Encouraging Youth. Inspiring Success.

The summer of 2023 we welcomed Robin Hood and his merry followers of Sherwood Forest with performances at the historic Gloria Theatre.  We were so excited that our students were the first group of kids to perform a full-length musical on the newly expanded stage.
 
In 2024 we set sail for another great camp adventure with the musical “A Pirates Life for Me!”.  The Pirate Queen’s crew, Bluebeard’s crew, and Captain Blood’s crew all end up on Treasure Island in a swashbuckling comedy.  We were thrilled to have many of our students from 2023 returning and bringing siblings and friends with them.  Cast members from fourteen schools came together to deliver three fantastic performances.
 
Grants in 2025 funded the purchase of some lavalier body microphones for the production “Night at the Wax Museum”.  Student enrollment and audience attendance increased significantly.  Forty cast members formed a team and made memories they will always cherish.  SUMMER THEATER CAMP is definitely developing the leaders of tomorrow.

 Our talented, experienced and dedicated teaching & directorial staff focus on developing abilities while building confidence for all students.  Camp provides students with both onstage performance experience as well as backstage production experience. Students will also develop valuable life skills such as communication, concentration and team work. 

Lynn Adell Mirtes, Founder, Co-producer & Assistant Director

By the age of ten Lynn Adell knew she wanted to become a teacher and later discovered that she had a real passion for helping teenagers discover their talents and abilities.  She directed high school and junior high plays and musicals while teaching literature and drama.  She also taught Saturday morning theater workshops for the Springfield Arts Council and after school enrichment programs in creative dramatics.  “Encourage creativity and be supportive.  Help kids believe that they can and they will surprise themselves.”
 
During her career some of her favorite directorships were Carousel, West Side Story, The Outsiders, Ducktails and Bobbysocks, Godspell, Mr. Scrooge, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Alice in Wonderland.  “I like to choose musicals that do more than entertain and have a positive message that might be uplifting for the audience.”
 
In this digital age where teens have so much screen time Lynn Adell feels that developing good communication skills when face to face is an ever-increasing need.  “We teach essential life skills at camp while building their self-confidence.” 
 
In 2019 Lynn Adell founded the nonprofit SUMMER THEATER CAMP FOR YOUTH and became a producer.  She admits that learning how to fund raise, apply for grants, raise awareness and gain sponsorships has been challenging.  She humbly thanks all of you who donated, sponsored, gave tuition scholarships, volunteered, encouraged and so graciously support our youth.  Please continue the ripple effect of building the leaders of tomorrow.

Wendee Fosnaugh, Co-producer and Stage Director

Wendee’s first performance on stage was at 6 years old and that was all it took.  She’s had “the performance bug” ever since.  She studied dance at both Cindy Carmazzi’s and Gary Gies’ dance studios. She also studied at a private performing arts camp in junior high then continued to perform in both junior and senior high school musicals and plays.  She was a member of her high school’s Swing Chorale.  

​In college she choreographed and assistant directed for the junior high musicals at Northridge and also performed in various Springfield Summer Arts Festival musicals. Some of her favorite performances have been in the musicals Oklahoma!, Grease, Kiss Me Kate, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Bye Bye Birdie and in the play Harvey.   
 
She has been working with teens for several years and enjoys coaching and directing them to "leave it all on the stage".   It is her privilege to invest in developing the next generation of young performers and future leaders.  It has been her great joy to see the growth of STC students during camp and as they return year after year!

Musical Director, Kristen Gleeson

STC is excited to have Kristen Gleeson joining us this year as our Musical Director!  She will be a great addition to our team and we have loved having her teenagers with us the last two years and returning again this summer.  Kristen is the Vocal Music Director at Graham Local Middle and High Schools.

Amy Davidge, Choreographer

We are thrilled to welcome Amy Davidge, owner and ballet mistress from the Ohio Performing Arts Institute (OPAI) to our team.  Amy began her formal training at the age of nine. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Education from Bowling Green State University and has studied with D. Scot Davidge, Shari Jerome, Deborah Tell, and Kathleen Cleary. She has also studied in New York City with renowned teacher Finis Jhung. An avid performer, Ms. Davidge has performed in and choreographed several productions for OPAI and co-founded the Springfield Ballet Theatre. She has performed in many productions including the roles of “Clara” & “The Sugar Plum Fairy” in The Nutcracker, Seussical, Carousel, The Wiz, The Pirates of Penzance, Cabaret, Grease, Pippin, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, Damn Yankees, Bye Bye Birdie, Sweeney Todd, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Addams Family, A Grand Night for Singing and Anything Goes. Ms. Davidge has instructed ballet at Clark State Community College and OPAI.