Theater camps allow children and teenagers to explore their creativity and develop acting skills while on summer break from school. These camps typically train children and teens in on-stage and screen acting and help them develop improvisation, movement and speech skills. Campers may practice character analysis, develop comedic acting skills and learn to do voice-overs. Since singing and dancing are often important parts of theater work, campers may take singing and dancing lessons as well.
Thanks to the abundance of available theater camps, parents and children can select camps that best meet their needs. The common types of theater camps include day camps that usually open each morning and end in the afternoon or evening. Campers go home at night and return in the morning. Overnight camps require campers to sleep on the camp property for the duration of the session.
Theater summer camps vary when it comes to duration. Some camps offer one week of intensive study and practice of theater skills, while others may last for one month or more. Many also offer multiple sessions, which means children can choose to attend just one session or opt for several sessions to continue building skills and having fun. Some camps only last for a day or two. For example, some camps allow campers to meet and learn from celebrities but only last for one or two days.
Most theater camps provide opportunities for campers to show off their skills through performance. Some arrange a final performance before the camp ends, and each camper may invite friends and loved ones to watch him perform. Others may plan mini performances periodically during a camp session. Some theater camps even create film productions and provide parents and campers with copies to take home.
The costs of attending summer theater camps vary widely. Some camps may charge around a couple of hundred dollars for a week of camp, while others may cost closer to $1,000 per week. In general, day camps are less expensive than overnight camps. Likewise, summer camps that involve celebrities or international travel may be more expensive.