Mix NYC talents with Atlanta youth, get energetic musical fun

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[July 20, 2016]  ATLANTA - The Friday evening culmination of the Atlanta Public Library Summer Arts Camp was a smash hit in musical performances. The members of the weeklong music camp presented a concert featuring pop and custom created musical performances.

The Summer Arts Camp led off with a week of fine arts followed by a week of theatre. This final week may have been the most unusual of the entire summer.

Library Director Cathy Marciariello asked her friend Robert LuPone to come to Atlanta from New York City to direct the music camp. LuPone is a nationally known actor and director with many credits from his work on stage, television, and the movies.

Robert and Cathy had become friends during her time working for the Mellon Foundation in support of the arts. Robert is an Emmy and Tony nominated actor who has appeared on Broadway in “A Chorus Line” and on television in “The Sopranos”, “CSI: SVU” and several soap operas including “All My Children.”

While maintaining an active performing career, he also has an acting company in New York City that presents four shows a year for which he serves as director. His acting company also has a section designed for high school students who have caught the acting bug.

“I had no idea what to expect when Cathy called and asked me to direct a music camp composed of grade school students in Atlanta, Illinois. I talked about it with my wife Virginia and son Orlando, and we agreed it would be an adventure and a chance to take a road trip, so we said yes. And of course, it was Cathy asking. We have been friends for years,” he said.

What he found when he walked into the Atlanta Public Library Monday morning was a group of excited campers ages from first through fifth grade ready to learn. Many of them had just completed the first two sessions of the arts camp.

“This was my first experience with this age group. We had talked about what we would teach before coming to Atlanta, but to actually face these kids and make things happen was another matter,” LuPone said with a laugh. “This turned out to be a fun week for all of us. We wanted the campers to learn about different instruments, different kinds of music, and what music can teach them,” he said.

Assisted by wife Virginia, a teacher and actor in her own right, and son Orlando, Robert brought all sorts of new skills and knowledge about music to the kids. And he learned a few things himself.

“Sometimes the week was organized chaos. I had to learn how to teach a class with more than one age group in it. That was entirely new for me. I also had to teach students who were not focused on an acting career. And I learned something entirely new for me, patience,” he said.

Was it fun?

“It was tremendous fun,” LuPone replied with a big smile.

Would you do it again?

That was an easy question to answer. “Absolutely! The kids were terrific. We had classes every morning and some of the campers actually wanted to come back in the afternoon for more,” he said. “My son Orlando even took part in the camp, and he found a new friend in Atlanta,” Robert said.

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After a week of learning on both sides, it was time to show off what the campers and their teachers had learned. The meeting room on the second floor of the Atlanta Museum was once again the venue for a concert Friday evening. The room was filled with parents, friends, and relatives of the campers.

Robert and Virginia started off the evening with remarks about the week they had just spent in a small central Illinois town. They thanked the parents for sending their children to the music camp, saying how terrific they were.

And then it was show time!

The show was entitled “Don’t Believe Me Just Watch (Come On)” and it filled the room with excitement. The campers started the performance with a rousing rendition with singing and dancing to Bruno Mars’ popular hit “Uptown Funk” and ended with Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling.”

Between those two songs, the campers performed three of their own compositions compete with instruments.

The enthusiasm on stage was contagious, and as Robert and Virginia LuPone directed from the front row, they were just as excited as their young students.

The show ended with bows and applause. No one wanted to leave. The kids gathered around Virginia and Robert LuPone for one last word with their famous teacher, photos, autographs, and of course lots of hugs.
 


The Atlanta Public Library in its unique and historic octagonal building offers many wonderful programs for school age readers. There are also fascinating and informative programs for adults. Contact the library for more information.

Atlanta Public Library
Public library in Atlanta, Illinois


The Atlantic Public Library is located at 100 Race St., the intersection of Race and Arch Streets in Atlanta, Illinois.

Phone: 217-648-2112
Website: http://www.atlantapld.org/ 


[Curtis Fox]

 

 

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