Camp 2026 


July 6-24 for 7yo-12yo 


July 27-Aug 14 for 11yo-class of 2026 seniors


(11-12yos may do both camps if they'd like. You must be the correct age during camp.) 


Camps run Monday-Friday from 9am-3pm, with evening shows and adjusted schedules the last 2 days of camp (Thursday and Friday). 


Elmwood Commons theatre, located at 3200 Elmwood in Kenmore

https://www.robsplayhousetheater.com/pages/rental



We will start giving clues this winter. Registration will begin Monday January 5th.


What's Included in Camp


Cancellation Policy  


Younger Camp

5/1 or later nonrefundable

4/30 or earlier full refund except for $50 processing fee


Older Camp

6/1 or later nonrefundable

5/31 or earlier full refund except for $50 processing fee



FAQ


How can my child prepare for camp?

Sing, read aloud, and dance! Take every opportunity to sing and do music. Take chorus at school, sing in the shower, audition for solos, All County and NYSSMA as they get older. Consider private voice lessons or joining a church choir or community chorus. Playing an instrument helps too! If there are younger siblings, family members, or friends, they are great audience members if you read a story aloud. They appreciate when you read with good fluency, slowly and clearly, with good inflection. Students who have taken dance classes also have an advantage, because they are used to being onstage. 


If camp sells out, will you have a waitlist?

Yes, it’s hard to commit to the summer in January, and we do get cancellations. Please email lisa@youngactorstw.org if you’d like to be put on a waitlist. 


My child is 11 or 12. Should they do the younger camp or older camp?

The rigor between camps is very different. Our younger camp shows are 30 minutes long, and most songs are unison. Our older camps shows are 60 minutes long, and they are more difficult. Songs are longer and have harmonies. Choreography is more difficult. The scenes are longer. Those students also have more freedom. Generally, the larger roles in our younger camp goes to 11-12 year-olds, because they are more fluent readers, and they have put more time into singing, acting and dancing. This does not mean you are guaranteed a large part if you are 11-12. Some kids in the younger camp have never been onstage before. In our older camp, most students have singing, dance and acting experience. Many participate in All County, take dance classes and private voice lessons. It can be very competitive for roles. Some 11/12 year-olds like being the oldest kids and being leaders, having a good chance at larger roles. Others are ready to move up because they want more rigor and to be with older kids. They accept that they may not have a speaking role. You know your child  best. They do have the option of doing both camps if they’d like. 


What should my child wear to camp?

Your child should wear sneakers and comfortable clothes. If directors asked your child to do a cartwheel, would their bodies be covered? Students with long hair need a hair band. Also please wear deodorant, if needed. If your child’s shirt does not smell “fresh” after camp under the bright lights of the stage, deodorant is a good idea.


What should my child bring to camp?

Your child needs: script (to be distributed first week of camp), water bottle, pencil with eraser, beach towel to sit on at lunch, lunch with utensils, crayons or makers with coloring book or paper, book or independent activity to do during downtime (non-electronic). We eat lunch outside, and we offer spots in the shade. If your child chooses to sit in the sun, they may want a hat or sunscreen.


How do you communicate with parents during camp?

We use the Remind app to send important information, such as details about the week of the show and costume requirements. You may also text directors via the app. Make sure you join our group, which is assigned after registration. You may also reach out via phone or email, knowing that it may take 24 hours to hear back, since we are with your children during the day.


What is your audition process?

An informal audition starts as soon as the kids walk in the door. We notice who takes direction well, is kind to others, tries their best - not only while we are working, but during theatre games. We hold auditions during the first 2 days of camp. First, we workshop the auditions, by splitting into 3 small groups (acting, singing, dance). The students learn what they will work on during the audition, and they are coached through it. Next students come up in groups of 4, and the directors hear the kids sing individually. On day 2, students are placed in small groups, where they perform a scene from the show, in roles selected by the directors. They also perform their dance audition numbers in small groups. Some students receive a callback, where we want to see them try something else (singing, acting or dancing), or perform with different groupings to make sure we have the right chemistry. A callback just means that we need to see someone again. Not getting a callback doesn’t mean you won’t have a speaking role. We usually announce the roles on the morning of day 3.


How can I support my child through casting?

The best way to support your child is to encourage them, but not discuss specific parts. Every child gets in! Please do not say “You’d make a great Elsa”, because that leads to false hope. It is so important to believe in your child, but we often have students with unrealistic expectations. We strongly encourage the kids to NOT cast the show. Say things like “You will have so much fun doing this show!”, “Your singing has really improved”, etc. Every child will have the opportunity to shine. If they don’t have a line in the show, they still have the experience of learning and saying a line in the pre-show talk. We encourage you to make it more about the experience of camp (friends, growing as an actor, etc.) than about specific roles. It’s normal to be disappointed if you don’t get the part you wanted. We encourage the kids to vent to parents at home, but not be negative about it at camp. Unfortunately we learn some life lessons about disappointment from auditioning, and it’s a good teachable moment. We are happy to talk to your child about casting the day after the cast is announced. This is not a parent conference - it’s an optional opportunity for the kids to advocate for themselves and get feedback on what they can work on if they’d like it.


Will my child have a line?

Every child is offered at least one line. If the script allows, it will be during the show, and if not, it will be part of the pre-show announcement. If your child does NOT have a line in the show, it means they declined when offered the chance to say a line. 


How early can I drop my child off?

We start at 9am. Please do not drop your child off before 8:55am, unless you have made special arrangements at least 24 hours in advance to pay staff to supervise your child. There will not be adults there to supervise your child before 8:55 without prior arrangements. 


What does a typical day look like?

At 9am we start with a game, then do physical and vocal warmup. Next we split into our 3 groups (acting, singing, dance) and tackle one scene/song at a time! We eat lunch at 12. After lunch, we play another game. Then we split into our 3 groups again. We stop rehearsing and end with a game around 2:40. Pickup is promptly at 3pm.  Our younger campers take scheduled bathroom breaks at 10am, 12pm, 2pm.


Do you do snack time?

We do not. If your child says they are hungry before lunch, we recommend having a snack in the car on the ride in. I pack a snack for the ride home for my kids. Students may have a water break whenever they need one.


What if I can’t get my child at 3pm?

We release students promptly at 3pm. If you can’t be there at 3pm, it's your responsibility to make other arrangements. We recommend having a friend in camp who would be willing to hang out with your child if you are running late. A Facebook group has been set up so that parents can connect, if you need a buddy to help you with carpooling or pickup. If you have not made prior arrangements at least 24 hours in advance and paid to have your child stay late, you need to contact the directors via Remind ASAP. Late fees will be assessed for campers who are not picked up on time, as your camp tuition does not cover renting the theatre or having staff past 3pm.


Does my child need a resume or headshot?

No. In our younger camp, we record their responses to verbal questions about their background in acting, dance, music, and their previous shows. For our older campers, we walk them through filling out an audition form with their experience. We take photos of each group that auditions.


My student is neurodivergent. Can they do your camp?

Absolutely! Theatre is for everyone, and we have never turned down a student who wants to participate. Our own daughter has special needs. We do not need to know your child’s diagnosis or medical information, but it’s very important that you let us know how we can help your child. We want everyone to have a good time at camp, so if there are triggers we should be aware of, they must be communicated before camp. If your student has an aide at school, you may want to consider sending them to camp with additional support as well, because we do not have staff for 1:1 help. 


What do you do for food allergies?

If parents disclose that there are food allergies, we verify that they are ok to sit with peers who bring in that item. If they need a separate location or for students to wash hands after eating, we are happy to accommodate. We also check in with the parents before the cast party to see if their child is independent about selecting foods, or if an adult needs to read food labels.


Do you have an attendance policy?

We require a list of absences on the first day of camp. It is standard in the theatre world for you to have your "conflicts" when you audition for a show. Your camper may bring the list with them, or you may send it via email or Remind. We want your children to be confident onstage, and the key to that is having them present to learn their songs, dances and scenes. Communication is the most important part of attendance. The earlier we know about an absence, the better. We understand that it’s summer, and we want your family to have a variety of experiences. If we have advance notice, we can plan around absences. However, absences are not permitted the week of the show. If your child is ill, please reach out to us as soon as you know they will be out, and let them recover at home so that it doesn’t spread to the camp.


Will my child have a costume?

 Yes, all children will have costumes, but you do not pay a costume fee, so the costumes belong to Young Actors, or the company where they have been rented. We may ask you to bring in a “base layer”, such as an undershirt and shorts, or a certain color of leggings. Sneakers are usually fine (as long as they don’t light up), but dance shoes are also permitted. You shouldn’t need to buy new shoes for the show.


Are cell phones allowed at camp?

We pride ourselves in being a camp that promotes kindness and inclusion, because instead of having screen time in downtime, our campers support and get to know each other. Phone usage is not allowed between 9am-3pm. If you need to reach your camper, please reach out to the directors via Remind.


Should my child be practicing at home?

Yes! Before camp begins, you will receive an email with the website for our practice materials. You’ll find practice tracks of the music, videos of choreography, and a list of what we have worked on (with corresponding deadlines). We expect kids to be able to perform their scenes, songs and dances without peeking at a script or relying on others after 2 nights of practice. 


How will my child know if they are prepared for each deadline?

On the due date, your child should be able to perform a song/dance using the performance tracks without the voices - without stopping. You may follow along in your script if you’d like to help. For scenes, if you read a cue line (another actor’s line), they should be able to say their line correctly at the appropriate time. There is time to practice at camp. We do not expect parents to work with kids outside of camp. However, if we are concerned that your child has not learned their parts by the deadline, we will reach out to parents.