Porchlight Summer Camp
THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR A GREAT SEASON!
SUMMER CAMP 2024 IS NOW COMPLETE
CHECK BACK FOR MORE DETAILS ON SUMMER 2025 SOON!
Create and perform with Porchlight all summer long!
Our expanded program offerings for actors aged 4 – 17 include skill based classes to stretch their creative muscles and grow in their music theater goals in acting, dancing and singing!
Our Foundation Classes – Mini Musicals for ages 4 – 6 and Broadway Basics for ages 7 – 10 – introduce musicals in an open and welcoming environment. Growing from exploring environments in Mini Musicals to creating characters through play and improvisation in Broadway Basics, campers will spend their day singing, dancing and creating an original musical story to share on the last day.
Returning and new middle school aged actors join us to grow in Intermediate Ensemble for ages 11 – 13. Actors will focus on classic or contemporary musicals as they learn musical theater songs, choreography, and create a musical revue to share with family and friends.
Pre-professional and high school aged actors (14 – 17 years) focus on leveling up specific skills in our Broadway Dance Intensive and Broadway Singing Intensive. We highly recommend both classes for any actors curious about or planning on auditioning for college music theater programs. Actors will leave more confident in their music theatre skills and more prepared for their Common Music Theatre Prescreen Audition.
New this year (based on family feedback!) we are so excited to announce our first ever Porchlight Youth Presents! Actors aged 7 – 13 years are invited to join us in applying their skills as they rehearse and perform a full script in an extended camp. Title will be announced soon!
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.
This summer we are also excited to offer aftercare each camp day 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 and daily rates may become available depending on aftercare enrollment.
Summer Camp is held at:
Holtschneider Performance Center at the DePaul University School of Music
2330 N. Halsted St.
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. Camp meets daily from 9 AM to 3 PM.
MINI MUSICALS • AGES 4 – 6
Summer Camp, 1 week
9 AM – 3 PM
Mini Musicals Under the Sea Ι July 8 – 12
$325
Join us for a week of songs, games and exploring a theme through music.
Mini Musicals skills include understanding what an actor does, how musicals tell stories, remembering basic choreography and performing on the last day of camp.
BROADWAY BASICS • AGES 7 – 10
Summer Camp, 2 weeks
9 AM – 3 PM
Broadway Basics: Royalty and Explorers Ι July 15 – 26
$650
Broadway Basics: Heroes and Villains Ι July 29 – Aug 9 – ONLY 2 SPOTS REMAINING!
$650
Register for Broadway Basics: Heroes and Villains
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 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.
INTERMEDIATE ENSEMBLE • AGES 11 – 13
Summer Camp, 2 weeks
9 AM – 3 PM
Intermediate Ensemble: Modern Musicals Ι July 15 – 26
$650
Intermediate Ensemble: Broadway Classics Ι July 29 – Aug 9 – Only 3 Spots Left!
$650
Register for Intermediate Ensemble: Broadway Classics
Middle school actors join us for two weeks to grow their theater skills and create their own musical revue!
Music Theatre Bootcamp 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.
MUSICAL THEATER SINGING INTENSIVE • AGES 14 – 17
Summer Camp, 1 week
9 AM – 3 PM
July 15 – 19
$400
Register for Musical Theater Singing Intensive
High school actors work on building their “book” of songs as well as vocal technique and acting through song.
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.
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