Discover the fun and friendship South Jersey's Original Summer Stage

At Summer Stage visual and performing arts camps, hundreds of children from throughout South Jersey embark on enchanting adventures – sharing smiles while they sing, gaining confidence as they learn their lines, and making friends while they perfect a dance, or even build scenery together. Discover more about this adventure at Summer Stage Open House Performance Preview, Tuesday, April 12, 6:30 pm, Dennis Flyer Theatre, Lincoln Hall, Camden County College, Blackwood, or online at www.mainstage.org.

Summer Stage is recognized as one of South Jersey’s longest running, most affordable visual and performing arts camps. It offers exciting acting, singing, and dancing programs for youth entering kindergarten through 12th grade. Eighth graders and above may also take advantage of the behind-the-scenes programs, Technical Theatre (set design, lighting, and sound) and Video Film Production.

The open house begins with a short performance, which will preview production numbers from this year’s Children’s Musical Theatre Season including Peter Pan, Seussical, Jr; James and the Giant Peach, Jr; and Disney Journeys, A Musical Revue. Members of the Summer Stage staff will be available to answer questions about all nine Summer Stage camps, which progress in a fun way to help build skills and confidence among each age group.

The youngest campers, entering kindergarten and first grade, participate in the Broadway Babies camp. This camp consists of a two hour morning or afternoon program, which offers two sessions running July 5-15 and July 25 – August 5. Next, there’s Kids Stuff, for those entering second and third grades. This morning program provides a great introduction for those curious about theatre. Then, the program progresses to Apprentice, where mornings fly by for fourth and fifth graders as they learn the basics of stage performance in a relaxed, enjoyable environment. Kids Stuff offers two three-week sessions (June 27- July 15 and July 18-August 5) and the Apprentice program is one six-week camp running from June 27-August 5. Each session of Broadway Babies, Kid’s Stuff, and Apprentice culminate with a performance after their programs end. This year, Apprentice program will present School House Rock on August 7. Children that can’t get enough of the Kids’ Stuff and Apprentice programs can stay for the afternoon through Collaboration Station where campers receive a chance to “dabble” in all types of performing, visual and creative arts through 3 p.m.

“Summer stage was a great experience for our son! It gave him the confidence and the tools such as singing, dancing and acting in a positive and nurturing way. Summer stage showed him that musical theatre is something that he wants to continue throughout the rest of the year by auditioning and being cast in other plays/musicals,” said Angela Beck of Williamstown, whose son participated in the Kids Stuff program last year.

As the children get older, there's Children’s Theatre. In this program, sixth through twelfth graders enjoy days filled with rehearsals and classes preparing for fully staged productions. This age group can also participate in Technical Theater or Video Film camps. Then, there's Mainstage, an evening program where high school-aged students and and above will present the Broadway Musical, Titanic.

Many participants start coming to Summer Stage as young children and became hooked for years.

“My children absolutely love coming to Summer Stage every year! They love being a part of a musical show that comes together in a just a few weeks. They have made lifelong friends and memories they will cherish forever. As a parent, I like the affordability of the program and knowing that my children are in a fun, safe, wholesome environment doing what they love to do! Finally, I am amazed at the wonderful, professional shows that are produced each year,” said Christine Palacio of Gloucester Township.

For more information about Summer Stage visit www.mainstage.org or call (856) 227-3091.
Mainstage Center for the Arts, the parent program for Summer Stage, is a 501 © (3) non-profit organization committed to providing a creative, vibrant, and nurturing environment for youth and adults.
This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. This program is also made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey Cultural Trust.