Summer Camps

Our beginner camps promise to inspire, delight and entertain — all while having fun and building the foundation for a lifetime of creativity.

The Wondrous World of Theater
Allow your young one’s imagination to run wild as they explore the building blocks of live theater. Activities include music, movement and storytelling as participants work with professional artists to create their very own short play. Depending on the week, campers will make masks or puppets to take home. Both weeks culminate in a performance shared with invited family and friends. Capacity: 26. 

Option 1: Storytelling Through Masks

• June 17–21 (one week)
• 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. • $395

Register

Option 2: Storytelling Through Puppets

• June 24–28 (one week)
• 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. • $395

Register

Our middle school camps give young performers the opportunity to learn and grow their theater skills while discovering new interests.

Acting: The Play’s the Thing!
Explore drama, comedy and everything in between in this exciting experience that invites young performers to practice acting techniques while developing their confidence and passion for the stage. Participants will attend a variety of classes led by professional artists, including physical comedy, improv, speaking Shakespeare, stage combat and more. They will also take a backstage tour to explore the different types of artistry at the Guthrie and how our artists bring an idea to life onstage. The week culminates in a presentation of discoveries and learnings for invited family and friends. Capacity: 30

Option 1:

• July 8–12 (one week)
• 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. • $395

Register

Option 2:

• July 15–19 (one week)
• 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. • $395

Register

Musical Theater: Broadway Bound!
Musical theater performers thrill audiences with their acting, singing and dancing. This experience focuses on developing young performers’ musical theater skills while boosting their confidence and passion for the stage. Participants will attend a variety of classes led by professional artists covering the three essential skills for musical theater performance — acting, singing and dancing — and learn how to integrate them to tell a story onstage. They will also take a backstage tour to explore the different types of artistry at the Guthrie and how our artists bring an idea to life onstage. The week culminates in a presentation of discoveries and learnings for invited family and friends. Capacity: 30

Option 1:

• July 22–26 (one week)
• 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. • $425

Register

Option 2:

• July 29 – August 2 (one week)
• 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. • $425

Register

Totally Technical (Ages 12–19)
The Guthrie is known for being a state-of-the-art production facility with world-class artisans who transform bare stages into stunning theatrical worlds. This weeklong experience will include hands-on projects throughout the Guthrie’s various production departments to help participants gain a deeper understanding of the integral role technical theater plays in bringing a production to life. Areas covered will include stage management, costumes and wardrobe, lighting, sound production, scenic artistry and carpentry. Participants will dive deeper into their interest areas and work with Guthrie staff and artisans to create student-led projects for an open house on the final day. Workshops are crafted to accommodate a variety of interest areas and skill levels. Participants with experience working backstage will have leadership opportunities, and participants new to the form will learn from the best in the business in a safe, welcoming environment. Capacity: 24

• Monday – Friday, August 5–9 (one week)
• 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. • $495

Register

Our high school intensives expose participants to a professional theater environment, allowing them to hone their artistic skills while building confidence and expanding their creativity.                                                     

Acting Intensive 
Great acting requires discipline, imagination and curiosity. Through an exploration of classical and contemporary performance, participants will work with professional actors and directors to hone their skills and strengthen their artistry. Subjects will include voice for the actor, scene study, delivering a monologue, text analysis for classics and modern plays, movement and more. Daily assemblies, featuring Guthrie staff and visiting artists as guest speakers, will provide insight into the field of professional theater and guidance for continuing their craft. The two weeks will culminate in a presentation of discoveries, learnings and accomplishments for invited family and friends.

This two-week intensive is recommended for participants with previous theater experience. The first day will include a skills assessment to help each student grow artistically based on their experience level. To register, participants must submit a statement of intent that explains why they are interested in studying at the Guthrie. Capacity: 24

View the schedule and class descriptions 

• Monday – Friday, July 8–19 (two weeks)
• 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. • $750

Register

Musical Theater Intensive 
Musical theater performers are able to express themselves with equal mastery through singing, dancing and acting. Through a deep exploration of classic and contemporary musical theater performance, participants will take their skills to the next level in a rigorous, supportive training environment. During the two weeks, professional actors, directors, vocal coaches and choreographers will teach subjects such as scene study, choreography, vocal performance and dance. Daily assemblies, featuring Guthrie staff and visiting artists as guest speakers, will provide insight into the field of professional theater and guidance for continuing their craft. The two weeks will culminate in a presentation of discoveries, learnings and accomplishments for invited family and friends.

This two-week intensive is recommended for participants with previous musical theater experience. The first day will include a skills assessment to help each student grow artistically based on their experience level. To register, participants must submit a statement of intent that explains why they are interested in studying at the Guthrie. Capacity: 24

View the schedule and class descriptions

• Monday – Friday, July 22 – August 2 (two weeks)
• 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. • $850

Register

Three-Day Directing Intensive
Have you ever wanted to direct a play or wondered how a director casts a vision and works with actors and designers to bring it to life? During this intensive, participants will work with a professional theater director and guest artists to develop their artistic voice and learn the craft of directing. They will study the integral role a director plays in the creative process, including strategies and techniques for developing a creative concept, working with a creative team of designers and navigating different phases of the rehearsal process. Participants will also have the opportunity to attend the Guthrie’s world premiere of Floyd’s by playwright Lynn Nottage and discuss the process of creating this new production with the cast and creative team. The final day will include a presentation where participants will share their discoveries, learnings and accomplishments. Capacity: 18

• Tuesday – Thursday, July 30 – August 1 
• 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. • $220

Register

Totally Technical (Ages 12–19)
The Guthrie is known for being a state-of-the-art production facility with world-class artisans who transform bare stages into stunning theatrical worlds. This weeklong experience will include hands-on projects throughout the Guthrie’s various production departments to help participants gain a deeper understanding of the integral role technical theater plays in bringing a production to life. Areas covered will include stage management, costumes and wardrobe, lighting, sound production, scenic artistry and carpentry. Participants will dive deeper into their interest areas and work with Guthrie staff and artisans to create student-led projects for an open house on the final day. Workshops are crafted to accommodate a variety of interest areas and skill levels. Participants with experience working backstage will have leadership opportunities, and participants new to the form will learn from the best in the business in a safe, welcoming environment. Capacity: 24

• Monday – Friday, August 5–9 (one week)
• 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. • $495

Register

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.