HELLO MUDDAH, HELLO FADDAH.(Camp Broadway)(Brief Article)

Box-office is down on Broadway, but the most cheerful and high-spirited theatrical producer in town last week was Camp Broadway, yielding three musicals--"Oklahoma!," "State Fair," and "On the Town"--plus a number of perks. The performers, rehearsing at Chelsea Studios during five overpacked days, were a hundred and forty-eight kids between the ages of ten and seventeen.

A couple of dozen dancing, choreographing, acting, and singing counsellors rushed the kids to "Chorus Calls" and "Dance Calls" and "Showcase Rehearsals," as well as short workshops in improv, mime, mask, makeup, combat, and how-to-rip-off-hit-melodies-with-your-own-lyrics. The kids paid eight hundred and seventy-five dollars each for the five days, sans travel or lodging. They came from half the states in the country and from several foreign countries. Each kid wore a black T-shirt bearing a white star and his or her name in red, and clutched a professional-looking, custom-abridged script for "Oklahoma!" or "State Fair" or "On the Town." Every script included a list entitled "How to Succeed at Camp Broadway":

1. Be ready--on time and prepared., 2. Be responsible--for yourself and your belongings., 3. Be smart--don't chew gum., 4. Be attentive--listen quietly when others are talking., 5. Be a pro--work hard and always give 100%., 6. Be positive--never judge yourself or others., 7. Be safe--take care of your body in all that you do during the day., 8. Be brave--take risks so you can learn new skills., 9. Be respectful--of yourself and your fellow classmates while they take risks and learn new skills., 10. Be-lieve--in yourself!

"We have a formula," said Tony Parise, the artistic director. "We're not a camp that discovers talent. We're not Star Search. We offer theatre-loving kids access to real Broadway theatre. Everybody is treated the same. We do five songs from each show. Everybody gets to be in at least two numbers. Everybody gets to sing at least two lines. Everybody is in the finale."

Michelangelo Fano, age thirteen, with a thin face, a thin body, and short bangs, came from Rome with his father, a money manager, and his mother, an interpreter. Michelangelo had a natural, Mastroianni-like ingratiating manner. He was so charged up with camp spirit that he could hardly stand still. His seventeen-year-old brother was spending the week at a Massachusetts soccer camp.

"I am the only one in my family with the passion to be an actor," Michelangelo said. "I learn ...