Camp Rolling Hills (NYMF)
About the show
Part of the New York Musical Festival: Relive the days of lanyards, bunk beds, and bug juice in this new tuner about summer camp. Based on Stacy Davidowitz's YA book series. More…
Pack up your duffle bags and head to Camp Rolling Hills for another wild summer of tune-filled campfires, bunks, and treasure hunts (for missing underwear, that is!). From learning a new sport, to discovering a new talent, to finding their first love, these 12 tweens are off on an eight-week adventure that will forever change their lives. It doesn’t matter if you are a nerd, a jock, a tomboy, or a girly-girl because true friendships are made when all the rules are broken. After all, there is a different definition of cool at Camp!
"A truly delightful new musical about pre-teens navigating the choppy waters of romance at sleepaway camp. While the book and score could use some tightening, this piece of work shows a great deal of promise, with a sensibility that appeals to adults just as much as youngsters...Director Jill Jaysen is perfectly in tune with the subversive sense of humor of the authors. As a result, she guides her young cast to outstanding performances." Full Review
"It's simplistic but cute: not really saying anything, but at least always having a smile on its face…The production matches the writers' breezy material...Then something remarkable happened in Act II: 'All the Songs on My iPod'…Combined with its cheesy but self-aware easy-listening melody, when paired with those corny but honest lyrics and Ignacio's unadorned portrayal, it became the highlight of not just 'Camp Rolling Hills,' but of NYMF 2016 overall." Full Review
"Perfect for community theatre, schools and children’s theatres throughout the country. Unless your child is in the production, it really doesn’t have enough plot or musicality to hold an adult’s attention...The cast is funny and endearing...The book is well-written...The music is catchy...The direction by Jill Jayson keeps the show moving...The perfect show for a place that wants an intelligent children’s musical with a large cast." Full Review
“A summer camp musical that means to be more likable than it is. With music by Adam Spiegel; book by his brother David Spiegel and Stacy Davidowitz; and lyrics by all three, it doesn’t aim high enough. The rare surprises were in the performances, including those of Sophia Gennusa and Maizy Boosin, who powered past a pile of clichés to make their BFF campers into flesh-and-blood 12-year-olds.” Full Review
"Spiegel and Davidowitz allow the relationships of the characters to take center stage. But the characters within are brazen stereotypes...Spiegel and Davidowitz’s book is a bit haphazard, experiencing some minor plot holes...Adam Spiegel’s score is sugary but nothing special…The epitome of kid fun...Director Jaysen has great experience guiding a giant cast of kids…The truth of the situation is that it's marketable. There is a future. There is just a lot of work to be done." Full Review
"A musical about retro-camping could be fun if the book, music and lyrics were sophisticated and interesting. Unfortunately, that is not the case...The members of the cast work their best to enliven their characters. They often seem to be unsure of who they are supposed to be or what their 'problems' are alleged to be...This musical does not tug at the heartstrings. Perhaps much of this difficulty relates to Jill Jaysen’s uninspiring direction as well as to the creators’ efforts." Full Review
See it if You love camp, you were a tween, everyone.
Don't see it if You are a cranky pants
See it if you love sleep away camp, it will bring back lots of great memories. the kids in the show are super talented and adorable.
Don't see it if you dislike his
See it if you like kids who can really act, you want to feel nostalgic about camp, you like cute numbers and humor
Don't see it if kids onstage annoy you
See it if you want a show for kids and families- great performances by children. Upbeat score, light, and funny.
Don't see it if you can't handle children's pieces.
See it if You like kids, camping, family-friendly shows, slight adult humor, okay singing, and campiness...
Don't see it if You hate all of the above and non-massive production and staging...
See it if you love camp and want to relive the memories. The cast is adorable and the songs are hilarious. A really fun show.
Don't see it if you only like big budget productions with big sets and lots of costume changes.
See it if You have fond memories of summer camp; you want to see a fluffy musical that's by-the-numbers "find friendship/love at camp" but still fun.
Don't see it if You don't like child actors (even really talented ones), or want to see something that hasn't been done before.
See it if you have fond memories of summer camp or you like shows based on kids book or with a lot of kids in them.
Don't see it if you don't like shows based on kids book or with so many characters that it is hard to keep track of them all.
See it if Young at heart, teenager, grandma, love kids movies & tv shows. Follow Disney Channel or read young adult books. Boy or girl, like to sing
Don't see it if you hate kids, you hate camp, you hate laughs, you hate musicals
See it if You enjoy a fresh, sweet visit to a tween summer camp -- refreshingly innocent and honest.
Don't see it if You like loud, flashy musicals with wise-cracking children pretending to act like mini-adults.
See it if You're a kid at heart. You ever went to summer camp or know someone who did.
Don't see it if Why wouldn't you see it??
See it if You want to reminisce about your camp days
Don't see it if You don't like to smile
See it if Meatballs meets 13! ThIs high-energy show will get you into a fun summer groove and leave you craving a cabin raid and puppy love.
Don't see it if There's no good reason not to see it!
See it if You love watching great storylines and acting. Also if you love camp
Don't see it if You don't like big musicals with kids making jokes and acting with ambition, and bring the average teen
See it if If you want to go back to good summer memories from your childhood... unless you spent your childhood in prison.
Don't see it if You you have summer camp PTSD.
See it if You like fun shows with not much meaning
Don't see it if You don't want to waste you time
