Summer Camps

The Guthrie Theater’s summer camps and intensives give participants of all ages the opportunity to work alongside professional theater artists to explore and develop their skills as artists and creative thinkers. Summer camps and intensives inspire creative problem-solving, positive self-development and community leadership by connecting participants to the artistry and creative process of one of the nation’s leading professional theaters. Our teachers and guest artists are industry professionals with a passion for teaching and fostering personal and artistic growth. They’re able to translate their skills and artistry into exciting, high-quality educational experiences for any age group. Whether you’re a third-grader who wants to get creative and make new friends, a middle schooler curious about theater or a high schooler interested in an immersive arts learning experience at a world-class theater, we have opportunities for everyone.

All camps and intensives run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and explore the disciplines that make up a cohesive theatrical experience. Each camp and intensive focuses on a certain type of theater artistry, from musical theater to acting to technical elements. Participants engage with theater professionals to learn, explore and create. They eat lunch as a group, hear from guest speakers and artists, learn new skills and improve on ones they already have. Most days end with a reflection on what they’ve learned and how they will apply it to their personal and creative lives.

No! Our camps and intensives are welcome to participants at all levels. That said, the two-week Acting and Musical Theater Intensives are recommended for participants who have some theater experience or are up for the challenge of a rigorous, collaborative training environment. As part of the registration process for these intensives, we ask participants to share their goals and hopes for the summer so we can best serve their needs.

We have three levels of summer experiences designed for different age groups: full-day, weeklong camps for ages 8–10; full-day, weeklong camps for ages 11–14; and full-day, one-week or two-week intensives for ages 15–19.

We want our participants to have the best experience possible, so we encourage you to arrange their schedule so they can participate in the entire camp or intensive. If this is not possible, please let us know the day(s) they will be absent when you register so we can arrange for a staff member to connect with them when they arrive late or leave early. If something comes up after you have registered, please contact Madeline Achen ASAP at madelinea@guthrietheater.org or 612.225.6172 so we can add it to our records.

• Refund Policy
  • A deposit of $25 is nonrefundable and due with the first payment.
  • 100% back (minus the nonrefundable $25 deposit) if registration is cancelled within six weeks of start date.
  • 75% back (minus the nonrefundable $25 deposit) if registration is cancelled within five weeks of the start date.
  • 50% back (minus the nonrefundable $25 deposit) if registration is cancelled within two weeks of the start date.
  • No refund if registration is cancelled less than one week prior to the start date.
• Emergency Cancellation: We understand that unexpected life circumstances sometimes interrupt your plans. If you need to cancel enrollment due to an emergency, our staff will work with you on a refund plan.     
• Behavioral Dismissal Policy: Fees are nonrefundable if a participant is removed for disciplinary reasons. Physical violence or bullying toward another participant or staff member will not be tolerated and result in immediate dismissal from the program. Additional weeks will be refunded minus the nonrefundable $25 deposit. We are committed to working with participants, parents and guardians to ensure everyone has a positive experience. Please see the “Our Agreements” page of the summer camp and intensives guide to learn more about our intervention plans.
• Cancelation Policy: Guthrie Education reserves the right to cancel a camp or intensive due to insufficient registration up to two weeks before the start date. In this case, you will be notified and receive a full refund (including the $25 deposit).

If a participant is 11 or older, you may sign a waiver allowing them to be unsupervised outside of the 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. timeframe. This means they may arrive at and leave the Guthrie without being signed in or out by an authorized adult. If your participant will arrive late or be picked up late, please let us know as soon as possible. 

We are committed to creating a positive, engaging experience, and each camp and intensive has activities that help the participants get to know each other (and themselves!) better. We welcome all participants regardless of race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, height, weight or physical or mental ability. Our goal is to create an artistic space where everyone feels comfortable expressing themselves. 

Accommodations could include dietary or allergy needs, an advocate, an assisted listening device or copies of the materials in braille.

All participants are welcome, so let us know what you need! We’ll work with our catering partner or our accessibility team to ensure you have a great experience. 

Participants may bring any medications or medical devices they need and can keep them with their lunch/backpack or give them to a counselor for safekeeping. Participants must be able to self-administer medication and inform staff if they need further assistance, at which time their parent or guardian will be contacted. Please note that Guthrie staff will not administer any medication, including prescriptions or over-the-counter medications like aspirin or ibuprofen. 

While we acknowledge that most participants have mobile phones, we encourage them to leave their devices at home and enjoy being present! During learning time, we strictly enforce a no-device policy. Phones must be turned off and put away during class or instruction so participants can fully engage and focus in the moment. During a break or lunch, participants are welcome to use their devices as long as they are promptly turned off and put away when class begins. If a participant is ill or needs something from home, all staff members and counselors have phones they can use to contact their parent or guardian. 

Our payment plans can be personalized to meet your needs. We’ll work with you to determine the number of payments and their due dates. We just have one rule: You must pay the $25 deposit upon registration and complete all payments by the final day of the camp or intensive. 

Email us at camps@guthrietheater.org.