In-Person Camp FAQ
Where are you located?
We are at 900 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC. We are within walking distance from the Mount Vernon Square/7th Street Conevation and the Chinatown/Gallery Place metro stops. We are located inside Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, though we are not affiliated with the church. (Please note we relocated in January of 2021 from our prior space at Calvary Baptist Church.)
How old does my child have to be to attend your camp?
Our Summer Acting Camp for Kids is for students who are entering 1st through 6th grade in Fall 2023. Our Summer Acting/Musical Theatre Camp for Tweens is for students entering 7th-8th grade in Fall 2024.
Is lunch provided?
We provide a morning snack and a snack in AfterCare. Parents are asked to provide their student’s own lunch. Please make sure your child’s lunch does not contain any nut products. Lunch should not require refrigeration or reheating. If your child has severe food allergies or aversions beyond what we can accommodate, you may be asked to provide their snack.
Do you offer aftercare?
Yes. The regular camp day runs from 9 AM-3 PM. AfterCare runs from 3 PM-6 PM and costs $150 per week. We also offer an early drop-off option (8 AM-AM) for $50 per week. Only families that have selected and prepaid for the early drop-off option will be allowed to drop campers off before 9 AM.
Do you offer financial aid?
Yes. We offer a limited amount of need-based financial aid. Fill out an online application here. The deadline to be considered for the first round of summer camp financial aid is March 1, 2024. Applications received after the deadline will be considered on a rolling basis.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes, payment plans are available. Payments can be divided into 2, 3, or 4 equal installments to be run on select days. Payment plan options can be found on our registration page. If you require a different payment plan, please email us and we will work with you to set one up.
Is it possible to get a refund if my child does not attend the camp?
You must notify our office in writing before May 15 of withdrawal from the summer program for a full refund minus a $20 cancellation fee. If you withdraw from the program from May 16-June 2, one half (1/2) of the cost of tuition will be refunded. After June 3, there are no refunds.
How are the age groups divided?
Children entering 1st and 2nd grade are in the Bravos group.
Children entering 3rd and 4th grade are in the Encores group.
Children entering 5th and 6th grade are in the Standing Ovations group.
Children entering 7th and 8th grade are in the Grand Finales group.
Do you have programs for teens?
Yes. Every summer, we offer the Musical Theatre Institutes for Teens and our Summer Acting Institute for Teens–four week programs culminating in full productions of plays and musicals. We also offer The Performance Institute for Teens–a two week training program exploring scenes, monologues and, for those interested in musical theatre, songs, culminating in a final public showcase.
My child is 6 years old, but will be entering kindergarten in the fall. Can they still attend camp?
We require that all children have already completed kindergarten before attending camp.
My child has had a lot of experience in theatre. Can I place them with a more advanced age group?
We place all children with their peers based on grade regardless of theatre experience. Camp is a very social experience and we want to make sure they are with a developmentally appropriate group.
Who teaches your camps?
Our camps are taught by DC’s top professional actors, directors, and theatre educators.
Does my child have to audition for your program?
Registration for the Acting Camps for Kids is on a first-come, first served basis. The Acting Camp for Kids programs do not require an audition for admission. Students may be asked to do an informal audition with their instructors during the camp session for learning and casting purposes.
Teen programs have an audition and application process.
Do the students have a performance at the end of camp?
Yes, all two week programs culminate in a shared performance for family and friends. The one week programs will culminate in an improvisation demonstration. All sharings will take place on the final Friday of each camp session. The Friday sharings are meant to show the skills that students have been developing; they are not meant to be polished performances. Friday final sharings will take place between 1 PM-3 PM. Detailed schedule information will be sent closer to the start of the session.
The Musical Theatre Camp for Tweens (4-week program) culminates in a full production of Newsies Jr. The Shakespeare Intensive Camp Tweens (4-week program) culminates in a full production of an abridged version of Hamlet.
Are there required medical forms?
Yes, every parent is required to fill out a medical form, pick-up authorization form, and a camp policies form. These forms are sent via email along with a welcome email prior to camp.
Can I purchase a membership for my child and receive a discount on camp?
Memberships are not valid for summer camps/teen institutes.
I want to register my child for a camp but it is sold out. Is there a waitlist?
Yes. You can add yourself to the waitlist directly on our registration page. We will contact you right away if a slot becomes available.
What are your office hours?
Regular office hours are Monday through Friday, 9-5 PM. The office is not open on weekends.
Is there a vaccination requirement for campers?
No, we do not have a COVID-19 vaccination requirement for students this summer.
Are Theatre Lab staff required to be fully vaccinated?
Yes, all Theatre Lab staff are required to be fully vaccinated.
What Covid precautions do you plan to put in place to ensure the safety of students and staff?
The safety of our students, faculty, and staff remain of the utmost importance. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and follow all safety guidelines from the CDC and local government agencies.
*Any student or staff member exhibiting symptoms will be asked to get tested for Covid prior to returning to the program
*Classroom and high touch areas will be disinfected with approved CDC cleaning solutions
*Whenever possible, students will have snack and lunchtime outside
*Camps will take place in a building with an updated HVAC filtration system
*If there is a Covid exposure within a camp, parents/guardians of every student in that camp will be notified by a TTL staff member via email as soon as possible. Based on the current CDC guidelines, we will have a plan in place on how to proceed (e.g., whether or not quarantines and additional testing are necessary).
What should I do if I have additional questions about your program?
We are happy to answer any questions that you have about our programs. Please email contact@theatrelab.org and someone will reach out to you.