Performing Arts Summer Camps in NJ

Do you have an emerging star at home with a long summer vacation? Try one of the many theater camps NJ has to offer! If your junior Olivier wants just the basics like Acting Technique or Musical Theater, or if he/she wants a bit more, such as Playwriting, Improv or Shakespeare, there are a myriad of choices in the Garden State. Break a leg.

Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey (Madison)
Mon-Fri 1pm to 6pm
Ages 11 to 17
$650/ 2 week program, $750/ 3 week program
For two (or three, depending on your child’s age) wonderful weeks, your Junior Corp (11 to 14) or Senior Corp thespian (14 to 17) will spend five hours a day working on the classics—either a classic piece of literature adapted for the stage, or the Man himself, Will Shakespeare. It’s intense, lively and fun. Choice of 2 or 3 week session between June 20 and August 20. For more info, call 973-408-5600.

George Street Playhouse Summer Academy (New Brunswick)
Mon-Fri  9am to 4pm
Ages 5 to 18
From $295/ 1 week program to $1675/ 7 week program

Being that this is the famous George Street Playhouse, it’s not surprising that it won the Jersey Arts People’s Choice Award for Favorite Theatre Camp.  The 5 to 8 year olds explore fairy tales and classic children’s tales by doing character work, musical theater and creating their own play. 9 to 12 year olds will work on creating ensemble, musical theater and play production. And teens get the best deal—they get to choose between Improv and Conservatory, and a choice of Play Production or Musical Theater.

McCarter Summer Theater (Princeton)
Ages K thru 12^th grade
Mon-Fri 9am to 3pm
$450-$750/ 2 week programs, $1440/ High School Rep

There are two types of summer theater at the wonderful McCarter: a two-week program for grades K thru 8 and a six-week intensive ‘camp’ for grades 9 thru 12 called “High School Rep” with two performances, a musical and a Shakespearean play. Entrance to the Rep is by audition only (on March 23, call 609-258-8289 to schedule) and runs from July 5 thru August 14. Call 609-258-6510.

Stars of Tomorrow Performing Arts Camp (Clark)
Ages 3 to 8th grade
$150/ 1-wk to $1150/ 5-week program
Mon-Fri 9 to 12, 12:30 to 3:30 half-day, 9 to 3:30 full

From Theater Tots (ages 3 to 4) singing, dancing and acting to Seniors (grades 2 through 8) learning technique and choosing their elective classes, Stars of Tomorrow will give your junior star or starlet a summer filled with “The Theatah”. And for a pretty reasonable price, too. Which is nice, because art ain’t cheap. Runs June 27 thru July 29, call 908-276-5053 for more information.

Musical Theater Camp at Elefante Music and School for the Performing Arts (New Providence)
Mon-Fri 9am to 3pm
Pre-K to 8^th grade
$650/ 2 week session 

If you really want to know what you’re getting yourself (and your kid) into, this place has its own YouTube channel. Primarily a musical theater camp, this year’s theme is All Roads Lead to Broadway. With a daily structured schedule of Skills classes in the morning, electives in the afternoon, followed by a rehearsal for The Big Show (the Friday night performance culmination of the two week program), Elefante seems to be a well-run, fun and inexpensive choice for your summer theater camper. Choice of a two-week session between June 27 and August 5. Call 908-464-5928.

Essex Youth Theater (Montclair)
Ages 6 to 12
Mon-Fri 9am to 2pm
$265/week

In its 22^nd year, Essex Youth Theater provides a nice, non-pressured theatrical camp with a choice between Musicals, Comedies or a mix-and-match of both. If the classes are as good as some of the play titles (“How To Torture Your Parents”, “Beetle-Mania”), could be a very fun summer. One- or two-week sessions (or the whole shebang) between July 11 and August 19. Call 973-746-3303 for more information.

Mile Square Theater (Hoboken)
Pre-K thru 5^th grade
$190/wk half-day program, $925/three-week performance program
Mon-Fri 9am to noon (half-day), 9am to 4pm (full-day)

The wonderful Mile Square Theater does up some summer camp. With Creative Drama for Pre-K to K, Creative Drama II for 1st to 2nd graders and a full-day performance program for 3rd to 5th graders with a mini-version of a Shakespeare play as the performing capper, MST gets it all right. Call 201-683-7014 or email education@milesquaretheater.org for more information and registration.

New Jersey School of Dramatic Arts (Bloomfield)
Grades 3 thru 12
Mon-Fri 9am to 1pm, 9am to 4pm, 1:30 to 4:30pm
From $190/ 1 week session to $1275/ 4 week session

Choose between a fun one-week workshop (Improv Comedy, Musical Theater, Acting for Film and TV) or a four or five-week intensive culminating in a performance of the musical Seussical. Visit the Summer Camp Open House on Saturday, April 16 from 11am to 1pm. Call 973-566-9700 for more information.

Performers Theater Workshop (Livingston)
Mon-Fri 9 to 12 or 9:30 to 3
Ages 5 to 18
$650 to $2350

One of the pricier choices, but it does deliver a few nice extras: a visit from a talent agent, a final performance at a cabaret in NYC, and a trip to a Broadway show and to Six Flags. Oh, and let’s not forget their newest offering, “PTW Glee”, an extra class that teaches songs in the acapella style like the popular TV show. The three week sessions run between June 27 and August 14.  Call 973-327-2250.

Playwrights Theatre (Madison)
Ages 4 to 18
Mon-Fri 9:30 to 12:30 (half day), 9:30 to 4:30 (full day)
$250 to $595/ 2 week program 

Two-week programs of the basics (Acting Technique, Play Production, Musical Performance) with a brand-new choice of a Playwriting class for your mini-scribes. Sessions run between June 20 and August 26. Call (973) 514-1787, ext. 21 to register.

Theater Camp of New Jersey (Warren)
Mon-Fri 9am to 2pm
Ages K thru 12^th grade
$530/ 4 week program

This one’s all about the show, folks. The little ones will perform The Wizard of Oz, the middle schoolers will do Annie and the high schoolers, Guys and Dolls. And for those in grades 8 thru 12 who aren’t into singin’ and dancin’, there’s a special Drama Division and a performance of a straight play. June 27 thru July 22. Call 908-377-5872