Porchlight Summer Camp
SUMMER CAMP 2026 IS ON SALE
Create and perform with Porchlight all summer long!
Chicago’s favorite music theatre summer camp is back!
Our offerings for actors aged 4 – 17 include skill-based classes to stretch their creative muscles and grow in their music theatre goals in acting, dancing and singing! All Porchlight classes are taught by theatre professionals who have appeared on stages throughout Chicagoland.
EXPLORE ALL OFFERINGS IN THE MENU TO THE LEFT.
Our Foundation Classes – Mini Musicals for ages 4 – 6, Broadway Basics for ages 7 – 10 and Intermediate Ensemble for ages 11 – 13 – introduce music theater skills in a fun and welcoming atmosphere.
Campers grow from exploring environments in Mini Musicals to creating characters through play and improvisation in Broadway Basics, to more challenging technique and group work in Intermediate Ensemble. Campers will spend their day singing, dancing and creating an original musical performance to share on the last day.
Actors aged 7 – 13 years are invited to join us in applying their skills as they rehearse and perform a full licensed script in an extended camp in Porchlight Youth Presents. This summer our campers cook up Willy Wonka, JR and enjoy a summer of enchanting songs from the 1971 film, in addition to a host of new songs. Join us for a scrumdidilyumptious musical guaranteed to delight everyone’s sweet tooth.
This summer we’re excited to bring back PMTeens – a one of a kind opportunity for the next generation of Chicago music theatre talent. This elite group of 16 actors aged 14 – 17 will receive professional theatre training, exclusive masterclasses and leave more confident and prepared for music theatre auditions.
Aftercare is offered each camp day at Lincoln Elementary from 3:30 – 5:30 PM and families are welcome to pickup anytime in this window. Aftercare is available to add on to each camp session at an additional fee and daily rates may become available depending on aftercare enrollment.
Summer Camp Locations:
Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
615 W. Kemper Pl.
Chicago, IL 60614
Accessible by CTA Red, Brown and Purple line trains at the Fullerton CTA Stop, as well as the Fullerton and Halsted buses.
Porchlight Music Theatre Studios
4200 W. Diversey Ave
Chicago, IL 60639
Accessible by Diversey bus.
Porchlight believes that arts education is essential for all students, so no child will be turned away for their inability to pay. Scholarships and financial aid are awarded on a need and interest basis determined through this application and additional supports (travel and meal support) may be available as well. Payment plans are always available.
Sample Camp Day
Every day we’ll have time to learn music/acting technique, work on our final presentation, and get to know each other as an ensemble. A typical day at camp will look something like this:
- 9 – 10 AM – Welcome and Warm-Ups (Voice, Body, Ensemble)
- 10 – 11 AM – Learn Group Songs / Choreography for final show
- 11 AM – 12 PM – Drama Games / Whole Cast Work
- 12PM – Lunch & Free Time at Oz Park
- 1 – 2 PM – Prop and Individual Final Show Work / Rehearsal
- 2 – 3 PM – Drama Games and Review, Sign Out
Payment plans are available for all youth programming by emailing rebeccah@porchlightmusictheatre.org. Scholarships and financial aid available by filling out this application.
Scholarships Provided due to generous donations from:
CAMP REGISTRATION AND SAFETY POLICIES
Porchlight Music Theatre has the right to cancel a class up to one week prior to the start date. Refunds will be processed if a class or camp is canceled. No refunds available if a purchaser drops a class or camp unless the spot can be filled from a waitlist. If a spot can be filled, a refund will be given.
Porchlight Music Theatre has the right to determine minimum enrollment. A refund will not be processed if a purchaser believes the enrollment to be too low.
Transfers towards a different camp or class session may not be possible.
Porchlight Music Theatre classes and camps are mask encouraged for all campers and Teaching Artists. Guidelines and recommendations were created following advice from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Illinois Department of Health and Chicago Public Schools. Policies may update based on expert recommendations.
Full policies and FAQ here.
Pronoun Key: + (he/him/his); * (she/her/hers); ^ (they, them, theirs); = (any with respect)
MINI MUSICALS • AGES 4 – 6
Summer Camp, 1 week
9 AM – 3 PM
Offered at Lincoln Elementary School
Aftercare available to add on
Join us for a week of songs, games and exploring a theme through music.
Mini Musicals focuses on exploring environments and skills include understanding what an actor does, how musicals tell stories, remembering basic choreography and performing on the last day of camp.
Mini Musicals: Fairytale Castles
Dates: June 15 – 18 (no camp June 19)
Cost: $300
Register for Mini Musicals: Fairytale Castles
Or in checkout click “Add More Items” and “Summer Camp 2026 Aftercare” –> Aftercare Week 1
Mini Musicals: Deep Blue Sea
Dates: June 22 – 26
Cost: $370
Register for Mini Musicals: Deep Blue Sea
Or in checkout click “Add More Items” and “Summer Camp 2026 Aftercare” –> Aftercare Week 2
Mini Musicals: Outer Space
Dates: June 29 – July 3
Cost: $370
Register for Mini Musicals: Outer Space
Or in checkout click “Add More Items” and “Summer Camp 2026 Aftercare” –> Aftercare Week 3
Mini Musicals: Enchanted Forests
Dates: July 6 – 10
Cost: $370
Register for Mini Musicals: Enchanted Forests
Or in checkout click “Add More Items” and “Summer Camp 2026 Aftercare” –> Aftercare Week 4
Mini Musicals: Frozen Wonderlands
Dates: July 13 – 17
Cost: $370
Register for Mini Musicals: Frozen Wonderlands
Or in checkout click “Add More Items” and “Summer Camp 2026 Aftercare” –> Aftercare Week 5
Mini Musicals: Deserts & Jungles
Dates: July 20 – 24
Cost: $370
Register for Mini Musicals: Deserts & Jungles
Or in checkout click “Add More Items” and “Summer Camp 2026 Aftercare” –> Aftercare Week 6
Mini Musicals: The Seven Seas
Dates: July 27 – 31
Cost: $370
Register for Mini Musicals: The Seven Seas
Or in checkout click “Add More Items” and “Summer Camp 2026 Aftercare” –> Aftercare Week 7
Mini Musicals: On the Tree Tops
Dates: August 3 – 7
Cost: $370
Register for Mini Musicals: On the Tree Tops
Or in checkout click “Add More Items” and “Summer Camp 2026 Aftercare” –> Aftercare Week 8
BROADWAY BASICS • AGES 7 – 10
Summer Camp, 2 weeks
9 AM – 3 PM
Offered at Lincoln Elementary School
Aftercare available to add on
A two-week entrance to the world of music, drama, dance, writing and more! Actors will create characters who interact in a musical story.
Broadway Basics focuses on creating characters and skills include learning to warm up our actor tools, writing a story with music together, helping to choreograph a song, and making big character choices with our bodies and voices.
Broadway Basics: Villains & Sidekicks
Dates: June 22 – July 3
Cost: $750
Register for Broadway Basics: Villains & Sidekicks
Or in checkout click “Add More Items” and “Summer Camp 2026 Aftercare” –> Aftercare Weeks 2 & 3
Broadway Basics: Majesties & Magicians
Dates: July 27 – August 7
Cost: $750
Register for Broadway Basics: Majesties & Magicians
Or in checkout click “Add More Items” and “Summer Camp 2026 Aftercare” –> Aftercare Weeks 7 & 8
INTERMEDIATE ENSEMBLE • AGES 11 – 13
Summer Camp, 2 weeks
9 AM – 3 PM
Offered at Lincoln Elementary School
Aftercare available to add on
Middle school actors join us for two weeks to grow their theater skills and create their own musical revue!
Intermediate Ensemble focuses on music theater genres and skills include learning to sing in harmony with our ensemble, perform a small group or individual solo (if desired), more challenging choreography and acting techniques, and basic improvisation.
Intermediate Ensemble: Golden Age Classics
Dates: June 22 – July 3
Cost: $750
Register for Intermediate Ensemble: Golden Age Classics
Or in checkout click “Add More Items” and “Summer Camp 2026 Aftercare” –> Aftercare Weeks 2 & 3
Intermediate Ensemble: Modern Masterpieces
Dates: July 27 – August 7
Cost: $750
Register for Intermediate Ensemble: Modern Masterpieces
Or in checkout click “Add More Items” and “Summer Camp 2026 Aftercare” –> Aftercare Weeks 7 & 8
PORCHLIGHT YOUTH PRESENTS • AGES 7 – 13
Willy Wonka, JR
Summer Camp, 3 weeks
9 AM – 3 PM
Offered at Lincoln Elementary School
Production Aftercare available to add on
Actors aged 7 – 13 years are invited to join us in applying their skills as they rehearse and perform a full licensed script in an extended camp in Porchlight Youth Presents. This summer our actors will cook up Willy Wonka, JR with a summer of enchanting songs from the 1971 film, in addition to a host of new songs. Join us for a scrumdidilyumptious musical guaranteed to delight everyone’s sweet tooth. Actors will work with a pre-professional script and stage, rehearse and perform a full musical with heightened design on the last day of camp with family and friends!
Add on aftercare to spend time building props, costumes and other design elements!
Porchlight Youth Presents
Willy Wonka, JR
Dates: July 6 – 24
Cost: $980
Or in checkout click “Add More Items” and “Summer Camp 2026 Aftercare” –> Aftercare Weeks 4, 5 & 6
PMTeens • AGES 14 – 17
Summer Camp, 2 weeks
9 AM – 3 PM
Offered at Porchlight Studios, 4200 W. Diversey Ave
Porchlight is looking for the next generation of Chicago music theatre talent! Back again this summer 16 high school-aged actors will join us to learn from Chicago’s music theatre experts and perform in a live Porchlight event. Actors will leave this immersive two-week experience with polished audition materials (monologue, uptempo and ballad and dance audition skills) as well as experience performing in the teen ensemble showcase. Spots are limited for this exclusive experience!
Ensemble members will also receive masterclasses, updated professional headshots and coaching in resumes and video submissions for college and professional auditions.
