—Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Anne Blankenship Camp Creamery counselor Maggie Saunders leads students in the theatre camp through practice on Tuesday afternoon at the Webster City Community Theatre. Students will perform on Friday night at 7 p.m. and Saturday morning at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $3.

Camp Creamery has returned to the Webster City Community Theatre. Kids are memorizing lines, practicing songs, and getting educated about the arts as they put together a short performance. In just five days, the students will have a show-worthy performance for the public.

The weeklong theater camp is based out of the Old Creamery Theatre in Amana. Forty-two youths are taking part in the camp.

This year’s show is called “A Mystery at Mimsley Manor.” In this production, one of the Mimsley family’s precious heirlooms goes missing. It’s up to Reginald Holmes, the great-grand nephew of Sherlock Holmes, and his trusty helpers to find the culprit and save the day.

“Everyone believes Reginald is a great detective, but he’s not quite as great as everyone seems to think,” said Steven Labine.

The 42-member cast is made up of Holmes family members, the Mimsley family, gardeners and hounds.

Three Camp Creamery counselors traveled to Webster City this week to help teach youths about the theatre and prepare them for performances this weekend.

Katie Colletta, 26, is from Waldorf. This is her fifth summer with Camp Creamery. Colletta is an Artistic Associate with the camp. Colletta got her B.F.A. in musical theatre from Millikin University. She is orignally from Illinois. She and her husband, Keegan, both work at the theatre.

Colletta got her start with theatre at a young age while getting involved in a similar youth camp.

“It was a week-long summer thing that my mom signed me up for. It was the professional theatre company in town,” said Colletta. “They needed kids to be in ‘The Christmas Carol’ that year, so they asked me to audition and I got to be in that.”

One of her favorite shows to be involved in was “Waiting for the Parade.” This show featured five women who stayed home during World War II.

“It was just a really great piece of theatre,” Colletta said. “It was really cool to be involved in.”

One of the reasons Colletta is so passionate about the arts is because is it all about the human experience and storytelling.

“If we can give kids that first little glimpse into the world of theatre and to storytelling, empathy and putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, it’s super important,” she said.

Maggie Saunders, 24, is from Huntington Beach, WV. She attended Catawba College in North Carolina where she received her B.F.A. in musical theatre. Saunders is an intern with Camp Creamery this year.

Saunders attended a week-long drama camp as a child, which fueled her passion for theatre.

“I think it’s great to give kids an opportunity to get up on stage and to express themselves, Saunders said. “My favorite thing is teaching them, then performing with them.”

Saunders enjoys the feeling she gets while performing. She says the ability to help people get away for awhile and become involved in a storyline is one of her favorite aspects of the theatre.

“I’m such a big supporter of kids being involved in the theatre,” said Saunders. “For me, when I was a kid, it helped me find the place I belong.”

Steven Labine, 24, is from Detroit Lakes, MN. Labine is an intern with Camp Creamery this year. Labine attended Minnesota State University Mankato where he got his B.F.A. in musical theatre.

Labine discovered the theatre as a child after becoming involved in a youth camp. In 5th grade, he rediscovered his passion for the theatre after being brought up on stage during a production of “Aida.”

Labine, who describes himself as a shy child, most enjoys getting kids out of their shell on stage.

“I connect with kids on all levels and I think it’s really cool to see their experience as it goes through and say yeah, that was me when I was younger,” said Labine. “This show is just silly and goofy and allows the kids to have fun and challenge themselves.”

The counselors all agreed that students at the camp learn skills they can use beyond the stage. Memorization, public speaking and spatial awareness are just of few skills kids pick up.

Showtimes are Friday evening at 7 p.m. and Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at the WCCT.

General admission tickets cost $3 per person.

This is the 5th year Camp Creamery has come to Webster City.

“They’ve worked so hard,” said Colletta. “If you come you’re just going to have a good time. It’s a really cute script with fun music.”