Theater in a Box

THEATER IN A BOX is a week-long, half-day camp, with two sessions divided by age group.

Dates:

• June 16-20 - for 3rd and 4th graders (next fall's enrollment)

• June 23-27 - for 1st and 2nd graders (next fall's enrollment)

Hours:

• Camp begins at 9 AM and ends at 12 PM (Monday-Friday).

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

• Students will be dismissed in the order signed out between 12:00 PM and 12:10 PM.

Final performance: 

Friday at 11 AM-12 PM in the Civic Center's West Balcony Lounge. (Details for attending/viewing the showcase will be provided later.)

Location:

Civic Center, 211 Walnut Street, Des Moines.

Theater in a Box Camp carries a registration fee of $150, which includes a mid-morning snack.

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 half-day format, any absence may prevent students from completing their projects in time for the final showcase.

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.

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 $40 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.

THEATER IN A BOX is a camp for artists, storytellers, and performers.

Monday begins with getting to know each other through storytelling and theater activities. Students focus on Character, and start to create a story that could happen between two or more of these characters.

Tuesday through Thursday, students work to create their characters' stories, adding conflict and settings. Using the provided box, they put together a theater stage, 12 inches by 11 inches, and make the props, sets, and characters to tell their stories. Students rehearse telling these stories, moving their characters around their box-sized stages and changing their mini-sized sets as needed.

Friday puts it all together for families with a performance at 11 AM.

This camp focuses on developing early elementary literacy skills used in telling a story or writing a play.

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.

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.