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About Summer Theatre

Hutton's Hamlet will celebrate 26 years of Youth Theater Workshops in 2025. With each new production, the Hamlet welcomed returning veterans of prior theater workshops as well as newcomers from throughout Stanislaus County and beyond. Prior to beginning the workshops in 1999 at Hutton's Hamlet, Annette Hutton (Director) worked extensively in theater in Stockton, Lodi, and Groveland, as director and musical director for both community theaters and children's theater. She holds degrees in music education and piano performance from the University of the Pacific.

 

WHAT: Theater Arts/Drama/Music workshops. The workshops emphasize acting techniques, stage presence, and vocal training. The workshops culminate in a fully-staged production open to the public.

WHERE: Hutton's Hamlet Performing Arts Center, 132 West G Street (the chapel at the northeast corner of West G Street and South Church Avenue), Oakdale.

WHEN: Monday through Friday mornings, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for two-week workshops. 

ELIGIBILITY: Students ages 8-20. Enrollment is first-come, first-serve. No auditions. (Note: These are only two-week workshops. Regular attendance every day is mandatory; it is critical that you do not schedule anything else for the participant that will interfere with attendance on any day during a workshop that you select.)

TUITION: $275 per participant (Includes the price of t-shirt for each participant).

Call (209) 848-1216 for more information.

DIRECTORS: Annette Hutton has worked extensively in theater in Stockton, Lodi, Columbia, and Groveland in the capacities of director and musical director for community theaters and children's theater. She holds degrees in music education and piano performance from the University of the Pacific. In 2003, Annette was honored with the Excellence in Music award as a Woman of Distinction (in Education) by Soroptimist of Oakdale, in May 2007.

Emily Frantz is a graduate from the University of California, Irvine with a degree in Theatre. She participated in Hutton’s Hamlet theater from ages 6-18 and was a First Assistant for Annette for many years. She has been teaching college-level workshops (Intro to Theatre, Clowning, and Dance Technique) at Hutton’s Hamlet in 2020-present. She is so honored and excited for her chance to direct some of the shows this summer and cannot wait to work with you all again! 

A Pirate's Life For Me

June 1st- June 13th

Rehearsals: Monday- Friday, 8:00 AM- 1:00 PM

Performances: Friday June 12th at 7:00 PM, Saturday June 13th at 2: PM, and Saturday June 13th at 7:00 PM

Musical comedy. Aristocrat Roger Goodman has his heart set on a conventional life married to the wealthy Sarah Huffington and living happily ever after. That is, until he finds out that she thinks he’s boring and would rather marry a brave and adventurous pirate! Determined to prove himself to his beloved, Roger hires Long John Sliver to tutor him and his newly-recruited motley crew in the field of piracy. In exchange for his total pirate makeover (which includes the fearsome new name, Captain Blood), Roger and his crew sail to Treasure Island seeking the chests of gold doubloons Long John Sliver buried there long ago. 

Don't Rock the Boat

June 15th- June 27th

Rehearsals: Monday- Friday, 8:00 AM- 1:00 PM

Performances: Friday June 26th at 7:00 PM, Saturday June 27th at 2: PM, and Saturday June 27th at 7:00 PM

Musical comedy. This play is a rollicking musical that takes place on a wacky cruise ship, which is actually a converted gunboat manned by a crew of rejects from Maritime High School. They include a seasick engineer, an ambitious but very young captain, a gung-ho nurse, and a trio of girl singers passing themselves off as a famous show biz act. Everybody gets a chance to sing with 10 rollicking songs, such as “There’s a Hurricane Headed This Way!” Among the loopy passengers, Honey Hotchkiss, a fabulous Hollywood star, and Miss Buford, her secretary, belt out “Real Tears Ain’t (Aren’t) Easy.” The pirates perform the reggae song, “Doin’ the Hula in Bamboola,” while the non-stop jogger has a rap, “Big Feet Run in My Family.” 

Camelot and Camelittle

July 6th- July 18th

Rehearsals: Monday- Friday, 8:00 AM- 1:00 PM

Performances: Friday July 17th at 7:00 PM, Saturday July 18th at 2: PM, and Saturday July 18th at 7:00 PM

Non-musical comedy. Spunky, young Ruth dreams of being a Knight of the Round Table. But King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, and her other heroes laugh at her when she demonstrates her valor in a battle with a melodramatic lizard pretending to be a dragon. Humiliated, Ruth sets off to form her own queendom that is bigger and better than Camelot, bringing with her the lizard and a mule that she claims is a unicorn. Soon they are joined by a frog, whom Ruth declares to be an ogre; a skunk, whom she pronounces a wizard (because the skunk makes everyone disappear); and two kids, whom she dubs her bravest knights. On their quest, they meet the enchanting Lady of the Lake, a bumbling Merlin, riddle-loving trolls, a vain unicorn, and the evil sorcerers Morgana le Fay and Mordred, who have their own plan to outdo King Arthur. 

Haphazardly Ever After

July 20th- Aug 1st

Rehearsals: Monday- Friday, 8:00 AM- 1:00 PM

Performances: Friday July 31st at 7:00 PM, Saturday Aug 1st at 2: PM, and Saturday Aug 1st at 7:00 PM

Musical comedy. The mean Princess Cinnamon, the not-so-bright Princess Peppermint, the vain Prince Hairgel, and Prince Slacker are obnoxious, bratty adult children who do not live up to their royal duties---and they all still live at home! The king and queen try everything to help their children grow up and move out, but nothing seems to work. After hiring a therapist, bringing in teachers, and even trying to marry off their children, the king and queen are ready for a happily-ever-after that doesn’t involve their children living at home. They call upon a fairy godmother to help quiet the castle. But who knew hiring a fairy godmother came at such a ridiculous price? And the permits required are outrageous! The king and queen decide to create a do-it-yourself fairy tale. But nothing goes as planned, and musical, comical, and royal chaos ensues. But despite the king and queen’s DIY failure, the princess and princesses just might have been changed for the better.

TO REGISTER:

1. Please fill out the Registration Document

2. Bring it OR mail it in to Hutton's Hamlet (149 Church Ave, Oakdale)

3. Pay for your spot to reserve it- cash, check, or debit/credit

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