Dancing Through Life: “Wicked” Summer Adventure
Step into the magic this summer! Elmwood Playhouse proudly presents its first-ever Children’s Theater Camp: Dancing Through Life: “Wicked” Theater Camp. Designed for youngsters ages 7–11, this one-week adventure invites kids to explore the wonder, friendship, and imagination inspired by Wicked.
Camp Details
Dates: August 10–14, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Elmwood Playhouse, 10 Park Street, Nyack NY
After-Camp Care: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM ($20/day/child, subject to staff availability)
Age Range: 7–11 years
Capacity: 20 kids
Cost:
- $450/week
- 10% sibling discount
- $50 early registration discount! (Ends March 31, 2026)
Meals: Please bring your own lunch and two snacks
Camp Experience
Campers will sing beloved songs, perform exciting scenes, and learn fun choreography—all while immersing themselves in the magical world of Oz. Guided by Elmwood’s tradition of quality, creativity, and community, each child will discover their own “defy gravity” moment.
Staff
The camp will be directed by Elmwood’s own Jason Summers, who spends his summers conducting camps just like this for children across Westchester and Rockland counties. Kathleen Mahan, an Elmwood board member and prolific director, will also be on-site. Spaces are limited, and the magic lasts only one week! Reserve your child’s spot today and let them dance through life with us this summer at Elmwood Playhouse. Contact us with questions by clicking here and filling out our Contact form.
Sample Day Itinerary
- 9:00 – 9:15 Welcome and Activity Packets
- 9:15 – 9:30 Dance / Physical Warm Up and Quick Acting Game
- 9:30 – 10:00 Small Groups Rotation
Arts and Crafts (Create your own Emerald City) – Group 1
Mini Scenes (Acting and staging) – Group 2
Karaoke (Show off your best Elphaba, Glinda, or Fiyero impersonation!) – Group 3 - 10:00 – 10:30 Small Groups Rotation
Arts and Crafts (Create your own Emerald City) – Group 3
Mini Scenes (Acting and staging) – Group 1
Karaoke (Show off your best Elphaba, Glinda, or Fiyero impersonation!) – Group 2 - 10:30 – 10:40 Morning Snack
- 10:40 – 11:10 Small Groups Rotation
Arts and Crafts (Create your own Emerald City) – Group 2
Mini Scenes (Acting and Staging) – Group 3
Karaoke (Show off your best Elphaba, Glinda, or Fiyero impersonation!) – Group 1 - 11:10 – 11:45 Group Choreography: One Short Day
- 11:45 – 12:15 Improv Game: Director’s Chair
- 12:15 – 12:45 Lunch
- 12:45 – 1:15 Game Show: Wicked Jeopardy!
- 1:15 – 1:45 Group Singing: Defying Gravity
- 1:45 – 2:15 Small Groups Rotation
Camper Choreography / Dancing Through Life (Group A)
Creative Writing – Prompt: What happens if instead of flying away, Elphaba gets caught at the end of the first film? (Group B) - 2:15 – 2:45 Small Groups Rotation
Camper Choreography / Dancing Through Life (Group B)
Creative Writing – Prompt: What happens if instead of flying away, Elphaba gets caught at the end of the first film? (Group A) - 2:45 – 3:00 Final runs of One Short Day and Defying Gravity / Clean Up / Dismissal
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is Dancing Through Life: "Wicked" Theater Camp?
This is a one-week camp experience for children ages 7-11 who have an interest not only in “Wicked” but also in all aspects of the arts: acting, singing, dance, creative writing, and visual arts.
What does a typical day of camp look like?
See the sample itinerary above.
Will all the campers be together for the full day?
As you will see on the sample itinerary, there will be times during each camp day when the large group will be divided into smaller groups. Groups will be shuffled throughout the week so that all the campers get to work with each other! This also gives us the opportunity to give each camper more of our staff’s guided and focused attention.
What about food?
Campers should plan to bring two nut-free snacks and a nut-free lunch to camp each day.
Will there be a performance?
There will not be a live performance. Throughout the week, our staff will videorecord campers practicing, performing (and maybe even some bloopers) that we will put together in a video package for campers and their families. This video will be sent the following week to all participants.
Where is the camp located?
Camp will take place at Elmwood Playhouse, located at 10 Park Street in Nyack.
My child is a little nervous about drop off situations. May I stay with them until they are comfortable?
The short answer is ‘no’. In our extensive experience as arts educators as well as camp and theatre directors, we find that children adjust (and much more quickly without their parents around to lean on). Parents must say their goodbyes at the entrance to allow the child to get acclimated with the rest of the campers and staff. We’ve got it from there, we promise.
What are the camp hours?
9:00am-3:00pm. Our staff will be waiting at the door at 8:50am and again at 3:00pm. We will also offer an extra hour of after care from 3:00pm-4:00pm for an additional charge.
Can my child attend for only part of the week?
Partial week attendance is not available. We do not pro-rate tuition for absences, as there are limited spots for this camp and we turn away applicants after we reach a maximum.
How many staff members will be present?
We will have three staff members to run and manage this camp who will be present for the full camp day.
What if my child has allergies?
You will be given the chance to note any allergies at registration. If your child may need an EpiPen, you may indicate that and send it along with them.
What should my camper wear?
Clothes that are comfortable to dance and move in! Sneakers are a must! No sandals or crocs!
What should my camper bring?
- TWO nut-free SNACKS (one for the morning and one for the afternoon)
- ONE nut-free LUNCH
- plenty of WATER
- a SMALL bag with PENS and PENCILS, a NOTEBOOK, and a FOLDER
Please avoid bringing any more items than those listed above. We want to keep a clutter-free environment!
What are the responsiblities of the camp counseler roles?
Junior Counselor
Open to applicants ages 15-18.
Junior counselors will help the camp directors facilitate the camp’s activities. These duties may include: assisting in the areas of acting, singing, and dance; arts and crafts; leading games; general maintenance of Elmwood. We are seeking enthusiastic individuals who love working with young children and who will be a team player!
Assistant Camp Director
Open to applicants ages 18+
The Assistant Camp Director will take a more active role in the planning of camp as well as in supervising and overseeing aspects in the areas of acting, singing, dance, arts and crafts, and more. They will often be responsible for leading a wide variety of activities, as well as taking a leadership role in the maintenance of Elmwood during camp hours. We are seeking enthusiastic individuals who love working with young children and who will be a team player!
