Pasadena, CA, USA
Young performers spend two weeks building a musical theater production while rotating through acting, voice, movement, comedy, speech, and stage-focused workshops. The program welcomes ages 6–14 and does not require an audition to attend or to earn a role. Teachers use the opening days to learn each camper’s strengths and comfort level, then assign parts with the goal of giving every child a meaningful place in the show. The setting is intentionally non-competitive, with instruction designed for both first-time performers and children who already have stage experience.
The curriculum reaches beyond rehearsing lines. Campers practice acting technique, vocal warm-ups, breathing, pitch, phrasing, dance and choreography, hip-hop, physical comedy, improvisation, diction, projection, dialects, show hosting, stage presence, script interpretation, staging, playwriting, stage combat, and commercial-style performance. A typical day begins with a group warm-up and social circle before campers move into specialty workshops, with scheduled snack, lunch, and play periods during the day.
Pasadena East meets in the auditorium at Knox Presbyterian Church. Regular camp hours run from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with supervised arrival from 8:45 AM and a short pickup window afterward. Each Musical Theater session culminates in a performance for family and friends, giving campers a concrete goal for the skills they have practiced across the session.
| Ages: | 6–14 |
| Type: | Day |
| Gender: | Co-Ed |
| Setting: | City |
| Arts: | Arts, Performing Arts, Musical Theater, Acting, Improvisation, Speech, Comedy, Dance, Choreography, Hip-Hop Dance, Music, Singing |
| Meals Type: | Bring Your Own |
| Time: | 09:00 AM - 03:00 PM |
| Staff to Сamper Ratio: | 1:10 to 1:12 |
You won’t be charged yet. The camp will contact you to confirm all terms first.
| Dates | Days | Price | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 12 - Jul 23, 2027 | 12 | $1,050 | |
| Jul 26 - Aug 6, 2027 | 12 | $1,050 |
The two-week Musical Theater program combines skill workshops with rehearsal for a culminating production. Campers begin the day together with a warm-up and social circle, then move into their specialty program for focused instruction. Musical Theater workshops cover acting technique, vocal technique and voice training, television commercials, dance and choreography, hip-hop, physical comedy, improvisation, speech training, show hosting, stage presence, script interpretation, and staging. Vocal work includes warm-ups, breathing, pitch, control, and phrasing.
Campers do not audition for admission or for a role. During the first two days, teachers observe children in workshops and activities to understand their strengths and comfort levels. Roles are assigned on the third day. Rehearsal then develops alongside the broader skills curriculum, so the session is not limited to memorizing one production. The camp also names playwriting and stage combat among the activities children may explore.
The final day includes a performance for family and friends. Show-day information calls for a morning dress rehearsal, with the performance beginning in the afternoon. This gives the session a clear progression from technique and ensemble work to staging and presentation.
Families provide food for the camp day. Each child should arrive with a mid-morning snack, a complete and filling lunch, a beverage, and a bottle of water. The Family FAQ notes that campers are active during the day, so families should pack enough food for both snack time and lunch.
The camp facilities do not provide refrigeration for children’s lunches. Food that needs to stay cold should therefore be packed in an insulated lunch box with an ice pack. Parents are also asked to check at sign-in that their child has the lunch box and any other needed daily items before leaving the site.
Every camper must be signed in at arrival and signed out at dismissal by the person dropping off or picking up. The camp uses written authorization procedures when someone other than a parent or guardian will pick up a child, or when a child has permission to walk to or from camp. Pasadena East includes a supervised pickup window after the regular camp day.
Families are asked to send children in comfortable clothing and safe footwear that allows full participation in movement activities. PAW also keeps camper cell phones put away during camp so children stay engaged while staff supervision continues. Teaching staff are screened and vetted before placement and must clear a criminal background check.
Parents are required to disclose allergies, medications, disabilities, or special needs at enrollment and provide guidance for the camp. In some circumstances, PAW can assist with simple medications when written permission has been arranged. On the first day, families with medication needs are asked to arrive early, meet the on-site director, review instructions, and hand clearly labeled medication to the director for safekeeping.
The FAQ also states that PAW instructors are arts educators rather than medically trained staff and do not have specialized training for every disability or special need. Depending on a child’s needs, additional letters, releases, or support arrangements may be required in advance so the camp can determine what it can safely provide.
PAW says its teachers are professionals in their fields, have or are working toward bachelor’s or master’s degrees, and have prior experience working with children. Staff are screened and vetted before placement and are required to clear a criminal background check. The published teacher-to-student ratio is one adult for every 10 to 12 children. Musical Theater teachers are also described as specialists with experience in the arts, including theater, film, and television. The hiring approach also emphasizes instructors who can teach arts curriculum in an engaging and child-friendly way.
During camp hours, parents are directed to communicate through the PAW office rather than calling a child directly. On-site directors and teachers check in with the office multiple times each day, and the office relays important messages to the appropriate staff member while teachers remain with campers. Campers’ cell phones are kept put away during the program. Parents can also speak with the on-site director before the regular drop-off period about casting, medication, or other child-specific concerns.
Supervised arrival at Pasadena East begins at 8:45 AM, with camp starting at 9:00 AM. Sunrise Student early care is available from 8:00 AM to 8:45 AM for an additional fee. Regular dismissal is at 3:00 PM, and the site closes at 3:20 PM; Extended Play is not offered at this location. Every camper must be signed in and out each day unless written walking or pickup authorization is on file.
Campers should bring a packed snack, lunch, water, and any required daily materials. Musical Theater campers are asked to bring their scripts each day. Families provide performance costumes or special clothing, using the costume guidance sent home with the script.
Pasadena East is closed on June 18 and July 5, and the enrollment form adjusts tuition for affected sessions by the equivalent of one camp day. Camp cancellations are refundable through June 1, subject to a $135 non-refundable fee; the published policy states there are no refunds after June 1.
