15 Theatre Summer Camps for Middle School Students
Theatre isn't something you learn by sitting in a classroom. You learn it by rehearsing, performing, experimenting, and working alongside other actors. That's exactly what makes a theatre summer camp such an engaging way to spend your summer.
Depending on the camp, students may work on plays, musicals, improvisation, voice, movement, or stage production. Many programs end with a final performance, giving participants the opportunity to apply everything they've learned in front of an audience.
Why should I participate in a theatre summer camp in middle school?
A theatre summer camp helps students build a strong foundation before high school. You'll become familiar with rehearsals, auditions, script analysis, and the collaborative process behind a production, making it easier to participate in high school drama classes, theatre clubs, or school plays. If you're considering performing arts as a long-term interest, these programs also give you a clearer idea of what theatre education looks like beyond middle school.
The experience extends beyond the stage as well. Regular rehearsals help students become more comfortable speaking in front of others, expressing ideas clearly, and responding to feedback. You'll also learn how to work with a cast, manage responsibilities during a production, and prepare for live performances. These are skills that often carry into presentations, group projects, and other activities throughout high school.
To help you get started, we've compiled a list of 15 theatre summer camps for middle school students!
15 Theatre Summer Camps for Middle School Students
Location: Hancock, NY
Cost: $6,750 to $8,000 for 3-week sessions, $11,195 to $12,495 for 6-week sessions, $14,495 for 9-week sessions, and $16,400 for 12-week sessions; medals awarded to winners
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Multiple sessions from June 6 to August 30
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to campers between the ages of 7 and 17
French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts is a performing arts camp where you can build your own daily schedule from more than 80 activity options spanning theater, dance, music, circus, film, visual arts, and traditional camp programming. Each day will be divided into three majors and three minors, which you select based on your own interests rather than being assigned to a group. The theater program produces more than 80 full-scale productions each summer across five on-site theaters, covering musicals, dramas, and technical roles in lighting, sound, costuming, and set design. You can audition for shows on the day after arrival and are placed in an age-appropriate production group. Professional instructors lead classes in acting technique, improvisation, scene study, directing, musical theater, Shakespeare, and stage combat.
Location: Interlochen Campus, MI
Cost: $1,950 (1-week) to $10,180 (6-week), with a $425/week day camp option
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Two-week sessions (Grades 3-6): June 28–July 11; July 12–July 25; July 26–August 8, Three-week sessions (Grades 6–12): June 28–July 18; July 12–August 8, Four-week sessions (Grades 3-6): June 28–July 24; July 12–August 8, Six-week sessions (Grades 6-12): June 28–August 8
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Open to students from grades 3 to 12
The Interlochen Arts Camp is a multi-disciplinary arts summer program that includes theatre training in areas such as acting, musical theatre, and stage production. Theatre programs are offered in different session lengths, ranging from short intensives to multi-week camps, depending on age and focus. You can work on acting technique, voice, movement, or backstage elements such as set, lighting, and costume design. Daily schedules typically include rehearsals, classes, and preparation for showcases or performances. Some programs lead to staged productions or final presentations at the end of the session. The camp also includes a broader residential experience, where students take part in group activities and interact with peers from different artistic disciplines.
Location: Loch Sheldrake, NY
Cost: Cost: $6,995, $1500 deposit per session
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 15 to July 5, July 6 to July 25, July 27 to August 16
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Campers must be between the ages of 10 and 18
Stagedoor Manor is a theatre immersion camp where you can spend each three-week session working toward fully staged productions of musicals and plays. Every camper is cast in at least one show per session, with 14 full-scale productions developed and performed across multiple on-site theater spaces each session. Your daily schedule will combine rehearsals for your assigned production with classes in acting technique, voice, dance, improvisation, and audition skills, led by professional directors, choreographers, and vocal coaches. You can work within a production structure that mirrors professional theater, with faculty demanding a high level of commitment and focus from all participants.
Location: USCB Center, Beaufort, SC
Cost: Cost: $275 for two weeks; limited scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 17-28 or commence June 22
Application Deadline: May 29
Eligibility: Open to campers between the ages of 8 and 12
The USCB Center for the Arts Theatre Summer Camp is a youth program focused on performance and stage-based activities within a performing arts setting. You attend sessions designed for specific age groups, where your schedule includes rehearsals, group activities, and preparation for a final presentation. Activities involve working on scenes, practicing dialogue, and developing stage presence in a collaborative environment. The program takes place within a venue that regularly hosts theatre productions, concerts, and other live performances, which shapes how activities are organized. Sessions typically lead to a showcase or performance at the end of the camp. You can participate alongside other students in a group setting that centers on building and presenting a production over the course of the program.
Location: Woodbridge, NJ
Cost: Integrate Teen: $75 (vs. Kids $65)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Session 1: July 6-17, Session 2: July 20-31
Application Deadline: May 1 (tentative)
Eligibility: Young actors entering grades 4-7
The Kids- and Teens-in-the-Park program is a summer theatre camp run by Middlesex County Parks and Recreation that focuses on musical theatre production for middle and high school–aged students. You can take part in a multi-week session where your schedule includes rehearsals, group activities, and preparation for a final staged performance. Each session will be built around a specific musical, and you will work on scenes, songs, and choreography as part of the production. Activities will be held outdoors at an amphitheatre setting, where the final performance is presented to an audience of family and friends. Sessions will be divided by age group, with separate programs for younger students and teens.
Location: Sarasota, FL
Cost: $299 per week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Multiple sessions from June 8 to July 24
Application Deadline: Varies based on session
Eligibility: Open to campers, ages 5 to 12
Stage Door Studios Summer Camp is a performing arts program that focuses on dance, theatre, and creative movement in a studio-based setting. Participation involves a mix of classes and group activities that include dance routines, theatre exercises, and creative projects. Sessions are designed to introduce different forms of performance, with activities that may include learning choreography, taking part in theatre games, and working on short routines. The program is held within a dedicated studio environment that supports both structured classes and collaborative activities.
Location: Ben Lomond, CA
Cost: Varies based on specific camp ($2,994 to $9,195); financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Session 1: July 5-14, Session 2: July 16-25, Session 3: July 27-August 5, Session 4: July 30-August 5, additional sessions available
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to campers, ages 8 to 18
The Young Actors’ Theatre Camp is a residential performing arts summer program focused on theatre, film, and related disciplines. You can attend sessions in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where daily activities include classes, rehearsals, and masterclasses led by working professionals in areas such as acting, musical theatre, dance, and filmmaking. Programs will be organized into different tracks, allowing you to spend part of your day focusing on a specific area while also participating in a range of other performing arts activities. Sessions will vary in length, with options ranging from shorter intensives to multi-week camps. The program includes both training and collaborative work, with participants working on scenes, performances, or creative projects across the session.
Location: Manhattan, NY
Cost: Varies based on specific program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Multiple sessions offered throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling, reformers have to apply to participate
Eligibility: Open to performers ages 10 to 21
On Stage Collective is a short-term musical theatre program based in New York City that centers on performance in a professional-style setting. You can take part in a week-long session where your schedule includes rehearsals, masterclasses, and preparation for a staged cabaret performance. The program involves working with directors and guest artists with experience in Broadway and professional theatre. Rehearsals will be conducted in studio spaces, leading up to a final performance held at a New York venue with a live band. Alongside rehearsals, activities may include dance classes, mock auditions, and group sessions focused on performance material. The program also includes opportunities to attend theatre-related experiences in the city, such as watching stage productions or participating in guided activities connected to musical theatre.
Location: Manhattan, NY
Cost: $695 (1 week) to $1,295 (2 weeks); need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 22-26, June 29-July 3, July 13- July 17, July 20-July 24, July 27- July 31, August 3- August 7
Application Deadline: Audition submissions open from March 1
Eligibility: Open to middle school students
The iTheatrics Academy is a summer theatre program that focuses on workshopping new adaptations of musicals in a studio setting in New York City. You can take part in a one-week session where your schedule includes learning music, choreography, and staging for a specific show. Each workshop will be centered on a developing or adapted musical, allowing you to work directly with material that is still being refined. Rehearsals will lead to a staged reading presented to an audience that may include educators, family members, and representatives connected to the production.
Location: Multnomah Arts Center, Portland, OR
Cost: Varies based on specific program; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Varies each year; year-round classes available
Application Deadline: Applications open until the program start date
Eligibility: Open to kids ages 3 to 18
The Oregon Children's Theatre offers theatre camps and classes for children and teens that focus on acting, storytelling, and performance through short-term sessions. Programs include theatre games, scene work, and creative exercises that explore character and narrative. You will work in group settings where activities are adjusted based on age and experience level. Camps and classes are held in studio and theatre spaces across Portland, with options available during school breaks and the summer. Additional programs include ongoing classes and advanced tracks, such as a youth company for older students. Activities will be centered on collaborative work, with groups developing and presenting material over the course of a session.
Location: Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, NJ
Cost: Varies based on specific program; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 29 to August 1
Application Deadline: April 27
Eligibility: Open to performers ages 10 to 18
The Paper Mill Playhouse Summer Musical Theater Conservatory is a multi-week program centered on acting, voice, dance, and musical theatre performance. You will be placed into one of three companies, Junior, Junior Plus, or Senior, based on your age and audition, and attend morning classes in acting, vocal technique, dance, and audition preparation led by professional actors, directors, and Paper Mill's own creative team. Class placement will be determined by the faculty at their discretion based on audition performance and skill level. Each instructional day will also include rehearsal time dedicated to the New Voices Concert, an annual student showcase performed live on the Paper Mill Playhouse stage at the end of the five weeks.
Location: Windermere Preparatory School, Orlando, FL
Cost: Varies based on specific program; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 28 to July 11
Application Deadline: February 17
Eligibility: Open to performers ages 12 to 18
Summer Performing Arts with Juilliard is a two-week performing arts intensive led by Juilliard artist faculty, including Juilliard alumni, faculty members, and guest artists. You can apply to one of five majors: Drama, Piano, Voice, Dance, or Musical Theatre, each offered in a dedicated session. In the Drama major, you will work through acting technique, scene study, and related workshops in individual and group formats. In the Musical Theatre major, you will take classes in acting through song and dance, the Alexander Technique, and audition preparation, among other areas. Each major involves a combination of private lessons, master classes, and workshops, with some culminating in a final performance. Admission will be by video audition, and the program draws students from more than 20 countries each summer.
Location: ASCTC, Staunton, VA; campers live on campus at Mary Baldwin University
Cost: $3975; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 25 to July 16 (tentative)
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising 8th graders through rising college freshman (or the equivalent, for home-schooled students), ages 13-19; a graduated 12th grader who will be 19 at the start of camp is eligible to attend camp
The American Shakespeare Center Theatre Camp is a residential summer program centered on performing and studying Shakespeare through a theatre environment. You will live in dormitories on the campus of Mary Baldwin University and work each day with professional ASC actors, directors, and academic scholars on early modern plays and Shakespearean stagecraft. The program will run two sessions each summer, and each session culminates in one-hour productions performed on the stage of the Blackfriars Playhouse, the world's only recreation of Shakespeare's original indoor theatre. Daily work will combine rehearsals for the mainstage show with classes, workshops, and lectures covering text analysis, acting technique, voice, movement, and theatre history.
Location: Hilton Head Island, SC
Cost: $3975; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Varies each year
Application Deadline: Varies each year
Eligibility: Current 8th to 12th graders
The Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute (SSTI) is a musical theater training program where students can rehearse and develop a full professional production alongside faculty from Broadway and major university theater programs. You will spend the first three weeks of each four-week session working on the production in a 3 to 1 student-to-teacher ratio, with the fourth week devoted to college-level coursework and one-on-one audition preparation sessions with visiting professors from university theater programs across the country. Alongside the production work, you can take masterclasses led by Broadway performers and nationally recognized theater faculty.
15. Buck's Rock Camp
Location: Buck’s Rock Camp, New Milford, CT
Cost: Operates on a tiered tuition system depending on the camper’s household size and adjusted gross combined annual income
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Multiple sessions; July 1 to August 22, June 29 to August 22, July 1 to July 26, July 27 to August 22, July 1 to August 9
Application Deadline: Varies each year
Eligibility: Artists ranging in ages from 11 to 16 (going into grades 6 to 11)
Buck's Rock Camp is a freedom-of-choice overnight arts camp where students can select their own activities each day from more than 32 visual and performing arts disciplines. Within the performing arts, you can work in theatre, dance, clown, costume design, lighting and sound design, set design, music, and radio, among other areas, with instruction led by working artists and teachers. The theatre program produces plays and musicals each summer, and you can audition for acting roles or take on behind-the-scenes work such as set construction, lighting, or stage management. Because the program is non-competitive and self-directed, you move between disciplines at your own pace rather than following a fixed curriculum.
One other option—Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.
The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need-based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure! To learn more, you can reach out to our Director, Dhruva, at dhruva.bhat@lumiere.education, or go to our website.
Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year; you can apply using this application link! If you'd like to take a look at the upcoming cohorts + deadlines, you can refer to this page!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.