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-MacCready 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. |