Performing Arts Academy offers 1-week and 2-week Theater Summer Camps for Pre-K, elementary, middle, and high school age groups in the South Denver area. All Summer Camps occur during the months of June and July. Please note that Summer Camps fill up quickly, and several have audition dates that fall before the camp starts.
Summer Camps by Age Group
Please use the student's grade in the 2021/2022 school year
Early Elementary
Grades K – 2
For our youngest students (Kindergarten – 2nd Grade), PAA provides week long, 1/2 day programs (9am-12pm) that are filled with fun activities including theatre, crafts, snack and outdoor time (weather permitting). The emphasis is on learning, engagement and social development through fun and playful exploration of a weekly theme. The week concludes with a Shareformance where students can show what they learned during the week.
JUNE 14-18
Grades K-2
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
1 Cast of 20 Students
JULY 19 – 23
Grades K-2
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
1 Cast of 20 Students
These camps are both full. Please take a look at our Dance Summer Camps!
Elementary
Grades 3-6
2nd graders with prior PAA production experience are welcome. Please contact producer@paacolorado.org.
Elementary summer camps start the day with a morning conversation around a positive, enriching value or theme for the day, such as compassion. leadership and communication. There is also wrap up time at the end of the day, to conclude the day with reflection on the day’s value or theme. Students embark on a journey of putting on a fully-staged 30 minute musical.
These programs are either one week long, running from 9 am – 4 pm, including a lunch time (campers bring a lunch) or two weeks long, where campers will be placed in either the am session (8:30 am – 12:30 pm) or pm session (1:00 pm – 5:00 pm) with a short snack break (campers bring a snack). These are action-packed and challenging weeks, fully of learning, fun and friends! Students will study acting, music and dance as part of the rehearsal process, which also includes technical elements such as lights, sound, set, costumes, props, and projections. Camps end with a fully-staged performance!
Elementary Audition Information
Students audition prior to the start of the program, however, upon enrollment, every student has a place in the cast (or technical team). The auditions allow the teaching artists to find the best role for each student. Auditions are 45 minutes long in small groups, have music, dance, and acting sections, and are structured to provide a supportive atmosphere where students are encouraged to be brave and show the team engagement, willingness to learn, and a positive, collaborative spirit. No previous experience is needed.
JUNE 1-5
Grades 4-9
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
2 Casts of 30 Students
JUNE 7-18
Grades 2-7
AM Cast 8:30 – 12:30
PM Cast 1:00 – 5:00
2 Casts of 25 Students
JULY 5-9
Grades 3-6
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
2 Casts of 25 Students
**PLEASE NOTE: These camps are full and/or auditions have already occurred. If there is space remaining, you are welcome to register! Main roles have been assigned, but we have lots of room in the ensemble.**
Middle School
Grades 6-8
Middle School camps start the day with a morning conversation around a positive, enriching value or theme for the day, such as compassion, leadership, and communication. There is also wrap up time at the end of the day, which concludes the day with reflection on the day’s value or theme. Students embark on a journey of putting on a fully-staged 60 minute musical.
These programs are either one week long, running from 9 am – 4 pm, including a lunch time (campers bring a lunch) or two weeks long, where campers will be placed in either the am session (8:30 am – 12:30 pm) or pm session (1:00 pm – 5:00 pm) with a short snack break (campers bring a snack). These are action-packed and challenging weeks, fully of learning, fun and friends! Students will study acting, music and dance as part of the rehearsal process, which also includes technical elements such as lights, sound, set, costumes, props, and projections. Camps end with a fully-staged performance!
Middle School Audition Information
Students audition prior to the start of the program, however, upon enrollment, every student has a place in the cast (or technical team). The auditions allow the teaching artists to find the best role for each student. Auditions are 45 minutes long in small groups, have music, dance, and acting sections, and are structured to provide a supportive atmosphere where students are encouraged to be brave and show the team engagement, willingness to learn, and a positive, collaborative spirit. No previous experience is needed.
JUNE 1-5
**CAMP IS FULL**
Grades 4-9
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
2 Casts of 30 Students
JUNE 7-11
Grades 7-12
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
2 Casts of 25 Students
JUNE 7-18
**AUDITIONS HAVE OCCURRED**
Grades 2-7
AM Cast 8:30 – 12:30
PM Cast 1:00 – 5:00
2 Casts of 25 Students
JUNE 14-25
**AUDITIONS HAVE OCCURRED**
Grades 7-12
AM Cast 8:30 – 12:30
PM Cast 1:00 – 5:00
2 Casts of 25 Students
JUNE 21-25
Grades 6-12
Beginner:
9:00 – 12:00
Intermediate:
12:30 – 3:30
15 Students/Class
JULY 12-23
Grades 7-12
AM Cast 8:30 – 12:30
PM Cast 1:00 – 5:00
2 Casts of 25 Students
High School
Grades 9-12
High School camps start the day with a morning conversation around a positive, enriching value or theme for the day, such as compassion. leadership and communication. There is also wrap up time at the end of the day, which concludes the day with reflection on the day’s value or theme. Students embark on a journey of putting on a fully-staged 60 minute musical.
These programs are either one week long, running from 9 am – 4 pm, including a lunch time (campers bring a lunch) or two weeks long, where campers will be placed in either the am session (8:30 am – 12:30 pm) or pm session (1:00 pm – 5:00 pm) with a short snack break (campers bring a snack). These are action-packed and challenging weeks, fully of learning, fun and friends! Students will study acting, music and dance as part of the rehearsal process, which also includes technical elements such as lights, sound, set, costumes, props, and projections. Camps end with a fully-staged performance!
High School Audition Information
Students audition prior to the start of the program, however, upon enrollment, every student has a place in the cast (or technical team). The auditions allow the teaching artists to find the best role for each student. **The conservatory program Mama Mia has a different audition policy** Auditions are 45 minutes long in small groups, have music, dance, and acting sections, and are structured to provide a supportive atmosphere where students are encouraged to be brave and show the team engagement, willingness to learn, and a positive, collaborative spirit. No previous experience is needed.
JUNE 1-11
Grades 7-12
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
2 Casts of 25 Students
JUNE 14-25
**AUDITIONS HAVE OCCURRED**
Grades 7-12
AM Cast 8:30 – 12:30
PM Cast 1:00 – 5:00
2 Casts of 25 Students
JUNE 21-25
Grades 6-12
Beginner:
9:00 – 12:00
Intermediate:
12:30 – 3:30
15 Students/Class
JULY 5-16
**NO LONGER ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS**
CONSERVATORY
Grades 7-12
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
1 Cast of 30 Students
JULY 12-23
Grades 7-12
AM Cast 8:30 – 12:30
PM Cast 1:00 – 5:00
2 Casts of 25 Students
Conservatory
Grades 9-12*
*8 grade with prior PAA production experience are welcome. Please contact producer@paacolorado.org.
The Conservatory Theatre program at PAA is our top level program, appropriate for serious, experienced high-school students who want to take their acting, singing, and dancing to the next level. The Conservatory Theatre program is different from our standard high school theatre programs. Students are required to participate in a rigorous audition process. The directors for PAA conservatory theatre programs are all current industry professionals with a vast amount of experience in their field. We expect Conservatory Theatre students to bring a professional level of effort and dedication to each rehearsal. A higher degree of learning and technical application to performance. Through the PAA Conservatory Theatre program, students will gain a level of experience that will prepare them for college theatre programs and beyond.
Conservatory Audition Information
Mamma Mia is an advanced level, conservatory program and students are required to audition for a part. Between 25 & 30 students will be accepted into this program. Previous fully staged production theatre experience is required. The auditions are modeled after professional auditions with acting, music, and dance sections. Please come prepared with a 16 bars music selection showing vocal range, a short (1 minute monologue), and be prepared to dance. Auditions will take place on a single day for four hours. Students are requested to stay for the entirety of the audition time. Due to the audition requirements, tuition refunds will be made for students who are not assigned a part. For voluntary cancellations, our cancelation policy will apply.
JULY 5-16
CONSERVATORY
Grades 9-12
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
1 Cast of 30 Students
THIS CAMP IS NO LONGER ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS
Summer Camp Details and Descriptions
Early Elementary
Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
Dates:
June 14 – 18, 2021
Monday – Friday
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
1 Cast of 20 Students
Auditions:
Monday, June 14
Shareformance:
Friday, 6/18
11:15 AM
Location:
St. Lukes UMC
8817 S Broadway
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
This exciting new 15 minute musical is for K-2nd graders who are new to putting on a musical. The classic tale of the hen who works hard to make bread from seed, and her lazy friends who won’t help, but want to eat the result of her solo endeavoring, and the important lesson about how helping a friend benefits everyone. Using a recognizable story already familiar to many younger students, and an achievable 15 minutes of script and score created specifically for early elementary kids, this program is designed to set up beginning actors for a fun, artistic adventure where they learn through applied creativity.
As an introduction to musical theatre programs, this camp takes students on a creative journey through how to take a script to performance, including spoken lines, songs, and movement. The focus is on the basics of what a musical is, and how theatre is created to share with an audience. The production elements are kept simple to keep the focus on the learning. Camp T-shirts will serve as costume (and campers take them home to remember their fun week!), and there will be craft elements created by students and used in storytelling. Some of the week’s skills and experiences:
- How to read a script – identifying stage directions, character, spoken lines, music, lyrics and scenic descriptions
- Speaking lines to convey meaning
- Expressing feelings in character
- Memorizing spoken lines, music, lyrics, blocking (where you move on stage) and movement Learning the beginning elements of choreography through story-based movement expression
- Telling a collective story
- Collaborating by supporting other cast members, showing leadership, and earning positive ways to resolve differences
- Identifying major points of a story
- Gaining confidence in speaking and singing in front of others, and on a stage
- Celebrating a collective success and individual growth
- Creating story-based crafts for use in the performance
- Making friends and having fun!
Each day includes drama, dance/movement, story, crafts, play time outside (weather permitting) and snack time (students bring a snack). The week ends with a celebratory shareformance on Friday at 11:00 AM.
No experience necessary. Students must be able to clearly communicate their needs, sit and listen to directions for short periods of time, and maintain personal space boundaries. Students must be potty trained.
THIS CAMP IS FULL
Early Elementary
Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
Dates:
July 19 – 23, 2021
Monday – Friday
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
1 Cast of 20 Students
Auditions:
Monday, July 19
Shareformance:
Friday, 7/23
Location:
St. Lukes UMC
8817 S Broadway
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
The swamp is all a-buzz with party preparations galore! Naturally, the turtles are running late, and Bully the Frog is being a bully. The frogs have learned a new dance they want to share. The tadpoles are growing appendages (yikes!) and the dragonfly larvae need encouragement to spread their wings and fly. Lessons of friendship, tolerance, courage to face the future, and more, abound!
This exciting mini musical is for K-2nd graders who are new to putting on a musical. This camp takes students on a creative journey through how to take a script to performance, including spoken lines, songs, and movement. The production elements are kept simple to keep the focus on the learning. Camp T-shirts will serve as costume (and campers take them home to remember their fun week!), and there will be craft elements created by students and used in storytelling.
Each day includes drama, dance/movement, story, crafts, play time outside (weather permitting) and snack time (students bring a snack). The week ends with a celebratory shareformance.
No experience necessary. Students must be able to clearly communicate their needs, sit and listen to directions for short periods of time, and maintain personal space boundaries. Students must be potty trained.
Some of the week’s skills and experiences:
- How to read a script – identifying stage directions, character, spoken lines, music, lyrics and scenic descriptions
- Speaking lines to convey meaning
- Expressing feelings in character
- Memorizing spoken lines, music, lyrics, blocking (where you move on stage) and movement Learning the beginning elements of choreography through story-based movement expression
- Telling a collective story
- Collaborating by supporting other cast members, showing leadership, and earning positive ways to resolve differences
- Identifying major points of a story
- Gaining confidence in speaking and singing in front of others, and on a stage
- Celebrating a collective success and individual growth
- Creating story-based crafts for use in the performance
- Making friends and having fun!
THIS CAMP IS FULL
Elementary/Middle
Grades 4 – 9
Music & Lyrics by
Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez
Book by
Jennifer Lee
Based on the Disney film written by Jennifer Lee and directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee.
The original Broadway production of Frozen was directed by Michael Grandage and produced by Disney Theatrical Productions.
Original Broadway Orchestrations by
Dave Metzger
Original Broadway Music Supervision and Arrangements by
Stephen Oremus
Additional Broadway Dance Arrangements by
David Chase
Frozen JR. Music Adapted and Arranged by
Madeline Smith
Frozen JR. Script Adapted by
Sara Wordsworth
Disney’s Frozen JR. is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Dates:
June 1 – 5, 2021
Tuesday – Saturday
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
2 Casts of 30 Students
Auditions:
Saturday, May 1
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Performance:
Saturday, June 5
Cast A: 4:30 PM
Cast B: 7:00 PM
Location:
St. Lukes UMC
8817 S Broadway
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
Melanie Kirkpatrick
Director
View Bio
Angela Alderson
Music Director
View Bio
Madeline Shaffer
Choreographer
View Bio
THIS CAMP IS FULL
Elementary
Grades 2-7
Music by
Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics by
Lynn Ahrens
Book by
Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
Co-Conceived by
Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty and Eric Idle Based on the works of Dr. Seuss
Music Supervised, Adapted and Produced by
Bryan Louiselle
Seussical KIDS is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Dates:
June 7-18, 2021
Monday – Friday
AM Cast: 8:30-12:30
PM Cast: 1:00 – 5:00
2 Casts of 25 Students
Auditions:
Saturday, May 8
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Performances:
Friday, June 18
AM Cast: 7:00 PM
PM Cast: 5:00 PM
Location:
St. Lukes UMC
8817 S Broadway
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
Maggie Tisdale
Director
View Bio
Angela Alderson
Music Director
View Bio
Joanna Richardson
Choreographer
View Bio
**PLEASE NOTE: Seussical Kids auditions have already occurred. If there is space remaining, you are welcome to register! Main roles have been assigned, but we have lots of room in the ensemble.**
Elementary
Grades 3-6
Music and Lyrics by
ELTON JOHN & TIM RICE
Additional Music and Lyrics by
LEBO M, MARK MANCINA, JAY RIFKIN, and HANS ZIMMER
Book by
ROGER ALLERS & IRENE MECCHI
Based on the Broadway production directed by
Julie Taymor
Music Adapted & Arranged and Additional Music & Lyrics and “Luau Hawaiian Treat” written by Will Van Dyke
“It’s a Small World” written by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
Disney’s The Lion King KIDS is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Dates:
July 5-9, 2021
Monday – Friday
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
2 Casts of 25 Students
Auditions:
Saturday, June 19
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Performances:
Friday, July 9
Cast A: 4:30 PM
Cast B: 6:00 PM
Location:
St. Lukes UMC
8817 S Broadway
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
Morgan Hotchkiss
Director
View Bio
Dr. Jim Ramsey
Music Director
View Bio
Madeline Shaffer
Choreographer
View Bio
THIS CAMP IS FULL
Middle School & High School
Grades 7-12
Book and Concept by
ERIC PRICE
Produced by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing.
www.broadwaylicensing.com
Dates:
June 7-11, 2021
Monday – Friday
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
2 Casts of 25 Students
Auditions:
Saturday, May 15
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Performances:
Friday, June 11
Cast A: 11:00 AM
Cast B: 3:00 PM
Melanie Kirkpatrick
Director
View Bio
Chris Rigolini
Music Director
View Bio
Madeline Shaffer
Choreographer
View Bio
Middle School & High School
Grades 7-12
Book and Lyrics by
DAVID LINDSAY-ABAIRE
Music by
JEANINE TESORI
Originally produced on Broadway by DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions
Original Production Directed by Jason Moore and Rob Ashford.
“I’m a Believer” by Neil Diamond “I’m A Believer” (Neil Diamond) (c) 1966 Stonebridge Music, Foray Music.
All rights administered by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC (SESAC), on behalf of Stonebridge Music, and by Foray Music (SESAC).
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Shrek The Musical JR. is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Dates:
June 14 – 25, 2021
Monday – Friday
AM Cast: 8:30-12:30
PM Cast: 1:00 – 5:00
2 Casts of 25 Students
Auditions:
Saturday, May 8
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Performances:
Friday, June 25
AM Cast: 11:00 AM
PM Cast: 3:00 PM
Location:
St. Lukes UMC
8817 S Broadway
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
Kate Vallee
Director
View Bio
Maja Buck
Music Director
View Bio
Schehera McKassen
Music Director
View Bio
Christopher Lengerich
Choreographer
View Bio
**PLEASE NOTE: Shrek Jr. auditions have already occurred. If there is space remaining, you are welcome to register! Main roles have been assigned, but we have lots of room in the ensemble.**
Middle School & High School
Grades 7-12
Book by
CLAUDIA SHEAR AND TIM FEDERLE
Music by
CHRIS MILLER
Lyrics by
NATHAN TYSEN
Based on the novel by Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
TUCK EVERLASTING: THEATER FOR YOUNG ACTORS EDITION is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com
Dates:
July 12-23, 2021
Monday – Friday
AM Cast: 8:30-12:30
PM Cast: 1:00 – 5:00
2 Casts of 25 Students
Auditions:
Saturday, June 12
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Performances:
Friday, July 23
AM Cast: 11:00 AM
PM Cast: 3:00 PM
Location:
St. Lukes UMC
8817 S. Broadway
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
Morgan Hotchkiss
Director
View Bio
Dr. Jim Ramsey
Music Director
View Bio
Madeline Shaffer
Choreographer
View Bio
Based on the novel by Natalie Babbitt
What would you do if you had all eternity?
Eleven-year-old Winnie Foster yearns for a life of adventure beyond her white picket fence, but not until she becomes unexpectedly entwined with the Tuck Family does she get more than she could have imagined. When Winnie learns of the magic behind the Tuck’s unending youth, she must fight to protect their secret from those who would do anything for a chance at eternal life. As her adventure unfolds, Winnie faces an extraordinary choice: return to her life, or continue with the Tucks on their infinite journey.
Based on best-selling children’s classic by Natalie Babbitt and adapted for the stage by Claudia Shear and Tim Federle, Tuck Everlasting features a soaring score from Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen.
Middle School & High School
Grades 6-12
Dates:
June 21 – 25, 2021
Monday – Friday
Beginner:
9:00–12:00
Intermediate:
12:30-3:30
2 Groups of 15 Students
Auditions:
None
Shareformance:
None
Location:
St. Lukes UMC
8817 S. Broadway
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
Description: We’re excited to offer this one-week acting camp, Acting for the Screen, for grades 6-12 this summer!
The beginner level is appropriate for students who have limited stage experience and little to no experience in front of the camera. The Intermediate level is for more experienced acting students, and those that have either taken an “acting for the screen” workshop before, or who have experience performing in front of the camera.
In this week long camp, students will work on mastering the more subtle, controlled, and natural expressions and gestures required for film and TV acting. Using scenes from famous movies and TV series, students will learn how to approach acting with the confidence and precision required for more advanced material. We will touch on the business of acting in LA, auditioning for casting directors, best acting tips, how to quickly adapt to material and characters, type casting, and more!
High School Conservatory
Grades 9-12*
*8 grade with prior PAA production experience are welcome. Please contact producer@paacolorado.org.
Music and Lyrics by
BENNY ANDERSSON BJÖRN ULVAEUS
And some songs with
STIG ANDERSON
Book by
CATHERINE JOHNSON
Originally Conceived by
JUDY CRAYMER
MAMMA MIA! was originally produced in London by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal.
Additional Material & Arrangements
MARTIN KOCH
Music Published by Universal Music Publishing Group and EMI Grove Park Music Inc. and EMI Waterford Music Inc.
Mamma Mia! is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Dates:
July 5 – 16, 2021
Monday – Friday
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
1 Cast of 25-30 Students
Auditions:
Saturday, April 10
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Performances:
Thursday, July 15
Friday, July 16
6:30 PM
Location:
St. Lukes UMC
8817 S. Broadway
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
Piper Lindsay Arpan
Director/Choreographer
View Bio
David Nehls
Music Director
View Bio
The Conservatory Theatre program at PAA is our top level program, appropriate for serious, experienced high-school students who want to take their acting, singing, and dancing to the next level. The Conservatory Theatre program is different from our standard high school theatre programs. Students are required to participate in a rigorous audition process . The directors for PAA conservatory theatre programs are all current industry professionals with a vast amount of experience in their field. We expect Conservatory Theatre students to bring a professional level of effort and dedication to each rehearsal. No classes. No distractions. A higher degree of learning and technical application to performance. Through the PAA Conservatory Theatre program, students will gain a level of experience that will prepare them for college theatre programs and beyond.
Conservatory Audition Information
Mamma Mia is an advanced level, conservatory program and students are required to audition for a part. Between 25 & 30 students will be accepted into this program. Previous fully staged production theatre experience is required. The auditions are modeled after professional auditions with acting, music, and dance sections. Students should prepare a one minute monologue in the style of the show, as well as 16 – 32 bars of music in the style of the show. They should bring dance shoes and be prepared to move in their audition. Auditions will take place on a single day for four hours. Students are requested to stay for the entirety of the audition time. Due to the audition requirements, tuition refunds will be made for students who are not assigned a part. For voluntary cancellations, our cancellation policy will apply.
THIS CAMP IS NO LONGER ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS
Summer Camp Registration
Space is limited and registrations are taken on a first come, first served basis. No registration is complete without payment. PAA offers 1, 2, 3, or 4 installment Payment Plans to help you with your family budget. You can read more about available payment options here. After completing your registration form you will be directed to pay online with a credit or debit card. To pay by cash or check please enter the code ccpp into the promo code box. PAA’s Financial Manager will contact you for payment. Please see our Cancellation Policy for details on cancellations and refunds. Financial assistance is available. Please see our Financial Aid page for more information. Financial Aid Applications for Summer are due by February 15th. Please review our Policies page for a full list of PAA policies.
Melanie Ware
Shelly Cole
Stephanie Kirk
Rebekah Ortiz
Emily Alexander
Melanie Kirkpatrick
Angela Alderson
Madeline Shaffer
Maggie Tisdale
Joanna Richardson
Morgan Hotchkiss
Dr. James Ramsey
Chris Rigolini
Kate MacLaren
Schehera McKasson
Returning to PAA after Into the Woods last summer, Christopher’s thrilled to be sharing his New York expertise in his native Colorado. Spending most of his year traveling the world, follow his career adventures @calengerich on Instagram. Favorites: [title of show], Clorox’s Messy Melodies, Songful Artists’ Artistic Director. Hi Mom!
David Nehls