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 Practicing players run through a scene for the teen musical “The Secret Garden” as drama day camps continue at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts. Glenn Moore/Our Town
The Tracy Performing Arts Foundation and the city of Tracy are hosting the Grand Theatre’s day camps for teenagers and children, which will culminate starting Friday with showings of “The Secret Garden” and, three weeks later, “The Return of the Glass Slipper,” directed by Deborah Littleton and Bekka Austin.
Now in the middle of its third week, the first day camp is preparing teens for their roles in the child-only casting of “The Secret Garden.”
Littleton, a Tracy resident since 1995 and a Tracy Arts Commissioner, has a theater degree from California State University, San Jose. She has acted since she was 14 and has directed plays since 1990.
She says she hopes the young participants get a lot out of the camps.
“Any time you get into a role, you grow from each experience,” she said. “I know when I was a kid, I had low self-confidence, but the theater helped me reach further in my personal and professional life.”
April Parker, 13, of Williams Middle School, said the camp has been great.
“I’ve learned how to sing better and made a lot of new friends,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of fun acting.”
The “Secret Garden” camp is made up of thespians ages 12 through 18, and the second camp is made of boys and girls ages 6 through 11.
The second camp will be twice the size of the first, meaning “The Return of the Glass Slipper” will be double-casted.
“That one is going to be a bit tougher to control,” Austin said. With a bachelor’s degree in music performance from Brigham Young University, Austin is the director of three local community choirs and has taught voice and piano classes for five years.
She said she’s happy to work with the community’s next generation of performers.
“It’s been really good to work with them,” she said. “They’re really good kids, and they’re eager to learn. I just want them to love it, even if they don’t go into theater.”
Kira Johnson, 14, will participate in theater when she starts ninth grade at Tracy High School next month. She’s been in school plays since she was in kindergarten and says the camp is a way for her to gain experience. “It’s a good chance to work on a stage and around experienced directors and stage crew,” she said. “It’s been really fun.”
At a glance
“The Secret Garden”
“The Return of the Glass Slipper” • COST: $15
TODAY, July 16 Story time at the library WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Tracy Branch Library, INFO: 937-8221
THURSDAY, July 17 Magic Dan visits the library WHEN: 4 p.m.
WHERE: Tracy Branch Library, INFO: 937-8221
Music in the Park WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: DETAILS: Salsa band Mambo Tropical, featuring vocalist Yvette Watts, will play Latin music steeped in Afro-Cuban traditions for the seventh in a public concert series put on by the Tracy Arts Commission. The outdoor shows will take place Thursdays through the end of July. INFO: 831-6295
FRIDAY, July 18 Tracy Crime Stoppers Swing Fling fundraiser WHEN: 7 to 10 p.m.
WHERE: Holiday Inn Express, 3751 N. COST: $35 for couples, $20 for individuals, $10 for seniors INFO: Daniel Mast, 832-2500
WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Log on to meetup.com, Tracy Book Club, for details INFO: Ann, 832-9050
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Grand Theatre, COST: $15 INFO: 831-6858 or www.atthegrand.org
SATURDAY, July 19 Breakfast with Raiders’ Adam Ybarra WHEN: 8 to 9:30 a.m.
WHERE: Grace Church, DETAILS: Grace Church will host a men’s breakfast with Adam Ybarra, the Oakland Raiders’ chaplain, as the guest speaker. Ybarra will share football stories and a message on the importance of serving the community. In addition, he will give away a football autographed by Tim Brown, aka Mr. Raider and 1987 Heisman Trophy winner. COST: Donations will be accepted. INFO: Adam McDonald, 221-5543 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Downtown Farmers Market WHEN: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: INFO: Diana Koron, 831-4170; or www.pcfma.com
East of Eden pet adoption WHEN: Noon to 3 p.m.
WHERE: Petco, INFO: 925-980-3035
Delta Paws pet adoption WHEN: 3 to 6 p.m.
WHERE: PetSmart, INFO: 834-8552 or www.deltapaws.com
WHEN: 2 and 7 p.m.
WHERE: Grand Theatre, COST: $15 INFO: 831-6858 or www.atthegrand.org
WHEN: 8 p.m.
WHERE: Grand Theatre, COST: $38 to $78 INFO: 831-6858 or www.atthegrand.org
SUNDAY, July 20
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Grand Theatre, COST: $15 INFO: 831-6858 or www.atthegrand.org
Delta Paws pet adoption WHEN: Noon to 3 p.m.
WHERE: PetSmart, INFO: 834-8552 or www.deltapaws.com
TUESDAY, July 22 Morning story time at the library WHEN: 10:15 and 11:15 a.m.
WHERE: Tracy Branch Library, INFO: 937-8221
WEDNESDAY, July 23 Story time at the library WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Tracy Branch Library, INFO: 937-8221
THURSDAY, July 24 Painting on the Patio workshop WHEN: 4 p.m.
WHERE: Tracy Branch Library, INFO: 937-8221
Music in the Park WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: DETAILS: Wonderbread five will perform for the eighth — and second-to-last — public concert in a series put on by the Tracy Arts Commission. INFO: 831-6295
Networking Mixers WHEN: 5 p.m.
WHERE: 1195 W. 11th DETAILS: Local businessmen and -women are welcomed to network with other business folks in the community. INFO: LokesLooks.com or 835-2131
FRIDAY, July 25 Movies on the Plaza features ‘Shrek the Third’ WHEN: 8:15 p.m.
WHERE: Civic COST: free DETAILS: Hotdogs, hamburgers, tri-tip sandwiches, popcorn, ice cream and beverages will be sold. Comcast will also give prizes to the first 200 people at each showing.
INFO: City of
WHEN: 8 p.m.
WHERE: Grand Theatre, COST: $13; students with ID $8 INFO: 831-6858 or www.atthegrand.org
Fundraising banquet for Ethiopia Reads WHEN: 6 p.m.
WHERE: Grace Church, COST: $5 INFO: Frew Tibebu, 629-3765; or Jared Rio, 627-6383
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