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The Palace Theater in Hamilton is accepting registration for Act UP!Youth Theater Camp, an improv theater experience for kids six to sixteen years of age. Act UP is for kids with creative ideas and who love to act. After the campers brainstorm their original storyboard, they develop their characters, create the set and costumes, and learn general actor and theater techniques. The short skits can be filled with drama, comedy or even music. They also learn to problem solve, work as a team, respect other’s ideas and have fun.

There are three different sessions for three different age groups at various times. Session one is for 6-7 years old from June 25-June 29, 9am – noon and costs $70 per camper. The maximum number of campers for session one is eight. The campers will perform the play How Chocolate Saved the Kingdom by Ben Coddington, an 8 year old student at Hamilton Central School. Ben will also co-direct this production with Patricia von Mechow. His story was chosen from several entries in the Chenango Valley Scribes Young Writers and Illustrators Contest sponsored by the Colgate Bookstore and Hamilton Library.

Session two is for kids 8-10 years old, July 2-July 12, 1-3pm, and session three is for kids 11-16 years old, July 2-12, 4-6pm. Camp will not be held on Wednesday, July 4. The cost for each of these sessions is $140 per camper and the maximum number of campers allowed for each of these sessions is 12. Campers in sessions 2 and 3 will develop their own play. There will be a final dress rehearsal for all the campers on Friday, July 13 from 1-5pm.The finale presenting all three original productions is open to the public for $5 per person on Saturday, July 14 at 5:00pm. Following the performance audience members are invited to meet the cast at the Act UP cast party.

For more information and to register, please contact Patricia von Mechow at The Palace Theater, 315.824.1420 or visit www.palacetheater.org to download the registration form under the Act UP Flyer on the homepage.

12 Angry Men is a thrilling drama about one man’s passion and commitment to stand firm with his convictions. Twelve jurors are locked in a room to deliberate about a murder case; is the 19-year-old man guilty of fatally stabbing of his father. "He doesn't stand a chance." mutters the guard as the 12 jurors are taken into the bleak jury room. It looks like an open-and-shut case—until one of the jurors begins opening the others' eyes to the facts.

"This is a remarkable thing about democracy," says the foreign-born juror, "that we are notified by mail to come down to this place—and decide on the guilt or innocence of a man; of a man we have not known before. We have nothing to gain or lose by our verdict. We should not make it a personal thing." But personal it does become, with each juror revealing his character as the various testimonies are re-examined, the murder is re-enacted, tempers get short, arguments grow heated, and the jurors become 12 angry men. The jurors' final verdict and how they reach it—intense scenes that will electrify the audience and keep them on the edge of their seats—add up to a fine, mature piece of drama  that will pose the question, “What would I do?”

12 Angry Men was originally written in 1954 as a teleplay then adapted into a screenplay by Reginald Rose. Sidney Lumet directed the 1957 movie starring Henry Fonda. Nick Preuninger (Oneida) is the juror who stands alone, Mason McDowell (Hamilton) is the defendant, and Bruce Ward is the guard. The remaining cast of Paul Hernon (New Hartford), Scott Douglas (Norwich), Jack Cofano (Clinton), Michael Schuyler (Clinton) Adam Spiridilozzi (Utica), Peter Dowling (Oneida), Sean McNichol (Oneida), Thom Capozzella (Utica), Rick Signorelli (Utica), Randy Leers (Whitesboro), and Richard K. Stoodley (Westmoreland) adds fuel to the fire as the eleven jurors who just want to close the case and go home; until they begin to question their motives and beliefs.

“It takes humility to acknowledge our flaws, but "a great deal of courage" to turn that acknowledgement into action.” says Alessandro Trinca (Oneida), director of 12 Angry Men. Trinca has directed two other productions with The Palace Players. Stage management is by Mason McDowell and Taiward Wider (Hamilton). Lights are Kevin Lane and sound is Luke Marshall. This play is made possible in part thanks to Bruce Stewart, DDS of Oneida.

12 Angry Men will take the stage on Friday April 27 and Saturday April 28 at 8:00pm. Tickets are $12 for adults (18+) and $8 for students (with ID). Reservations can be made by calling 315-824-1420. Tickets may also be purchased at the Palace box office (Mondays-Fridays, 9am-4pm, and two hours prior to each show); payment is accepted by VISA, Mastercard, Colgate Gatecard, cash, or check payable to The Palace Theater. Seating is general admission and the house will open 30 minutes before show time.

The Palace Players are Hamilton’s independent community theater group, performing at the Palace Theater on Utica Street. They strive to enrich the cultural and economic fabric of the greater Hamilton community through the performing arts. Visit palacetheater.org or call to learn more about the 2012 – 2013 season of live national and community theater.