Virtual Camp Shakespeare

Ages 13 – 18 (by audition only)

4.5 hours per day + digital activities

The Summer Intensive (formerly Advanced Camp) invites returning students to experience an actor’s journey from audition to performance. Participants will be challenged in a collaborative and encouraging online environment with advanced acting techniques and text analysis. Intensive ensembles produce virtual Shakespeare productions streamed for the public.

11:00 – 12:15 Ensemble & Movement

12:15 – 12:45 Lunch Break (No Zoom)

12:45 – 1:15 Virtual Lunchroom (Optional)

1:15 – 2:30 Acting & Text Analysis

2:30 – 3:00 Afternoon Break (No Zoom)

3:00 – 5:00 Rehearsal

Romeo and Juliet: June 29 – July 17

The Winter’s Tale: July 20 – August 7

Tuition

• One-Week Poppets Session:  9 a.m.—1:15 p.m. $175

• Two-Week Groundlings Camp: 9 a.m.—1:45 p.m. $395

• Two-Week Young Players Camp: 1 p.m.—5:15 p.m. $395

• Two-Week King’s Company Camp: 1 p.m.—5:15 p.m. $395

• Three-Week Intensive: 11 a.m.—5 p.m. $750

Full tuition is due upon registration. Registration closes one week prior to the camp’s start date OR once a camp is full.

Discounts

With the transition to an online format and lower tuition fees, we are unable to offer any discounts for summer 2020 (early bird, sibling, etc.). Scholarship applications will be accepted through June 29, 2020.

Scholarships

To apply for a scholarship, please submit the following items:

• A completed scholarship application form filled out by the legal guardian of the student

• A 500-word typed essay written by the student that answers this question:
  Why do you want to attend Virtual Camp Shakespeare and what do you hope to gain from the experience?

• A copy of applicant’s 2018 tax return for proof of income or documentation of qualification for free or reduced school lunch

Applications are due by June 29, 2020. Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis, so it is best to turn in complete applications early. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Please email your materials to: CampSTC@shakespearetheatre.org

If you were registered for Before Care prior to Camp moving online, you will receive an email with next steps.

Virtual Camp Shakespeare Teaching Artists create a unique curriculum aimed at optimizing students’ physical, intellectual, and artistic development. All Teaching Artists are classically trained professional actors and educators.

“These Teaching Artists are brilliant. So incredibly patient and enthusiastic. Masters at keeping all the students feeling safe and seen. And really great Shakespeare instruction!” – Virtual Camp Shakespeare Parent

Sarah Kate Bode has worked with the Summer Intensive since she was the Education Fellow at STC in summer 2014. She has worked in the DC theatre scene as a freelance stage manager and teaching artist with many companies but has always considered STC her home. She attended the University of Iowa for an undergrad degree in Theatre and just recently graduated from Catholic University of America with a master’s degree in Theatre and Arts Education. She is the Performing Arts Teacher at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, VA.

Ashley D. Buster is a D.C. Metro native from Silver Spring, MD. She holds a BA in Theatre and Communications from Temple University and a Masters of Education from Loyola University Maryland. Ashley is a member of the Actors’ Equity Association and has been seen in many productions in, but not limited to the DC region. Not only is she our School Programs Manager here at STC, but she works as a teaching artist with several companies throughout the area and is an Associate Artist for Ford’s Theatre.

Danny Cackley is an actor, teaching artist and fight choreographer in the Washington, D.C. area. Recent acting credits include: STC: Taming of the Shrew, The Metromaniacs; Folger Theatre: Second Shepherd’s Play, Othello; Flying V Theatre: Flying V Fights: The Secret History of the Unknown World, Flying V Fights: Love is a Battlefield; Brave Spirits Theatre: ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore, Romeo & Juliet; Avant Bard: A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Faction of Fools: Tales of Marriage & Mozzarella, A Commedia Romeo & Juliet, Foolish Fairytales, Cherry Orchard. Danny is a proud member of the Society of American Fight Directors, an Artistic Associate at Brave Spirits Theatre and a company member with both Flying V Theatre and Faction of Fools. Danny is an alum of the National Players (Tour 65). 

Matthew Castleman is a New York-raised actor, writer, and teaching artist with a longtime love of Shakespeare. He’s performed on the stages of Folger Theatre and the Washington Stage Guild, among other DC venues, and has nearly thirty Shakespeare productions under his belt across the span of his career. He’s a published fiction author, having penned the middle grade Clone Chronicles series under the name M.E. Castle, as well as numerous short stories under his own name. He studies and competes in historical European martial arts and uses that knowledge to bring just enough realism to stage fights.  

Dan Crane has taught at STC for 10 years as an Affiliated Teaching Artist. His STC stage credits include Lord Grey in Richard III and Hounslow in The Beaux’ Stratagem. As an actor Dan has worked at companies across the United States, including Imagination Stage (Maryland), Kitchen Theatre (New York), Idaho Shakespeare Festival (Idaho), PCPA Theaterfest (California) and Portland Center Stage (Oregon). He is a graduate of the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts, holds a BFA from Ithaca College and an MFA from the Academy for Classical Acting at The George Washington University.

Michael Dix Thomas is an actor and educator with a bachelors degree from Emerson College and an MFA from the STC’s Academy for Classical Acting at the George Washington University. Michael has been teaching with the Shakespeare Theater since 2017 and is also a teaching artist with Round House Theatre, Signature Theatre, and the Theater at Monmouth. Michael has recently performed in Washington in Shear Madness at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and in productions in Maine and North Carolina. 

Miranda Hall is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park with a major in Theatre Performance and a minor in Spanish Heritage Language and Latino/a Culture. During her studies she was a member of the Kreativity Diversity Troupe and the Maryland Latin Dance Club. Miranda was the Engagement and Education Apprentice for STC during the 2019/20 season, and an Education Intern at Round House Theatre. In addition to her passion for Shakespeare, Miranda is also a classical violinist!

Julane Havens is the New Generations Manager at STC. Prior to STC, she was the Associate Artistic Director for Commonwealth Theatre Center, where she directed over 20 productions including The Tempest, Pericles, and Romeo & Juliet. Stage credits include Viola in Twelfth Night with Savage Rose Classical Theatre, Juliet in Romeo & Juliet with Kentucky Shakespeare, and Sonya in CTC’s professional company production of Uncle Vanya. She is a member of Actors’ Equity Association with an MFA from the University of Missouri – Kansas City/ Kansas City Repertory Theatre.

Chelsea Mayo has been teaching with STC since 2014. Since moving to DC, she has worked with students in grades K-12 through Ford’s Theatre, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Lola’s Laboratory, Del Ray Performing Arts Center, and Creative Kids. As an actor, Chelsea has performed at Shakespeare Theatre Company (Hamlet and Twelfth Night), Washington Stage Guild, Taffety Punk Theatre Company, Quotidian Theatre Company, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, and Prince George’s Shakespeare in the Parks. Chelsea holds in B.A. in Theatre and French with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies from Vanderbilt University.

Kiernan McGowan is a DC based Theatre Artist and Educator. He has worked with the Kennedy Center, Imagination Stage, Studio Theatre, Rorschach Theatre, Solas Nua, Faction of Fools, NextStop Theatre, Pointless Theatre, The Welders and We Happy Few. As well as for STC, he has been an instructor at Catholic University, The Kirov Academy of Ballet, Educational Theatre Company, and North Carolina Governor’s School. Outside of theatre he enjoys soccer, beaches, museums, obscure history factoids, and tacos in all forms. MFA: Catholic University. 

Christopher Michael Richardson is an actor and teaching artist in the Washington D.C. area. You may have seen him in Assassins at Signature Theatre; Fancy Nancy’s Splendiferous Christmas at Adventure Theatre; You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown at Imagination Stage (Helen Hayes Award, TYA Production); The Wiz at Ford’s Theatre (Helen Hayes Nomination, Supporting Actor); The Book of Will at Round House Theatre; Macbeth at The Shakespeare Theatre; and Peter and the Starcatcher at Constellation Theatre Company (Helen Hayes Award, Ensemble). He holds a BA in English and Theatre from The College of William & Mary.

Melissa Richardson is a director, stage manager, and storyteller. She has taught drama from preschool to adult level classes with STC, Arena Stage. Adventure Theatre MTC, Lenore Blank Kelner and Co., Educational Theatre Company, Pied Piper Theatre, and the Alden Theatre. She is a Master Artist and Trainer with the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning through the Arts. Through this program, she developed a one-woman show “Pernilla’s Amazing Inventions” for performances in preschool classroom through the Small Bites! Program and recently debuted her professional development workshop Finding Drama Everywhere that explores strategies for linking drama with non-fiction informational text. She also coaches the teen improv troupe, Unruly Theatre Project, which tours to local theatres, cafes, and other community venues. She holds a B.F.A. in Directing from Carnegie Mellon University.

Maya Louise Shed is a rising senior at Howard University studying Theatre Arts Administration and Music. She is currently working to complete her honors thesis, which explores the philosophy of theatre and the importance of theatre in the Black community. Maya has seven years of experience working with youth in the arts, starting when she founded a performing arts group for kids when she was 14. She has a special passion for making Shakespeare, and theatre in general, accessible, and fun for everyone.

Brent Stansell is the Associate Director of Education and Training at the STC where he has been a teaching artist for over 12 years. He has also taught at The Catholic University of America, American University, Montgomery College, and The George Washington University, and as an affiliated teaching artist with the Folger Theatre and Round House Theatre. As a professional dramaturg with an MFA in Dramaturgy from Brooklyn College, he has devised original work, developed new plays most recently with the Source Festival and The Inkwell, and has worked on productions with companies such as Round House Theatre and Forum Theatre. Brent has worked as an actor with several DC companies including Rorschach Theatre and the National Player’s Tour 55 out of the Olney Theatre Center. He has a BA in Dramatic Literature and in English with honors from The George Washington University.

 Patti Woolsey is a Co-founder and the Founding Executive Director for ArtStream, Inc. She currently works as a master teacher, consultant and theater director for ArtStream. In addition to serving as a teaching artist at STC, she also teaches drama for the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, the Polite Piggys program on Capitol Hill and runs a memory care class at Insight memory care through the Educational Theatre Company. As a Registered Drama Therapist (RDT), she works privately with clients, specializing in working with people with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Eliseo Valerio was the Engagement and Education Fellow at STC during the 2019/20 season. He has done education work at the Alley Theatre, the New Victory Theater, and Second Stage, and has worked with students of all ages, from preschoolers to retirees. An avid Shakespeare enthusiast, Eliseo has read the entire canon, has performed in plays such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, and The Tempest, and most recently translated Timon of Athens for STC’s Spanish speaking students. He graduated from Stanford University with a BA in Theater and Performance Studies in 2018. 

Teaching Artists are subject to change without notice.

What’s a typical day like at Virtual Camp Shakespeare?

All Virtual Camp Shakespeare sessions meet Monday through Friday. Showcases will be recorded during the last hour of Camp, and campers will receive a copy to share with friends and family. Hours vary by session with Poppets and Groundlings sessions taking place in the mornings, and Young Players and King’s Company sessions taking place in the afternoons. Sessions include two 45-minute classes and a rehearsal (90-minutes for Poppets and two hours for all other sessions). Rehearsals will include smaller group sessions and one-on-one coaching. There are plenty of breaks during the day as well as a virtual lunchroom for students to connect and socialize. We encourage students to attend as much Camp as possible to get the most out of the experience. We also understand that this is a challenging time for many families, and that students may be sharing devices, spaces, and other resources with those in their homes. That is why we have made attendance in classes optional. Attendance is required during daily rehearsals to participate in the recorded showcase.

What are the digital activities?

All campers will be emailed a handbook with their scripts (if applicable) and age-appropriate supplemental activities including at-home art and design projects, journal prompts, and lists of resources for further learning.

What are the technical requirements?

Campers will need a computer or tablet with a video camera and microphone, a reliable internet connection, access to emailed materials (including password-protected Zoom links – no Zoom account needed), and space to vocalize, move, write, and play. Information and sign-ups for weekly Camp orientations, including Zoom tutorials, will be emailed the week prior to each session.

Who teaches camp and what is your teacher to student ratio?

Our two-week camps have a maximum of 18 students. There are two Teaching Artists and an intern for each camp. All Virtual Camp Shakespeare Teaching Artists are classically trained professional actors and educators. All of our interns are college-aged students pursuing degrees in theatre and/or education. Check out our faculty bios here.

What if my student is on the cusp of an age group? Can they move into the older group?

We ask that students remain in their designated age group or corresponding grade level. Our curriculums are designed for specific age groups and we have found that these peer groups are the most successful for creating strong ensembles and preventing group dynamic challenges. Virtual Camp Shakespeare is both fun and demanding, and we pace each age group appropriately throughout the day. We pride ourselves on the caliber of training all of our students receive.

What if my student has special needs?

Shakespeare Theatre Company encourages students of all abilities to discover and develop their full creative potential through the performing arts. In order to plan the best experience for your student, we ask that you provide us with specific information regarding special circumstances or conditions that may impact your student’s learning or participation in Virtual Camp Shakespeare. As our team of Teaching Artists plan the camp curriculum in early June, this information will help us address the needs of your individual student.

What is your refund policy?

Full tuition is due upon registration. We are unable to refund missed class time or individual days of Camp, but if you need to withdraw your registration for any reason this summer, the following options are available to you:

• You may donate your tuition to STC as a tax-deductible charitable contribution. This will help STC survive the coronavirus pandemic, allowing us to provide meaningful education programs like Camp Shakespeare for many years to come.

• You may keep a credit in the amount you paid to register for Camp Shakespeare 2021. This credit would remain on your account until you contact us to register for next summer.

• You may request a full or partial refund to the credit card you used at registration.

Do you offer a payment plan? 

We offer a payment plan option that divides the total camp tuition into two installments. The first half of the payment is due upon registration. The second half of the payment is due by the first day of Camp. You must call the Engagement and Education Hotline at 202-547-5688 to utilize this payment plan.

Where can I find permission forms and emergency contact forms?

Forms will be emailed to campers the week prior to their session. Forms must be emailed back to the Engagement and Education Department by the first day of the session.