Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago Summer Camp
What is Compass Creative Dramatics Summer Camp?
CCD's Chicago 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 performances of Peas and Harmony: The Princess and the Pea, Remixed through structured rehearsals and exciting theatre-related workshops such as improv, stage combat, and audition skills.
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. We provide all of the elements of the production - professionall designed an produced music, costumes, props, sets, and make-up -- all to make this an unforgettable experience for your student!
Who is camp for?
Any youth who is entering 1st grade in the fall of 2013 through students who have just finished 12th grade in Spring of 2013 can participate.
How much does camp cost?
Early Bird Registration opens in October and closes February 24th: $225
Regular Registration opens February 25th: $250
Late Registration opens May 15th: $275
Do you offer any discounts?
Why, yes, we do!
Early Bird Registration Special: Through February 24th, you can register your child for $225
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. 1st child is $250, 2nd child is $240, 3rd is $230, etc.)
Referral Bonus: Word of mouth is our strongest promotional tool, so we want to reward you for spreading the news about out camp! If a parent mentions your name on their registration form, you'll receive $20 off of your registration for Summer Camp 2014. Get 10 or more families to enter your name on their registration forms, and your child can attend Camp in 2014 for free.
What is included in the camp fee?
When are the performances?
Performances are on the last day of camp, Friday afternoon and evening. 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 we are great at assessing student's 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!
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.
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.
If my child is not available for the entire week or would need to miss a performance, can they still enroll in camp?
We understand you and your child are both busy individuals and have outside commitments from camp, however because of the very collaborative nature of the program, students are not excused from rehearsals or performances. They may, however, be excused from afternoon workshop sessions per parental request. Please be advised that full camp fees still apply, even if you opt out of the afternoon workshops.
- A Role in Peas and Harmony: The Princess and the Pea, Remixed. (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/directors
- 2 daily interactive workshops with professional theatre artists including improv, stage combat, puppetry, and more!
- Professional, originally designed costumes, sets, props, make up, music, and scripts. We provide it all, except the kids!
- 2 public performances of Peas & Harmony: The Princess & the Pea, Remixed
- a camp t-shirt which the camper may opt to have signed by their castmates at the t-shirt signing party following the final performance
When are the performances?
Performances are on the last day of camp, Friday afternoon and evening. 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 we are great at assessing student's 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!
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.
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.
If my child is not available for the entire week or would need to miss a performance, can they still enroll in camp?
We understand you and your child are both busy individuals and have outside commitments from camp, however because of the very collaborative nature of the program, students are not excused from rehearsals or performances. They may, however, be excused from afternoon workshop sessions per parental request. Please be advised that full camp fees still apply, even if you opt out of the afternoon workshops.
