Putting the Drama in Summer Camp

Tired of all the toddler to teenage drama?

Well, put all than youngster angst to good use at a local summer theater camp. Patch has everything from starter camps to rigorous Shakespearean training for those kids to whom all the world's a stage!

• JCC MetroWest offers Triple Threat Theater Camp for grades K-3 and grades 4-10 in 3, 4 or 7-week sessions. Campers study voice, acting and dance with working theater professionals, see Broadway matinees, have master classes and put on a showcase performance for each session.
• The South Orange/Maplewood Adult School Children's Summer Program offers classes on Auditioning for Musical Theater and Jazz Dance.
• The Summer Theater Camp of Montclair has camps for ages 5-18. The program is working-parent friendly with before- and after-care.
• The Theater Camp of New Jersey, located in Clark, runs from June 27 to July 22 from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. for grades K-12. Campers are divided into three groups  Young, Middle and Senior — with each division putting on a show at the end of the camp session. Cost is $530 ($510 for returning campers).
• The New Jersey School of Dramatic Arts in Bloomfield has Summer Theater Camp programs for grades 3 through 12. You can sign up for 5 different session by the week from June 27 through July 29. Sessions include Auditioning Workshop, Acting for Film & TV, Musical Theater, Improv Comedy and Acting Intensive.
• The All Children's Theater offers day camps throughout New Jersey, including in Livingston. Camps run all day with drop-off between 8-9 a.m. and pickup from 4-5 p.m. The camps run in 2,4,6,8 or 10-week sessions. "The children become involved with comedy, acting, singing, dancing, as well as staging and scenery design and development. The camp program culminates in a dress rehearsal and one or more public performances on the last day of camp."
• The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, located in Madison, offers intensive training in Shakespearean comedy and drama for ages 11-14 (juniors) over two-week sessions (July 11-23 or July 18-30 at $550 per session) from 1-6 p.m. Monday through Friday; as well as for seniors (ages 14-17) in three-week sessions from June 20-July 9 or August 1-20 ($750). These sessions also run Monday-Friday, 1-6 p.m.

A few more options include:

Super local and affordable:

• Performers Theater Workshop (PTW), Maplewood with programs from ages 5-18
• Dreamcatcher's Summer Theatre Conservatory (ages 10-17; four-week program), The Baird, South Orange

• Acting with Emily, Maplewood

Super serious, more expensive and competitive:

• PeachCraft Studios of Drama, Voice & Filmmaking, Summit
• Paper Mill Playhouse Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory has already held auditions but keep this top-notch program in mind for future summers for truly serious, talented teens.
• Playwright Theatre's Creative Arts Academy, Madison

Farther afield:

• Stagedoor Manor Camp, Loch Sheldrake, NY (also goes under "super serious" — with an international draw and alums including Lea Michele, Robert Downey Jr. and Natalie Portman)
• Appel Farms, Elmer, NJ