THEATER KIDS: Registration is now open for Tomato Patch Summer Workshops at Mercer County Community College (MCCC), where students are offered classes in the performing and visual arts, culminating with an Evening of the Arts for family and friends on the last day of each session.
Registration is open for the Tomato Patch Summer Workshops at Mercer County Community College (MCCC), where kids from 10 to 19 experience everything from performance to dance to visual arts.
Now in its 53rd year, Tomato Patch is the longest-running and most successful multi-disciplinary visual and performing arts program in Central New Jersey. Classes are taught by a professional artists and theater professionals.
Tomato Patch has seen many members go on to accomplished careers in the arts, including Tom Pelphrey, who just finished the first season of TASK with Mark Ruffalo; Taylor Ortega, who just finished the first season of Big Mistakes with Dan Levy and Laurie Metcalf; Zach Cherry from Severance; Natalie Ortega, Nessa in Wicked; and Mel Licata from Face Off, to name a few. Others have gone on to open their own studios, and as instructors in the arts.
Unlike other performing arts camps, Tomato Patch Workshops is truly multi-disciplinary, allowing students to major in one subject while taking classes in other areas. Classes are offered in Theater, Dance, Vocal Music, Video Production, and Visual Art. Students will have the opportunity to choose from one area as a major, with mornings spent in a major class. Afternoons will be spent in elective class of the student’s choosing.
“Tomato Patch focuses on providing a well-grounded, realistic experience,” said Kitty Getlik, artistic director at MCCC’s Kelsey Theatre. “Through instruction by professional staff members who have worked in the arts, participants receive a real-world experience, with a perspective of what a career in the arts has to offer.”
Tomato Patch workshops will be offered in two sessions, with a master class available for advanced theater students. The first session is for students entering grades 8 to 12 (minimum age 13), to be held from June 29 to July 24 (no classes July 3). The second session, for grades 4 to 7 (minimum age 10), will be held from July 27 to August 13. Classes are 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. Both sessions conclude with an Evening of the Arts for family and friends.
A session is also available for the advanced Master Class in Acting, a full-day, three-week theater intensive summer program for ages 13-19, July 27-Aug. 14. The session culminates in A Night of One Acts. All sessions will be held on MCCC’s West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road.
New this year is the Tomato Patch Jr. Summer Camp for ages 7-10, June 29-July 24 (no classes July 3). This is a comprehensive and fun creative theater program to encourage students with hands-on acting, singing, dancing, set building, and costume design, culminating in a fun performance for the parents. Classes are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Before and after camp is available.
For more information, visit tomatopatch.mccc.edu.