Join our 2019 Production Camp Featuring…
Chicago’s Premiere Musical Theatre Camp
This PROFESSIONAL STAGE EXPERIENCE for students entering 2nd-8th grades, features 2 live performances on the MAIN STAGE at the historic Athenaeum Theatre complete with FULL COSTUMES, SETS, LIGHTS, and SOUND. Our design and creative teams work together seamlessly to ensure the best production process and camp experience possible! This is a rich training ground for young musical theater performers in an educational environment that is both nurturing and fun. This unique experience is only available to 50 campers.
Production Camp Details
Dates: July 22-August 16, 2019 (Monday through Friday)
Time: 10am-4pm
Performances: Friday, August 16th and Saturday, August 17th
Ages: Students entering 2nd-8th grades
Price: $1,595 (To help make our programs even more affordable, payment plans are available through our registration system.)
Price Includes: Showkit, costumes, rehearsal process, professional skill-building workshops, musical lunches, performances, show t-shirt, and an amazing bonding experience with friends under the bright lights, with costumes, sets, props and makeup on a professional stage performing one of the best musicals ever written!
Before and After Care Options Available:
8:30-10 am ($15 per day) and/or 4-5:30 pm ($15 per day)
Location: All camp rehearsals and performances, July 22nd through August 16th, will take place at the beautiful and historic Athenaeum Theatre located at 2936 North Southport Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657. Final performances on Friday, August 16th and Saturday, August 17th, will take place on Athenaeum Theatre's professional main stage.
We are seeking students entering 9th through 12th grades interested in assisting backstage and in various aspects of the rehearsal process to assist us as Junior Counselors and members of our stage crew. We are also seeking college students to intern with us in various capacities including stage management, production design coordinators, stage crew, assistant directors, and so much more. To apply, fill out this form and the Production Manager will contact you. To learn more or for further questions, please email admin@dreambigeducation.org or call 773-944-9146.
Every moment of every Production Camp day will be filled with fun activities, rehearsals and workshops to professionally prepare our cast for their show and also provide a memorable camp experience. Though we will balance the day with rest, work and play, we have organized our camp and staff to ensure that no camper will ever be sitting on the sidelines waiting for their time to rehearse. To give you a sense of how we will plan our days, see the sample breakdown below.
8:30-10 am Optional Stage Crew Before Care (Kids will work with staff members to create and add embellishments to props, costumes and set pieces.)
9:45-10 am All Campers Arrive
10-10:30 am Morning cast meeting and breakout into team meetings.
10:30am-12:30 pm Rehearsals and Review Time to reinforce staging, songs and choreography and Skill-Building Workshops (character development, drama games, design components, set decoration, etc)
12:30-1:30 pm Picnic lunch at the local park where campers can enjoy some unstructured downtime with the whole cast.
1:30-3:30 pm Rehearsals, Review Time to reinforce staging, songs and choreography and Skill-Building Workshops
3:30-3:45 pm Team time to acknowledge accomplishments of the day, review at-home rehearsal goals and plan for the next day.
3:45-4:00 pm Full cast together for closing group time
4:00-5:30 pm Optional Stage Crew After Care (Kids will work with staff members to create and add embellishments to props, costumes and set pieces.)
Each Friday, we will send home newsletters with updates from all of our directors and teaching artists that give you a peak into all the amazing accomplishments and exciting adventures our campers are experiencing. For now, here is an overview of major mile-markers for each week.
Week 1: Over the first two days, campers will audition for their top 3 choices. The rest of the week will include the first full cast read through and beginning to learn parts and blocking.
Week 2: Campers will continue to learn and block their parts as well as expand upon choreography.
Week 3: Campers will have the entire show memorized, choreographed and blocked by the end of this week.
Week 4: During our final week, we will put the whole show together on the Main Stage gradually adding all of the technical elements of our show including sets, costumes, props, sound and lights! By the end the week, it’s SHOW TIME for all of our adoring fans! Family, friends, and community members are all invited! A cast party after Saturday afternoon’s matinee will culminate this show-stopping experience!
On the first day of camp, every participant will be invited to audition for their favorite roles. Our directors work very hard to ensure that the process is not stressful or overwhelming and, if a child wishes to not audition, that is perfectly acceptable. Every camper will have a part on the stage. In June, we will make available audition sides (songs and scenes) for your camper to practice. These materials can be practiced as little or as much as your child would like and are meant to help him or her feel prepared and confident on the first day of camp. The actual audition will simply be your child performing what he or she has prepared in front of the director and musical director.
Tickets will be on sale closer to the Production date. Please check back again.
Ticket pricing:
More information available closer to the Production.
Mini Production Camp
If your child is not yet old enough or ready for our 4-week production camp, we are now offering a production experience for kids entering K-2nd grade!
For campers entering K-2nd grades, this introduction to our Full Production Camp is an exciting performance opportunity for your young child. Campers will rehearse on stage at the Chicago Waldorf School in Andersonville and perform in an age-appropriate production complete with costumes, props, sound and lights on the historic Athenaeum Main Stage in Lakeview. Your child will learn the fundamentals of acting, singing, and dancing while getting to shine like the stars they are in the musical To Bee or Not To Bee.
Dates: August 5-16th
Times: 1-4pm (Before Care and After Care available)
Grades: Children entering K- 2nd
Location: The Chicago Waldorf School – 5200 N. Ashland Ave. at Foster Ave
Final Performance: August 17th at The Athenaeum Theatre
Cost: $795
Weekly Performing Arts Opportunities
Attend one of our Weekly Summer Camps! Led by professional teaching artists, our 1-week theater camps offer kids ages 4 and up an unforgettable collaborative experience acting, singing, and dancing with friends. Kids build confidence and foster creative expression, while having fun with a wide variety of themes that inspire imaginations!
Click Here For Weekly Camp Schedule
Support our Summer Production Scholarship Fund
Core to Dream Big’s mission is providing a way to include all kids who want to participate in our programming. Since our inception 13 years ago, we’ve never turned a student away due to lack of funds.
In 2018, we distributed over $15,000 worth of scholarships but only raised $4,200. This year, our goal is to raise another $15,000 for our Summer Production scholarship fund. Learn more about Donation Opportunities Here
**If you are seeking a scholarship for your child, please contact us at admin@dreambigeducation.org
