Camp Shakespeare

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 environment with advanced acting techniques, text analysis and armed stage combat. Intensive ensembles produce fully realized Shakespeare productions culminating in three public performances in The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall. Acceptance into the Summer Intensive is by audition only.

 Romeo and Juliet

Dates: June 29 – July 18
Performances: July 16 and July 17 at 7:00 p.m. & July 18 at 2:00 p.m.

The feud between two families results in the most tragic love story ever told.

The Winter’s Tale

Dates: July 20 – August 8
Performances: August 6 and August 7 at 7:00 p.m. & August 8 at 2:00 p.m.

A husband’s jealousy tears a family apart, but the love and generosity of a few simple shepherds brings their reunion and reconciliation.

Location:
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall
610 F Street NW
Metro: Gallery Pl-Chinatown

Audition Dates:
Saturday, March 14 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 21 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

To schedule an audition please call the Engagement and Education Hotline: 202.547.5688 or email CampSTC@ShakespeareTheatre.org.

Planning to audition but don’t want to miss out if other camps are full? Register before February 3 and your early registration discount of $50 will be applied to Summer Intensive tuition once your student is accepted.

Tuition

• One-Week Poppets Session:  10 a.m.—5 p.m. $350
• Two-Week Camp: 10 a.m.—5 p.m. $725
• Three-Week Intensive: 10 a.m.—5 p.m. $1,125

Full tuition is due upon registration. 50% will be refunded if registration is withdrawn before May 1, 2020. After May 1^st tuition is non-refundable.

Every camper receives a Shakespeare Theatre Company t-shirt!

Registration closes one week prior to the camp’s start date OR once a camp is full.

Discounts

Register by February 3^rd and receive $50 off!

Register siblings or for multiple sessions to receive $25 off each additional camp registration.

Call the Engagement and Education Hotline at 202.547.5688 to register and receive your discount.

Scholarships

To apply for a scholarship to Camp Shakespeare, please submit the following items to the Shakespeare Theatre Company Engagement and Education Department:

• A completed scholarship application form filled out by the parent or legal guardian of the student.
• A 500-word typed essay written by the student that answers this question:
  Why do you want to attend 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 no later than May 1, 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 mail your materials to:
Camp Shakespeare
Shakespeare Theatre Company
516 8th Street SE
Washington, DC 20003
Or fax to: Attn: Camp Shakespeare at 202.547.0226

We offer beforecare for $50.00 per week from 9am-10am for Washington D.C. Poppets, Groundlings, and Young Players sessions. Daily drop-in rate $20.00 per day.

BEFORECARE JUNE 29-JULY 3

Poppets A, Groundlings & Young Players Session 1

Reserve

BEFORECARE JULY 6-10

Poppets B, Groundlings & Young Players Session 1

Reserve

BEFORECARE JULY 13-17

Poppets C, Groundlings & Young Players Session 2

Reserve

BEFORECARE JULY 20-24

Poppets D, Groundlings & Young Players Session 2

Reserve

BEFORECARE JULY 27-31

Poppets E, Groundlings & Young Players Session 3

Reserve

BEFORECARE AUGUST 3-7

Poppets F, Groundlings & Young Players Session 3

Reserve

BEFORECARE AUGUST 10-14

Poppets G, Groundlings & Young Players Session 4

Reserve

BEFORECARE AUGUST 17-21

Poppets H, Groundlings & Young Players Session 4

Reserve

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 Camp Shakespeare?

A typical day begins with team building activities and warm-ups followed by voice and movement instruction, during which students practice techniques for character creation and storytelling. The morning continues with acting class, where students explore improvisation and scenes from plays, followed by text analysis, which provides strategies for understanding and communicating Shakespeare’s language. Students also train in the art of safe stage combat. The rest of the afternoon is dedicated to applying what has been learned in rehearsal.

Sample Schedule* for a Groundlings Day

Sample Schedule* for a Young Players or King’s Company Day

*Schedule subject to change

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

Our two-week camps have a maximum of 22 students. There are two Teaching Artists and an intern for each camp. All 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. 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?

The 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 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.

Do you offer before- or aftercare?

We offer beforecare from 9am-10am for Washington D.C. Poppets, Groundlings, and Young Players sessions. We do not offer aftercare. Camp Shakespeare runs from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Students must be picked up by 5:15 p.m. There is no supervision on the premises after 5:30 p.m. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer parking or drop-off zones at any of our locations in D.C..

What is your refund policy?

Full tuition is due upon registration. 50% will be refunded if registration is withdrawn before May 1, 2020. After May 1^st tuition is non-refundable.

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 May 1, 2020. You must call the Engagement and Education Hotline at 202-547-5688 to utilize this payment plan.

What measures are in place to ensure the safety of my student?

Your student’s safety is our priority. Our Teaching Artists and interns are trained and certified in First Aid and CPR. All STC locations have procedures in place in case of an emergency and parents and guardians will be contacted immediately. Students stay indoors for the duration of the camp day except when departing their rehearsal room at lunch.

What is your lunch policy?

All Poppets, Groundlings and Young Players must stay on site for lunch. Parents and guardians must provide non-perishable lunch food and snacks. Poppets, Groundlings and Young Players have thirty minutes for lunch and ample time for snack breaks throughout the day. King’s Company and Intensive students will not be supervised during their lunch break and may leave for lunch, but they are also welcome to remain onsite.

Are campers allowed to have cell phones? 

Because of the distraction and disruption caused by cell phones, we ask that campers do not use cell phones during class or rehearsal. There are periodic breaks during the camp day when students can check messages and make calls if necessary. In order to avoid interruptions, we ask that if a parent or guardian needs to contact a student, they call our Engagement and Education Hotline at 202.547.5688.

Does Camp Shakespeare arrange carpools?

Camp Shakespeare does not arrange carpools, but we are happy to send an email request for a carpool to others registered for your session.

Where can I find permission forms and emergency contact forms?

Forms can be downloaded here. Forms must be returned to the Engagement and Education Department by June 1, 2020. Please be sure to fill out and return ALL THREE PAGES. Forms can be returned via fax at 202.547.0226, via email to Campstc@ShakespeareTheatre.org , or by mail to this address: Camp Shakespeare, 516 8^th Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003-2834

When is the final performance and how many people may attend?

Final performance times, dates, and locations vary by program. Poppets Sharings are at 5 p.m. on the last day of each session.

Groundlings and Young Players performances are 10 a.m. the Saturday after the last day of each session, followed by King’s Company performances at 12 p.m. If you are attending a camp in Washington, D.C., performances will be held at either the Michael R. Klein Theatre, 450 7th Street NW, or the Harman Center for the Arts, 610 F Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20004. If you are attending a satellite camp, the performance will be held at that location. Specific performance times and spaces will be provided in an information packet emailed in May. You may invite as many people as you want. Families are encouraged to watch the entire performance, but if you need to leave early, we ask that you leave during intermission to ensure that the students acting onstage are not disheartened and the audience is not distracted.

Will the performances be videotaped?

We will have a professional videographer at the performances in Washington, D.C.. After the performance, friends and families will be able to order a DVD for $35.00. For performances at the Michael R. Klein Theatre and at satellite camps, you are also allowed to videotape and photograph the performances yourself, but we ask that you do not use flash photography as it is distracting to the actors. For King’s Company and Intensive performances at The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall, you are not allowed to videotape or photograph the performance due to the audience’s proximity to the actors.

How are Poppets Sharings different?

Poppets do not work with a script, as we believe that exploration and play are more developmentally appropriate for this age group than memorizing large amounts of text. Poppets Sharings take place in their classroom, last approximately fifteen minutes, and include a variety of songs, art projects and character presentations.

We are very excited that you will be participating in Camp Shakespeare 2020! The following information will prepare you for a successful camp experience.

Please fill out this form and return it to the Engagement and Education Department by June 1, 2020.

Forms can be returned via fax at 202.547.0226, via email to to CampSTC@ShakespeareTheatre.org, or by mail to this address:
Camp Shakespeare
516 8^th Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003-2834

What Should I Bring to Camp?

• Three-ring binder: To hold your script. A thin (1/2 inch) one is easiest to handle.
• Pencil: For taking notes in your script.
• Clothes to move in: As much of the day requires physical activity, please wear clothes that are easy to move in such as shorts, sweat pants, t-shirts and tennis shoes. Please DO NOT wear skirts, sandals, heels or big pieces of jewelry as they hinder movement and can be unsafe. The building is air-conditioned, so layers are encouraged.
• Closed-toed sneakers or tennis shoes: Flip flops and sandals are not allowed at camp.
• Hair-ties: Hair should be tied back for rehearsals and stage combat class.
• Water bottle: To keep hydrated.
• Healthy lunch and snacks: Please note that students will not have access to a microwave or refrigeration, so all lunches need to be non-perishable.

What Sort of Snacks Should I Bring?

Camp is a long, vigorous day for young actors as they are physically active most of the day and need to consistently maintain focus. We ask that you limit sugary snacks and choose healthy alternatives such as:

• Chopped, raw vegetables
• Granola bars
• Cheese and crackers
• Celery, apples or mini rice cakes with peanut butter
• Nuts and dried fruits, especially raisins
• Fresh fruits, applesauce, or other fruit cups
• Breadsticks or pita chips with hummus
• Pretzels or popcorn
• Graham crackers or gingersnaps dipped in applesauce