OnStage! (8-14 Years) 

Celebrating 20 years of creativity, community, and pure theater magic—because when you're at OnStage, you're home. Join us this anniversary season as we honor two decades of young performers finding their place, their people, and their spotlight.  And stay tuned—an exciting announcement about a special 20th-year celebration and reunion is coming soon right here.

​What to Expect

Do you need some more drama in your life? Then check out OnStage Theatre Camp! During every two-week camp session, children participate in all aspects of a musical production. Students not only act in the production, but develop true ownership by designing the lighting and sound, building the sets and props, and creating their own costumes.

Skills Developed
In addition to putting on the show, campers take a series of master classes every day, including stage combat, stage make-up application, lighting and set design, theatrical terminology and etiquette, memorization and auditioning techniques, playwriting, and theater history. Dependent upon each play, academic lessons in various subjects take place daily. From research about an earlier time period to author studies, we encourage campers to learn all they can.

Daily Activities
Each day begins with a musical theater movement/dance class and campers are taught specific dance steps that are common in musical theater auditions. They then move on to either scene rehearsal, prop design, set design, or music rehearsal. After lunch, students participate in that day's master class. Next come group rehearsals during which the large company numbers are choreographed and blocked. The day concludes with a variety of theatrical games designed to improve listening, speaking, and concentration skills.

Start a Portfolio
While the campers spend much of their day in Elmwood Franklin's state-of-the-art Johnston Theatre, we take every opportunity to venture outside for games, free time, and to take pictures in costume. Students are also given a professional 8x10 headshot taken by a professional photographer for use in future auditions.

OnStage Director
Christine Cooke-MacVittie (EFS Drama Director & Teacher)

Who is it for?
Children ages 8 to 14

When does it run?
Three two-week blocks, for a total of six weeks. Unfortunately, individual weeks are not available.
Camp runs 9am-4pm, Monday through Friday. (See registration form for extended camp hours available).

Cost
$1350 for a two-week session, includes all activities and professional headshot.
(Digital and 8 x12 print)

Includes all supplies, hot lunch daily (NEW THIS YEAR!) and snacks. ​

Payment plans available.

​*Cancelations must be made by March 2, 2026 in order to receive a full refund (minus the non-refundable $100 deposit).

Session One- June 29-July 10

Oliver! JR.
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Consider Yourself at Home during OnStage's first session as we undertake the timeless theatrical favorite, Oliver!
The story follows a young orphan from the workhouse to the undertaker before escaping to the bustling streets of London. There, he is taken in by a lively band of pickpockets led by the crafty Fagin. When Oliver is mistakenly arrested for a crime he didn’t commit, the kindhearted Mr. Brownlow offers him a chance at a better life. But Fagin, fearing exposure, enlists the menacing Bill Sykes and the compassionate Nancy to drag Oliver back—putting his newfound hope of family and belonging at risk.

Session Two- July 13- July 24
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Wizard of Oz

There's No Place Like Home during OnStage's second session as we journey down the Yellow Brick Road together. Join Dorothy and her loyal companion Toto as they travel to  the Land of Oz, determined to reach the Emerald City, where the great and powerful Wizard of Oz will help them get home. Of course, along the way, Dorothy encounters witches (both good and bad), Munchkins, talking trees and winged monkeys. But most importantly, she befriends three unique characters: a Scarecrow with no brain, a Tin Man with no heart, and a Lion with no “nerve.” Their journey to happiness – and self-awareness – is a glowing testament to friendship, understanding and hope in a world filled with both beauty and ugliness.

Session Three- July 27-August 7

Bye Bye Birdie
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Sometimes finding home means letting go of the spotlight and holding on to the people who matter most. In this high-spirited 1960s musical comedy, rock-and-roll heartthrob Conrad Birdie is drafted into the army, sending his frazzled managers—and one unsuspecting small town—into a whirlwind. A publicity stunt gone awry drops Conrad into the living room of fifteen-year-old Kim McAfee of Sweet Apple, Ohio, turning her quiet community upside down as jealous boyfriends, swooning teens, starstruck parents, and one overbearing mother collide in hilarious chaos. With romance rekindled, identities sorted out, and a frenzy of small-town excitement swirling around Conrad’s farewell, this joyful story ultimately reminds us that love, laughter, and a sense of belonging are the truest showstoppers of all.
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Camper Music Files