12 Summer Theater Camps Around Chicago

Learn from professional actors at the Goodman Theatre's Musical Theater Intensive (MTI) in this intense, audition-based program for serious teens. MTI acquaints students to the demanding lifestyle of performers as they refine their skills in acting, dancing, singing, storytelling, and ensemble work. The program culminates in a final performance of student work.

Acting Studio Chicago offers youth classes & summer camps for kids. The younger grade classes focus on exercising imagination and developing improv techniques as a way to build confidence in young actors. Older kids focus more on the fundamentals of acting as well as preparing for a low-key performance for family and friends.

Let your kids flex their funny bones this summer at Second City! Campers exercise their sense of play through improv games and exercises that are the foundation of The Second City’s unique brand of comedy. Kids will perform for friends and family at the end of each session. Students ages 15-18 who have attended two or more camps can join the Advanced Comedy Camp.

Kids create and perform plays based on books in Lifeline Theatre's summer camps. Campers develop their imaginations and gain confidence on stage while learning how to embody different characters.

Mudlark Theater is a not-for-profit organization where children are taken seriously as artists, and learn theater by making it. Every Mudlark summer camp is designed to provide kids with hands-on theatrical training. Mudlark offers tons of camps with a huge variety of themes.

Music Theater Works offers weekly summer camps for pre-teens who want to develop their acting talents. There are no auditions for these camps and every kid will have a part in the play. Each week has a unique theme. For teens, the intensive training workshop is an opportunity to learn musical theater from professionals, culminating in a fully-staged production. Teens will have to audition to be a part of the play.

Chicago Kids Company summer camps are divided by age, though all will work on an ag-appropriate production of a play. Kids will get experience in acting, singing, dancing, set & costume design.

Ovation Academy for the Performing Arts promotes a friendly, noncompetitive learning environment where all students can gain valuable skills and develop individually. Each of their themed summer camps culminates in a stage performance.

Sarah D.:  Excellent entry-level local theatre troop.

Arlington Height's Metropolis Performing Arts Centre offers summer break camps where each session concludes with a performance on the Metropolis stage! All levels of acting experience are welcome and all kids will take part in the performances. They offer different programming and plays based on age.

Improv Playhouse offers camps in several different acting mediums. They offer musical theatre camps, comedy camps and filmmaking camps.

Kidz Kabaret is a local children's theatre in the Western Suburbs. During summer camp kids grow artistically and socially as they stretch their singing and dancing muscles and exercise their natural creativity, all while gaining confidence and presence on the stage. Each week-long camp has a different theme and culminates in a performance for family and friends.