercials, but they did all of those before the show started. Instead, James Corden initiated karaoke with different Broadway stars. In one commercial break, Ben Platt and James Corden sang “Tomorrow” from Annie. In another, Anthony Ramos and Chris Jackson sang “96,000” from In the Heights (I just about died hearing Chris Jackson, the original Benny, sing his part). Finally, Billy Porter brought down the house with his complete performance of “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” from Gypsy. What was supposed to be simple karaoke turned into a full-on concert. Porter ended up performing his song center stage with a standing ovation from the 6,000 audience members inside Radio City Music Hall.

After the show was over, I waited down in the lobby again, and that’s where I got to meet and take photos with some of the nominees. Some of the nominees I was most excited to meet included David Korins, the scenic designer of Beetlejuice (as well as Hamilton), Eva Noblezada of Hadestown, Jeremy Pope of Choir Boy and Ain’t Too Proud, Sarah Stiles of Tootsie, and newly-awarded Tony winner Sergio Trujillo of Ain’t Too Proud. 

Meeting Sergio Trujillo

Meeting Jeremy Pope

I’m honestly still having trouble believing that I attended the Tony Awards in person. It was literally a dream come true. What has become a tradition of watching on TV from Michigan came to life in front of my eyes in New York City. I value the Tony Awards because it allows a chance for art and theatre to be celebrated. It’s the one night a year where Broadway is televised to a national audience, therefore exposing kids who may never have the chance to see a Broadway show in person to watch performances from their homes. Each year, the Tony Awards inspires a whole new generation of young people to get involved in the arts.

Although the Tony Awards are technically a competition, it didn’t feel that way at all. The environment in that room is so positive and supportive. You can tell that everyone there is just excited to be celebrating another season of theatre and hard work. A major reason I respect Broadway actors so much is because they don’t do their job for fame or money, they do it purely because they love performing and spreading a message through art. Although I do not believe the level of representation or diversity at the Tony Awards is where it should be (I will dive into this at another time), the bottom line is that theatre is an art form that is capable of educating and creating social change. Slowly but surely, Broadway is making strides to do better and be more inclusive. That’s why I’m grateful that this year I got to play a small part in the tradition of cheering on the Tony nominees inside Radio City Music Hall, and I look forward to celebrating Broadway and the Tony Awards for many years to come. 

Categories
Grace Koepele Italy

Hot, Hotter, Hottest

The first half of my second two-week camp with ACLE was one of superlatives.

While my previous camp in Vicenza brought what I thought to be many coworkers, campers, and hot days, this week in Mogliano-Veneto boasted the most. Though the ratio of tutor to camper remained roughly the same, there were 9 tutors (including me) and 92 campers ranging from six to thirteen years old! The sheer energy and volume that each morning circle musters feels as though we may have the whole city singing “Good Morning The Sun Is Up” or “Itʼs Not Hard” along with us in no time.

It became so hot each day at camp that I did not even try to wear the same work shirt twice. Within the first 15 minutes of arriving to the school, I would begin to sweat without even registering that it was hot. Due to this awful heat wave, every day only grew hotter. On Thursday, our camp reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit (but apparently felt like 110)!

In an effort to keep everyone hydrated, engaged, and sane, many standing games became sitting games, meditation breaks became our norm, and one tutor even created a “water dance” to encourage the campers to stay hydrated while also teaching them directions (e.g. up, down, right, left, etc).

Despite feeling like I was living in inferno, I was blessed again with an absolutely amazing host family. My host parents, Sabrina and Massimo, are always happy to talk, swap stories, go somewhere, or simply spend time with me and their six-year-old son, Riccardo. Together, we had some of the busiest days yet this summer; every day after camp brought new trips the pool, pilates classes, and a night out in Treviso (a cute nearby town with canals like Venice but not nearly as many tourists, pigeons, or confusing dead-ends).

After a long, hot, and somewhat hectic week, we took a day trip to the beautiful beach-town of Iesolo and quickly forgot about our exhaustion. We swam, tanned, and played a lively game of Bocce Ball—which prompted an important distinction in regards to the new nickname that Massimo has given me: Michigan. We decided that saying “Go Michigan” is not an acceptable form of moral support when we play a family game as it wrongfully supports my collegiate competitors (although we decided saying “Nice try, Michigan” is alright if I lose in a game).

While the past week may have been the hottest, busiest, and most tiresome week Iʼve seen with ACLE so far, I cannot wait to begin the second half of this adventure in Mogliano-Veneto and see what our massive camp accomplishes together next.

‘Til then, ciao for now!

Categories
Cami Hancock New York

NYC Part 2: A Full Week of Broadway Shows

While in New York City last week, I had the amazing opportunity to see many of the newly opened shows currently playing on Broadway. Seeing new theatre is pretty much my favorite thing to do, and I think this season on Broadway was especially important—it featured a large amount of racial and gender diversity both onstage and behind the scenes, and many of the shows featured new, challenging, innovative themes. Here’s what I thought of my favorite shows that I saw: 

What the Constitution Means to Me

What the Constitution Means to Me is a play both written by and starring Heidi Shreck, a woman who gave speeches on the Constitution as a teen. The play contrasts her teen self’s opinions with her opinions on the Constitution now that she’s an adult. Rather than serving as an escape from reality as many shows do, Constitution serves as a call-to-action in response to the injustices that women face in the United States, partly because they are still not explicitly protected under the Constitution. The show dives into other heavy topics, including abortion and domestic violence, and you’re probably reading this and thinking, Wow. That sounds like the most depressing play ever, I promise you, it’s not. The play concludes with a live debate between Heidi and a teenage girl. Each night, they flip a coin to decide who will be arguing for and who will be arguing against abolishing the Constitution and creating a new one. The play was extremely thought-provoking, mentally challenging, and empowering. It left me thinking about its themes for many days after, which in my book, is a piece of theatre fulfilling its job.

Be More Chill

I saw Be More Chill for the first time in March, and I loved it so much I had to see it a second time. It tells the story of high schooler Jeremy Heere, who will do (literally) anything to be popular. Jeremy swallows a pill-sized supercomputer that tells him what he needs to do to be chill. Be More Chill markets itself as a cross between Dear Evan Hansen and Little Shop of Horrors, and I’d say that sums it up well. While the show does have some science fiction elements, it’s the heart at the center of the story that makes me love it so much. This is most clearly seen in the act two showstopper, “Michael in the Bathroom.” Sung by Jeremy’s best friend Michael Mell, he basically experiences a panic attack onstage as he grapples with isolating loneliness and alienation from his peers. It is also, in my opinion, one of the best songs in musical theatre history. Every time I see it or hear it, I can’t help but be completely captivated by the rawness and vulnerability of it.

The Secret Life of Bees

This was the only off-Broadway show I saw on the trip, yet it was one of the best pieces of theatre I saw. The show was staged at a tiny church that had been converted into a theatre, but the cast featured multiple Tony winners and nominees. It felt as though their talent was literally booming out of that tiny theatre, and it was an absorbing, uplifting show based on the book of the same name. (Fun fact: when I was a freshman in high school, I got in trouble in English class for fangirling too hard over the book. True story.) Even being a huge fan of the book, the musical completely surpassed all my expectations. Mark my words, this show will be moving to Broadway in the near future.

Tootsie

If I’m being honest, I was not super excited to see Tootsie at first, as I had never felt compelled to watch the movie. I’m also not typically a huge fan of musical comedies because I tend to prefer deeper storylines. However, I loved Tootsie. I thought it was hilarious and extremely entertaining. The show featured a lot of humor that only people who have experience acting would understand, so I greatly enjoyed being in on the jokes. I also got to see Tootsie the day after the show’s lead, Santino Fontana, won Best Actor at the Tony Awards. There’s a line in the show where someone says to Santino, “People say you were going to win a Tony Award,” and in that moment, the entire audience cheered and screamed for about 45 seconds. Santino got so embarrassed that he hid behind the couch onstage. That was one of my favorite moments, so I’m glad I happened to be in the audience that night.

Hadestown

I got to see Hadestown just three days after it swept the Tony Awards and took home the grand prize of Best Musical. I have to say that its Tony wins were well deserved. I was extremely excited for this show because it was directed by (my queen) Rachel Chavkin, whose work I fell in love with after seeing Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812. Hadestown is based on the Greek tragedy/love story of Orpheus and Eurydice. The show is a beautiful work of art that is so intimate and complex that I couldn’t help but feel transported to the underworld. I also think that Hadestown featured the strongest collective cast out of the shows I saw. Everyone, from the leads to each member of the ensemble, was phenomenal and fully present the entire time. Hadestown also happens to be only the second Broadway musical ever to have an all-female creative team, and it was the first to win Best Musical. The beauty, depth, and originality of Hadestown proves to me that there is a great need for Broadway to have more women on its creative teams.

Oklahoma!

The last show I saw on my trip was the new revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! It is not the bright and cheery Oklahoma! that you’re probably picturing. This production is dark, eerie, and truly experimental. It is one of the most original pieces of theatre I’ve ever seen, which is shocking since it’s a revival of a show that premiered almost 80 years ago. None of the show’s original words were changed; all that changed was how the words were said. I don’t think I will ever be able to see a normal production of Oklahoma! the same way ever again. This show also has a radical staging and lighting design. Some scenes used harshly bright lights, which in the arena-style theater, allowed you to see every single audience member, while other scenes were performed in the pitch dark. To give the show an even more immersive feel, they served chili and cornbread to the entire audience at intermission. This had to be one of my favorite shows of the week, as it pushed all boundaries of what we expect a classic piece of theatre to look like. It made me question how the messages of other classic shows could be altered when performed in a new way.

Meeting Rebecca Naomi Jones, who plays Laurey in Oklahoma!

Categories
Grace Koepele Italy

When in Doubt, Sing it Out

The past two weeks in Vicenza were a whirlwind, but in the best possible way. With four host sisters, five coworkers, 30+ mosquito bites, and 60+ campers—there was never a dull moment.

Vicenza is a cozy city which rests between Verona and Venice in the north-eastern region of Veneto. It is well regarded as the ‘salon of Veniceʼ due to its comfortable, tranquil, and welcoming nature. With many masterfully built and beautifully-aging buildings, Vicenza sets a gorgeous landscape for the lively, yet quiet, stream of people that pass through its stone streets.

My host family, the Horatz family, lives right in the city center—which blessed me with a blissful five-minute walk to camp each morning. Though only the younger two sisters—Ludovica and Vittoria—attended camp with me, I was able to spend time with the older two—Sofia and Anna—in the evenings as well. In all honesty, I could not have asked for a better family to begin my summer with. Their parents—Christopher and Francesca—were always excited to talk in English or Italian, with the occasional conversation in German amongst themselves or with their children. Their multi-lingual household always kept me on my toes and made every conversation a fun combination of speaking and also exchanging new words with one another. (Christopher found it especially comical when words between Italian and English seemed to only change in pronunciation but were still different enough that we had to ask one another for the equivalent on a number of occasions).

Francesca is an absolute master in the kitchen, and so every meal was truly delicious (and incredibly healthy). Each meal became something I looked forward to not only for the food but for the company as well; from the very beginning I felt as though I was a part of the family and as the days passed I only grew closer with each of them.

The only downside to my time in Vicenza was the mosquito population from hell; it became a running joke with my host family that I was too nice or that I sweat sugar because the mosquitoes seemed to fly past absolutely everyone just to bite me! Some heavy-duty insect repellent and lots of long shirts and pants (much to my host motherʼs dismay) seemed to only slightly sway their advances. Never-the-less, any time spent outside— especially with my family—was well worth the free blood drive! (Although I must admit the bite on the inside of my palm was particularly rude).

Every camp day began with two extremely enthusiastic ACLE songs and a game or two. Due to the fact that I led the youngest children, between the ages of six and eight, my days almost entirely consisted of games and songs —something I enjoyed immensely but which also contributed to the loss of my voice over my birthday weekend! But alas, with the vocal assistance of my helper Maria and even more gesticulating and emoting throughout the few camp days where I was practically mute, we had an exciting time learning and playing together. One game in particular was so popular with the kids (it consisted of asking to go to the bathroom and being chased by “toilet monsters”) that I ended up having each of my kids sing “Can I Go To The Toilet Please” to me before they used the bathroom in an effort to teach them this important, and seemingly somewhat difficult to pronounce, question. After the success of the toilet monster song and game, it became even more evident how impactful the melodies and rhymes of ACLEʼs curriculum have on helping the children connect with and master English.

In these two weeks I may have needed to use 50+ stickers, I may have mysteriously lost absolutely all of my pink or red markers, I may have been actually handed spit and snot, and I may have taken a power nap on the floor of the staff room (more than once) but there is no doubt in my mind that these stumbling blocks happened for a reason; Each kid left camp with at least five new English songs, an extremely colorful and heavily-stickered activity book, a snazzy ACLE T-shirt, many variations of the game “Captainʼs Coming” (each adaptation complete with whatever set of vocabulary the tutor who played it decided we needed to learn or practice), and a smile.

Though I am already plagued by the horror that is realizing I now have ACLE songs such as “Bananas, Coconuts, and Grapes” or “P-A-R-T-Y” on repeat in my head when I do almost anything, I am eager to meet more people, sing more songs, see more places, and continue the work. I wouldnʼt have it any other way (except maybe without the mosquitoes). ‘Til then, ciao for now!

Categories
Grace Koepele Italy

Starting in Sanremo

After landing in Milan exploring for a day, I took a train to the gorgeous city of Sanremo to begin my orientation training for ACLE. The orientation took place at the mountaintop Nyala Suite Hotel along with 45 other native English speakers from America, Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Uruguay. The hotelʼs breathtaking rooftop views of the Mediterranean Sea and the mountains helped ease the exhaustion that immediately settled in after long days of training.

Each day brought new games, techniques, songs, and excitement for the summer of teaching, connecting, and exploring ahead of me.

“Emotions generate learning”: This is the idea that Arrigo Speziali, the founder of ACLE, based the entire theater and play-rooted approach to language learning on. While ACLE has grown significantly since it first began more than 10 years ago, Speziali took the time to visit our orientation during the week to see our progress, talk with us, and share advice for our upcoming endeavors in Italy. He spoke most prominently of how love and connection help foster learning and the intrinsic motivation to learn.

(continues after photos)

ACLEʼs playful approach to learning shows children that grammar and precision are not so important at the end of the day: instead, their ability to connect with others through their journeys to fluency is what will help them grow most.

Another key element of ACLEʼs teaching approach includes “Process Drama,” a technique in which tutors and students assume certain roles within the story that they are following (e.g., a United Nations meeting, a job interview, etc.) and act how they imagine their character would act in these situations. Process Drama allows the campers to worry less about how their own opinions may be perceived and focus more on their ability to understand and speak English. It also helps foster their creativity and teach them about important topics such as this yearʼs theme of environmental protection.

I am excited to see how these theatrical techniques help the campers grow more confident in their English, learn new things, and connect with one another in a fun and playful way!

Categories
Cami Hancock New York

NYC Part 1: My Favorite Adventures

This past week I traveled to my favorite place in the entire world: New York City. I believe there is no place more beautiful or exciting, not to mention it is also the theatre capital of the world. On this trip, I went with my mom, and we had a fantastic time exploring new neighborhoods, seeing eight shows, and attending the Tony Awards! I’m going to be making separate blog posts on the shows we saw and what it was like to attend the Tony Awards, but here are some of my favorite things we did during our days there:

Image shows the author Cami in a summer dress posing with singer Josh Groban, wearing sunglasses.

Meeting Josh Groban at Shake Shack.

On Friday, my mom and I ventured up to Washington Heights, a neighborhood way up on the northern tip of Manhattan. One of my favorite musicals, In the Heights, is being turned into a movie, and my mom and I knew they would be filming in Washington Heights this summer. We wanted to see if we could see any part of the movie being filmed, and we hit the jackpot. We got to see Anthony Ramos and Melissa Barrera, who play the main characters Usnavi and Vanessa, filming a scene and we even got to meet them during their break. My mom and I are huge fans of Anthony Ramos because he was in the original cast of Hamilton, and he was truly one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. We also got to meet the film’s director, Jon Chu, who directed one of my favorite movies: Crazy Rich Asians. Everyone on set was so nice, and I cannot wait to see the In the Heights movie once it’s finally released.

Image shows three people: left Anthony Ramos, middle is the author Cami, and Melissa Barrera far right.

With Anthony Ramos and Melissa Barrera.

Image shows Cami the author posing on the street for a photo with director Jon Chu. Both are smiling for the photo.

With Jon Chu, the director of In the Heights.

On Sunday, my mom and I were eating lunch at the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park. As I was getting up to leave the table, a man asked me if he could have my table, and I said yes. When I glanced up at him, I saw that man was none other than JOSH GROBAN. He was wearing sunglasses, so I wasn’t 100% sure it was him. I told my mom, “I think Josh Groban just asked for my table,” so she went and discreetly asked him while at the condiments bar. He confirmed he was, indeed, Josh Groban, and that he would be presenting at the Tony awards later that night. I got a picture with him, and I was in complete shock for the rest of the day. Magical things happen in New York City.

On Tuesday, my mom and I explored some areas of New York City that we had never been to before, including Grammercy and the West Village. In Grammercy, we found a dog park and got to play with puppies, as well as ate lunch at S’MAC, a mac and cheese restaurant with a dozen different flavors of mac and cheese (so, Grammercy was basically my idea of heaven.) In the West Village, we visited the historic Stonewall Inn, which many people know to be the birthplace of the gay rights movement. June is Pride Month, and I loved getting to visit such an important monument because the events that took place there launched annual Gay Pride celebrations and the long journey towards equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community. It made my heart so happy to see that all areas of New York City were bursting with pride, and the acceptance that NYC has for all people is one of the many reasons it’s my favorite place.

Those were a few of my favorite moments from this week in New York City. I can’t wait to share the rest of the adventures I had with you. As always, NYC made me feel at home and I can’t help but feel that every time I leave, I leave a little piece of myself behind. Until next time, NYC.