Children Blossom at Middlesex County College's Theatre Camp

What's not to love about a camp devoted to children who love being in the limelight?

It's a subject upon which Michael Taubenslag is an expert. He has been running the summer theatre camp at Middlesex County College for more than two decades.

He says it’s a labor of love.

“I’ve seen kids come in who are shy and withdrawn, and by the time they leave, they

are brimming with self-confidence,” he said. “Sure, we’ll put on a good show, and

some of our campers want to continue in the theater as adults. But it really is more

about creating self-esteem in the kids than in creating actors.”

The Theater Campers at Middlesex County College’s Camp Middlesex, for school grades 6 to 9, were preparing for their production of ‘The Silly Adventures of Sinbad’, a play they were set on performing for friends and family.

Taubenslag said that ‘The Silly Adventures of Sinbad’ is “the famous story of Sinbad, but ours is just a little bit silly.”

“Sinbad has his girlfriend, he falls in love, he saves her from pirates and he beats them all up,” Taubenslag explained. “He’s got to leave on an adventure and he ends up on a deserted island and gets stuck because he’s in a shipwreck. Then, they find a giant bird and grab onto her feathers and fly away, and then they land in the bathtub of the rotten Princess Cucamonga, who wants to marry Sinbad. It’s a whole funny story.”

Princess Cucamonga in the play "is a big, big bully. All of our shows have messages, and ‘don’t be a bully’ is the message of this one,” Taubenslag continued. “Don’t be obnoxious or people aren’t going to want to be your friend.”

Taubenslag is the owner and director of Taubenslag Productions, a professional touring children's theater company dedicated to presenting quality family entertainment.

“Our productions have been captivating audiences throughout the nation since

1964,” Taubenslag said. “Our formula is simple: never talk down to the children,

always keep a fast pace, and visually stimulate their imaginations. Our goal is not

merely to entertain the children, but to bring out the child in their parents as well,

making it a memorable experience for the entire family.”

His father, Elliott, started Taubenslag productions in 1964, and Taubenslag has

continued the family tradition, running Theater Camp at Middlesex County College

for 22 years.

He described the experience of assigning the right role to his young charges.

“This year it’s actually hard to cast roles,” Taubenslag said. “We started the show

[Monday] and I had about 10 kids who could play Sinbad and 15 kids who could play Princess Cucamonga. So, it’s getting harder and harder and harder [to cast roles]. It means kids are also learning. I said if they want to audition I need to see it in your eyes and your face, and they get confidence from it.”

Sebastian Zuniga, who is playing Sinbad, said that he’s “really, really pumped” about the play because it’s his first time starring in a lead role in a play.

“I’m excited and nervous – it’s mixed,” Zuniga said, who also added that he experienced “sweaty hands and butterflies” in his stomach when he tried out for the lead role of Sinbad.

“I always get really nervous when I try out. I was like, ‘Oh, man! I really hope I get picked!’ And then I got picked and I was so excited.”

Adi Zacks, who is playing Princess Cucamonga, said this is her sixth time playing a lead or supporting role in the three years she’s been attending Theater Camp, and admitted she still gets nervous doing tryouts and going onstage.

“I was a little [nervous],” Zacks said. “I’ve kind of gotten used to it since my first or

second year, but I was still a little nervous.”

Seth Rubenfeld, who is playing the Pirate Captain, also explained his feelings on the

process of auditioning for roles at Theater Camp.

“You feel really nervous, and you feel more nervous when Michael picks you out of all of [the kids trying out],” Rubenfeld said. “That’s telling you that you do a good job, you get the part, and it makes you feel a little bit scared, like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe this is happening to me.’”

All three cast members said they thought they needed more practice before performing in front of an audience of approximately 900 people, and Rubenfeld said as of that Tuesday, they had rehearsed approximately half of the play so far.

“[Tuesday] we practiced the whole thing thru and practiced all our songs, and I think it went really, really well,” Zuniga said.

Rubenfeld added that “practice makes perfect” and Zacks also said she was very proud of the way everybody has performed so far.

The next play the group will present is “The Little Mermaid”, which will be held Friday, July 29 at 9:30 am at the college.