July 13 - 18, 2008

Grades 6 - 8, grade completion
 

Develop your theatre skills with the best thespians in the area!

Campers receive individual coaching and experience many different aspects of the theatre, including a daily improvisation class and acting skills session, as well as an array of afternoon workshops. In addition, each camper is in a production that rehearses each day and is performed at the end of the week. This year's theme is Shakespeare. The evenings are for a variety of recreational and theatre activities.

All activities are taught by graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, and alumni in the School of Theatre and Dance at Northern Illinois University. Evening supervision is provided by counselors.

For more information about fees, need scholarships, discounts, housing, meals, refunds, etc, see the general information section. Click here for a registration form to print, complete, and mail or fax.

Morning Activities

Improvisation Exercises

Start the day with an hour of learning how to think on your feet. This is acting in the moment and provides a great warm-up for the rest of the day's activities.

Acting Scenes

Campers are divided into small groups and work on two- and three-person scenes each day. On Friday, campers perform their scenes for the camp.

Afternoon Activities

Production Rehearsals

The production is rehearsed every afternoon and is performed for family and friends at the end of the week. Campers are assigned to a production on Monday and rehearse with the same group and director all week. 

Daily Workshops

Campers participate in a different workshop each day.  A list of workshop choices and a sign-up form will be sent to registered campers in packets about a month before the start of camp. Campers are assigned to workshops on a first-come, first-served basis.

Typical workshops include:

• Musical Theatre Auditioning – Learn what directors are looking for and how to pick the right piece for your voice.
• Voice Technique – Learn the fundamentals of stage speech and how to develop better vocal techniques.
• Auditioning – What are directors looking for? How do you prepare for an audition?  How do you know what parts are right for you? How do you choose appropriate material for the audition? Get the answers to these and all your other questions about the audition process. 
• Movement – Learn how to move on the stage; this workshop may include relaxation techniques.
• Dialects – Explore various regional and international speech patterns.
• Scene Painting – Campers are given a large flat and learn the specific painting techniques for bricks, wood, and stones.
• Tie-Dye – Learn various tie-dye techniques, including starburst and waterfall. Campers will make works of art out of a t-shirt and a fabric panel, both provided.

Evening Activities

Campers enjoy a variety of activities in the evenings, including bowling and a film night. Here are a few others:

• Talent Show - Bring your tap shoes or musical instrument to camp and have a blast showing off your stuff in the talent show. Participation is optional. There is a three-minute time limit for performances.
• Storytelling Evening - Professional storyteller Patricia Ridge returns to share her spellbinding talents. Following her story, campers are divided into groups to share their own stories.
• Bowling and Billiards - Enjoy an evening at the Huskie Den bowling or playing billiards.
• Film Night - New in 2007 and back by popular demand.

About the Camp Staff

Learn more about camp director Melanie Parks and her staff.

Check-In/Final Performance

Check-in is at the residence hall on Sunday between 2:45 – 4:00 p.m. The final performance is on Friday at 6:30 p.m. in O'Connell Theatre in Stevens Building. After the show, at about 8:00 p.m., parents and campers return to the residence hall to pick up campers' belongings.

Note: All times are subject to change. Please check the camper letter that you will receive about one month before the start of camp to confirm the information.