Theater Camp (Day)

Anyone have experience with a summer theater camp locally? Niece will be 9. She has been very interested in her school plays this year and seems to enjoy both drama and musical theater. Not looking for high pressure, top talent kind of thing just a fun safe place for her to learn more without feeling awkward if she isn't the star singer or dancer. She also loves (and is quite talented at art/drawing and likes computers and probably would like developing programs, games or making movies.

She has had a tough year- parents divorce and then early menstruation (at 8!!!) and fully developing body which has caused her to feel really uncomfortable at school where kids are literally 1/2 her height and still look like little kids. Not Sleep away. TIA

For drama, you can try Class Act in SO (http://classactpas.com/) or Performers Theater Workshop in Maplewood (PTWonline.com).

Game design, coding, etc.: ID Tech and Active Learning both have summer camp programs nearby; see listings here:

http://www.kidscamps.com/kc_dba/owa/kids1_newdesign?typename=Animation&category_name=&new_search=1&gender=&state=NJ&country=&type2=®ion=&age2=06+to+10&distance2=20&code=&zip2=07040&x=Find+It

The SOMA Adult School camp also has a musical theater course and coding, claymation, Minecraft, etc. classes -- tons of options:

http://www.ssreg.com/images/classes/som/files/SOMAS_AdultSchool_Summer2017_FULL_interior_FINAL.pdf

What is the Sundance School? I am looking for mostly an immersive arts/theater camp not a fan of the SOMA one where they go from thing to thing. I have looked at those coding/gaming ones in the past but if we have to specialize like that, I think I am leaning more towards theater than computers. She uses computers to withdraw so I think the theater one may help her come back out. This was an extremely social, friendly child up until 2 years ago. She is now somewhat withdrawn with no friends- she is not included in kids birthday parties from school, that sort of thing. So, I want part of this to maybe help her come back out.

Bear with me, trying to embed link to the camp brochure now...you can also go to www.thesundanceschool.com

MY OP has the link to our Facebook Ad now!

Looks like exactly what I was looking for but the dates don't work. We have family vacation planned from 7/4-7/16. They don't seem to have shorter sessions. Thanks for the info though.

No personal experience but I've heard about the JCC theater camp.

also check out Front and Center in Springfield and Elefante in New Providence. Note I have no direct experience with either camp.

Holy cow! $3000+ for 3 weeks at the JCC program?! Am I reading that right?

(I think the starting age is 10, and the dates may not work, but maybe for next year?) the Dreamcatcher Repertory Junior Summer program in Summit is TERRIFIC. All three of my kids have gone for multiple years (and their interest in theater ranges from "wanted to learn stage-fighting" to "wants to be on Broadway"). It's a workshop environment, inclusive, supportive and serious at the same time. The kids really bond as a group and keep in touch all year long, even though they are from several different towns. http://www.dreamcatcherrep.org/dreamcatcher-junior

Elefante Music has a full day 2 week summer camp at Pingry. There are everal sessions to choose from.

http://elefantemusic.com/summer.shtml#MusicalTheater

Thank you. I did see that one. Looks good. Basking Ridge is a bit of a hike though but if nothing more local comes up, definitely a consideration. I still can't get over the $3500 price for the JCC?!?!

my daughter did a session of this last summer and enjoyed it. http://www.metroymcas.org/south-mountain-ymca/creative-theater-camps/

For possible consideration next year, after she is 10 years old - http://www.shakespearenj.org/Education/juniorcorp.html

There is a wonderful program at the Tony award winning Papermill Playhouse:

My wife taught there for years... Wonderful Program gave "birth" to many of our now stars...

http://www.papermill.org/education/summer-musical-theater-conservatory/about-the-conservatory.html

This is one solid program that ends with a kick xxx show!

Best Regards,

Ron Carter

Papermill is wonderful but extremely competitive. You have to try out to get in. Not what the OP is looking for.

not, definitely not. Nothing competitive. And I'm concerned about the age groupings on the metro YMCA one. 5th grade is oldest in her range which means her height and development will be even more pronounced with kids mostly younger.

Check out Mystic Vision Players. They have several youth programs.

http://www.mysticvisionplayers.com/Programs.html

A neighbor of mine (not on MOL) suggests the Morrow Memorial Theater Camp ( http://morrowchurch.org/morrow-musical-theatre-camp/) run by Miss Shona ( http://missshona.com/)

It's only one week (in August), though. Grades 3-8.

Apparently they are not yet taking registrations, but when they do, they fill up quickly.

thank you, that could work. The dates for some of these other ones are an issue although they look great. She can't start until after mid-July.

The Morrow camp is lovely. And yes, the JCC pricing is insane.

Quick question: Is the Morrow Theater Camp religious at all? Do they pray before lunch? Discuss God, etc. Thanks.

At least when my kid did it (about 4 years back), there was no religious content or structure at all. There is, however, an emphasis on service: proceeds from the show go to support a cause in which the church is involved and kids learn about that project. In one of our years, it was Sandy Recovery, and they took a trip to a shore town that was still struggling a few years after the storm. Another year was supporting work that the church does in Sierra Leone; yet another was fighting hunger locally.

no religious stuff as far as my dd has told me