Middles (8-12) - Summer Theatre Camps

No scripts for THIS camp! In this camp, we will play with many forms of improvisation to give students the tools to create characters and scenes on stage. Improvisation and its guiding principles are useful on stage and in everyday life. It teaches how to adapt and embrace new ideas... and it’s a LOT OF FUN! If you enjoy theatre games and collaborating with other actors, or have always wanted to try it, come join us! There will be a demonstration of student work on the last day of camp.

Week 2, July 6 – 10, M – F 
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Ages 9 – 12
Fee: $120
Instructor: Jen Duden

Learn how to make pretend fights look real on stage! This introductory camp teaches physical awareness, safety and fundamental moves and techniques. We will explore how stage combat contributes to both staging and storytelling within a scene or production. Stage Combat is an exciting element to add to your actor's toolbox.

Week 3, July 13 – 17, M – F 
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Ages 10 – 15
Fee: $120 
Instructors: Theater Camp Staff 

Ten-minute plays are quickly becoming a popular format in theatres, colleges, and high school theatre competitions. This new workshop gives campers a chance to bring them to life on stage. Campers will collaborate on props, costumes and set design.  

This camp offers a great opportunity to collaborate in small and large group scenes while building confidence and stage presence through rehearsal and performance. Campers will perform in a showcase of their work on the last day of camp.

Week 4, July 20 – July 24, M – F  
1:00 p.m.  - 4:00 p.m.
Age 9 – 14
Fee: $180
Instructor: Jen Duden

Campers who are ready to dive deep into creating fully realized stage characters will love this camp, which focuses on making bold, specific physical and acting choices and developing rich backstories. Fascinating and fun, this camp gives campers the chance to strengthen their acting skills by creating detailed, believable characters and exploring who they are onstage. Campers will share their work with a demonstration on the last day of camp.

Week 5, July 27– July 31, M – F 
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 
Ages 10 – 15
Fee: $90
Instructor: Janine Provencher 

Planning to audition for your school productions or shows at the Phipps? Auditions can feel intimidating and stressful—but they don’t have to be. In this camp, campers will learn how to approach auditions with confidence and positivity in a supportive environment led by an experienced actor and director. Participants will explore tips and techniques for successful auditions and develop an individual monologue they can take with them at the end of camp. 

Week 3, July 13 – 17, M – F 
9:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m. 
Ages 8 - 12
Fee: $120
Instructor: Jen Duden

This camp explores how story and character come to life through physical movement onstage. Using theatre games, guided exercises, and both individual and group scene work, actors will build body awareness, practice nonverbal storytelling, and develop expressive, intentional movement. Campers will share their progress through a final-day demonstration and short, original devised scenes. 

Week 5, July 27– July 31, M – F 
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. 
Ages 9-14
Fee: $90
Instructor: Tami Provencher 

A “triple threat” performer in theatre sings, acts, and dances. Our popular Triple Threat camps focus on developing skills in all three disciplines while fostering a love of musical theatre in a safe, fun, and welcoming environment. In this workshop, campers will receive instruction in singing, acting, and dance, and will perform scenes and musical numbers from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. The week culminates in a live performance for an audience. 

Week 6, August 3 – August 7, M – F 
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. 
Ages 8 -12
Fee: $180
Instructors: Janine Provencher and Maddy Tax

Our newest and most exciting Triple Threat Workshop! This is for campers who want to level up the challenge to their acting, singing, and dancing skills and techniques. Guided by professional theatre artists and performers, campers will deepen their love of musical theatre while exploring bolder, more specific character choices and tackling more challenging melodies, harmonies, and choreography. Campers will perform in a showcase for a live audience at the end of the week.

PREREQUISITE: Campers must have taken at least one (1) of the Phipps' Triple Threat Workshops BEFORE registering for this Intensive.

Week 7, August 10 – August 14, M – F  
1 – 4 p.m. 
Ages 11 – 16
Fee: $180
Instructors: Janine Provencher and Maddy Tax

A Triple Threat in Theatre can sing, act, and dance! In this workshop campers will receive instruction in all three disciplines. In their showcase, camper will perform scenes and musical numbers from the Disney hit The Little Mermaid. Our popular Triple Threat camps emphasize skill development, fun and love of all things theatre and musical in a safe and welcoming environment including the performance for a live audience at the end of the week. 

Week 1, June 22 – 26, M – F  
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.  
Ages 8 – 12 
Fee: $180 
Instructor: Janine Provencher 

This camp is designed for kids with prior experience in fundamental improv skills who are ready to expand their abilities in character development, dialogue, stage presence, and scene partnering. Campers will share a demonstration of what they’ve learned on the final day of camp.  

Week 4, July 20 – July 24, M – F  
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  
Ages 10-16 
Fee: $90 
Instructor: Jen Duden

In this twist on the classic tale, "that Beast guy" was once a handsome prince—before being cursed by an old woman for being a poor student! He and his servants are cursed into common household objects and cut off from the outside world—until Belle arrives. Fleeing the unwanted attentions of the pompous Gastoff (and in search of a Dairy Queen), Belle stumbles upon the castle and meets a Beast in need of help. As Gastoff and his not‑so‑bright companions give chase, the Beast begins to soften under Belle’s kindness, learning to read and write and discovering the power of compassion. Join us for this wonderful comedy brought to life with wit, delight and a heap of silliness by campers who will give a performance on the last day of camp. 

Week 2, July 6 – 10, M – F  
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.  
Ages 9 – 14 
Fee: $180 
Instructor: Janine Provencher 

When powerful newspaper publishers raise prices at the newsboys' expense, the charismatic Jack Kelly rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions. Together, the newsies learn that they are stronger united and create a movement to fight for what's right. Including the now-classic songs "Carrying the Banner," "Seize the Day," and "King of New York," Newsies Jr. is a timeless story full of spirit and heart. 

Week 5, July 27– July 31, M – F  
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 
Age 9 -14 
Fee: $300 
Instructor: Jen Duden and Janine Provencher 

Costume design is about far more than dressing an actor—it combines imagination and research to create clothing that reflects a specific historical period, an imagined future, or a fully fictional world. This camp offers campers a chance to experiment with artistic styles and the creative process as they invent mood boards and sketches for an assigned scene or production and their own original ideas. We will also cover some basic construction techniques. 

Week 4, July 20 – July 24, M – F  
9:00 – 10:30 a.m. 
Ages 9 – 14 
Fee: $90 
Instructor: Jen Duden 

Lighting design is perhaps theatre's most integrated blend of artistic design and technology. This camp introduces color theory, equipment and virtual console use as well as techniques for using light to tell stories. Campers will create a cue sheet for a short, assigned scene or song. 

Week 4, July 20 – July 24, M – F  
11:00 – 12:30 p.m.  
Ages 10 – 16 
Fee: $90  
Instructor: Theater Camp Staff 

Have a great idea for a play? Already started working on one? This camp is for new and emerging playwrights. Come and learn the basics of writing scripts for the stage. Work in collaboration with teacher and fellow writers to hone your dialogue and character development. Finish the week with some stage-ready script material! 

Week 3, July 13 – 17, M – F  
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.  
Ages 10 – 16 
Fee: $90  
Instructor: Theater Camp Instructor 

An introduction to designing the sets, costumes, props, lights and sound that enhance the magic of every theatre experience. Each day campers will explore and experiment using their own creative ideas alongside a professional theatre artist and designer as they become the Design Crew for our Performance Comedy camp production.  

Week 2, July 6 – 10, M – F  
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.  
Ages 10 – 15 
Fee: $180 
Instructor: Jen Duden 

In this exciting design camp, campers will learn the foundational elements of theatrical design and basic script analysis. Through drawing and vision‑board creation, students will explore how to translate a story’s design ideas into tangible concepts for a production. They will bring one of their designs to life in a shoebox diorama, a scale or 3D model for an assigned scene or show. 

Week 3, July 13 – 17, M – F  
11:00 – 12:30 p.m.  
Ages 9-12 
Fee: $90  
Instructors: Jen Duden 

Want to learn what happens behind the scenes of a show? The Phipps has been training stage managers for decades and here is YOUR chance to get in on the fun. This camp teaches you the essentials: how productions run, organizational tools stage managers use, and the specific skills you need to call a show. This camp will set you up to be a successful stage manager in your schools and other community theatres. If you love theatre and have great leadership and organizational skills this is the camp for you!

Week 7, August 10 – August 14, M – F  
9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 
Ages 12 – 16 
Fee: $90 
Instructors: Tami Provencher 

The Hunger Games, The Book Thief, The Firekeepers Daughter. Campers will experiment with transforming words on the page into living, breathing, feeling characters for a live audience. Looking for a deeper dive into dramatic acting? Come and create new stories using your favorites as the foundation through improvisation and other theatre devising techniques. 

Week 3, July 13 – 17, M – F  
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.  
Ages 9-14 
Fee: $120  
Instructor: Jen Duden  

Learn the fundamentals of cinematography, storytelling, character development, and video and audio editing, then put those skills into practice by creating and filming your own original movie. Campers will work in small groups to develop and produce their movie. Please bring a device (phone, tablet, ipad) loaded with the iMovie app. Limited devices are available for use by campers; please let us know in advance if you would like to use one. Movies will be screened on the last day of camp. Make a Movie is offered during two different camp weeks.

Week 1, June 22 – 26, 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.  
Week 6, August 3 – August 7, 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.  
Ages 9 - 14  
Fee: $150 
Instructor: Janine Provencher