Learning Stage, the education committee of Princeton Theatre Group, is offering Camp 56, a two-week summer day camp for youth entering third grade through 2026 Junior High Graduates. Participants will have the opportunity to experience and take part in live performances, while immersing themselves in the many aspects of producing a show.
The camp is held in cooperation with Festival 56, with 23 years of bringing outstanding professional theater to local audiences. Camp 56 itself is returning for its Fourteenth consecutive year of providing a theater-based camp for young people.
The camp will be held weekdays (9-3) from July 13 – July 25 at St. Matthews. Camp directors will engage campers in a series of fun-filled activities including song, dance, makeup, costuming, trips to the Festival sets, and visits with cast and crew. The culmination of the camp experience will be an onstage appearance – as part of the chorus ensemble in five to ten performances (July 31-Aug. 8) of the Festival 56 production of Anastasia.
Early registrants may have an optional “Front of House” workshop in early June. This workshop will provide the participants with Front of House training, including ushering and greeting. These experiences will open more opportunities for campers, including free show admittance.
The camp fee is $150 per child. Need-based scholarships are available as are family discounts. Scholarship forms will be made available upon request to aharper@festival56.com.
Registration forms can be picked up at the theater, or by emailing aharper@festival56.com. They can also be accessed online via our website at www.festival56.com, under the education tab. Camp forms along with the registration fees, should be mailed to the Festival box office at 316 S. Main St., Princeton, IL 61356. If you choose to pay for your registration online, please go to our ticketing site and click on Camp 56. Service fees apply when purchasing online. Five forms are required for registration: Registration, Liability, Medical Info, Schedule/Conflicts, Camper Release.
Camp 56 is grateful to its sponsors, including the Sun Foundation’s “Community Arts Access Regranting Program,” which is funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, and local businesses and individuals, The Princeton Closet, Bob Glaser, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church and Monical’s Pizza.
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