NEW THIS YEAR: One act musical and play registration will be done through a lottery system »
We are excited to welcome you to the historic Grand Rapids Civic Theatre for this year’s summer camps!
- Students will perform on the Meijer Majestic Stage on their final day of camp!
- Students are placed into small groups of 12 students according to their age prior to arrival on the first day of camp!
- FRIEND REQUESTS ARE LIMITED TO ONE FRIEND ONLY AND MUST BE MUTUAL!
Please watch our Summer Camp Orientation Video:
Camp sizes are very limited!
Limited scholarships are available.
Please click below to be directed to our scholarship page.
“Thank you to Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, the School of GRCT, and especially the phenomenal and hilarious Eirann Betka-Pope, for the Saturday Sketch Comedy classes! Max had the best time, and we are so ready to sign up for more classes this summer!!”
DYAN YODER
“…she now realizes that she can advocate for herself. Life lessons also happen at Civic Theatre! Thanks so much!”
MARCIA BOYCE
“I truly feel like you all have done a wonderful job of balancing safety with the very human drive toward creativity and expression.”
MILIANA JOHNSON
“This is our first camp with GRCT and I wanted to thank you for all of the hard work you’re putting in behind the scenes to make this week successful. You’ve went above and beyond with your communication and reminders. The video and instructor photos/bios made my 8 year old feel confident and excited to walk through the doors this morning.“
STACY AUKEMAN
Early Explorers
Registration opens at 10:00 am on Tuesday, January 28th.
For students age 4 through students who have COMPLETED Kindergarten by June 2025. Students must be age 4 before the first day of camp.
Join us for a week of summer fun! Our youngest campers are divided into groups by age where they learn a script written JUST for them! Our summer faculty and fantastic teacher assistants guide students as they explore acting, singing, dancing, costumes & props, and prepare for a performance on the Meijer Majestic Stage on their final day of camp!
Friend requests for Early Explorers are limited to ONE FRIEND ONLY and must be mutual
Session A: August 11 – August 15 | 9:00am – 11:00am
Onstage Performance: Friday, 10:30am
Session B: August 11 – August 15 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Onstage Performance: Friday, 2:30pm
Tuition: $125
- Please bring a snack and water bottle daily.
- Shoes that cover the entire foot are required. No sandals, flip-flops or Crocs for the safety of your student.
Creative quest
Registration opens at 10:00 am on Tuesday, January 28th.
For students who have completed grades 1 or 2 by June 2025..
Summer days are action-packed as our Creative Quest Campers seek out adventures in the arts! Students are divided into groups by age, and rotate through daily workshops in acting, singing, dancing, and tech (props & costumes) – all guided by our experienced theatre faculty and fantastic teacher assistants. After a fun audition on the first day, every camper gets a part to play in a script written specifically for their age group, and performed on the Meijer Majestic stage on the last day of camp!
Friend requests for Creative Quest are limited to ONE FRIEND ONLY and must be mutual
Session A: June 9 – June 13 | 9:00am – 1:00pm
Onstage Performance: Friday, 12:00pm
Session B: July 14 – July 18 | 9:00am – 1:00pm
Onstage Performance: Friday, 12:00pm
Tuition: $225
- Please bring a snack and water bottle daily.
- Shoes that cover the entire foot are required. No sandals, flip-flops or Crocs for the safety of your student.
Dramatic Discovery
Registration opens at 10:00 am on Tuesday, January 28th.
For students who have completed grades 3 through 6 by June 2025.
Campers will love making discoveries in every aspect of theatre from acting, singing & dancing, to props, costumes, and scenery! Students are divided into groups by age, and audition for a part in a script written just for them – everyone is cast, and everyone gets their own lines although the roles vary in size just like in a real theatre production. Experienced theatre faculty nurture and guide students as they reach dramatic new heights and prepare for a performance on the Meijer Majestic stage on the final day of camp!
Friend requests for Dramatic Discovery are limited to ONE FRIEND ONLY and must be mutual
Session A: June 16 – June 20 | 9:00am – 3:00pm
Onstage performance is Friday, 2:00pm
Session B: June 23 – June 27 | 9:00am – 3:00pm
Onstage performance is Friday, 2:00pm
Session C: July 28 – Aug 1 | 9:00am – 3:00pm
Onstage performance is Friday, 2:00pm
Session D: August 4 – August 8 | 9:00am – 3:00pm
Onstage performance is Friday, 2:00pm
Tuition: $275
- Please bring a snack, lunch and water bottle daily.
- Shoes that cover the entire foot are required. No sandals, flip-flops or Crocs for the safety of your student.
ONE ACT MUSICAL – Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Edition
*** REGISTER THROUGH LIVE LOTTERY: SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS ***
NEW THIS YEAR: Registration will be done through a LIVE lottery drawing on Saturday, January 18th at 4pm. In order to have your student’s name included in the drawing, please complete this Google Form no later than Friday, January 17th. (Completing the Google Form does not guarantee a spot in camp.)
For students who have completed grades 7 through 12 by June 2025
In one action-packed week, students will audition, rehearse, and perform this 60-minute version of the classic Broadway musical Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Edition on the Meijer Majestic Stage! Guided by theatre professionals, all students who register are cast in roles of varying sizes and gain experience both onstage and off. This camp is an excellent opportunity for both beginners and veteran performers to experience what it’s like to be part of a fully produced musical at Civic!
This show is appropriate for all audiences.
MANDATORY FAMILY AND STUDENT ORIENTATION: TUESDAY, JUNE 17TH from 6-6:30 PM!
One Session: Monday, July 7th-Saturday, July 12th
Auditions: Tuesday, June 17th from 6-9 pm
Monday, July 7th-Friday, July 11th: 9 am-5 pm
Saturday, July 12th: 10 am-8 pm
Onstage Performance: Saturday, July 12th at 6 pm
Tuition: $300
- Please bring a lunch and water bottle daily.
- Shoes that cover the entire foot are required. No sandals, flip-flops or Crocs for the safety of your student.
- Onstage performance is Saturday at 6:00pm
- Limited to 25 students
ONE ACT PLAY – Order Up!
*** REGISTER THROUGH LIVE LOTTERY: SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS ***
NEW THIS YEAR: Registration will be done through a LIVE lottery drawing on Saturday, January 18th at 4pm. In order to have your student’s name included in the drawing, please complete this Google Form no later than Friday, January 17th. (Completing the Google Form does not guarantee a spot in camp.)
For students who have completed grades 7-12 by June 2025.
In one exciting, fast-paced week, students will audition, rehearse, and perform Order Up! on the Meijer Majestic Stage! Customers of fast food restaurants are quirky, and the employees of the Order Up restaurant must deal with weird allergies, fanatical health inspectors, folks hiding in the restroom and more as they navigate a standard day at work. Guided by theatre professionals, all students who register are cast in roles of varying sizes and gain experience both onstage and off. This camp is an excellent opportunity for both beginners and veteran performers to experience what it’s like to be part of a fully produced musical at Civic!
This show is appropriate for all audiences.
MANDATORY FAMILY AND STUDENT ORIENTATION: TUESDAY, JUNE 17TH from 6-6:30 PM!
One Session: Monday, July 7th-Friday, July 11th
Auditions: Tuesday, June 17th from 6-8 pm
Monday, July 7th-Thursday, July 10th: 10 am-5 pm
Friday, July 11th: 10 am-8 pm
Onstage Performance: Friday, July 11th at 6 pm
Tuition: $300
- Please bring a lunch and water bottle daily.
- Shoes that cover the entire foot are required. No sandals, flip-flops or Crocs for the safety of your student.
- Onstage performance is Friday at 6:00pm
- Limited to 24 students
Production Track for Summer One Acts – 2 Week Camp
Registration opens at 10:00 am on Tuesday, January 28th.
For students who have completed grades 7 through 12 by June 2025.
Over the course of two weeks, students interested in the production side of performance will participate in crew training with the Volunteer Coordinator of Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, study and collaborate with professional designers in sets, props, costumes, lighting and sound, and work on one or both of the One Acts being performed by their peers at the end of week 2! This camp is a fantastic opportunity for those who have never been behind the scenes and for those who are veteran volunteers in the production world!
MANDATORY FAMILY AND STUDENT ORIENTATION VIDEO: Please ensure that you have watched this video prior to attending camp! It could be beneficial to review prior to registration to ensure that your student knows exactly what to expect at camp!
Week 1: Monday, June 23rd-Friday, June 27th, 10 am-3:30 pm
Monday: Theatre Orientation and Crew Training
Tuesday: Sound and Light Design
Wednesday: Set Design
Thursday: Costume Design
Friday: Props Design and Stage Management
Week 2: Monday, July 7th-Saturday, July 12th
● Schedules during the second week of camp are flexible depending on which production your student will crew! You will receive the schedule after the first week of camp.
● One Act Play Crew:
○ Monday, July 7th-Thursday, July 10th: 10 am-5 pm
○ Friday, July 11th: 10 am-8 pm
■ Onstage Performance at 6 pm
● One Act Musical Crew:
○ Monday, July 7th-Friday, July 11th: 9 am-5 pm
■ Wednesday, July 9th will be 9 am-6 pm
○ Saturday, July 12th: 10 am-8 pm
■ Onstage Performance at 6 pm
Tuition: $350
- Please bring a lunch and water bottle daily.
- Shoes that cover the entire foot are required. No sandals, flip-flops or Crocs for the safety of your student.
- Onstage performances are Friday and Saturday at 6:00pm
- Limited to 12 students
CAMP IN CONCERT: Battle of the Stephens
Registration opens at 10:00 am on Tuesday, January 28th.
For students who have completed grades 7-12 by June 2025.
Join us for our Camp In Concert, a musical revue featuring songs written by Stephen Schwartz, Stephen Flaherty, and Stephen Sondheim! This camp is a perfect fit for students who love to sing and perform and will focus on healthy vocal technique, using the voice and body to create a character, basic movement and musical theatre dance techniques, and much more! Camp in Concert will culminate in a revue of some of your favorite musical theatre songs including, but not limited to, Defying Gravity, No One is Alone, Magic to Do, Journey to the Past, and so many more on the Meijer Majestic stage at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre!
MANDATORY FAMILY AND STUDENT ORIENTATION: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11TH, 6-6:30 PM
One Session: Monday, July 14th-Friday, July 18th
Auditions: Wednesday, June 11th from 6-8 pm (includes mandatory family/student orientation)
Monday-Thursday, 10 am-4 pm
Friday: 10 am-8 pm
Onstage Performance: Friday at 6 pm
Tuition: $250
- Please bring a lunch and water bottle daily.
- Shoes that cover the entire foot are required. No sandals, flip-flops or Crocs for the safety of your student.
- Onstage performance is Friday at 6:00pm
- Limited to 30 students
TUITION FOR ALL CAMPERS INCLUDES:
- A Summer Stars T-shirt!
- The opportunity to perform on a professional stage!
- A comprehensive theatre arts curriculum taught in a fun, nurturing environment!
- A highly experienced faculty of theatre professionals!
- Access to the resources of one of the top Community Theatres in the country!
- Lifelong memories and new friends!
HOW TO REGISTER:
One Act Camps:
- Please complete this Google Form by Friday, January 17th to be entered into a lottery drawing for registration! Names will be drawn at random LIVE on Saturday, January 18th at 4pm.
- If your student’s name was drawn, you will have until February 1st to formally register and pay for camp or complete your scholarship application.
- Once camp participant names are drawn, we will also draw names LIVE for the wait list. All wait list folks will receive an email the next week confirming your spot on the wait list.
Early Explorers, Creative Quest, Dramatic Discovery, Production Track, and Camp in Concert
- Online registration begins at 10 am on Tuesday, January 28th at grct.org/summer-programs.
- Payment is due at time of registration.
- Friend requests for Early Explorers, Creative Quest and Dramatic Discovery are limited to ONE FRIEND ONLY and they must be mutual.
Mail in registration forms can be found here or you can contact our offices directly at 616-222-6653 beginning January 30th. Payment is due at time of registration.
Friend requests for Early Explorers, Creative Quest and Dramatic Discovery are limited to ONE FRIEND ONLY.
Registration for each camp closes one week before the camp begins.
TUITION INCREASE STATEMENT:
We are so appreciative of our students and our families and never want to increase the price of our camps without context for doing so. The wide majority of Civic’s Summer Camps have not seen a tuition increase since 2017, and we continue to see costs increasing for craft supplies, shirts, operations to run the theatre itself, and compensation to our professional teaching artists. For these reasons, summer camp tuition is increasing for Summer 2025 by approximately 10%. We thank you for your understanding as we continue to do our absolute best to serve you.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
A limited number of partial scholarships (up to 50% of tuition) are available. Applications are online here. Scholarship applications can be submitted any time and are subject to space and funding availability.
SUMMER CAMP REFUND POLICY:
In the event that the Theatre must cancel a camp due to low enrollment, a full refund is issued.
If a student requests a withdrawal, on or before each individual camp registration deadline (one week prior to the camp), a full refund less a $10 drop fee is issued. Withdrawals between each individual camp registration deadline and the first day of camp are refunded at 75% less a $10 drop fee. There are no refunds the day camp starts or throughout the week of camp.
VISION STATEMENT:
We are committed to excellence through a comprehensive arts education program which builds confidence, fosters collaboration and inspires creativity.
30 DIVISION AVE N, GRAND RAPIDS, MI | 616.222.6650
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