A Midsummer Day’s Camp

A two week summer conservatory for NYC’s young Classical Actors (Age 14-18)

A Midsummer Day’s Camp is The Public Theater’s summer program for young actors. Designed by arts in education specialists from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and in the field itself, A Midsummer Day’s Camp is a conservatory-style acting program developed for teens. It focuses specifically on the challenges, rigors, and joys of performing Shakespeare’s work. The intensive curriculum combines work on acting, voice, movement, games, text analysis, clown, and stage combat.

A Midsummer Day’s Camp is a unique opportunity for young actors to hone their craft and expand their classical skills with some of the most respected figures in American classical theater training. A Midsummer Day’s Camp fosters a supportive environment that encourages innovation and creativity.

The Public seeks to build a diverse company of young actors for the camp. In addition to exposing young people to the art and craft of contemporary Shakespearean production, A Midsummer Day’s Camp seeks to build community. Through the collaborative process of theater-making, ensemble building, and reflection on Shakespeare’s resonance within the human experience, the Camp nurtures hearts as well as imaginations.

DATES AND SCHEDULE:

August 1 to August 13th

The schedule runs Monday through Friday, 10AM to 5PM. There will be a final presentation of the work done in camp for friends and family in one of The Public’s Off-Broadway Theaters on Saturday the 13th of August.

FACULTY:

A Midsummer Day’s Camp is taught by the leading instructors in the American classical theater. The faculty for 2011 is shared with The Shakespeare Lab, The Public Theater’s Professional development program. This year’s camp faculty will include Barry Edelstein, Ian Hersey, Nancy Lemenager, Robert Perillo, J. Steven White, Janet Zarish among others. Guest artists, including eminent members of the Public Theater community and other leading Shakespeareans, visit frequently.

In addition to the faculty, the camp will be led by a team of teaching artists.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the faculty.

The Shakespeare Lab is under the direction of Ian Hersey and supervised by Shakespeare Initiative Director Barry Edelstein.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

CLICK HERE to download an application to A Midsummer Day's Camp.

Membership in A Midsummer Day’s Camp is BY INTERVIEW ONLY. There will be no exceptions to this policy.

To apply please:

Complete the application with a brief (500 words max) personal statement outlining your interest in Shakespeare or the camp, and send to:

A Midsummer Day’s Camp, Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10003.

You must include an E-mail address. All communication will be conducted via E-mail.

 (If you have a picture and resume please feel free to include with your application)

After we receive your application you will be contacted for an interview.

Camp Tuition is $1850 for two weeks.

Some financial aid is available.

Each session is limited to 16 campers.

Comments from previous sessions:

It was definitely a highlight of my summer.

I really loved their approach to our work and to us as people.

They treated us more like adults which helped us understand and grow.

It deepened my approach to reading and totally tackling some of the most complicated text alive. It solidified my love of theater, and really most wonderfully, it reminded me of the value and beauty of the ensemble with whom the actor works.

It was a thrill to walk through those doors and incredibly exciting to work with professionals from the theater world.

I got to work with amazing teachers.

There was an air of respect for everyone as an artist.

It made me feel like our ensemble was part of this huge, massive big deal, impressive important theater. .. It felt like it was your home and these were people that you wanted to see for the rest of your life.

The support that both the faculty and classmates gave was tremendous. They really strived to help you. It wasn’t competitive but always felt collaborative.

The program was AMAZING,TERRIFIC, WONDERFUL Camp Mom

Questions?  Comments?  Please email Ian Hersey at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it