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Testimonials Summer 2007
Testimonials Summer 2006
Testimonials Summer 2005
Testimonials Summer 2004

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned performer, FPAC has fantastic opportunities for you.  Read below what students of all ages and experiences have to say about their days at FPAC 2006 at Chagrin Falls Schools.

Fairmount Performing Arts Camp is the gold standard of education in theater arts. Our daughter is no newcomer to theater, having acted since the age of 7. However, we've noticed a quantum leap in awareness, confidence, and technical skill as a result of this camp. We are deeply grateful for the instruction and advice she received from directors as seasoned as Fred Sternfeld, Carol Pribble, and Mitchell Fields. Where else can children in this region receive such in-depth training and excellent preparation for auditions?  The staff of this camp are warm and supportive mentors who care about young people and love to teach!
Lois H. Annich
Mother of Molly Israel, FPAC ’05 & ‘06

Hi Fred,
David Ludick has been cast as the understudy for all the male roles in The Play House production of A Christmas Story - 2006. His Dad and I are convinced that his experience at FPAC this past summer catapulted him from community theatre to the Cleveland Play House. Thanks so much to you, C.P., Mitchell, Sean and the rest of your staff for such a wonderful learning experience for David. FPAC is well worth the money and time. We'll see you next year!
Dr. Dixie Ludick

Dear Fred,
I just got cast as Helen in A Christmas Story at the Cleveland Play House!!  I used a lot of the things that I learned at your camp in my audition and am sure I couldn't have gotten the part otherwise.  I  enjoyed your camp a lot and plan to attend next year.  
Naomi Hill, FPAC ‘06

Dear Fred,
I just wanted to thank you for these past six weeks.  You have a truly awesome program and I am so pleased that I got to be a part of it.  FPAC has changed me as an actress and a person so incredibly much, and I really feel that I’m walking out of here a different person.  I can’t believe how much I’ve seen others grow as well.  Some started so closed and self-conscious but by week 3 they’re openly pretending they’re rolling in mud in Arian’s improv class.  So, thanks again for a fabulous summer and life-changing program!
Sincerely,
Olivia Scicolone, FPAC ’05 & ‘06

Fred,
I wanted to thank you for bringing Cody home last night.  He’s been chattering non – stop about the trip.  It sounds like an absolute whirlwind of activity:  He was completely taken with all of the shows and emotion of the city.  Thanks also for directing such a wonderful camp.  Cody has been passionate about theater since I can recall.  He had wonderful early opportunities at Montessori and later, Beachwood Drama Camp.  Those experiences gave him a terrific foundation and the focused, yet playful quality of the programming served to foster his love.  This year, we felt he was ready for more “professional” training, and we were not disappointed.  Timed with a definite maturational leap, he has grown physically and emotionally this summer. I had one opportunity to see Arian direct the kids in their scene study class.  I was absolutely taken with her positive and strength – based, yet direct way of teaching.  She focused a great deal on the “human processes” such as intention and “role – taking”; all areas where Cody needs to grow.  And of course Sean is always terrific (as I’m sure are the others, none of whom I know).  Thanks again for everything and we hope to see you soon.
Regards, Jean
Jean M. Solomon MSN, MA
mother of Cody Swanson, FPAC ‘06

I’m a different actress now because of FPAC.  I know so many more tactics to use when approaching a scene.  C.P. is so relatable!  I can talk to her about anything, even my insecuritites as an actress and she’ll make you level headed.  Superb program! Superb staff!  I really learned more than I ever have by concentrating on straight theatre.
Megan Green, FPAC ‘06

The first week of camp was sooo much fun! Everybody in our little group of 16 kids just bonded so well just in class!   So I just wanted to let you know how much the past week has helped me. It's amazing how much you can learn in 5 days.
Thanks,
Molly Israel, FPAC ’05 & ‘06

Hi Fred,
We are out of breath from running from camps to baseball games to rehearsals, but I wanted to tell you how much Emma ABSOLUTELY LOVES camp.  Returning to FPAC felt like “coming home” to her.  She is so eager to get there every morning and so happy at the end of each day.  She loves the instruction, the instructors, and the campers.  She says she is working hard and learning so much, particularly from the scene study classes.  You will recall that when Fran Heller asked Emma why she wanted to go back to FPAC after her experience in New York, she replied, “Just because you’ve been on Broadway doesn’t mean you ever stop learning.” Her experience at FPAC has certainly proven that to be true.  Jeff and I honestly had decided that it might not be prudent for her to attend the second session due to her demanding tech and performance schedule throughout July for SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE as well as some academic work she is doing in preparation for an advanced math course she will be taking this fall.   However, Emma’s overwhelming enjoyment of camp and all she seems to be gaining from it caused us to reconsider.   She is elated!
Carol Koletsky Wahl 
mother of Emma Wahl, FPAC ’04 & ‘06

THIS CAMP ROCKS MY SOCKS!!  I totally loved the overall program.  I thought that both the setup and the training were wonderful.  All of the teachers were qualified, fun, and had great personalities. I don’t think you need to make any changes in staffing.  I enjoyed and grew from every single one of the teachers.  I loved the scenes I was given as well.  I loved every single one of my classes and games.  All of the different teachers brought something new to the class.   I really feel that I grew from these 3 weeks.
Sara Masterson, FPAC ’04 & ‘06

This camp was amazingly fun with great learning!  I learned a ton but yet I had so much fun! This was a magnificent program that taught important things while it was a ton of fun!  The staff was excellent!  I liked how everyone was older than high school so they knew what they were teaching.  I learned a ton about acting and it really helped!  I also loved flex time because it's just a fun time that all campers get to choose whatever they want to do, whether that means more learning or fun recreational things. Also, flex time offers a bunch of fun and unique things that campers don't normally do everyday of their lives. I liked every single thing about this camp! 
Dani Apple, FPAC ’05 & ‘06

Hi Fred,
I just wanted to thank you for making Hunter's summer so wonderful.  You just made each day a joy as she hopped out of bed excited for camp each morning.  She said she learned more the first day of camp than she had ever learned elsewhere.  Hunter has always attended the camp we run (around since the 1940's) and has not had one regret about leaving our camp to attend FPAC.  She has made new "best" friends, loves her counselors and already talks about next summer at FPAC.  Again, thanks for giving her this opportunity.  You are wonderful.
Tracey Evans
Mother of Hunter Evans-Roskos, FPAC ‘06

Fred,
I love just about everything about this camp!  I love the structure (the fact that we have the three core classes and then the flex time), I love the staff, and I love the supportive fellow campers.  I've made friends with just about all of the people in the older group already in just one week.  I feel so comfortable letting myself be in the moment and do what feels right.  There is no reason to feel self conscious of myself because nobody is judging me, everyone is helping me and hoping the best for me.  Thank you so much for offering such a wonderful opportunity to me.  I've grown so much in just one week and I'm really excited to see how much more I can grow in the remaining two.  Once again, thank you so much!  You're doing a great job.
Meggie Wittman, FPAC ‘06

Hey Fred! Just wanted to tell you what a wonderful time I'm having here at FPAC!!  As a first-timer, I was pretty nervous about making new friends and getting along with people and stuff like that, but I have managed to overcome that (miraculously, on the first day) and have befriended pretty much everyone in my age group since! I had a blast at the overnight with all my friends by incorporating laughs and personal messages (ex. fears) into an already fun filled night to strengthen our relationships. I will definitely come back to FPAC to once again feel the true comfort and enjoyment of being in the company of great and truly wonderful people and friends. I hope to always remember everybody and the great joys that I've had and will have at FPAC '06!
-Christian Corpora :), FPAC ‘06

Dear Fred:
I’m sure that attending FPAC this summer was extremely instrumental in her most recent audition, as Li has been chosen to portray Mary Lennox in the Secret Garden at the Youngstown Playhouse.  The ad was for 11-14 year old girls, but because Li has studied one of the scenes during her scene-study classes, she realized that Mary is supposed to be 10 years old.  She asked if she could attend the audition anyway and I figured what’d she have to lose - - a little time, that’s all.  She remembered some of the directions she’d been given in class and she used a British accent when asked to do so.  After Les Miserables and Secret Garden are over, we are going to look into attending some of your classes in Fairmount.  However, at this time, we will concentrate on giving our devotion to great performances.  She wanted to attend this fall, and I did receive all of your e-mails, but I waited just because of Les Mis and then the audition.  Thank you so much for your inspiration and faith in her, as well as phenomenal schooling. 
Cherie Stebner
mother of Lisandra Stebner, FPAC ‘06

Dear Fred,
First I just wanted to say that so far this camp has been such a blessing.  I love every second of it, and I look forward to waking up early in the morning to get there.  I have been looking forward to FPAC since the end of last year, and it has been way better than I expected it to be.  I enjoyed it so much when Andrew May came in.  When he was there I asked him how I could get into commercials around the Cleveland area.  He said that I needed an agent and that I should get his phone number from you so he could tell me some good agencies.  I would appreciate it soooooooooooooooooooo much if you could forward his phone number to me.  Thank you so extremely much.
Anna Leone, FPAC ’05 & ‘06

Hi,
Fred I just wanted to let you know how much fun your camp is.  I really like how it is set up.  The kids in my group are really nice and we are all getting along great.  The scenes are really interesting and challenging, but they are really fun.  I am really learning new things, and all of my teachers help me.  I really LOVE the camp, and am looking forward to the next week.
Halle Shanker, FPAC ’05 & ‘06

Hey Fred,
I had a wonderful time at camp this year!!!  I was able to make new friends and see a lot of my old friends.  I had a great time this year, and really learned a bundle of new tactics in acting!  I think it's great that we focus more on acting than anything else because I never really knew I was capable of doing such a thing until I came to FPAC!!!  Thanks for the experience and I hope to come next year!!!
~Alexa Money, FPAC ’05 & ‘06
 p.s: GO CRAZY FROGS!!

Hunter has really enjoyed FPAC and has recommended it to his younger brother for next summer.
Audrey DeLong
Mother of Hunter Hudson, FPAC ‘06

I loved this camp – it was AWESOME!!  This has been the greatest acting experience in my life!  I learned so many things I didn’t even know existed. The overnight was so much fun – that was one of the highlights of camp.  The session was too short!!
Hilary Blank, FPAC ‘06

I Love FPAC – was soo fun!!!  Go Kiwi Peach Pirates!!!  J  I LOVE THE STAFF. C.P. = AMAZING!!  I learned so much from her.  Mitchell Fields = SOO FUNNY!!!
Caroline Hatch, FPAC ’05 & ‘06

Excellent program!  The camp is simply scrumptious!  The amount of knowledge you can gain in 3 weeks is incredible!  An amazing experience!  All of the guest artists (Andrew May, Seth Gordon, Joan Ellison) were amazing.  It was great.  It was a fun time to make new friends and to express yourself through an activity that you’re passionate about.
Molly Israel, FPAC ’05 & ‘06

Great job!  I learned so much from this camp.  I am coming next year! GO FPAC! 
Alex Mayes, FPAC ’05 & ‘06

I wish the chart went to 100!  I really love FPAC and wait all year for it.  I really like all of the FPAC staff.  I learned a lot from each of them and they were always positive and happy.  I learned so much and have improved a ton.  I learned something different from each workshop with each different instructor.  Improv was really fun and we played cool games.  Dance (like everything else) was REALLY FUN !  Flex time – Yeah!
Fab
Perfect
Awesome
Cool
Megan Zupon, FPAC ’04, ’05 & ‘06

Amazing!  Excellent! I had a blast!  This is one of the best theater camps I’ve been to !  The staff were so nice and taught me so many things about acting!  Audition techniques class was excellent!  I had a fun time and I will come back next year!
Anna Sevel, FPAC ‘06

FPAC was the best drama camp I have ever been to!  Everyone was so nice and helped with everything.  Thank you so much!
Jessie Gill, FPAC ‘06

Superb!  Loved techniques to approach a new scene. I gained many contrasting monologues and excellent coaching so I feel confident with auditions.  Beginning dance was awesome – lots of technique, good dances, fun instructor.
Will Sanborn, FPAC ‘06

I enjoyed is so much!  I loved how each instructor focused on a different view of theatre.  It gave me a wide range of tools and opinions so I could choose which ones I related to.  I loved all the new games in improv – I’m excited to go back to high school and teach them to my friends.  Dance was AWESOME!  Makeup was cool.  The preparation for college helped immensely. I’m so excited to go back to school and show fellow actors what I’ve learned.  It has helped me enjoy theatre more as well, even though I thought it impossible to!
Corinne Halberg, FPAC ‘06

I loved FPAC and hope to come back next year.  The staff helped me more in 3 weeks than anyone ever has.  I had so much fun.  I had a lot of fun learning and making friends.  Thanks all FPAC people!
Stephanie Bridge, FPAC ‘06

I loved it.  A good time!  The staff was wonderful and knew what they were doing!  I really learned a lot!  Andrew May was awesome!  I never really knew I could truly act until I came to FPAC!  I had a great time!
Alexa Money, FPAC ’05 & ‘06

Superb! Superb! Superb!  It improves every year and I really loved this year’s structure the best.  I look forward to next year!
Meghan O’Connor, FPAC ’04, ’05 & ‘06

I loved the camp. I really looked forward to it. It really enlightened my whole summer.  I devoted 6 weeks to it and I made lifelong friends, and had a blast!  I loved the staff, and hope to come back next year. See everyone soon!
Halle Shanker, FPAC ’05 & ‘06

I loved the learning about the different styles this staff shared.  Each different method was useful and could be blended with the other styles. Flex time was superb – a lot of choices and all were helpful.
Valerie Witherspoon, FPAC ‘06

It was soo cool. I’m coming back next year.  The staff was sweet!  I learned more than I knew possible. I loved the walk, the space – I truly felt the fire beneath my feet.  Scene study was crazy sweet! (that’s a good thing).  Loved it.
Dakota Gant, FPAC ‘06

This camp is too awesome for words!  It was a perfect way to spend my summer.  FPAC ROCKS!  This camp is amazing!  You learn and this info will help you throughout your theater career.  The staff is so nice – you guys rock!  Really fun and cool scenes that make you really think about tactics, beats, conflicts, relationships, etc.  Improv – awesome info and fun games! GO TYPE WRITER!  Audition class – very helpful and fun! Great monologues!  The overnight was awesome – I wish we had one every night!  I loved it so much I begged my mom to come back to 2nd session.
Emma Wahl, FPAC ’04 & ‘06

All the activities were fabulous!  It was awesome!  I learned a lot in the 3 weeks.  They were all great teachers!  All of the exercises and games we did were very helpful and fun.  Great audition do’s and don’ts!  FPAC was amazing and a great learning experience!
Taylor Ochalek, FPAC ‘06

Thanks a ton for EVERYTHING!  I learned so much!  I got the help I needed where I needed it and I still had a lot of fun.  FPAC was a great experience for me to have – I am definitely coming back next summer!
Laura Kokotailo, FPAC ‘06

Superb! Superb! Superb! Superb! Superb! Superb!  It was amazing…
Patrick Mooney, FPAC ‘06

I LOVED IT.  The staff were all absolutely amazing.  They knew what they were talking about and they knew how to teach.  I learned so much in 3 weeks, that tops it all off.  I am so thankful for them.  So much fun!  It should have been more weeks or longer.
Molly Elson, FPAC ‘06

This is my favorite camp ever!  AWESOME!  Can you add another overnight?
Sarah Ridge, FPAC ’05 & ‘06

Arian’s improv was the best!  The overall program was great.  I learned so much from all of the amazing staff!
Camille Rekhson, FPAC ’05 & ‘06

Perfect!  The staff are really, really nice! I loved flex time – so glad we have choices.
Alienna Lyn, FPAC ‘06

Basically, just awesome. CP should get a raise. The staff are all amazing and I love how different they are.  I wish the camp day was longer.
Olivia Scicolone, FPAC ’05 & ‘06

Superb!  I had a lot of fun. The staff was very professional – I loved you people!  I learned a lot.  I can audition a lot better and make more shows.  The overnight was awesome. I’m definitely coming back.
Hunter Evans-Roskos, FPAC ‘06

I LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!  I learn 5 million new things every session I come.  The staff are superb teachers and are nice and fun!  Love how each teacher taught different types of improv.  Great idea to get to pick what you want to do at end of the day.  I love the mock audition idea, it really helped me know what to do at an audition.  AWESOME!
Miles Sternfeld, FPAC ’04, ’05 & ‘06

I loved FPAC SOOOOO much.  It was my best acting experience.  Superb staff! 
Jillian Mesaros, FPAC ‘06

AWESOME.  Improv – very, very cool.  I loved how everyone had a different style of teaching & stuff. It was great.  I JUST REALLY WISH WE DIDN’T LOSE A DAY FOR JULY 4.    I learned so freaking much.
Olivia Scicolone, FPAC ’05 & ‘06



It was fabulous!  I loved the staff!  The overnight?  VERY FUN. I LOVED EVERY SECOND. PERFECT!  I had a great time!  It was the best acting training I’ve ever had.  The teachers were excellent!  I developed a whole new way of reading a script, which I devote most of to Arian.  Thanks again to all the staff!
Adrianne Fraser, FPAC ‘06

I had so much fun everyday and couldn’t wait to come back the next.  I love improv.  I loved it.
Anonymous

I loved FPAC soo much!  It gives me hope that there are people like me in the world!  I wish sooo badly that FPAC could be an actual school all year!  I’m so sad I have to leave!  Thanks for creating the best camp in the world.  It really is amazing how much fun this camp is.  I really feel like I have become a better actress and I LOVE IT!!  All of the staff gave me such truthful criticism & I loved it.  They don’t tell lies and it helps so much.  Scene study is amazing.  I learned a ton in improv.  I got 2 really good monologues that I’m going to use for sure.  I liked it better when it was longer from 9-5pm – I love it so much I want to stay longer! 
Anna Leone, FPAC ’05 & ‘06



Hi Fred!
I miss FPAC soooooooooooooooooo much! I learned a lot this summer, which really helped me get into A Christmas Carol at Great Lakes Theater Festival, directed by Andrew May. Having Andrew May as a guest artist at FPAC helped me at the audition. I am understudying all of the girls as well as being in the ensemble. I'll try to come and see Beauty and the Beast, either for the FPAC reunion or for another show. I miss it so much, and I want to see the new cast. It will be hard to find time with my show. I can't wait to come back to FPAC again this year. It's like my home away from home! See you in '07!
Sincerely,
Camille Rekhson, FPAC '05 & '06