AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
For Stage & Screen Studio owners Julie Ann and Pete Garvey, the bounce back from the dark days of pandemic lock-downs has been nothing short of miraculous. While most of the entertainment industry was devastated, the Millersville-based business managed to blossom over the last several months thanks to creative, innovative ideas that kept things moving forward.
The studio’s director Pete Garvey reflected on the company’s journey from “sudden and complete halt to operations” to revitalization and steady growth.
“What happened in those first few months between March, April and May of 2020 when we were completely locked down was shocking. We’d just finished a very successful run of ‘Sound of Music’ and I was directing ‘Alladin, Jr.’ for Jones Elementary School which, unfortunately had to be cancelled,” he said. “Julie and I were like ‘what are we gonna do?’
As the couple began thinking outside the box, the idea for making a TV pilot was born. Inspired by a Netflix show featuring teenagers called “Outer Banks”, they thought “what do they have that we don’t have other than financial backing?”
Reasoning that there were plenty of natural settings in the great outdoors along Maryland and Virginia’s scenic waterways, they gently put out feelers to see if they could find a few young actors who’d be interested. Eleven signed on right away. Pete wrote a script and found a location three miles south of Severna Park on the Chesapeake Bay. Thus was born the pilot for “The Point” – a production that could be filmed safely in the open air in socially distanced fashion without sacrificing quality.
“We filmed it over three weekends and the kids loved doing it,” Garvey said. “We just finished editing it and will be releasing it in about three weeks. We are now beginning to film Episode 2 of “The Point” with twenty student actors already signed on for it.”
Simultaneous with work on the film, the studio began offering one-on-one instruction – at first virtually – but, shortly thereafter, in-person with proper COVID-19 protocols including masking and social distancing. As opposed to their previous emphasis on training students for big productions, one-on-one training allowed the staff to concentrate on the fundamental techniques of acting that make actors great and keep them in demand for work ranging from films, TV and the theater to commercials.
In those first few months, Pete redesigned the company’s website to better reflect the deep pool of talent on Stage & Screen Studios’ staff, thus planting seeds that continue to blossom.
With the approach of warm weather, the studio added small group theater camps for elementary and middle school students where participants learned fundamentals of “musical theater” including singing and choreography. Pete added a new wrinkle by doing a bit of coaching for Severna Park High School senior Ellie Heath who’s preparing for her second Maryland Poetry Out Loud State Level Competition.
The company also invested in equipment upgrades that allow them to do multi-camera live stream events or showcases directly from the studio.
At the same time, they enlarged their staff. There are now eight different teachers with impressive backgrounds in a range of disciplines. They include theatrical coach Allison Bailey, big screen/Hollywood coach Sixx Orange, performance coach Hannah Hall, stage combat instructor Claudia Rosales, choreographer Heather Harris, music director Jill L. Beram-Limatta and acting coach Dean Davis. Most exciting of all, renowned aerialist and aerial dance coach Robin Miller joined the staff.
Miller’s most avid pupil, from the outset, was Pete’s son Nicholas Garvey, an actor/dancer who has already achieved distinction in the world of ballet as an International Academy of Ballet competition winner representing The Greater Annapolis Ballet.
“With Miller’s help, Nick took to performing in the air like it was second nature. He’s used the newly developed skill to recreate the persona of Spiderman,” Pete said.
Julie and Pete Garvey bring their own considerable talents to everything the company does. As owner/manager, Julie brings her movie, TV and commercial background experience into play.
Julie has appeared in over 50 regional TV commercials and shows including performing as host of a nationally broadcast children’s show on Fox called “AquaKids”. She models professionally for national product lines and has appeared in movies including “Ladder 49”, “Syriana”, “Better Living Through Chemistry” and “National Treasure Book of Secrets”.
Director and principal instructor Pete has appeared in over 25 nationally broadcast TV shows on Discovery Channel networks, HBO and NetFlix. He’s appeared in more than 80 regional TV commercials and narrates audiobooks on Audible and iTunes. He’s also a former theater director for the U.S. Naval Academy Masqueraders, technical director for the Naval Academy Glee Club and director of the Maryland Shakespeare Festival.
For information on lessons, classes, upcoming auditions and bios for Stage & Screen Studios staff members visit Lessons | Stage & Screen Studios .
The Garveys noted that other theater or dance related programs have kept operating through much of the pandemic as well. In doing so, they’ve managed to supply some of the healthy interaction children have been missing during the pandemic. Two are in Severna Park.
Theatre In The Park
Theater In The Park founder and director Jennifer Lee Kraus found ways to adapt and weather the pandemic storm.
“Other than having to shut down last spring and not being able to have our performances, we have been able to continue our small group summer camps and in person workshops,” Kraus said. “We have just adapted to COVID guidelines to make them safe. It’s gone really well.”
Theater in the Park’s musical theater arts workshops, for kids from 5 to 18, provide opportunities for acting, singing and being part of a production. The in-person classes are held at Severna Park Community Center and Holy Grounds. A “Broadway Babies” program is currently underway and plans are already afoot for summer camps in July with a “Space Bop” theme. For information, visit Theater in the Park | Facebook .
The Dance Center of Severna Park
The Dance Center of Severna Park ‘s director Kellie Greer found a way to keep dance in the forefront of people’s minds when the Severna Park Community Center where the program is based closed in accordance with Governor Hogan’s Stay At Home order.
She created free dance lessons for children to view and practice to at home using Facebook Live – lessons that attracted would be students.
Once the community center reopened, in-person lessons were immediately offered with small class sizes, masks and proper social distancing.
Today in-person classes are held six days a week but can be virtual as well. A year-round recital schedule will be set shortly with a date and location for the first recital still to be determined. For a full description of the various classes offered, visit SPCC Home (spcommunitycenter.org).
Chesapeake Life Center offers grief support and summer grief programs for children
Chesapeake Life Center’s grief support programs for children and teens are now meeting in-person at Hospice of the Chesapeake’s John & Cathy Belcher Campus, at 90 Ritchie Highway. They are:
“Stepping Stones”, for children ages 6 to 12, which will meet from 10 a.m. to noon April 3. Breakfast, games and activities are included.
“Phoenix Rising” for teens ages 13 to 18 which will meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month, April 21, May 19 and June 16. A meal is provided along with games and activities.
“Pre-Teen Group” for pre-teens and early teens meets at the same time but in a different room as Phoenix Rising.
Groups are limited to six participants and masks must be worn. The cost for each program is $10 per participant, with a maximum of $20 per family. Pre-registration is required by calling 888-501-7077 or emailing griefinfo@chesapeakelifecenter.org.
Summer Grief Programs for children 6 to 11 being held on four consecutive Saturdays are filled with adventure, music and art. “Adventures in Grief” takes place at Terrapin Adventures at Historic Savage Mill on May 15. A “Summer Grief Art Workshop” for younger children will be held June 26 at a yet to be decided location.
A music-based “Rhythm and Grieve” program will be held July 17 at a Prince George’s County location yet to be determined while “Teen Adventures in Grief”, for kids 12 to 18, will take place August 14 at Terrapin Adventures. More information will be forthcoming or yoy can keep tabs by visiting http://www.chesapeakelifecenter.org/.
