Annabel the Actress Starring in Camping It Up

Act 1: A Happy Camper Scene 1Annabel was an actress. She wasn't a star yet, but she planned to be one by the time she grew up.She practiced every day. She practiced feelings, like Angry or Joyful or Sad. She practiced characters, like Pitiful Orphan or Notorious Jewel Thief.But today Annabel wouldn't be practicing. Today she would be going to Camp Waverly for the Dramatic Arts.Four whole weeks of acting classes! With professional actors as her teachers! In a rustic woodland setting.Annabel didn't care much about the rustic woodland setting. But acting all day was her dream come true.When the camp bus stopped in front of her house, Annabel had been ready for an hour. She practically bounced up the bus steps.There were plenty of empty seats, but she thought she might seem stuck-up if she sat alone. So she sat down beside a boy with curly black hair. He was writing in a large notebook."Hi," she said. "I'm Annabel."The boy looked up for a moment. "Orson," he said."What are you writing?" Annabel asked."A play." He bent over his notebook again."Cool," Annabel said. "What's it called?""The Genius," said Orson. "It's autobiographical."Annabel turned to look out the window. As they traveled along Route 70, she watched as the houses grew farther and farther apart.At last she saw a sign on the right side of the road. It was made of narrow logs, and it hung from two wooden posts. It said CAMP WAVERLY FOR THE DRAMATIC ARTS."We're here!" Annabel yelled.The bus bumped down a dirt path and stopped in a small, gravel parking area. Two other buses were already there. Kids were spilling out of them and running around the parking lot.Her driver stopped and opened the bus door. Annabel practically exploded out of the bus.Scene 2Camp Waverly was laid out around a large, grassy meadow. Four open tents with green and white canopies stood at the edges of the meadow.Some of the campers were already sitting on the grass in front of the biggest tent. Annabel and the other kids from her bus sat down behind them.Eight people were sitting on white folding chairs under the tent. Annabel guessed they were the drama teachers.A tall, white-haired woman stood up and cleared her throat."Welcome to Camp Waverly," she said. Her voice was deep and loud. Annabel wondered if she had been an actress herself."I am Brenda Waverly," she began. "Camp Waverly has been training young actors for thirty-one summers. Many of them have gone on to become successful performers."Annabel perked up. Maybe agents and producers and directors knew about Camp Waverly. Maybe some of them visited the camp every summer, looking for new talent!The campers were divided into three groups. Annabel and Orson were in the youngest group, the Beginners. Mrs. Waverly introduced the teachers for each group. She called them directors. There was also an assistant director for each group.The directors for the Intermediates and Seniors led them to their tents.Then Mrs. Waverly said, "Beginners, your director will be famed stage and screen star, Sheridan Fell.""Who?" Orson whispered. "I've never heard of him.""Me neither," said Annabel.A tall, thin man stood up. He bowed slightly.Annabel hadn't been able to see him well before. Now, as the Beginners gathered around him, Annabel could finally see him clearly.His hair was long and white. His skin looked like crinkly yellow paper. He wore a red-and-white-striped shirt with long sleeves, and a red scarf around his neck. He had on loose, shiny black pants that looked like they might be pajama bottoms."And this is your assistant director, Sandi Marshall," Mrs. Waverly said.A much younger woman in white shorts and a Camp Waverly T-shirt said, "Hi, everyone. Our tent is over there." She pointed. "Follow me."Sandi led the way across the meadow. Mr. Fell and the campers trailed after her."He looksConford, Ellen is the author of 'Annabel the Actress Starring in Camping It Up' with ISBN 9780689847356 and ISBN 0689847351.