WHAT OUR PARENTS SAY...

The verdict on No Strings Summer Music Theatre Camp? From the first day to the last: "Best Camp EVER!"

My daughter loved every day at No Strings: she felt both challenged and respected; she made new friends, some of whom she will see next year in high school; and she loved the opportunity to put on a full-scale music theatre production, and was very proud of the result!

As a parent, I was delighted that the camp was everything it was advertised to be. The participants were challenged at their own level, and the camp gave them insight into the practices of the professional theatre world. Information coming from the camp was helpful and reliable. And best of all, at the end we enjoyed a terrific performance!

It was a treat to see just how engaged each of the performers was during the show. It was clear that they all enjoyed the experience and had a lot of fun along the way.

I hope No Strings continues to offer this terrific program -- there's really nothing else quite like it!

Catherine Marjoribanks
(mother of Mary Askwith, 2008)

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After last night's second successful production of Bye Bye Birdie, I just had to write you all a note of congratulations.

As someone in 'the biz' I know how hard it is to mount a production like this with professional adults, but you all managed to do it in under a month with mostly untrained kids! Teenagers, no less-and you all survived!! You are all so very talented.

It was a wonderful show with some great performers and some very excellent moments and always 100% from the heart. The effort was at all times very professional.

On a personal level though, I must thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
It has done wonders for my son Mickey.
it was Mickey's first involvement with anything like this.
For a boy with high-functioning autism to have been chosen for a lead role and then perform it with such conviction, superb comic timing, dancing and singing for the first time as a soloist....well it's just a bit short of a miracle.
Most people who don't know Mickey couldn't even tell that he was autistic. Some people who are experts in the field who happened to be in the audience also couldn't tell !!!
He was up there having a total blast and the time of his life.
He was joyful and sunny and unbelievably gratified by the audience reaction.
He has been making much better eye contact and his face to face interaction has been much greater in the month he's been rehearsing with all of you.
I could see that the other kids treated him with affection and respect as did all the staff. This is what is so wonderful when there is a unity of community, and that is almost always true in a theatre group, isn't it?

There were tears in my eyes many times during both shows, but they were tears of pride and delight.
Thank you all for making me weep in this way.
Mickey's Dad, Howard, shares all these sentiments too.

With gratitude

Cindy Raskin, "Mitchell" Slapcoff's mom
and
Howard Slapcoff, "Mitchell's" dad , 2006

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WHAT OUR PARTICIPANTS SAY...

“This is the best camp ever!

“One of the best experiences in my life….. I will never forget the people here.”

“This camp has been a life changing experience. Thank you for everything.” “From my heart and my mind, I thank you”

“Thank you for being such an inspiration! What a great team! Thanks for giving me the role of a lifetime and the guidance to do it as I hoped to.”

“I made true friends at No Strings Theatre. I learned teamwork and character development and I couldn’t have had more fun. I would recommend it to anyone.”

“This camp is the centre of my inspiration to keep on achieving my dreams and goals, and to be open to new experiences and opportunities.”

“A great experience!…I learned so much and have left a changed person.”

“I have discovered my love for music theatre; I can’t think of a place outside of No Strings where all of this could happen.

“I have had such an amazing experience here! I am so happy I chose to come. I was so lucky to have an experience like this and to meet such wonderful people. Thank you.”

“My time at No Strings has been amazing. All of the teachers are amazing, patient and willing to help. Some of my favourite activities during the camp were improvisation class, practicing our dances and vocal run-throughs. All of my fellow campers were all so kind and energetic. They definitely added a lot of fun to my time at No Strings.”

“My time here has been so inspirational…….I really don’t want to leave….we’ve all grown so close…….leaving….it’s almost impossible. Here I learned how to improve my singing and dancing. Here I feel so happy and the support is so strong! I love everyone here and I will NEVER forget them.”

 

Summer is about making new friends over thousands of miles; Sheraine, Toronto, Rebecca, Timmins,ON