Musical Theatre Camps

Join Charlie Bucket and friends from July 17-30, 2023, as they visit the mysterious chocolate factory in Roald Dahl's scrumdiddlyumptious musical, Willy Wonka! The CMS Musical Theatre Camps are extremely popular for middle and high school theatre enthusiasts. Students get a one-of-a-kind experience learning from local professionals and performing in one of the top performance halls in the state.

Did you know…

• Students can choose from one of three offerings: On Stage! (for those budding actors and actresses), Pit Orchestra (for high school instrumentalists), and Backstage Camp (for those who like the behind-the-scenes technical side).
• Students rehearse, build, and perform in Thompson Hall, a professional opera hall inside the beautiful Roselle Center for the Arts!
• Top professionals from UD School of Music and UD Media Services operate the sound and lighting and will offer clinics to Backstage Campers to show them the ropes!
• A full staff is well-vetted to ensure the most qualified individuals are placed as choreographer, stage manager, vocal coaches, and interns!
• Our Stage director, Tina Sheing, is a professional actress, singer and director who has been working with the camp since the very first show!
• The Pit Orchestra plays the live orchestration during the show! It's comprised of local high school students under the direction of UD alum, local cellist and music educator Jasmine Lee!
• The Backstage Camp includes experiences in set building, prop design, costumes, lighting, and sound engineering!
• Most importantly…we have TONS OF FUN!

Performance and Ticketing Info:

Three performances are open to the public:

• Fri and Sat, 7/28-29, 7 p.m.
• Sunday, 7/30, 2 p.m.

Tickets Costs: $10 for adults, $5 for children/students/seniors, children under 5 are free, and each camp family receives 2 complimentary tickets. 

Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets online​ in advance (a processing fee will be added for online orders). Tickets may additionally be purchased at the door on the day of the performance, depending on availability. ​

Which of these adventures will be your golden ticket to summer fun?​

Musical Theatre - On Stage! Now open to grades rising 3rd - graduating 12th!​

Rising 3rd - graduating 12th graders will play among the Oompa-Loompas and sample a day in Willy Wonka's factory! Students will dance, sing, and act while also learning about vocal health, stage presence, and the intricacies of putting on a show. Students will receive individual guidance as well as plenty of time working together as a group. Laughing with friends is not only encouraged…it's required!!

Please, no absences from camp during the final week as there will be technical rehearsals every day. Absences during the first week may affect casting. Please reach out to CMS director, Mary Margaret Wilson (mmbw@udel.edu) with information about planned absences.

Extra weekend rehearsals, 7/22-7/23, may be called at the discretion of the director and staff. (Please do not let that shy you away from camp - we can work with your weekend schedule.)​​​

Backstage crews ARE the magic behind the curtain in theatrical productions! We welcome rising 6th - graduating 12th graders into our Studio to quite literally get a behind the scenes look at the technical side of musical theatre!

During camp, students will build and/or paint sets, design and make props, manage costumes and make-up, run stage crew, and be hands-on in a multitude of needs. Local professionals will run clinics throughout the week on topics such as stage lighting, audio engineering, and costume and make-up design. Students may also take off-campus trips to shop for set materials and/or costumes.

To help ensure the safety for all amongst the equipment and tools, campers must behave appropriately, exhibit self-control, and follow instructions. Significant and/or repeated behavior concerns may result in camp withdrawal.

It's very likely that select campers will be asked to come in over the weekend of 7/22-23 to assist with set construction. This decision will be at the discretion of the Backstage Director. (Please do not let weekend dates shy you away from camp - it is not a requirement and we can work with your weekend schedule.)​

No pre-recorded accompaniment tracks found here! One of the best parts of the CMS Musical Theatre production is the live pit orchestra!

CMS is happy to offer the pit orchestra experience TUITION FREE to selected high school applicants with strong instrumental skills. (There will be a $15 t-shirt fee.) Since Pit Orchestra camp is only half days, home practice will be expected.

Please note: there is no Before Care available for Pit Orchestra Camp. After Care is available until 6 p.m.

Needed Instrumentation:

(1) Bass
(1) Cello
(1) Drums
(1) Horn
(1) Keyboard I
(1) Keyboard II
(1) Flute
(1) Oboe
(1) Clarinet/Bass Clarinet
(1) Trombone
(1) Trumpet
(1) Violin

To apply:

Register via the link below

Ask your music teacher (school teacher or private lesson teacher) to email communitymusicschool@udel.edu with a letter of recommendation

NOTE: If you participated in 2023 All-State Band or Orchestra, a letter of recommendation is not needed. Please email us to say you were an All-State member.​

​​Do you need child care beyond camp hours? We’ve got you covered! Before Care and After Care are available in the Roselle Center for the Arts. Bring your breakfast and an afternoon snack and we’ll provide the smiles, crafts, and games! (Please note: there is no Before Care for Pit Orchestra Camp.)

Hours:

Before Care: 8 a.m. until start of camp

After Care: end of camp until 6 p.m.

Cost:

Before Care: $40 for the week​​

After Care: billed at the end of camp week at a rate of $10/hour or part of an hour

Registration:

To register: please email communitymusicschool@udel.edu

Drop-in Note:

We know that sometimes schedules are unpredictable and every now and then you may find yourself unexpectedly needing Before and/or After Care. No problem! Families are welcome to “drop-in” as needed and will be charged the After Care rate. The After Care rate will be applied to all drop-ins, both morning and afternoon.​​

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