THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – May 29, 2013) The Summer Theatre Camp presented by the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company and California Lutheran University will return for its 28th year with a new curriculum.

The more engaging and comprehensive curriculum was designed to provide campers with additional opportunities to try acting techniques on stage while helping them better understand Shakespeare’s times and his plays.

The camp’s new assistant director, Aaron Anthony Bonilla, was instrumental in developing the new curriculum. The North Hollywood resident led camp workshops while serving as an acting apprentice for the company two years ago and returned last year as the lead teacher. He also has designed a new teacher-development program for the apprentices who teach in the camp. A graduate of the Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts, he has spent 12 years devoted to theater production, performance and education.

Michael McCambridge, an associate professor of education at CLU who has more than 40 years of experience in education and drama, returns as camp director. Barbara Wegher-Thompson, who teaches and choreographs at CLU and has been involved with the Young Artists Ensembles, will again teach “Musical Theatre.”

Two-week morning and afternoon sessions begin June 17 and continue through Aug. 2.

In “Beginning Shakespeare,” children aged 8 to 12 will learn about the Bard, textual analysis, vocabulary, stage movement and combat techniques as they prepare to present scenes on stage. Training for 8- to 16-year-olds will continue with “Advanced Shakespeare I” and “Advanced Shakespeare II,” covering Shakespeare scenes, stage combat and acting techniques in more depth and concluding with the presentation of challenging scenes. In “Acting Techniques,” students 12 to 16 will study voice, movement, improvisation and stage combat while preparing to perform prepared scenes and original work. “Musical Theatre” for 12- to 16-year-olds will cover vocal technique, auditioning and other aspects of the genre and culminate in a performance of selections from a musical.

Classes will be held in the CLU Theatre Arts Building.

The Kingsmen Shakespeare Company, the professional theater company of CLU, presents the annual Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival each summer, coordinates apprentice programs for professional and aspiring Shakespearean actors and provides an educational tour program in local schools.

For more information, visit http://www.kingsmenshakespeare.org, call 805-493-3455 or email campshakespeare@kingsmenshakespeare.org.

Registration is available online.