Musical Theater Camp

Six week-long sessions of MUSICAL THEATER CAMP will be offered. Each week repeats the same show. Students are allowed to participate in one session only.

Dates:

• June 16-20

• June 23-27

• July 7-11

• July 14-18 

• July 21-25 

• July 28-August 1

Hours:

• Camp begins at 9 AM and ends at 4 PM (Monday-Thursday) and from 9 AM until approximately 6:30 PM on Friday. 

• Students may be dropped off in the morning between 8:45-9 AM.

• Students will be dismissed in the order signed out between 4 PM and 4:10 PM.

Final showcase: 

Friday at 5:30 PM on the Temple Theater stage. (Details for attending/viewing the showcase will be provided later.)

Location:

Temple for the Performing Arts, 1011 Locust Street, Des Moines with some instructional activities held at nearby locations within walking distance. Students may enter the building at 8:45 AM.

Musical Theater Camp carries a registration fee of $315, which includes a daily snack.

Participants are asked to bring a sack lunch each day.

Families registering multiple participants receive a $20 discount on each additional child's registration. The first registration will be issued at the $315 fee, with additional children within the same household eligible for the discounted rate of $295.

Pay in full at time of registration or in four equal installments. Payment plans only available for registrations received prior to March 10, 2025.

Due to the short time frame of the camp and the intense rehearsal schedule, participation in the culminating performance is dependent on full attendance throughout the week.

Missed rehearsals may necessitate that a participant give up all or part of his or her role for the success of the overall production.

Please clear your student's schedule of any appointments or conflicts for your selected week of camp.

Be sure to communicate with camp staff if an emergency arises.

We want to make sure that camp is accessible to all.

IMPORTANT: Please submit a scholarship application BEFORE registration opens to the public. 

• A spot will be held for you until the scholarship committee can review applications. 
• If you register AFTER public registration opens, your application will be reviewed if a spot becomes available.

Please complete the online SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION if financial assistance is needed to allow your student to participate. 

The following information is needed to complete the application form: 

• Your contact information
• Your average monthly household income
• A Statement of Interest (preferably written by the student, and then UPLOADED as a PDF or Word document, OR, TYPED directly into the form). 

Scholarship funding is based on need and time of request and is awarded on a case-by-case basis.

Submitting this form does not guarantee a scholarship or a spot in any camp.

Questions: Contact Lynnae Lathrop at LynnaeL@DMPA.org.

NOTE: If you attended camp last summer on a School-to-Stage scholarship after being nominated by your school, please contact LynnaeL@DMPA.org.

Your participation is very important to the overall success of your selected camp, although we understand that summer plans sometimes change.

In the event that you are no longer able to participate, please submit notice of your camp cancellation to LynnaeL@DMPA.org or call 515-246-2360 to leave a message.

• All refunds are subject to a $50 cancellation fee.
• Written notice of cancellation must be received four weeks prior to the first date of the camp in order for a refund (minus the cancellation fee) to be issued.
• If a cancellation is submitted less than four weeks prior to the camp start date, a refund minus the cancellation fee will only be issued if we are able to secure a new registration to fill the vacated spot.
• Should camp be cancelled by DMPA, a full refund will be given.

Questions? Please contact our summer camp manager at LynnaeL@DMPA.org or leave a message at 515-246-2360.

Before and After Camp Care 

• Before and After Camp Care sessions are offered for an additional $7.00 fee per session (or $14 per day), which may be added during the registration payment process.

• Before care opens at 7:30 AM (Monday through Friday);

• After care ends promptly at 5:30 PM (Monday through Thursday).

Already registered and need to add before and after camp care? Contact LynnaeL@DMPA.org.

More detailed information will be emailed 2-3 weeks prior to the opening day of camp.

MUSICAL THEATER CAMP is a week of rehearsals and activities that results in a final performance at the end of the week. Every student receives a role in the selected show.

Monday begins with camp staff welcoming students and preparing them for an audition later in the day.  Directors work hard to match roles to the skills that students demonstrate throughout the morning and to find roles that will engage them and challenge them. It is our philosophy that every single part is very important to the telling of the story - the playwright created all roles for a reason, and it is our job to discover what each character's purpose is in the telling of the tale.

Each student comes home with a script and an assigned role on Monday evening; however, many feature solos and lines will still be assigned on the following days. 

Tuesday through Thursday, we learn the show and find engaging ways to rehearse. Students participate in workshops and theater activities to help them develop their characters, as well as do art projects, costume fittings, and activities related to the show.

We hope that the students come home each night excited about what they have learned and encourage you to let them sing to the music tracks and perform their choreography at home and any time they can.  This helps them learn their parts and builds their confidence.

Friday is performance day. It begins with dress rehearsal. Then the tech crews arrive for a full run of the show with lights and audio, followed by the performance in full costume for family and friends on the Temple Theater stage at 5:30 PM.

The entire week is full of friendship, energy, and learning.  We look forward to having your family join us in this week-long musical theater camp!

Session full?  Get on the Wait List!

If your preferred session is full, please add your name to our wait list by clicking HERE and indicate your student's age and which session(s) you are interested in attending.

We will contact you if a space becomes available.