EIU Department of Music

EMC Musical Theater Camp

The Musical Theater Camp is open to students completing the 8th through 12th grades. This camp is designed to help participants strengthen their skills in singing, acting, dancing, and audition techniques, all within a collaborative, supportive and interactive environment.

Auditions

1. Prepare a 30 to 60 second monologue from your favorite play or musical.
2. Prepare one complete song that you would find a high school or college student singing. (IE High School Musical, 13, Heathers, Footloose, Mean Girls) Something that deals with issues that you as a young person faces in current times. You should memorize the song, and you should bring a copy of the piano accompaniment with you to camp.
3. If you have any questions regarding choosing materials for your camp experience, please email Larry Cox, Jr. at lcox@eiu.edu

Classes

The camp curriculum will focus on the following areas: 

• Choreography
• Foundations of Acting
• Audition Techniques
• Singing for Musical Theater 
• Vocal Health
• Performance skills

Final Show 

This year’s final camp presentation will be featuring selections from Dear Evan Hansen. This will include songs and choreography that you are taught at camp, and will also include selected numbers from the auditions selections you bring with you.

Talent Show 

There will be an audition for the all camp Talent Show (an accompanist will be provided)! 

Faculty

Larry Cox, Jr. is a native of both North Carolina and Pennsylvania. His graduate degrees are from the University of Georgia (MFA in Acting with research in Musical Theatre, Feldenkrais, Devised Movement, and Athletics in Performance), and Villanova University (MA in Dramatic Production with concentrations in Dramaturgy, Musical Theatre Composition and Acting).  His undergraduate degree was a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, with a concentration in Vocal Performance, Piano Performance and Choral Music. He was also a college athlete playing on the men’s volleyball team. 

Larry has been a working professional in the acting world for many years, playing numerous roles in regional theatre and working across from renowned stage and film actors. His work has taken him nationally and internationally. He has served in many entertainment facets as an actor (stage/TV/Film), director, music director, published music composer, dramaturg, commercial model, writer, entertainment developer, cruise director, legal coach and public speaking coach. He has also been an educator over the years both privately and in colleges and high schools. In the last four years, he has taught at both Emory University and The University of Georgia. During his time at the University of Georgia, he was named one of the top 1% of graduate teachers, and also received an award for Excellence in Teaching. He also created, pioneered, and developed a Musical Theatre course for the first time at the University.

When not performing, Larry loves playing sports, being outdoors, writing music, traveling, and dabbling in the fashion world with his business, The Ardent Suitor. He is launching the writing of a new musical in the next few months. He also continues to teach and train public speakers and lawyers, and trains contestants in the public speaking division of the Miss America pageant system. 
He is a proud member of Actor’s Equity.