LAKE FOREST

Special education students at Aliso Elementary School will spend a week during summer vacation in a musical theater workshop at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Fourth- through sixth-graders will be bused to the center next month for three hours per day to learn dance, vocal and auditioning skills. Teacher Brenda Kelly said she jumped at the chance to participate.

“These kids learn so much out of the norm of the classroom. I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for them,” Kelly said.

A professional vocal teacher and a choreographer will coach the students. At the end of the week, they will put on two musical revues complete with a life-size school bus prop and live musical accompaniment, said program director Nancy Torbitt.

Kelly said the theater camp would also help the students with academic skills. “They’ll be learning how to read by rehearsing for the play, and they won’t even realize it,” she said. The students’ performances are open to the public and will take place at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. July 16 at the Center.