We are very proud of the daily activities we offer here at Eisner. All summer, our campers have been hard at work honing their skills and creativity, from the stage to the recording studio to the pottery wheel. After weeks of rehearsals, sketches, and countless coats of paint, our entire camp community finally got to see all the art, in its many forms, that campers created this session.
Over the past four days, we have been celebrating the talents of our campers, through both our highly-anticipated Play Week and our Chagigah arts festival. Here’s your recap (including links to download each show) of Arts Week at Eisner… Lights. Camera. Action!
Sunday: K’tanim and Bonim present… The Aristocrats
In the heart of Paris, a kind and eccentric millionairess wills her entire estate to Duchess, her high-society cat, and her three little kittens. Laughs and adventure ensue as the greedy, bumbling butler pulls off the ultimate cat-nap caper. Now it’s up to the rough-and-tumble alley cat, Thomas O’Malley, and his band of swingin’ jazz cats to save the day. Watch the play!
Monday: Chaverim and Tzofim present… Little Shop of Horrors
Meek flower shop assistant Seymour pines for coworker Audrey. He discovers an unusual plant he names Audrey II, which feeds only on human flesh and blood. The growing plant attracts a great deal of business for the previously Blah struggling store but creates a world of anxiety for Seymour as he tries to keep the blood-thirsty plant satisfied. Watch the play!
Tuesday: Chagigah!
On Tuesday afternoon, between patches of rain showers and clouds, the sun shined bright over center camp as we held our annual Chagigah arts festival. We had music, food, and of course, lots of art. The Art Shack, Chaverim Beit Am, and other buildings were transformed into art studios, showcasing various arts and crafts, pottery and ceramics, and other art projects from throughout the session. In the Tzofim Beit Am and the Hockey Pavilion, campers performed songs and dances they had worked on in their recording studio and dance chugim. Throughout center camp, we had activities like facepaint and temporary tattoos, and snacks galore, including ice cream, popsicles, and fresh pita made by our Israeli Scouts. The whole afternoon truly felt like an immersive Berkshire arts fair!
Tuesday: Olim Show
After Chagigah, Olim put on its original play, written, directed, and performed by Olim campers. As is Eisner tradition, the show poked fun at camp, while highlighting the aspects of Eisner we all love most. Unlike in past years, the show took the form of a handful of long but independent sketches, similar to Saturday Night Live. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery… Watch the play!
Wednesday: Chalutzim and Ofarim present… Once Upon A Mattress
In a faraway kingdom long ago, King Sextimus has been cursed to silence. His overbearing wife, Queen Aggravain, has taken control of the kingdom. In an effort to keep her son, Prince Dauntless, single, she has decreed that only a princess who passes her test may marry her son…and no one else in the kingdom may marry until the prince is wed. Luckily Winnifred the Woebegone catches the prince’s attention. Watch the play!
We’d like to give a huge Yasher Koach to all our camper actors, actresses, dancers, singers, musicians, and artists, and a big thank you to all our art and drama staff for their patience and guidance over this past session! Our second session play is an original show called You’ve Got a Friend. It is a compilation of songs and scenes from a variety of shows, including You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; Oliver; Grease; Seussical; and Dear Evan Hansen. Check back in a few weeks for more creativity from Eisner Camp!