Allendale County kids stage Shrek Jr. after week of rehearsals

The performances were scheduled for June 19, June 20 and June 21 at the historic 65-seat theatre on Academy Street in Barnwell. Barnwell Circle Theatre summer campers turned Shrek Jr. into a four-show run after just a week of in-person rehearsals.

Kim Sanchelli, who directs the summer camp, said the children received their scripts in May and spent several weeks learning songs and lines at home before they ever met together. Once rehearsals started, the campers met on Monday, worked through blocking and were learning the full show by Thursday afternoon, then moved into dress rehearsal and opening night the next day. Sanchelli said the camp is so important because it teaches kids literacy skills, confidence and community building. “The camp is so important because it teaches kids literacy skills, confidence and community building,” she said.

Sydney, who played Princess Fiona, said she had returned to the camp for about 10 years and called the part her biggest role yet. Isabelle, playing Shrek, said the experience was great and credited the directors for guiding the cast. Finley, in his first year as Lord Farquaad, joked about being the villain and said the group had been working hard. Alex, who played Pinocchio, arrived with his lines memorized and even built a custom nose effect that moved with a press mechanism.

The program draws children from across the area each summer and gives them both performance roles and off-stage jobs. Sanchelli said her 22-year-old son still has some of his best memories from it.

The 2026 staging used the historic 65-seat theatre on Academy Street in Barnwell. The Barnwell building was completed in 1848. Circle Theatre’s 2023 summer production of The Wizard of Oz drew a record 37 participants.