Seashore campers are Broadway-bound LONG BRANCH - Campers at Seashore Day Camp's new summer theater program put on their first full-scale production last week. Some 20 campers ages 6-14 performed in the musical "Cinderella" Aug. 8 and 9 for other campers before the play opened Aug. 10 and 11 for performances for the community. "It was a great success," said John Gordon, co-director, in an interview last week. "The children have come a long way since the first day," he said. "This is something great for their self-esteem and confidence." The seven-week summer theater program was launched for this season, according to Gordon, who said the camp ran from June 25-Aug. 10. The idea for the summer theater program came from a newly introduced drama program at the Seashore School this year, according to Gordon. "We had great success this school year with the drama program, so we wanted to bring it into the summer program," he said. PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff Renee Harrison applies lipstick to Jane Pangilinan, 6, before a dress rehearsal Aug. 8 for a production of "Cinderella" presented at Seashore Day Camp in Long Branch. Cast members Leah Brown, 10, (l-r) Joelle Rosen, 10, Samantha Harrison, 9, and Nija McQueen, 9, rehearse their lines. Another full-scale production at Seashore on Broadway is scheduled to be presented by the school's drama class this spring, according to Gordon, who added that Seashore plans to host two plays a year in the future. For the summer program, campers met five days a week from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. and participated in a number of theater-related activities, according to Gordon. "We held classes on acting, singing and dancing," he said. In addition, the campers went to four Broadway shows in New York City, including "A Chorus Line," "Hair Spray," "Mary Poppins" and a performance by Blue Man Group. The campers also participated in three play workshops in Manhattan, Gordon said. "We are going to continue this through the school year and offer it again next summer," Gordon said. - Christine Varno