A big announcement about summer 2021…

To our valued camp families:

We were so sad to cancel camp last summer due to COVID-19, and we hope that this message finds all of you safe and healthy in 2021.

West Chester University has just given us official permission to re-open Pennsylvania Theatre Institute for Summer 2021 with specific COVID-19 modifications in place. We are thrilled to again open our doors at the E.O. Bull Center for the Arts to all of you, and hope that you understand that our programming modifications are for the safety of our campers and staff.

Pre-College Intensive: July 26 - July 30, 2021

For high school students interested in the study of the performing arts

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this program will look significantly different than previous summers:
- Camp will be only one week long, Monday - Friday, from 9am - 4pm
- The university has not authorized us to provide housing. All participants must commute from their homes daily.
- There will not be a final public performance for family members, as it is not yet safe to gather crowds together.

We are incredibly excited, however, about the work that CAN be accomplished in one week! This intensive week of study will focus specifically on audition prep and the college application process. Students will work with our trained roster of theatre professors and professional working actors and teachers to craft a repertoire of contemporary and classical monologues and musical theatre songs. In addition to daily college-level courses in acting, voice and movement, improvisation for the performer, and classical text, each student will receive individual coaching, and exit the one-week intensive with a headshot from Kate Raines of PLATE 3 Photography.

We will adhere to the CDC recommendations for all activities and events. Please expect thorough communication from us about specific safety policies as the camp start date approaches.

Young Company: August 2 - August 13, 2021

For ages 8- 14, no previous experience required!

Camp is still held Monday - Friday, from 9am - 4pm.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this program will also look different from previous summers:

- Classes will include more outdoor activities, and students will rotate through both indoor and outdoor spaces (weather permitting!)
- Campers will be sectioned with their age group for longer durations of the camp day, in an effort to decrease potential transmission.
- There will not be a final public performance for family members, as it is not yet safe to gather crowds together.
- Unfortunately, we have only been authorized to run one session of this program. This two-week session is the only session offered.

We are beyond excited about the fun that we will have in these two weeks! Expect some old familiar faces and some new additions to our staff - we’ve hired some new and incredible pro teaching artists, and we can’t wait to introduce them to you all.

We will adhere to the CDC recommendations for all activities and events. Please expect thorough communication from us about specific safety policies as the camp start date approaches.

Tuition and Registration Information

(AKA: We’re giving you a three-day head start!)

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, space is extremely limited. These spots are first-come, first-serve.

We believe that those of you who enrolled your children last summer should have the first opportunity to sign back up.

Registration will open to the general public on Friday, April 16th. Registration is open to you now.

(A note on pricing: we’ve done our best to create a pricing model that is affordable as possible. We know these prices may be slightly higher than what you paid last summer; please know that the revenue generated by tuition goes directly towards compensating our teachers and staff at an equitable wage, whom we’ve asked to come to work in a pandemic. Please reach out to us if your family has experienced a loss of income due to COVID-19 and can no longer afford camp).

*If you have this link, that’s you - someone who registered your child in 2020, but was given a refund due to COVID-19. Thank you again for being so understanding when we were unable to open last summer!

Questions? Comments? Anything we can help you with?

(It’s been a weird year - maybe you just want to say hello?!)

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Katherine at
katherine@pennsylvaniatheatreinstitute.com. She’s ready to answer any and all questions as best as she can.

Thank you all so much for your patience with us - we are so very happy to be back, and can’t wait to greet you all on campus again soon.