Summer Youth Drama Camp Registrations open March 1st!
You can register for camp here: https://gtownpac.vbotickets.com/events
Here are some answers to some of your frequently asked questions:
When/where can I drop off/pick up my student? Students are to be dropped off and picked up from the Germantown Performing Arts Center (W180 N11501 N River Lane, Germantown WI 53022). You are welcome to drop them off at the main entrance, or come in together to the lobby to the check in table. Student drop off is from 8:45-9:00am. Student pick up is from 3:00-3:15pm.
What if I need to pick up my student early or they can't attend a day of camp? Please email hellis@gsdwi.org with any absence information. Our facility doors will be locked the rest of the day, so all drop offs and pickups must be arranged in advance. Please note that student absences do affect their placement in the show, so we encourage all students to be present for all days of the camp.
My student can't make a performance but still wants to be in the camp. When this is the case please tell us in advance so we can ensure your student receives a role that won't affect the performance.
How can my student prepare? The best thing to do to prepare for camp is to listen to the shows before hand. You can find the Little Mermaid Jr playlist here:
And the Finding Nemo KIDS playlist here:
What if we can't afford the registration cost? Please email hellis@gsdwi.org. There may be fee waivers available for low income families or payment plans that can be arranged.
Can my student keep their phone? Yes in most cases, however some areas of our building have low cell phone reception.
I'm not sure which camp to enroll my student in. Little Mermaid Jr is for ages 12-17. Students entering their senior year can participate, but not leaving their senior year. Finding Nemo KIDS is for ages 8-12. If your student is 12 they can participate in either camp, but not both. Backstage Crew Camp is for ages 12-17.
What do they do for food? Students should bring a cold bag lunch with them every day. They can bring water bottles with them through the day if they want.
Do you have a refrigerator/microwave for lunches? Yes
Can my student leave for lunch? No. Even if your student has their license, we will not allow students to leave the PAC during camp hours.
What should my student wear? Students should wear clothing that they would be comfortable dancing in. Weather permitting, sometimes we also play games outside. Please ensure your student has shoes that they can dance in (no flip flops, clogs, boots, high heels, ect) Sneakers, flats, and character shoes are all good choices. Sometimes during camp students will have painting and crafting projects and smocks will be provided.
What about costumes? Costumes will be provided for all the characters. After the show is cast, we may send a note with the student to see if they have certain pieces at home. After that we will try to shop around for appropriate alternatives. Parents are not expected to purchase or contribute funding towards costume pieces. We have found that this is most difficult when it comes to shoes, since many students have grown out of their typical footwear over the summer. If you are able, please ensure your student has character shoes, flats, or other appropriate footwear they can dance in without tripping. Backstage crew will be asked to wear all black for the performances.
What about Spirit Days? Throughout the week we often invite students to participate in a Spirit Day to dress up on a certain theme. Participation is always optional. Spirit days in the past have included dressing up like animated movie characters, your team color, or your favorite musical character. In all cases its important students are not impeded by their costume throughout the day. They can leave extra props/hats/capes in the auditorium. Please no weapons (even fake ones).
When does my student get their camp T-shirt? T-shirts usually are ordered to come in one of the first few days of camp, but sometimes they don't arrive until later in the week. We will give your student their t-shirt during camp.
I'm worried this camp might be too difficult or my student might be too shy. Our summer drama camps are geared towards introductory learners. Students who demonstrate the strongest abilities will be cast in the hardest roles. Students who do not wish to have a solo have an opportunity to write that on their audition form so the director knows and they will receive a part accordingly.
How are auditions done? On the first day of camp all of the students will spend some time with the director learning about the audition process. Time will be spent working through some music and parts of the show. Auditions will be held the first day of camp and the directors will cast the show before the end of the day. Every enrolled student will receive a part in the show. Not every student will receive a lead or solo, nor will your student necessarily get the part they may have wanted. Students will be sent home with their scripts (which they can keep) and any lines that they may have. Material is memorized by the end of the camp.
Can my student help backstage instead? Those who want to participate in backstage crew can enroll in the Backstage Crew Camp (ages 12-17 only). This camp has limited capacity, so make sure to sign up early. Students enrolled in any of our camps will receive classes on different areas of technical theatre. Students enrolled in Backstage Crew Camp will spend more time honing those skills and will have backstage duties assigned for the actual performances.
What does a normal camp day look like? Students meet in the auditorium at the beginning and end of each camp day to play games and de-brief. The rest of the day is broken up into classes. Portions of the day are spent on dancing, singing, acting, and a technical lesson. Students in Backstage Crew Camp will spend more time working on scenery, props, and other technical aspects of theatre. A lunch period is held in the middle of the day. Towards the end of the camp, students will transition into run-throughs of the show on the stage. Students will be invited to participate in various games, some outdoor activities (weather permitting), and team building exercises. The schedule towards the end of the week is flexible to allow for extra time that may be dedicated to parts of the show that are struggling. Usually students will be able to watch the other camp's final dress rehearsal.
Can my student stay after camp Friday for the performance? Yes. After camp Friday the 17th, we usually put on a movie in the auditorium for any students that want to wait until their call time for their first performance. This time allows us to clean up from camp before parents arrive and to make any last minute fixes needed before starting the first performance.
When do students arrive for performances? Depending on how much time is needed to get into costume, usually we call students one hour prior to the start of the show. Please ensure your student arrives on time so they have time to get ready.
July 17th Finding Nemo KIDS performance 5-6pm (call time 4pm)
July 17th Little Mermaid Jr performance 7:30-8:30pm (call time 6:30pm)
July 18th Finding Nemo KIDS performance 1-2pm (call time 12pm)
July 18th Little Mermaid Jr performance 3:30-4:30pm (call time 2:30pm)
July 18th Clean Up 5-6pm (Little Mermaid and Backstage Crew Campers)
How long are the performances? Little Mermaid Jr has a run time of approximately 1 hour. Finding Nemo KIDS is expected to last about 40 minutes.
How do you produce two camps at the same time? Little Mermaid Jr starts one week earlier then Finding Nemo KIDS, which allows the older students more time to learn the longer show. Scenery and some props are shared between the two shows. Students use different rooms to rehearse. All the campers come together for parts of the day like lunch and some games.
Do you need parent help? Parent help is greatly appreciated. We usually need help coordinating costumes, building scenery, selling tickets at the box office, and helping supervise students backstage during the show. If this is something you think you can help with, please email hellis@gsdwi.org
What does the camp registration fee cover? The camp registration fee pays for a student to be involved in their designated camp and performances. It does not include tickets to the performances for friends and family. Those will be available for purchase starting March 25th. We try to keep ticket prices as low as possible. They are usually $5 each and general seating. These fees help cover the costs to pay for directors, choreographers, student helpers, performance rights, T-shirts, and other supplies.