20-Year Legacy Continues For Emily McCabe Musical Theatre Program

MOKENA, IL — The Emily McCabe Musical Theatre Program is back and celebrating its 20th year of putting on productions with children in kindergarten through eighth grade. This year's lineup will include productions of "The Music Man Jr." and "It's A Jungle Out There!"

The Emily McCabe Musical Theatre Program, or Camp, was started 20 years ago by Curtain Call Theatre in Mokena to fill a need for a performing outlet for children, according to Meg McCabe, program co-producer for Emily McCabe.

The program was named after Meg McCabe's daughter Emily shortly after her death when the program was first being developed, McCabe said. Emily McCabe had been involved with Curtain Call Theatre productions before her death.

"Because of her enthusiasm and her love for theater, after she passed [Curtain Call] asked us if they could name the camp after her," McCabe said.

McCabe said it was a fitting tribute to her daughter's life.

"It was the perfect memorial for her," McCabe said. "It was something she loved. It is something that's been very near and dear to the hearts of our entire family for the past 20 years."

And now, 20 years later, the tradition carries on. The Emily McCabe Musical Theatre Program has opportunities for young thespians in two age groups to take the stage and show off their talents. "It's A Jungle Out There!" features children in kindergarten through third grade, while "The Music Man Jr." is for children in fourth through eighth grade.

McCabe said productions are chosen based on how many parts are available for the children to play so that each participant has the opportunity for a speaking role in the productions. There's also a learning component to the productions, McCabe said.

"Some of the old musicals, they're a period piece from a space in time that they may not be familiar with, so we also think the kids benefit and learn from doing something about a time period that they may not be familiar with," McCabe said.

McCabe said she is proud of the fact that, for the past 20 years, the Emily McCabe program has consistently been filled each year, and that people often comment on the quality of each production the group performs.

"A lot of the people have commented that they are really like high school productions," she said. "We go all out on costumes and the sets and the scenery. And we challenge the kids to perform at the best of their ability for their dancing and singing."

McCabe added that the staff who work with the children deserve a lot of credit. Many of the staff are high school educators with much experience in plays and musicals, she said. Some of the staff have even gone through the Emily McCabe program when they were younger and have returned to pay it forward to the next generation.

The productions are split into two camps: "The Music Man Jr." is a five-week camp that starts June 13, and "It's a Jungle Out There!" is a four-week camp that also starts June 13. Each camp meets Monday through Thursday at St. Mary School in Mokena. Camps have a morning session and an afternoon session.

"It's A Jungle Out There!" is scheduled to run July 7 at Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox. "The Music Man Jr." is scheduled to run July 15-17, also at Lincoln-Way Central.

Registration is open for both productions' camps. Each camp has two groups: one that rehearses in the mornings from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and the other in the afternoons from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Registration cost is $425 for "The Music Man Jr." and $325 for "It's a Jungle Out There!" Registration is open to any child in the south and southwest suburbs who wants to participate, regardless of past experience or where the child lives, McCabe said.

For more information, or to register for either production, visit the Curtain Call Theatre website.