For youngsters looking to get into the world of acting, 20 Performing Arts Academy will be launching its inaugural Musical Theatre Summer Camp in July 2025.
Having launched 20 Performing Arts Academy, a Brantford-Brant based musical theatre school for youth in Grades 6 to 12 back in June of 2024, Theresa Noon-Hunter, owner and artistic director of There’s A Production, and her long-time best friend, Kristen Henderson, are now expanding their operations to include day camp programming for children aged five to 13.
Throughout the month of July, campers will have the opportunity to explore the essential elements of musical theatre.
Henderson, Operations Manager and Co-producer for 20 Performing Arts Academy’s, said that each week, participants will focus on the different aspects of performance. From acting and singing to dancing and stage presence, the program is designed to help the youngsters establish a deeper understanding of the fundamentals that bring a musical to life.
“We’re running the program over the four weeks of July, and each week has a different theme,” she said. “The reason why we’ve decided to split it up that way is so that if a camper wants to attend just one week or even two then they can, or if they want to attend all four weeks then they’ll have a different experience each time.”
This summer’s weekly themes are as follows:
- July 7 to July 11: School of (We Will) Rock You
- July 14 to July 18: Defy the Yellow Brick Train to Hogsmede
- July 21 to July 25: Into the Superverse
- July 28 to August 1: Shaking Off a Cruel Summer! – It’s Me, Hi, The Taylor Week, It’s Me!
“Because we’re opening it up to children from age five to 13, they’ll be split up into different age groups and they’ll be working with instructors who will guide them through the different sections; so we’re going to have an art section, a signing section, an acting section and a dancing section, but then we’re also going to have outside play and so we’re incorporating everything that a camper would look for, but in the realm of musical theatre,” said Henderson. “Each day is going to really be filled with fun and focused learning, and then instead of gearing up for a full production like we do with our regular musical intensive program, at the end of each week we’ll have a final performance with little sets and costumes for the parents so the campers can showcase their new talents.”
Henderson added that because 20 Performing Arts Academy strives to be inclusive of everyone, the two will also be hiring a one-to-three educational assistant to work alongside children that have communication, physical and developmental needs.
“We’ve had quite a few parents reach out about this already, and so we’re super excited to add this element,” she said. “Of course, this is a big venture for us and so we’re also actively seeking sponsorships to help us out in making sure that all of our kids can just have a great experience.”
For those who are interested in the summer camp program, there will be room for up to 30 children per week, and so long as there’s space, parents can register their youngsters right up until just before their preferred week starts.
The day camp will be taking place at Sydenham Heritage United Church in Brantford, and the cost per week is $250.
“Now, we are going to be vendors at the Canada Day celebration at Lions Park this year, so anybody who comes to our booth and wants to sign up their child then, will get a $25 discount,” added Henderson.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
