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.

Each summer, 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.

The energy and fervor of the faculty is one of the things I value and love best about the camp. They inspire you, and their excitement rubs off on you and makes you want to dive in.
– Sarah Hirsch, Camper

Laura Artesi

Laura Artesi has been an actor, and performer since the age of 6. She has a background in Acting, Improvisation, Movement, Dance and is SAFD certified in Stage Combat. She recently completed an MFA in Acting from The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy for Classical Acting at George Washington University. Since graduating, she has performed locally with Shakespeare Theatre Company, Mosaic Theater Company, Synetic Theater, Source Festival, 1st Stage, and recently took a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on tour to China with Shakespeare Theatre Company.

Danny Cackley

Danny Cackley is an actor, teaching artist and fight choreographer in the Washington, D.C. area. Recent acting credits include: Shakespeare Theatre Company: 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; LiveArt DC: Love’s LaBEERS Lost; Avant Bard: A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Faction of Fools: Tales of Marriage & Mozzarella, A Commedia Romeo & Juliet, Foolish Fairytales. Danny is a proud member of the Society of American Fight Directors, an Artistic Associate at Brave Spirits Theatre and Faction of Fools, and an alum of the National Players (Tour 65).

Dan Crane

Dan Crane is the Resident Teaching Artist at the Shakespeare Theatre Company. Dan 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.

Katelyn Manfre

Katelyn Manfre is a recent DC-transplant, having spent the last decade working as an actor, teacher, and theater critic in New York City. Locally, she has performed with the Folger Shakespeare Theatre, Capital Fringe, and Pointless Theatre Company. She is also a teaching artist with Round House Theatre and director of (the) Unruly Improv Theatre in McLean. Katelyn holds a BFA in Drama from New York University, and an MFA from Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy for Classical Acting at GWU.

Chelsea Mayo

Chelsea Mayo joined STC as a teaching artist in 2013. She has worked with students Pre-K through 12th grade through STC, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Del Ray Performing Arts Center, Lola’s Laboratory, and Creative Kids. As an actor, she understudied productions of The Importance of Being Earnest and Tartuffe at STC and has performed at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Annapolis Shakespeare Company, Quotidian Theatre Company, and The Enlightenment Theatre Project in Williamsburg, VA among others. Chelsea holds a B.A. in Theatre and French from Vanderbilt University.

Kiernan McGowan

Kiernan McGowan is a DC based actor, director, and teaching artist. He has performed with The Welders, Annapolis Shakespeare Company, The Source Festival, The Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble, and We Happy Few Productions where he is also an associate producer. He has taught and directed at Carolina Friends School, North Carolina Governor’s School, Act One Act Now Theater Company, Educational Theatre Company, and The Kirov Academy of Ballet. He holds an MFA in Acting from Catholic University.

Sarah Kate Patterson

Sarah Kate Patterson has been an affiliated teaching artist with Shakespeare Theatre Company for two years and was also the Education Fellow for the 2014-2015 season. Sarah Kate graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in Theatre Arts and is currently attending Catholic University of America for a Masters in Arts and Theatre Education. Sarah Kate works as a freelance stage manager in the DMV theatre scene; she has worked with Sitar Arts Center, Constellation Theatre Company, Imagination Stage, Forum Theatre, Happenstance Theatre Company, and Arts On The Horizon.

Alex Piper

Alex Piper has been a D.C. based actor/ teaching artist since moving to Washington for an acting fellowship with The Shakespeare Theatre Company. He has an M.F.A. from The University of Southern Mississippi and has taught students of all ages and experience levels. Professional credits at STC include: Henry IV, Parts I & II and As You Like It. Imagination and creativity are at the core of what he enjoys about the craft and explores in his classroom.

Victoria Reinsel

Victoria Reinsel is a classically trained actor, director, and teaching artist who has acted and/or taught at a number of local and regional theatres including American Shakespeare Center, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Imagination Stage, Constellation Theatre Company, Taffety Punk Theatre Company, Folger Shakespeare Theatre, Maryland Shakespeare Festival, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, and Encore Stage & Studio. She has taught additionally through Lola’s Laboratory, Creative Kids, Trax, and the Institute of Reading Development, and has guest lectured at Georgetown University and Eastern Mennonite University. In 2011, she co-founded Brave Spirits Theatre. Victoria holds a MFA and M.Litt in Shakespeare in Performance with a concentration in acting from Mary Baldwin College in partnership with the American Shakespeare Center, and a BA in Theatre/Literature from Marlboro College.

Melissa Richardson

Melissa Richardson is a director, stage manager, and teaching artist. She has taught children and adults at all levels throughout the DC Metro Area. She has directed several youth theatre productions, and she also works with students to create and perform original, ensemble-written plays. She has been a Teaching Artist with the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Education through the Arts since 2005. In this capacity, she partners with early childhood classroom teachers to incorporate the arts into daily learning. She wrote an original, ten-minute play that she performed for preschool audiences for the Institute’s Small Bites program and served on the STEM Science Task Force to develop science and engineering curriculum. She has worked with the Heyday Players, Round House Theatre’s acting troupe for senior citizens, for the past five years. She has also taught drama to students from preschool through high school with Arena Stage. Adventure Theatre, and Lenore Blank Kelner and Co. Melissa is passionate about storytelling, whether from children’s literature, folktales from around the world, or stories created with children on the spot. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Directing from the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama.

Michael Dix Thomas

Michael Dix Thomas is a Washington, DC actor and teaching artist, originally from Portland, Maine. Michael recently performed in the Folger Theater’s production of Timon of Athens and has taught for Round House Theatre, Portland Stage Company, Theater at Monmouth, Maine Coast Waldorf School, and True to Life Training. Michael holds a BA from Emerson College and an MFA from Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy for Classical Acting at the George Washington University.

Kathryn Tkel

Kathryn Tkel is a theatre artist originally from Northern California.  She received a BA in Drama and Anthropology from the University of California, Irvine and an MFA in Classical Acting from The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy for Classical Acting at The George Washington University. Most recently she was seen in Everyman Theatre’s production of By the Way, Meet Vera Stark. Regionally she has performed with San Jose Repertory Theatre, The San Francisco Playhouse, Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, California Conservatory Theatre, Willows Theatre, Just Theatre, Boxcar Theatre, Second Wind Productions, and the Collegiate Players.  Kathryn is very excited to be making Washington, D.C. her home and is thrilled to be teaching with STC!

*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.