Summer is a great time for theatre-loving kids to immerse themselves in that world. There are lots of wonderful programs that offer 2, 3 and even 4 week programs to allow kids to hone their skills and work towards a performance. Plan early to fit in these multi-week camps!

California Shakespeare Theater Shakespeare Conservatory

Cal Shakes Summer Shakespeare Conservatories are no ordinary summer camps. They offer 2 and 3-week theater experiences rooted in the same passion for artistic exploration and excellence that guides their Main Stage productions. Participants spend the morning playing and creating in a wide variety of theater disciplines, taught by working theater professionals. Afternoons are spent in rehearsal, culminating in Shakespeare performances for family and friends at the end of the program. Best of all, students learn skills with friends old and new–what better way to spend a summer?

Visit their Open House, 6:30 Mar 11, 2013 at Oakland’s Holy Names High School.

Berkeley Playhouse

Get ready to ease on down the road with The Wiz inspired camps or fly into outer space with Starmites inspired camps with Berkeley Playhouse this summer! They have one to four week camps throughout the summer for grades ranging from preschool through rising 7th graders.

Theatre camps include training in acting, singing and dancing, inspired by the songs and stories of our Mainstage show. As the first rung in our Conservatory Track ladder, Level I camps are a great introduction to our programs and a way to build skills and confidence. The culminating performance for family and friends will take place with a live accompanist, costumes, and props.

Youth Musical Theater Company (YMTC)

Is offering a Summer Workshop Production -3 Week Intensive Camp August 5 – 23, with a final works-in-progress performance on August 23rd. In this new 3 week intensive workshop, students of all levels (grades 7th-12th) will develop skills as singer/actors, focusing on selected scenes from musicals appropriate to their age and level. In working with these scenes and through exercises, improvisation and games, dynamite music theater professional teaching team, Anna Smith and Evan Alporone (bios above) will help students build their vocal technique and dance skills, as well as develop characters and on-stage relationships. The students will focus be assigned scenes and music and develope sections to perform from three shows: Urine Town, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Hairspray.