Toe taps and giggles could be heard inside the Kenai Performers playhouse Monday, which marked the first day of this summer’s youth drama camp.

Terri Burdick, a longtime drama camp instructor with the Kenai Performers, said she always admires the dynamic of an all-kid cast. With younger actors, she said, they’re able to memorize and learn quickly.

“I have found that four weeks is a good time to put on a show with kids,” Burdick said. “And they’re mimics — they learn stuff so fast.”

Campers are performing their rendition of the musical “Wonderland” — a derivation of the classic “Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll. Burdick said it might take a little more preparation than in years prior.

“We’ll usually slowly start in, but this one has 14 songs in it,” she said.

She said usual drama camp performances contain about six songs, just under half of “Wonderland.”

“So it’s double, and there’s more dancing in it than ever before,” Burdick said. “So we really had to kind of start quickly.”

On Monday, the cast of 12 was split into two rehearsal groups: one for singing and one for dancing. Another performer is set to join the cast soon, to make 13 kids for the final production.

Burdick said the kids range in age from 9 to 15 years old, and she’ll begin casting roles shortly.

The camp runs Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The kids will perform “Wonderland” at 6 p.m. on both June 29 and June 30.

Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.

Kids participate in the first day of the Kenai Performers Drama Camp at the playhouse building in Soldotna on Monday, June 6, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Kids participate in the first day of the Kenai Performers Drama Camp at the playhouse building in Soldotna on Monday, June 6, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)