From Page To Play CDs, Songs, and Stories

Who I Am
May 2019

Who I Am

Who I Am is a collection of songs written over the course of two years for two different musical theatre
productions. The two shows were performed by campers age 8-16 at Camp Pok-O-MacCread y in
Willsboro, NY under the direction of Tim Seston. On July 22nd, 2017 "Once in a Lifetime" made its
debut on the camp stage and included the first seven songs of this album. On July 28th, 2018 "The
Rock" made its debut on the camp stage and included the final seven songs of this album.

Written by Tim Seston with assistance on tracks 8-14 by Luke Seston
Vocals by Tim Seston with additional vocals by Becca Schilacci and Nivedhan Singh
Piano by Anne Silverman with additional piano (tracks 9&11) by Luke Seston
Guitar by Tim Seston with additional Electric Guitar (track 2) by Nivedhan Singh
Bass / Drums by Sam Bandes with additional Percussion Programming by Nivedhan Singh
Trombone (track 4) by Justin Bull
Synth (track 6) by Nivedhan Singh
Produced by Tim Seston and Nivedhan Singh
Mixed by Nivedhan Singh
Mastered by Taylor Chadwick at Georgetown Masters - Nashville, TN
Album Cover Photos taken at Camp Pok-O-Macready by Ken Herz and Tim Seston
Recording Photos taken at Concord Academy by Tim Seston,
Program Cover Art for Camp Musical Productions by Ali Veitch
From Page To Play Logo by Marile Borden

Synopsis for "Once in a Lifetime":

Act 1: Campers have been coming to Poko for as long as they can remember. It looks and feels the
same as always but there is something strange about camp this season. A few of the campers take
notice but most just go about their day. They are getting to know each other. Some have
personalities that keep them isolated. Others have stories that have gotten them in trouble. Some
do things that make others pause. Each seems to have a uniquely defined identity. When the
exuberant and unpredictable Teddy leads the full cast on a hike through the arts and crafts room,
something he says (sings – it’s a musical) confuses the others and sets the stage for Act 2.

Act 2: What is Teddy talking about? It is not the 21st century. Turns out the campers have all been
born in different years and yet they are all in this moment at the same time.   How has this happened
and why are they here? Some don’t care. It is camp and they are here to play. A few try to figure it all
out. Still others don’t seem to take much notice.   Actually all campers are pretty self-absorbed. Ned
is the most precocious of them all and eventually the “counselors” have had enough. These
“counselors” are actually aliens from another world who have selected these campers to set the
world right. With just a little guidance the campers are changed and want to get back to where life is
normal again. What will it take? The group comes together with a project that is simplistic but
meaningful. The show ends as they all promise to keep going.

"Once in a Lifetime" Director's Notes

On the stage, on the screen, or on television, performers are asked to play exaggerated roles. They
do this to highlight character flaws that are present in every human being. These bits of individuality
are what make us who we are. In the extreme they can be disruptive, exclusive and annoying. In
reality these “character flaws” help us understand each other and ourselves. As individuals we are
aware of others and how they present themselves. As we grow and develop we look for qualities in
others that we admire and try to mimic. The qualities we dislike, we try to avoid. Along the way, we
develop empathy for others and courage to continuously reinvent ourselves. In our communities we
go through stages of development that ideally lead us to the betterment of our collective selves as
well as the benefit of others. As with any form of art it is the random and unique moments during the
process that help shape the overall creation. Developing the script as we went through the rehearsal
process was a favorite part of this experience.

Synopsis of "The Rock":

Year after year people return to The Rock for a variety of reasons. Some are intrigued by the stories,
some feel empowered by the gathering, some believe The Rock has mystical powers that influence
each individual at the very core. When two visitors lose their way and inadvertently stumble upon The
Rock, their lives are forever changed.   Can the community at The Rock withstand the challenges of
these two outsiders. What is the influence of an individual over the whole? What is the influence of
the whole over the individual?

"The Rock" Director's Notes:

In writing this show I used the rock as a metaphor for camp. For many campers the summer
experience has a lasting effect on one's sense of self. Pok-O-MacCready is an infectious culture
where counselors and campers are swept up in the games, the activities, the friendships, the
traditions, and the experience.   Individuals at camp, like any community, find space where they can
explore, develop new interests, and share their unique personalities. All the while, individuals are
shaped by the people around them as well as the community as a whole. In this one hour stage
production I hoped to create a series of conflicts and subsequent resolutions that were a bit over the
top and fun for the cast to perform. Though the story is a little far fetched it is based in the truth of our
everyday experiences.

Pok - o - MacCready Drama Program:

Being up on stage affords us the opportunity to express ourselves differently than is possible in other
day to day activities. As actors and actresses we are asked to explore situations that range from
mirroring our own culture to imagining worlds that are wonderful and fantastic. Along the way we
develop skills like working with others, projection & enunciation, idea generation, working within a
framework, letting go of inhibition, developing an idea, conflict resolution, and much more.

At Pok-o-MacCready campers take part in what the stage has to offer without sacrificing all the other
important activities that make up such a memorable summer. In 2017 and 2018 campers had
opportunities to perform for their peers during section activities, weekly Moonshiners, Saturday
morning club skits, big game activities and much more. “Once in a Lifetime” (2017) and "The Rock"
(2018) were the culminating experience for our 4 week campers enrolled in drama.

Would you like to produce either "Once in a Lifetime" or "The Rock"?
Check out the original scripts provided here as PDF files.
Once in a Lifetime - Full Script
The Rock - Full Script
Please write to Tim Seston at tim@frompagetoplay.com for permission.

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