If your teen is looking for a memorable summer musical theater experience, consider the weeklong class offered by The MAR St. Pete. Rather than perform in a production that has been presented many times before, students will write and create a one-act musical from scratch. The full-day camp runs the week beginning June 5 for students ages 13-19.
After a long career in all aspects of the entertainment world, husband-and-wife team Dave and Heather Hamar opened The MAR St. Pete, a performing arts studio and incubator, in 2020. Heather has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theater from Sam Houston State University. In 1995 she started working professionally in theater. Performing in theme parks such as Six Flags and Busch Gardens, she then moved to behind the stage doing everything from event management and casting to production management, all while still performing. Dave Hamar is originally from Tampa and has a BFA in music from the University of South Florida, where he studied jazz and drumming. He also worked for Busch Gardens and today is a freelance drummer in high demand for such vocalists as Mandy Harvey and the bands he helped start, Anyan Devery and Modern Measure. Both Dave and Heather worked for the creative arts organization Lovewell, where they wrote full-length musicals with middle- and high school students.
Two of their best friends have years of experience as directors, performers and choreographers, and will help teach the camp. Mornings will be spent learning industry skills that may include improvisation, audition techniques, choreography and much more. In the afternoon, students will create a one-act musical. They will develop an original script, write original songs, and choreograph dance numbers. They will even create a set, costumes and lighting design. At the end of the week, the show will be presented to friends and family.
A Transformational Experience
“We want teens to write a musical that is relevant to their world,” Heather Hamar says. “Sometimes it’s hard for them to have an authentic voice, and here they can get things off their chest that they might not be able to during a typical day. I have seen a huge transformation in kids by the end of the week, as their confidence soars, and they can become the person they want to be.
“MAR means ‘the sea’ in Spanish, and we also like to think it stands for ‘Mistakes Are Required!’ for all those learning to perform. We give the students a safe space to make those mistakes, learn from one another, and be vulnerable while they tell their stories.”
As one happy parent reports, “My daughters did a weeklong ‘Scene & Song’ workshop and absolutely loved it! All the kids were confident in their performances of an all-original scene that they collaboratively created themselves. The quality of the production and experience for the kids is a testament to the instructors. I highly recommend the venue and staff.”
Improv at The MAR
Teens aren’t the only ones to get in on all the fun, as The MAR has become a destination for improv in St. Pete. On the first and third Sundays of each month, the Synchronized Swim Improv Show and Jam happens, where audience members can come onstage and be part of the action. Other improv groups such as the St. Pete Improv Network (SPIN) and the Love & Fire Improv, present shows monthly.
The MAR is at 2309 Central Ave. For more information or to sign up for the teen summer theater class, email [email protected], visit www.TheMARStPete.com, or call (727) 851-9001.
