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 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.
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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.
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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