Frequently Asked Questions
Summer Performance Camps
What is Compass Creative Dramatics Summer Camp all about?
CCD's summer camp is a five-day experience for students to come together and have a blast learning about the art of theatre. Each day, we'll prepare for the end-of-week performance through structured rehearsals and exciting theatre-related workshops such as improv, stage combat, and audition skills (topic vary year-by-year).
What makes Compass Creative Dramatics summer camp special?
Not only is our camp taught by professional actors from the Chicago area, but the kids get an opportunity to perform onstage with them as well. Two of our actor/educators perform right next to the student actors, leading by example and sharing the experience of live performance. They're right there on stage offering support and helping your child shine. While the majority of campers will act in the play, we also offer three technician slots. Campers must have completed second grade in order to be a technician and are eligible through the summer following high school graduation. Technicians will have the same camp schedule and structure as actors, but they will work behind-the-scenes during rehearsals and in the performance and may have responsibilities like running lights or sound, helping move scenery, or other tasks assigned by the CCD actor / educators to help keep the show running smoothly. We provide all of the elements of the production—professionally designed and produced music, costumes, props, sets, and make-up—all to make this an unforgettable experience for your student!
Do you offer any discounts?
We do!
Early Bird Registration Special: Until February 28th, you can register your child for an early bird discount.
Sibling Discounts: If there are two budding actors in your household, or three, or four, you can receive a $10 discount for each additional child (i.e. -$10 for the second child; -$20 for the third child; -$30 for the fourth child, etc) To qualify, children must share the same residential address.
Do you provide scholarships?
We've got that covered, too! You can learn more about our scholarship program here.
What is your cancellation policy?
After April 30, no refunds will be made for summer camp if family opts to withdraw registration.
CCD's summer camp is a five-day experience for students to come together and have a blast learning about the art of theatre. Each day, we'll prepare for the end-of-week performance through structured rehearsals and exciting theatre-related workshops such as improv, stage combat, and audition skills (topic vary year-by-year).
What makes Compass Creative Dramatics summer camp special?
Not only is our camp taught by professional actors from the Chicago area, but the kids get an opportunity to perform onstage with them as well. Two of our actor/educators perform right next to the student actors, leading by example and sharing the experience of live performance. They're right there on stage offering support and helping your child shine. While the majority of campers will act in the play, we also offer three technician slots. Campers must have completed second grade in order to be a technician and are eligible through the summer following high school graduation. Technicians will have the same camp schedule and structure as actors, but they will work behind-the-scenes during rehearsals and in the performance and may have responsibilities like running lights or sound, helping move scenery, or other tasks assigned by the CCD actor / educators to help keep the show running smoothly. We provide all of the elements of the production—professionally designed and produced music, costumes, props, sets, and make-up—all to make this an unforgettable experience for your student!
Do you offer any discounts?
We do!
Early Bird Registration Special: Until February 28th, you can register your child for an early bird discount.
Sibling Discounts: If there are two budding actors in your household, or three, or four, you can receive a $10 discount for each additional child (i.e. -$10 for the second child; -$20 for the third child; -$30 for the fourth child, etc) To qualify, children must share the same residential address.
Do you provide scholarships?
We've got that covered, too! You can learn more about our scholarship program here.
What is your cancellation policy?
After April 30, no refunds will be made for summer camp if family opts to withdraw registration.
What is included in the camp fee?
What is a day at theatre camp like?
Each day is a little different, but for the most part, mornings are spent learning the scenes, songs, and dances that are part of the play. During this time, students work together with children of a variety of ages to collaborate on the production. Most afternoons, students participate in age-specific workshops in theatre topics like improve, stage combat, storytelling, dance, musical theatre, etc. The specific topics vary each year. On Friday, the students perform for their friends, family, and the public, complete with sets, costumes, props, and music, which have all been professionally designed and built for the students.
When is the performance?
The performance will be on the last day of camp, Friday evening at 6pm. This allows your camper to be ready and free for your family's weekend plans!
How does the play get cast?
We meet the students the Monday morning of the first day of camp, and within a few hours we will have auditioned the campers and cast them in their roles! Every child has an important role in the show. We're pros and are great at assessing students' strengths and assets quickly in auditions and casting them accordingly. Each child will have an opportunity to shine and grow during their week at camp!
What do the technicians do at camp?
Student technicians must have completed 2nd grade, and they must be incredibly trustworthy and responsible. They will participate in all of the same daily camp activities as the actors, but their duties during the show will vary depending on their interests and skills. Technicians' duties may include operating the lights or the sound, assisting with scene changes, assisting with costume changes, or other miscellaneous duties assigned to them by the actor/educators directing the show.
Should the students prepare anything for auditions?
Nope! We have a fantastic system that allows us to guide students through an easy step-by-step audition that allows us to observe their comfort with basic lines, movement, and singing.
Do the student technicians also have to audition?
Yes! This is our chance to meet the students and see how they follow instructions, and behavior can often factor more in decision-making than talent or bravery. So if your student is a technician and feeling shy or indignant about auditioning, remind them that they have an opportunity to show the adult actor/educators they're the right person for the job by doing their best and following instructions. The adult actor/educators reserve the right to revoke technician roles should a student exhibit behavior issues during the audition.
My child is shy. How will camp help my child grow? Will they feel comfortable?
One of the strengths of our team is that we're good at assessing each child's comfort levels and building from there. Our program has been developed to give each student a support network onstage and off. They work in groups and are supported onstage by the other members of the cast as well as by the two adult actor/educators who perform alongside them. This level of teamwork usually helps alleviate most students' initial fears and concerns. It encourages our students to both feel safe and to grow throughout the week. While we don't promise to erase all stage fright from our students, we have a great track record of helping shy kids find their voice and become more comfortable with their skills. We pride ourselves in helping our students stretch their bravery muscles!
My child has never been in a play. Is that okay?
Absolutely! This program is designed to be customized and flexible to suit a wide variety of ages, experience levels, and talents. This is a great way for your child to have a fantastic week-long immersion in theatre. We are able to adjust the teaching and guidance as well as the level of difficulty for each student, which means your child won't feel left out or look out of place, even if this is their first time!
My child is a veteran of the stage! Is this program still right for them?
Since this program is designed to be customized and flexible to a wide variety of ages, experience, and talents, we are able to adjust the teaching and guidance as well as the level of difficulty for each student, which means even if you have a budding star on your hands, we'll be glad to help nurture them, challenge them to further growth, and give them another wonderful theatrical experience.
Is this a professional training program?
While we welcome students with professional aspirations and are so pleased to see our students go on to complete professional theatre, commercial, and film work, our focus as an educational program is on developing personality skills or soft skills like responsibility, respect, trust, teamwork, and empathy through the experience of being a theatre artist during camp.
If my child is not available for the entire week or would need to miss the performance, can they still enroll in camp?
We understand that you and your child are busy individuals and have outside commitments from camp; however, because of the highly collaborative nature of the program, students are not excused from rehearsals or performances. For more information about scheduling policies and procedures please click here.
May I stay and observe camp?
Definitely! We understand parents' desires to be sure their camper is well-adjusted to a new environment and for parents to get familiar and comfortable with the CCD staff. We have an open rehearsal policy. As long as your presence is not a distraction to the campers, your camper included, you are more than welcome to observe throughout the duration of camp. However, please note that if at any time a CCD staff member perceives that your presence may be hindering the campers' ability to learn or focus you will be asked to wait outside of the rehearsal space in a common area. More information about this and other camp policies may be found in the Camper and Guardian Codes of Conduct.
Why is there a ticket price to see the end-of-week performances?
We include two complimentary tickets in the registration price so that proud guardians may come cheer on their performers. Additional tickets for adoring camper fans are available at a low rate. However, camp registration only covers a portion of the investment that CCD makes to be able to offer this camp. Performance ticket prices help keep camp registration prices more affordable while still allowing us to bring in the educators who work with the students throughout the week and cover the costs of working with theatre professionals to design and build all the theatrical elements that CCD provides for camp's unforgettable experience!
What will my family be expected to provide for the week?
We provide all the theatrical elements and educational instruction for a fantastic week of theatre camp. There are a few things we do ask the family to plan on providing for the week:
What are my responsibilities as a participating family?
Information about the responsibilities of participating families can be found in our Codes of Conduct, Financial Obligation Agreement, Scheduling Policies and Procedures, and Release Waivers.
Does CCD provide before or after care for camp?
Only at our Chicago camp locations. We provide an hour of before care and and hour of after care to each day of our camp for a small additional fee. This fee allows CCD to provide a well-trained instructor to provide the attention and supervision the students need while the core educators prepare the educational space each day. Students may be dropped off as early as 8:00am and be picked up as late as 4:00pm with prior arrangement. Please note that parents who drop their student off earlier than 8:45am, and who have not arranged for extended care will be subject to the extended care fee plus an additional surcharge.
For communities where CCD is not offering extended care, we encourage families with schedule limitations to seek other participating families to carpool. If you need help finding a family to carpool with, CCD will send your contact info to other families already registered, encouraging them to get in touch if their able to carpool with you!
Why should I enroll my child?
CCD's summer camp is an affordable full-day activity!
With a daily schedule from 9:00-3:00pm, our summer camp averages $9 an hour!
Your students will learn and grow throughout the week.
Our camp encourages kids to have fun and explore the dramatic arts by participating in a full production of an original musical. In addition, the daily interactive theatre workshops & activities will guide your student through the discovery of new topics and themes.
Summer camp is a great opportunity to make new friends.
Students are grouped by age for the afternoon activities, allowing age-appropriate lesson planning. They are integrated during rehearsals, so your student will learn how to collaborate with students from first grade up through eighth grade (Chicago)/senior year (Wisconsin/Bedford)!
CCD encourages kids to expand their horizons by stretching their creativity muscles.
Our programming encourages imagination and critical thinking, providing a safe environment in which kids can take healthy risks and explore their strengths and weaknesses. Throughout the week, our students learn about themselves and discover how to turn their limitations into assets.
Summer camp is the perfect place to be an individual, valued part of a collaborative team.
At camp, kids will be part of a collaborative artistic process that encourages teamwork, while still inspiring students to take ownership of and pride in their unique ideas and capabilities.
- A role in the play, either as an actor or technician (see below for more info on auditions)
- 6 hours of theatre camp Monday-Friday to explore, learn, and have fun!
- 3 hours a day of specialized rehearsals with professional actor/educators
- Daily interactive workshops & activities with professional theatre artists
- Professional, originally-designed costumes, sets, props, make-up, music, and scripts. We provide everything except the kids!
- An opportunity for campers to perform for a public audience
- Two (2) complimentary tickets to the public performance. Additional tickets may be purchased at the door. Be sure to invite all your campers' adoring fans to cheer them on during the end-of-week performance!
What is a day at theatre camp like?
Each day is a little different, but for the most part, mornings are spent learning the scenes, songs, and dances that are part of the play. During this time, students work together with children of a variety of ages to collaborate on the production. Most afternoons, students participate in age-specific workshops in theatre topics like improve, stage combat, storytelling, dance, musical theatre, etc. The specific topics vary each year. On Friday, the students perform for their friends, family, and the public, complete with sets, costumes, props, and music, which have all been professionally designed and built for the students.
When is the performance?
The performance will be on the last day of camp, Friday evening at 6pm. This allows your camper to be ready and free for your family's weekend plans!
How does the play get cast?
We meet the students the Monday morning of the first day of camp, and within a few hours we will have auditioned the campers and cast them in their roles! Every child has an important role in the show. We're pros and are great at assessing students' strengths and assets quickly in auditions and casting them accordingly. Each child will have an opportunity to shine and grow during their week at camp!
What do the technicians do at camp?
Student technicians must have completed 2nd grade, and they must be incredibly trustworthy and responsible. They will participate in all of the same daily camp activities as the actors, but their duties during the show will vary depending on their interests and skills. Technicians' duties may include operating the lights or the sound, assisting with scene changes, assisting with costume changes, or other miscellaneous duties assigned to them by the actor/educators directing the show.
Should the students prepare anything for auditions?
Nope! We have a fantastic system that allows us to guide students through an easy step-by-step audition that allows us to observe their comfort with basic lines, movement, and singing.
Do the student technicians also have to audition?
Yes! This is our chance to meet the students and see how they follow instructions, and behavior can often factor more in decision-making than talent or bravery. So if your student is a technician and feeling shy or indignant about auditioning, remind them that they have an opportunity to show the adult actor/educators they're the right person for the job by doing their best and following instructions. The adult actor/educators reserve the right to revoke technician roles should a student exhibit behavior issues during the audition.
My child is shy. How will camp help my child grow? Will they feel comfortable?
One of the strengths of our team is that we're good at assessing each child's comfort levels and building from there. Our program has been developed to give each student a support network onstage and off. They work in groups and are supported onstage by the other members of the cast as well as by the two adult actor/educators who perform alongside them. This level of teamwork usually helps alleviate most students' initial fears and concerns. It encourages our students to both feel safe and to grow throughout the week. While we don't promise to erase all stage fright from our students, we have a great track record of helping shy kids find their voice and become more comfortable with their skills. We pride ourselves in helping our students stretch their bravery muscles!
My child has never been in a play. Is that okay?
Absolutely! This program is designed to be customized and flexible to suit a wide variety of ages, experience levels, and talents. This is a great way for your child to have a fantastic week-long immersion in theatre. We are able to adjust the teaching and guidance as well as the level of difficulty for each student, which means your child won't feel left out or look out of place, even if this is their first time!
My child is a veteran of the stage! Is this program still right for them?
Since this program is designed to be customized and flexible to a wide variety of ages, experience, and talents, we are able to adjust the teaching and guidance as well as the level of difficulty for each student, which means even if you have a budding star on your hands, we'll be glad to help nurture them, challenge them to further growth, and give them another wonderful theatrical experience.
Is this a professional training program?
While we welcome students with professional aspirations and are so pleased to see our students go on to complete professional theatre, commercial, and film work, our focus as an educational program is on developing personality skills or soft skills like responsibility, respect, trust, teamwork, and empathy through the experience of being a theatre artist during camp.
If my child is not available for the entire week or would need to miss the performance, can they still enroll in camp?
We understand that you and your child are busy individuals and have outside commitments from camp; however, because of the highly collaborative nature of the program, students are not excused from rehearsals or performances. For more information about scheduling policies and procedures please click here.
May I stay and observe camp?
Definitely! We understand parents' desires to be sure their camper is well-adjusted to a new environment and for parents to get familiar and comfortable with the CCD staff. We have an open rehearsal policy. As long as your presence is not a distraction to the campers, your camper included, you are more than welcome to observe throughout the duration of camp. However, please note that if at any time a CCD staff member perceives that your presence may be hindering the campers' ability to learn or focus you will be asked to wait outside of the rehearsal space in a common area. More information about this and other camp policies may be found in the Camper and Guardian Codes of Conduct.
Why is there a ticket price to see the end-of-week performances?
We include two complimentary tickets in the registration price so that proud guardians may come cheer on their performers. Additional tickets for adoring camper fans are available at a low rate. However, camp registration only covers a portion of the investment that CCD makes to be able to offer this camp. Performance ticket prices help keep camp registration prices more affordable while still allowing us to bring in the educators who work with the students throughout the week and cover the costs of working with theatre professionals to design and build all the theatrical elements that CCD provides for camp's unforgettable experience!
What will my family be expected to provide for the week?
We provide all the theatrical elements and educational instruction for a fantastic week of theatre camp. There are a few things we do ask the family to plan on providing for the week:
- A sack lunch and snack each day. We do this to keep the costs of camp low and allow for students' dietary preferences and restrictions to be monitored and met by the family. This allows CCD to focus on providing excellent theatre education rather than meeting all of our students' specific dietary needs. More info on this can be found in our Code of Conduct.
- Closed toe/heel shoes and clothes that students feel comfortable being physical in throughout the entire week. CCD requires students to meet these basic dress code guidelines for everyone's safety and comfort, much like one would expect for a physical activity such as basketball camp or soccer practice.
- Friday only: A set of "base clothes" and pair of closed toe/heeled shoes to be worn under and with their costumes. There is no need to purchase anything special for this. What you have at home will work! CCD provides a professionally designed and built costume for each child to give them those exciting theatrical touches for their experience. However, we ask that each child bring a plain colored tank top or t-shirt and shorts that can comfortably be worn under a costume but would be appropriate to be worn on their own.
What are my responsibilities as a participating family?
Information about the responsibilities of participating families can be found in our Codes of Conduct, Financial Obligation Agreement, Scheduling Policies and Procedures, and Release Waivers.
Does CCD provide before or after care for camp?
Only at our Chicago camp locations. We provide an hour of before care and and hour of after care to each day of our camp for a small additional fee. This fee allows CCD to provide a well-trained instructor to provide the attention and supervision the students need while the core educators prepare the educational space each day. Students may be dropped off as early as 8:00am and be picked up as late as 4:00pm with prior arrangement. Please note that parents who drop their student off earlier than 8:45am, and who have not arranged for extended care will be subject to the extended care fee plus an additional surcharge.
For communities where CCD is not offering extended care, we encourage families with schedule limitations to seek other participating families to carpool. If you need help finding a family to carpool with, CCD will send your contact info to other families already registered, encouraging them to get in touch if their able to carpool with you!
Why should I enroll my child?
CCD's summer camp is an affordable full-day activity!
With a daily schedule from 9:00-3:00pm, our summer camp averages $9 an hour!
Your students will learn and grow throughout the week.
Our camp encourages kids to have fun and explore the dramatic arts by participating in a full production of an original musical. In addition, the daily interactive theatre workshops & activities will guide your student through the discovery of new topics and themes.
Summer camp is a great opportunity to make new friends.
Students are grouped by age for the afternoon activities, allowing age-appropriate lesson planning. They are integrated during rehearsals, so your student will learn how to collaborate with students from first grade up through eighth grade (Chicago)/senior year (Wisconsin/Bedford)!
CCD encourages kids to expand their horizons by stretching their creativity muscles.
Our programming encourages imagination and critical thinking, providing a safe environment in which kids can take healthy risks and explore their strengths and weaknesses. Throughout the week, our students learn about themselves and discover how to turn their limitations into assets.
Summer camp is the perfect place to be an individual, valued part of a collaborative team.
At camp, kids will be part of a collaborative artistic process that encourages teamwork, while still inspiring students to take ownership of and pride in their unique ideas and capabilities.