Lillian Zumberge, director of the St. Louis Park Middle School theater program, remembers feeling inspired to begin a two-week theater program with students from Meadowbrook after watching children sing in a concert last year.

Zumberge said the musical theater class at the middle school showed her how theater can impact students’ soft skills, such as kindness.

“I thought, ‘how can we go out and offer some opportunities during the summer to some of our kids who maybe wouldn’t be able to access that as easily as other kids?’” Zumberge said.

According to Zumberge, high school students may volunteer for the theater program.

Junior Lauren VonEschen said she plans, along with senior Harry Steffenhagen, on volunteering for the program this summer.

She said her participation in theater sparked her interest.

“I’m really into theater and I do it a lot. In school, I do all the productions so I think it’d be cool to over the summer to stay involved and to be able to do theater from a different aspect,” VonEschen said.

Zumberge said the aim of the two-week summer camp involves two different parts.

“The idea is that the elementary-aged children living in Meadowbrook, who work with the Meadowbrook Collaborative, will have the opportunity to do a production that will be run by the middle school theater organization,” Zumberge said.

VonEschen said she hopes for participation in the program from many younger students, regardless of their previous exposure to theater.

“The show’s ‘Willy Wonka,’ so I hope that a lot of students can get involved,” VonEschen said. “My expectations are that there are people involved and just that a lot of students come whether they’re experienced or not.”

The summer program runs from Aug. 8-19 and is free to participants. Both  morning and evening performances take place Aug. 19 at the high school Auditorium. Performances are free, although donations are accepted. High school students interested in volunteering for the program can “like” the St. Louis Park Middle School theater Facebook page to receive updates or view the page to find information at the end of the school year.