Neighbor News
Kids Take the Stage on School Days Off with Gorton Drama Studio
Gorton Center Hosts Three Musical Theater Mini Camps for Kids
Why should your kids sit at home on a school day off when they can step into the spotlight? This fall, Gorton Center’s Gorton Drama Studio invites kids ages 7–14 to spend their free days singing, dancing, and acting in Musical Theater Mini Camps led by Gorton Drama Studio instructors.
Each full-day camp (9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.) takes place on the Gorton Theater stage and features age-based classes in acting, singing, and dancing. Kids build confidence, make friends, and perform original scenes inspired by beloved stories – all in a fun, supportive environment. The day wraps with a relaxed, end-of-day showcase for families. No prior theater experience is required.
Upcoming Camps:
- Once Upon a Stage | Fairy Tales & Fantasy Monday, October 13 | $110 Step into a storybook world with Cinderella, Shrek, Descendants, and more. Kids create scenes, songs, and characters straight from classic and modern tales—or ones they invent themselves.
- Heroes & Villains | Epic Characters, Big Stories Thursday, October 24 | $110 From Harry Potter to The Incredibles, Maleficent to Frozen, kids explore larger-than-life heroes and villains through improvisation, music, and movement.
- Winter Wonderland | Seasonal Stories & Songs Friday, November 7 | $110 Celebrate the season with original winter adventures inspired by favorites like Frozen, The Grinch, and Elf, plus festive songs and choreography.
About the Instructors
- Jeremy Kruse, Artistic Director of Gorton Drama Studio, is a professional actor, playwright, award-winning screenwriter/filmmaker, and author of The Young Actor’s Handbook. He has taught at The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute.
- Emmy Bjerre-Jensen is a lifelong singer and performer with experience as a musical director for youth theater. She holds degrees from DePaul University and helps students of all ages develop strong, confident voices.
- Carla Garippo, a professional dancer trained at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, has performed nationally and brings expertise in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, contemporary, and musical theater dance.
Space is limited, and these popular day-off programs are expected to fill quickly. Parents are encouraged to register early at gortoncenter.org
