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Storm Floods Nyack Theater, Leaving Performance Arts Camp With No Home

NYACK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A fast-moving storm flooded a local theater camp for kids. Now, Rockland County residents are looking for help so that the show can go on.

For kids at the Helen Hayes Youth Theatre Camp in Nyack, last week's storm did more than turn Main Street into a river and destroy property. It severely flooded and damaged the Riverspace theater where the kids hold their performances -- seven feet of water at the height of it. The facility is now virtually uninhabitable.

"I was blown away. I didn't think that this would ever happen," 10-year-old Sam Rudd told CBS 2's Scott Rapoport.

The storm left the kids without a venue to perform.

"In this structure? Not this summer," said one of the men cleaning up the theater.

Adam Feldman is one of 300 kids at the camp who's summer is now in limbo.

"It puts camp in jeopardy because this is the main thing that you're looking forward to. You're always looking forward to being on the big stage in front of all your friends, all your family," the 11-year-old said.

"It's very sad. Everything's very sad."

Danielle Rudess is the founder and producer of the youth theater.

"We have no theater to set up a stage, to run lights and to perform on," Rudess said.

So now the folks at the theater camp are desperately searching for another stage, another place for the kids to have their summer performances. They are asking anyone and everyone for help.

"Every school, every theater has called and offered their space," Rudess said.

She said there have been plenty of offers but nothing concrete that she can count on. They say the show must go on, but where?

Anyone in a position to help is asked to get in touch with the youth theatre.

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