7th-12th Grade Summer Camps

 Grade refers to a student’s placement in Fall 2019.

See all camp offerings here.

Teen Camp – Musical (Grades 6- 10)

We’re putting on a show! Teen musical camps are two weeks of casting, rehearsing, and performing a fully-staged musical. The camp also provides 6^th – 10^th graders a variety of focused skill-building exercises intended to improve students’ theater skills. These musicals are designed so that every participant has a moment to shine!

• Final Presentation: 1:00pm and 3:00pm on the final day of camp at the camp venue. Campers must plan to attend both performances.

Daily Activities

• Acting games, mini-workshops, and rehearsing scenes
• Learning lines, songs, and choreography
• Using formal stage skills during rehearsal process

Skills Developed

• Theatrical skills: character development, ensemble, improvisation and performance
• Musical skills: rhythm, pitch, tone, ensemble singing, and vocal production
• Life skills: following directions, teamwork, confidence and risk taking
• Body language, gesture, facial and vocal expression

Final Presentation

• 45-60 minute performances with costumes and props
• Scripted musical production
• Campers have individual roles, memorized lines, and staged performance

ChangeItUp (Grades 6- 10)

Students create and perform a world premiere in one week! We’ll take a popular book, television, or film series and change it up to make it our own. We will twist the story and the characters all under the direction of professional theater artists. Then, after rehearsing our original script, we’ll premiere it on the final day of camp for our family and friends!

• Final Presentation: 2:30pm on the final day of camp at the camp venue.

Daily Activities

• Ensemble building and play creation activities based on a book or book series
• Acting games, creating props, script writing, and rehearsing scenes
• Practicing stage skills during rehearsal process

Skills Developed

• Theatrical skills: character creation, ensemble, improvisation and performance
• Life skills: following directions, teamwork, confidence, and risk taking
• Literacy skills through reading and script writing
• Body language, gesture, facial and vocal expression

Final Presentation

• 40-50 minute family showcase
• One-act play based on the theme of the week, created by campers
• Campers have individual roles, memorized lines, and staged performance
• Campers will be released at approximately 3:30 on the final day.

MiniYAPI (Grades 7- 12)

Mini-YAPI is a focused acting course for students who want to delve into some serious theater training. This week-long, process-based acting intensive is taught by the same Instructors who teach the Studio’s six-week Young Actors Professional Intensive (YAPI). Students will showcase their new skills in an informal presentation for parents on Friday afternoon.

• Final Presentation: 3:30pm on the final day of camp at the camp venue.
• To learn more about the MiniYAPI curriculum see the YAPI page.

Serious acting students aged 13-19 are invited to audition for our summer teen program, the Young Actors Professional Intensive (YAPI), a six-week, comprehensive, college-level course of study in many aspects of the performing arts. Students will work with professional actors and instructors to develop and hone their performance skills. Students will present a showcase for friends and families at the conclusion of the program.

For more information click HERE.

Extended care is not available for campers 7th grade and up.

Q: How do I register for summer camps?

Summer camps are live for registration right now! Visit the Summer Program Registration webpage to learn how to register. Starting May 1st you may also register by phone by calling the Studio East office during business hours (9:30am-5:30pm) at (425) 820- 1800. View the full schedule of camps.

Q: What happens if the camp I want to register for is full?

We will put your student on a waitlist and notify you if space becomes available. If you wish to also register in another camp to be assured of a spot in one of our camps, we can put your student on the waitlist for the full camp and accept a registration for another session. If you are offered a spot in the camp for which you were waitlisted and you decide to switch, you will be charged the standard $25 switching fee. Please see next question.

Q: What if I need to cancel or switch camps? Will I get a refund?

Full tuition is due at the time of registration. There is a nonrefundable registration fee of $50 per child per camp for reservations canceled up to 2 weeks prior to the start of camp. Switching between camps is allowed, based on availability. There is a switching fee of $25 per switch. There is no refund or credit if you cancel your registration within 2 weeks of the start of camp.

Q: Where are Studio East Summer Camps held?

Summer Camps are held at various locations in Kirkland and Bellevue at schools, churches and community centers. Note: If you need wheelchair access to a camp venue please contact our office for any special instructions. View our venues here.

Q: I have more than one child and I want them in camp during the same weeks. How will this work when their camps are not at the same location?

Studio East runs over 40 camps each summer and we typically start 4-6 camps each week. We partner with local schools, churches, and community centers to provide kid-friendly spaces for our camps.

We know parents often like to have their children in camp during the same weeks, so we have structured our programs with staggered start and end times to facilitate drop off and pick up. We also stagger performance times so that parents can attend up to three different performances on the final Friday of camp.

Q: Who are the Instructors?

Find photos and biographies of our faculty here. All of our instructors are passionate about working with young people and sharing their expertise in the performing arts. Most of our instructors have been teaching for more than five years, many have Master’s degrees and/or teaching certificates, and all are Teaching Artists – active performers as well as teachers. We run Washington State background checks on all of our staff, and all of our Camp Instructors are trained in first aid and CPR.

Q: What do I need to bring to camp?

A sack lunch, snack and a water bottle should be brought to camp every day. You will receive a specific list of other items to bring once you have registered in a camp. We recommend that students bring a backpack to keep their materials organized.

Q: What should I NOT bring to camp?

Prized possessions, especially electronic devices, should not be brought to camp. The campers will be so busy with fun activities that they won’t have time to play video games or check their text messages!

Q: Can my child with special needs attend camp?

Studio East Instructors are usually able to create ways for children with special needs to succeed. Please write down all medications, disabilities, and any physical, emotional or behavioral challenges your child may have on your student’s Medical Information Form, and discuss them with the Education Director prior to the first day of camp. This information will make our instruction more effective and your child’s experience more rewarding. All staff and instructors follow the Studio’s Confidentiality Policy, so your privacy will be protected. Please note that staff members cannot monitor or administer medications.

Q: Can I stay with my student during camp?

Studio East wants to create a safe and comfortable environment for all our students and parents. We have found that students often participate more freely when parents are not there to watch camp, so we try to limit parent observation to the first 20 minutes of the first day of camp.

Q: What is your attendance policy? What should I do if my student will be late or absent for a day of camp?

We expect all students to be in camp every day, arriving and departing on time.  If you foresee a conflict with a portion of camp, please contact the Education Director in advance to talk through options in order to ensure a successful experience for your student, as well as his/her classmates.  Missing more than one day of camp could hinder the process for all of the campers and staff, so please check your calendar carefully.  If something comes up at the last minute, such as illness, please call our office as soon as possible so that we can notify the Instructors of your child’s absence and allow them make any necessary adjustments for the day. June 24th through August 30th our office will be open from 8:30AM-5:30PM. If you call outside of office hours, please leave a message.

Q: Do you offer Extended Care for working parents?

We are pleased to offer Extended Care for all of our Little Players, TaleSpinners, Drama Medley, Summer Stage and Playmakers camp sessions.  Due to our varied camp venues and staffing needs, we are unable to offer extended care for our other camps. Early drop off is available at 8:30 for no additional cost for all camps at LWUMC and SE.

Q: What kinds of Financial Aid or Work Study opportunities are available for Studio East programs?

We understand that not all families can afford full tuition for our programs. Studio East has a Scholarship Fund which allows us to give partial scholarships to a limited number of deserving students. Financial Aid forms are available on our website, via email and fax and in person at our office. If your family will require financial assistance to participate in our classes, please submit your completed Financial Aid Form to the front office as soon as possible.

Students age 12 and older may be able to earn Tuition Credits for Studio East programs by assisting classes and camps. Skilled teen dancers with an inclination to choreograph may also earn Tuition Credits as Intern Choreographers with our elementary school ArtReach! program. Contact Corey Dunne, Education Director, for more information, at  (425) 820- 1800 x108.

Limited Tuition Credit opportunities are also available to parents who can offer administrative and transportation assistance during Summer Camps. Contact Corey Dunne, Education Director, for more information, at  (425) 820- 1800 x108.

Payment, Refund And Switching Policy

• Full tuition is due at the time of registration.
• If the program is cancelled by Studio East: Full Refund.
• Withdrawals up to 2 weeks before the start of the program: Full refund, less $50.
• Withdrawals within 2 weeks before the start of the program: No refund or credit.
• Switching between programs is allowed, based on availability: There is a switching fee of $25 per switch.

Dropping Off & Picking Up

Parents, please be aware that you must sign your children in and out of camp each day. This is for their safety. If a camper is picked up but not signed out we can only assume the child is missing. Please avoid unnecessary panic by signing your child in and out every day. There is no supervision provided for campers before the official start time of camp. Please do not leave your child at the camp site before the start time. Children need to be picked up on time from camp, as supervision is not available after camp ends, unless you specifically registered for Extended Care (only offered for select camps).

Parents of students in our Teen Camps (#ChangeItUp, Teen Musical, MiniYAPI, Shakespeare) may provide permission at registration for their student to sign themselves in and out all camp days or individual days at the parent’s discretion.

Emergency Forms & Special Needs

Students cannot participate without returning a fully completed and signed Emergency Form on or before the first day of camp.

It is important that we be aware of any special issues or challenges your child may face so we can create a successful and rewarding experience for your child. Please write down any and all medications, disabilities, and any physical, emotional, or behavioral challenges your child may have on your student’s Emergency Form, and discuss them with Corey Dunne, the Education Director, prior to the first day of camp. Corey may be reached at (425) 820- 1800 x108. All staff and instructors follow the Studio’s Confidentiality Policy, so your privacy will be protected.

Please note that Studio East staff and Instructors cannot dispense medication to your child. If your child has medical needs, please plan to provide whatever care is required during camp hours. The only exception is for emergency-only medicines. Emergency medications (epi-pens) must be accompanied by written instructions for emergency procedures, and will be kept with the camp’s First Aid kit.

Absence And Illness

We expect all students to be in camp on time every day.  Please alert the Studio if your student will be late or absent by calling (425) 820- 1800. If your child is ill, contagious and/or running a fever, please DO NOT bring him/her to camp.

Code Of Conduct

We at Studio East value each and every individual. In order to create an environment where each student has the freedom to grow both as a performer and as an individual, Studio East does not tolerate the following:

• Fighting with another student, staff, volunteer, or parent
• Destruction or theft of any property or materials
• Disrespect towards oneself or others
• Use of inappropriate language and/or innuendo
• Racial or sexual harassment (including inappropriate physical contact)

Lost And Found

All items left at camp will be taken to Studio East at the end of each week. We hold these items at Studio East for one week only, and then donate them to charity. You are welcome to come to Studio East between 8:30am and 5:30pm, Monday through Friday, to look through our lost and found collection. The office staff is not able to check the lost and found bin for you; you must do this in person.

What To Bring, What To Wear

We will spend at least 30 minutes outside each day, and we will have activities on grass, dirt and/or wood chips, so please prepare your student accordingly. We do not supply sunscreen, but will apply what you send with your student if necessary. Comfortable clothing is a must for our campers; jeans or shorts, a T-shirt, and tennis shoes work very well. Please, no bare feet or flip-flops. We encourage girls to wear shorts under skirts or dresses. We will be doing a lot of active, messy things and we would hate to see a favorite outfit ruined. It helps if campers bring a backpack to keep all their belongings safe and organized. Prized possessions should be left at home.

Food At Camp

Please pack a non-perishable lunch and a labeled water bottle daily, and please avoid heavy sugar! Please do not send nut products on the first day of camp in case one of our campers has a severe allergy. Instructors encourage campers to share everything at camp except their food. Due to limited space and time, anticipated clean-up and staff responsibilities, we cannot support any celebrations involving edible treats during Studio East programs. We will celebrate students’ birthdays with a rousing chorus of “Happy Birthday” when you alert us in advance!

Contact Information

Studio East encourages open communication between instructors and families. Please feel free to reach the instructors by leaving a message with Corey Dunne, the Studio East Education Director, at (425) 820- 1800 x108.

All locations are in Kirkland and Bellevue. Start/end times and performance times on the final day of camps have been staggered to accommodate families with campers in multiple camps.