Sulie Harand--now the only living member of the foursome who founded the institution in 1955--keeps a pulse on just about every aspect of the camps' operation. Her sister and partner, Pearl, passed away in March leaving Sulie to head the program on her own for the first time this summer.

     CAMPERS AND STAFF at Harand have however, created their own family which Sulie is very much a part of -- not to mention the next generation of  Harand family members who play vital roles in keeping the well-oiled machine running smoothly. Haranders (as they refer to themselves) find each other everywhere, Sulie said.
"There are zero, not six, degrees of separation," she proudly explained.
While some well-known actors, directors, and entertainment gurus have graduated from Harand, the program's goal is not simply to spit out successful Hollywood stars.
      The off-the-beaten path casting procedure used at Harand perfectly sums up what the camp is all about. The inclusive method casts several individuals for lead roles, rotating each into the spotlight for a portion of the production. If the production is "The Wizard of Oz," for example, six different individuals will rotate in as Dorothy -- each wearing the trademark blue and white gingham dress.
"There is no competition among actors," Sulie said. "Each one gets a sense of 'I can,' a sense of success. That little bit of ego-strength is what they go home with."

      NOT ALL PARTICIPANTS begin the summer as naturals on stage. Many are uncomfortable with the idea of performing, but typically by the end of the summer, they overcome hesitations. The confidence Haranders take home spills over into the rest of their lives and into whatever careers they pursue, Sulie said.   "I have just as much pride in the kids that succeed in other areas," she said adding that Harand philosophy tries to teach the participants something about humanity and tolerance through the musicals selected. Instructors stress the importance of playing an individual role, taking part in the chorus and the actor's Byplace in the whole production lesson and a metaphor Sulie believes reflects a person's place in society.
"It's given me a lot more confidence in myself as an actor, as a singer and a person," Margaret Kellner, of Arlington, Texas said. "I also met one of my best friends here."
       While campers are required to take dancing, singing and drama classes in preparations for the six productions that are performed throughout the summer's two, three-week sessions, there are also sports, crafts and other activities offered. The campers -- who come from all over the country -- can also be seen taking advantage of Beaver Dam's local amenities including businesses and public parks. "Wayland Academy has been wonderfully cooperative," Sulie said. "They gave us a gymnasium, but we can do anything we want to make it into a theater."

 

  THE HARAND sisters -- both performers themselves -- and their husbands began offering summer theater classes from a studio in downtown Chicago and soon moved headquarters to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin where they remained for 35 years before selling the property and discovering Wayland Academy.
      Recently, the campers performed one all-camp production which was a tribute to Tony Award winning shows from the late 1940s to the present.  The pageant incorporated music from Broadway shows including "Ragtime," "Kiss Me Kate," "Bye Bye Birdie," "Evita," "Beauty and the Beast" and many others.