This year’s lineup of TCR’s popular educational programs for Kindergarten thru high school includes a series of shorter “Try-It” camps with special topics in auditioning, backstage, playwrighting, and Shakespeare.
All of TCR’s education programs are designed to be age appropriate. Younger students learn to hone their imagination and creativity through play activities, arts and crafts. Older students will explore the theories and methodologies of performance as well as the technical aspects of theatre. No two camps will be exactly the same, and many students choose to participate more than once. All camps will include a final showcase during the last day.
Kindergarten through 5th Grade
Kindergarten
What better way to enjoy the summer than to head to camp for the first time! Kindergartners will be introduced to theatre in the best way possible – through playing and pretend. This camp will focus on engaging the imagination as the first step to learning about theatre.
1st & 2nd Grades
Theatre increases imagination, boosts confidence, and improves creative problem solving. Your kids will use acting, movement, and improvisation to learn the ins and outs of performing, as well as learning about the backstage aspects of theatre.
3rd-5th Grades
Master the essential techniques of theatre — onstage and behind the scenes. Through improvisation, acting, and scene work, as well as an opportunity to learn about the technical aspects of theatre, theatre camp will give kids the confidence they need to make a splash at their next audition or performance; confidence they will carry with them throughout the school year and their lifetime.
If you sign up 3rd-5th graders for Sessions 7 and 8 or Sessions 9 and 10 and send a lunch with them, we’ll supervise over the lunch hour! (Students are also welcome to attend either morning or afternoon session only)
Middle School and “Try It” Camps
Middle School: Alice in Wonderland
Keep busy this summer with our middle school camp. 6th-8th graders will be exposed to every aspect of a theatrical production, from start to finish, complete with a performance. This is the chance to “put on a play” this summer, working on everything from props and costumes to acting and directing!
The play: Alice in Wonderland
Try It: Acting for Auditions
Have you always wanted to audition, but aren’t sure what to expect? Want more practice for auditions? This one-week camp will focus on acting for auditions, and provide auditioning practice.
Grades 6-12
Try It: Backstage
On stage isn’t the only place to be in theatre. This one-week camp will provide a look into the backstage elements of theatre, including scenic and costume design, directing, lights, and sound.
Ages 14 and up
Try It: Playwrighting
Think writing is writing? Find out the difference between the written word and the spoken word. Use your creative writing skills to learn the basics of playwrighting in this one-week camp!
Grades 6-12
Try It: Shakespeare
Think you can’t understand Shakespeare? We’ll teach you techniques for reading and speaking the language of the Bard.
Grades 9-12
Campers (in all camps) are allowed to bring a snack or a small amount of change to buy snacks during camp. Snacks will be available for 25 to 50 cents.
Dates and Times for Camps
- June 14 - 25
- 3rd-5th grades: 9 am-noon (Session 1) IN SESSION
- Kindergarten: 9-11 am (Session 2) IN SESSION
1st & 2nd grades: 1-4 pm (Session 3) IN SESSION - June 28 - July 9
- Kindergarten: 1-3 pm (Session 4)
- Taught by Emily Kane and Alex Schulte
- June 28 - July 23
- Middle School: 1-4 pm (Session 5)
- Taught by Nick Duffy and Mike Sladek
- July 12 - 23
- 1st & 2nd grades: 9 am-noon (Session 6)
- Taught by Emily Kane, Nathan Scheetz and Paige Hauer
- 3rd-5th grades: 9 am-noon (Session 7)
- Taught by Joe Link and Caleb Carver
- 3rd-5th grades: 1-4 pm (Session 8)
- Taught by James Trainor and Emily Kane
- August 2-13
- 3rd-5th grades: 9 am-noon (Session 9)
- Taught by Joe Link and Caleb Carver
- 3rd-5th grades: 1-4 pm (Session 10)
- Taught by James Trainor and Mike Sladek
- 1st & 2nd grades: 1-4 pm (Session 11)
- Taught by Emily Kane, Alex Schulte and Nathan Scheetz
Click Here for Instructor Biographies
Cost
- Kindergarten camps: $100 member / $120 non-member
- 1st-5th grade camps: $150 member / $180 non-member
- 6th-8th grade camps: $300 member / $360 non-member
Dates and Times for “Try Its”
- August 2 - 6
- Acting for Auditions: 9 am-noon
Backstage: 1-4 pm - August 9 - 13
- Shakespeare: 9 am-noon
Playwrighting: 1-4 pm
Students signed up for more than one “Try-It” at a time are welcome to bring a lunch and eat at TCR — supervision will be provided.
Cost
- 1 Try It: $75 member / $90 non-member
- 2 Try Its: $142 member / $171 non-member
- 3 Try Its: $202 member / $243 non-member
- 4 Try Its: $255 member / $306 non-member
Days and Location
All camps meet Monday-Friday at Theatre Cedar Rapids’ downtown location, 102 Third Street SE, Cedar Rapids.
Scholarships
At this time, all of the scholarships for this year’s summer camps have been awarded. There are still pending applications, if you have already sent in an application, you should hear something shortly.
Registration
Online registration is available for all sessions, or download and print the registration form below:
- Download Registration Form
231 kB PDF document to print and mail
