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Theatre Summer Camp for Children: Benefits Beyond the Stage

April 20 2023

If you're looking for something for your kids to do this summer, theatre summer camp should be on your list! There are many summer camp options in the Houston area and drama camps are a great option for performers of all experience levels!

Why Is Theatre Good for Kids?

At Stageworks Theatre, children ages 5-19 have a wide variety of options including one week day camps and multi-week performance camps. But you might be asking yourself, "Is theatre camp good for kids?"

The answer is yes, for so many reasons. Check out some of the most common benefits:

1. Helps kids build confidence.

Summer camps at Stageworks Theatre provide a supportive environment where children can learn to express themselves creatively and gain confidence in their abilities. Theatre camp can help kids build confidence through positive reinforcement and the opportunity to perform in front of others.

2. Teaches teamwork.

Theatre is a collaborative art form which encourages kids to work as a team, listen to others' ideas, and communicate effectively.

3. Kids develop creativity and imagination.

Theatre camp allows kids to tap into their creativity and imagination. They can explore different characters, stories, and settings and learn how to bring them to life on stage. Theatre camp can also help kids tap into their creativity through activities such as playwriting, costume design, and set construction.

4. Theatre encourages valuable life skills.

In theatre, things don't always go according to plan, just like in life. Kids learn how to adapt to unexpected changes and work together to solve problems. During the summer, they also have the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends, encouraging social skills and raising self-esteem. These skills are valuable in many areas of life, not just on stage!

5. Kids have fun and make memories.

Learning new skills and honing current ones are great benefits, but camp can simply be a fun and memorable experience for kids as well! They get to try new things, work with others, and create something that they can be proud of.

Summer camp doesn't last forever but the memories do!

Theatre Summer Camps 2023

Stageworks Theatre offers skill-based and performance camps for all ages and all ability levels. Whether your child is taking their first step onstage or has been performing for years, there is something for everyone this summer!

One Week Camps

This summer, there are 8 one-week camps available for ages 5-12. These camps focus on a variety of themes and skills. Some of the highlights include:

Mi Familia (ages 5-7) - A creative theatre class inspired by Encanto and Coco. Design your own door, create your family's ofrenda, and learn music and choreography from the hit movies!
Let It Go (ages 5-7 & 8-12) - Celebrate the stories of Elsa to Hercules, Tiana to Mulan, Rapunzel to Aladdin and everyone in between! Come learn the art of storytelling by studying your favorite characters, learning classic Disney songs and dances, and creating crafts inspired by your hero's journey.
Make 'em Laugh (ages 8-12) - Through the use of theatre improv games, improv technique and ensemble work, students will learn how to not just think on the spot, but embody a character, flourish in any given scenario, and make hilarious choices that really stand out.

Visit the Stageworks Academy Summer Camp page to see all of the great one week camps available this summer!

Three Day Camps

For ages 8-14, Stageworks Theatre offers 3-day camps that dive into skills including acting and dancing.

Act It Out (ages 8-12) - Students work alongside seasoned educators to hone acting skills in this immersive and technique focused camp.
Shake It Out Shakespeare (ages 11-14) - Practice your prose and pentameter with classic selections from the Bard's most popular plays and comedies. Learn the basic of reading and reciting Shakespeare and walk away understanding the subtext of the verse and how to build more confidence in playing a character.
Broadway Baddies (ages 11-14) - Have what it takes to stand out of the crowd? Learn choreography inspired from Six, Mean Girls, Heathers, Moulin Rouge and some of the "meanest" shows that have set fire to the Broadway stage! A class for all skill levels that allows your students to get more confident in moving and understanding rhythm through dance.

Two Week College Audition Prep

If you have a child (ages 15-20) looking ahead to college experience, College Audition Prep is a two week intensive that prepares acting students for the college experience from auditions to surviving the first year. Students will learn to choose and prepare monologues and/or songs, understand what roles best suit them, evaluate their strengths and weaknesses in a constructive way, and learn techniques to juggle the stressors that come with the business.

Three Week Performance Camps

This summer, Stageworks Theatre Acting Academy has a variety of performance camps available for ages 7-19. These camps all end with a weekend of shows for the performer who is ready to hit the stage! Musicals and plays are both available throughout the summer. Check out some of the great shows that will be hitting the stage!

Musicals

Beauty and the Beast (ages 13-19) & Beauty and the Beast, Jr. (ages 8-12) - Disney's first stage musical adaptation features the characters and songs of the animated film with additional ones thrown in.
Frozen Jr. (ages 10-14) & Frozen Kids (ages 7-10) - A story of true love and acceptance between sisters, Frozen expands upon the emotional relationship journey between Princesses Anna and Elsa. When faced with danger, the two discover their hidden potential and powerful bond of sisterhood.
The Spongebob Musical - (ages 12-18, audition only) - The SpongeBob Musical, Youth Edition is a 60 minute version of the Broadway musical that features the unforgettable characters from the cartoon paired with incredible music by artists such as Sara Bareilles, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! at the Disco and many more.
Finding Nemo, Jr. (ages 8-14) - From the composers who brought you Frozen, Disney's Finding Nemo Jr features the entire animated gang in a musical retelling of the hit film.
Mean Girls Jr. (ages 14-18) - Mean Girls Jr. is a 60 minute musical retelling of Tina Fey's 2004 comedy. Filled with side-splitting laughter, the musical features, at its core, a deeply relatable coming of age story.

Plays

Boxes (ages 11-13, two week camp) - Imagine a world where every teen comes of age by receiving an empty box. In this unique comedic drama about coping with pressures and expectations from others, Jack is curious when he receives his box as a birthday present.
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (ages 10-18) - During World War II bombings of London, four English siblings are sent to a country house to be safe. There they find a wardrobe that transports them to the world of Narnia where they join a magical lion, Aslan, in the fight against the evil White Witch.
The Wizard of Oz (ages 8-13) - Students in this thrilling non-musical version will embody the memorable characters from the book series.

No matter your child's experience level, if they're interested in the creativity and magic of the theatre, summer camp is a great way to get started! Not only will they have the opportunity to learn new skills and gain confidence, they'll also make new friends and have a chance to express themselves creatively. Theatre summer camps provide a safe and supportive environment for kids to learn and have fun! Who knows -- it could be the start of a lifelong passion for the performing arts!

About Stageworks Theatre

Stageworks Theatre, founded in 2005, is a not-for-profit performing arts and educational organization, with a passion for entertaining, enlightening, and engaging audiences in Northwest Harris County. Winner in seven categories for the Broadway World Houston Awards, Stageworks was named Houston's "Best Gem of a Theater" by the Houston Pressand "Best Arts and Entertainment" by the "Best of the Northwest" Readers' Choice awards. The organization is a proud winner of the prestigious national American Association of Community Theatre Twink Lynch Organizational Award.

Stageworks produces a broad mix of classics, comedies, dramas, musicals and new works. Through its award-winning Acting Academy, Stageworks offers acting, singing and dance classes, and performance opportunities for all ages. To purchase tickets, sign up for auditions or classes, or for more information, please visit www.stageworkstx.org or call 281-587-6100.

Source: Stageworks Theatre

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