There is nothing like being at the theater, and New Jersey has its share of great ones. Many of these theaters offer educational programs, as well as unique summer camps. Today, we’re talking about two summer theater camps: Princeton’s McCarter Theatre Center and the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick.
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McCarter Theatre Center Summer Camp
McCarter’s Camp is designed for students at all experience levels. “Our programs give students the chance to work directly with skilled teaching artists and theater pros in an immersive, intensive environment. It is a great way for kids to stretch their creative muscles, try something new, make friends, learn new skills, and work as an ensemble, all in the joyful spirit of summer,” says Curriculum and Instruction Manager Lily Junker.
“Although each camp is designed with specific age-appropriate learning goals and content in mind, we also work hard to create a full camp ensemble. Students share their work with fellow students and staff members regularly. They collaborate in mixed-age groups on flash theater challenges at lunchtime. They attend one another’s dress rehearsals to offer support. On the final day of camp, they demonstrate their newfound expertise by teaching one another their class’ favorite activities,” Lily says.
“In addition to our amazing teaching artists and their assistant teachers, we also pair each camp with a high school apprentice, many of whom have graduated from our summer camps themselves. This all helps to further the supportive and safe environment that allows young artists to thrive. The younger students look up to and are challenged by the older students, and in turn, the older students enjoy mentoring the younger students while also gaining from their creativity and freedom of expression.”
More Theater Camp Programs to Come
Lily says to expect new programs in years to come. For students in Grades 3-5, there was World Builders this year. “This camp challenged students to use their bodies, voices, and imaginations, as well as found objects and abstract thinking, to create settings and stage pictures, inspired by preexisting works of theater.”
There also is a High School Summer Intensive: Comedy Conservatory. “This three-week intensive is by application only. It is inspired by the work of comedic playwright Ken Ludwig. The class offers young theater makers a deep immersion into the art of making audiences laugh. Participants worked closely with a team of experienced theater professionals, including a playwright, director, and special guest artists, to explore narrative structure, character development, ensemble building, and comedic acting technique as they collectively write and perform their own backstage farce”
The McCarter Theatre Center’s Summer Camp runs from late June through early August every summer. Multi-week day camps are available for Grades 1-12. Most of the camp’s activities are held at the McCarter Theatre Center, with some other spots in Princeton. “This year our offerings include favorites such as Page to Stage for students entering Grades 1-2, and Play Makers for Grades 3-5. For Grades 6-8, we have Improv and Beyond, as well as Scene Study. There are Musical Theater Workshops for Grades 4-5 and 6-8. And we have the Solo Performance for high school students and select 8th graders,” Lily notes.
You can download the current camp schedule online. Spaces for the camp fill up quickly, so reserve your child’s spot as early as you can. McCarter also offers options for before and after camp care. There are need-based scholarships available for students as well. McCarter Theatre Center is located at 91 University Place in Princeton. For details, give them a call.
George Street Playhouse Summer Theatre Academy
Over in New Brunswick, the George Street Playhouse presents their Summer Theatre Academy. “With our camp, we have students create original work in an ensemble-based theater process that really invests in student creativity from the beginning to the end. Every summer, during the month of July we offer two- and four-week programs with three different ranges, ages 5-8, 9-12, and 13-18.
At the end of each session, students perform their original works on the George Street Playhouse Main Stage with professional lighting and sound designers. There is a professional design staff to assist with props and costumes. Our mission here is to invest in new work and emerging artists. This vision is carried through our entire education department,” says Manager of School-Based Programs and Director of the Summer Theatre Academy Christa Cillaroto.
“We start every camp day with warm-up activities to engage our minds, bodies, and imaginations. In the musical theatre class, you will be doing some vocal warm-ups. There is lots of movement, play, and imaginative characters. We play theater games to get the day started. In an acting class, there is morning warm-up, followed by skill building sessions to develop acting. The afternoon is creation time where students get into their story—working on the script, developing characters, and so on. As the weeks progress, mornings become more about the development of the story and afternoons become about rehearsal.”
Award-Winning Theater Camp Fun
Selected as the Jersey Arts People’s Choice Award for Favorite Theatre Camp, the George Street Playhouse Summer Theatre Academy has open registration. (Which means you don’t have to audition.) The teaching staff consists of trained working actors and directors. Many teach year-round in the residency program, as well as in Saturday morning classes held during the spring, fall, and winter. The camp takes place at the George Street Playhouse, as well as its sister theater Crossroads Theatre Company next door. Classes are scheduled for Monday through Friday from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm, with care options available in the morning and evening. George Street Playhouse does offer needs-based scholarships.
“For ages 5-8 we offer Songs as Stories, where children play games, develop characters, and learn about musical theater. There also is Junior Company, where they learn the foundations of theater performance. For those 9-12, we have a four-week musical theater class where the students perform an already published musical, Once on This Island, Jr. We believe that it also is important for them to be able to rehearse something that already has been scripted. There also is the Play Production class for ages 9-12. For the kids ages 13-18 we have the Teen Conservatory; or a class where they can create, rehearse, and perform an original play with music,” Christa says.
Want to schedule a family tour, or learn more about the 2015 George Street Playhouse Summer Theatre Academy? If so, then give them a call (ext 117). You can also find their camp brochure online. Visit George Street Playhouse at 9 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick.
